Europe Yachts
— Route · 7 days · round-trip
Yacht charter route · Istria

Pula
round-trip.

7-day yacht route from ACI Marina Pula via Medulin, Unije, Vele Srakane, Cres (Martinšćica & Cres Town) & Rabac — sailor brief with NM.

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The route

Day-by-day route

Click any pin on the map or any day in the Route summary below to see the daily stop, narrative, and photos.

Medulin
Day 1

Pula → Medulin

8 nm south from ACI Marina Pula to Medulin Bay — wide shallow bay on the southern tip of the Istrian peninsula, with Marina Medulin (lazy lines) and easy walking access to the village.

Distance

5 NM

Sailing

~1h at 5 kn

— At a glance

Route at a glance

Best season
June – mid-September (peak Jul – Aug)
Duration
7 days · Sat – Sat
Departure
Pula
Sailing area
Istria

Route summary

Click any day to jump back to the map and see its photos, narrative, and mooring tip.

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The full story

Day-by-day journey

Named anchorages, restaurants, and route notes for every leg of the week — written by sailors who've actually run this passage.

Day 1 / 7
Medulin
1
Day 1

Pula → Medulin

Out of ACI Marina Pula (or Marina Veruda just south of the city), the opening leg is 8 miles south rounding Cape Kamenjak (the southernmost point of the Istrian peninsula, a Nature Park) into Medulin Bay. Marina Medulin on the western side of the bay offers stern-to lazy lines, full services, water and power. The bay is wide and shallow with a sand-and-weed bottom holding well at 4–8 metres for boats anchoring outside the marina. Off the boat: walk the Cape Kamenjak coastal path (signed dinosaur footprints in the limestone), swim from one of the small bays inside the cape, or visit the small Medulin village for a brodet dinner.

Things to do

Walk the Cape Kamenjak coastal path with the dinosaur footprints

Anchor outside the marina for a quieter swim

Order brodet (fish stew) at a Medulin waterfront konoba

Take the dinghy across to Levan islet for a beach swim

Watch the sunset over Brijuni National Park to the west

Mooring tip

Marina Medulin (lazy lines, full services) is the all-weather option — book ahead in season. Anchoring outside the marina is fine on sand-and-weed at 4–8 m. Bay is sheltered from N, E and W; exposed to S gradient.

Unije
2
Day 2

Medulin → Unije

Twenty miles southeast across the open Kvarner Gulf to Unije, a small car-free island in the Lošinj archipelago. The single village wraps the eastern bay (Maračol on the east, with stern-to mooring on the village quay for a modest fee, water on the central berths but no shore power). Maracol Bay on the western side of the island has a rare crescent of sand — anchorage-only, lunchtime swim stop, exposed to W gradient. Off the boat: walk the path inland to the small chapel on the island spine, swim from the rocks south of the village, and order grilled lamb at a quayside konoba.

Things to do

Walk to Maracol Bay for the rare sandy beach swim

Order grilled lamb at a Unije village konoba

Walk the path inland to the small chapel on the island spine

Swim from the rocks south of the village

Sample local olive oil at a small farm shop

Mooring tip

Stern-to on Unije village quay (Maračol) with own anchor — modest fee, water on the central berths (no shore power). Bay is sheltered from W, NW and N; exposed to SE. If SE forecast above 15 kn, push 6 nm east into Mali Lošinj for the protected harbour.

Vele Srakane
3
Day 3

Unije → Vele Srakane

Six miles southeast takes you to Vele Srakane, one of the smallest inhabited islands in Croatia — population in the single digits, no shops, no road, no marina. The island is anchorage-only and best treated as a lunchtime swim stop rather than overnight (no shelter from W/NW). Anchor in 5–8 metres on the eastern shore where the holding is sand-and-weed, walk the small village path, swim in exceptionally clear water (visibility 25 m on a calm day), then push 5 miles south to Mali Lošinj for the overnight or back 6 nm to Unije.

Things to do

Anchor on the eastern shore for lunchtime swimming

Walk the small village path through olive groves

Snorkel in exceptional 25-metre visibility water

Picnic on board with Pag cheese and local olive oil

Push to Mali Lošinj or Unije before sunset for the overnight

Mooring tip

Vele Srakane is anchorage-only and lunchtime. No shelter from W or NW. Push 5 nm south to Mali Lošinj (Marina Mali Lošinj, lazy lines, full services) or 6 nm back to Unije for the protected overnight.

Cres
4
Day 4

Vele Srakane → Martinšćica (Cres)

Twelve miles northeast takes you to Martinšćica on the western coast of Cres island. The village is small and quiet, with stern-to mooring on the village quay for a modest fee, water on the central berths. The bay is well-sheltered from N, NE and E; exposed to SW gradient. Cres is the largest Croatian island by area and the home of the Tramuntana Forest in the north — one of the last European griffon vulture colonies, with the visitor centre at Beli (a 30-minute drive from Martinšćica). Off the boat: hike the Tramuntana trails, swim from the rocks south of the village, and order Cres lamb (the island's signature dish, lambs grazed on wild herbs) at Konoba Bukaleta.

Things to do

Hike the Tramuntana Forest with its griffon vulture colony

Order Cres lamb at Konoba Bukaleta (book 24 hours ahead)

Visit the Beli vulture rescue centre

Swim from the rocks south of the village

Sample Cres olive oil at a village shop (the island has the highest density of old olive trees in Croatia)

Mooring tip

Stern-to on Martinšćica village quay with own anchor — modest fee, water on the central berths. Bay is well-sheltered from N, NE and E; exposed to SW gradient.

Cres
5
Day 5

Martinšćica → Cres Town

Fifteen miles clockwise around the northern tip of Cres takes you to Cres Town, the largest settlement on the island and a former Venetian administrative seat. The Old Town wraps the inner basin of a deep, protected harbour; ACI Marina Cres sits on the eastern side with lazy lines, water and power on every berth, fuel pontoon, full services. The Venetian heritage is visible everywhere: the 15th-century Loggia in the central square, the medieval town walls and gates, the 16th-century clock tower walking-accessible for the panoramic view across the harbour.

Things to do

Climb the 16th-century clock tower for the harbour view

Walk the medieval town walls and gates

Visit the 15th-century Loggia in the central square

Swim at Slatina Beach south of the marina

Order Creska janjetina (Cres lamb) at a courtyard konoba

Mooring tip

ACI Marina Cres (eastern side of the harbour) is the all-weather option — lazy lines, full services. Town quay accepts daytime visitors only. Bay is fully sheltered in any wind direction.

Rabac
6
Day 6

Cres → Rabac

Fifteen miles west across the Kvarner Gulf takes you to Rabac, a small resort town on the eastern coast of Istria. Marina Rabac sits on the southern side of the bay with lazy lines, water and power on every berth, full services. Rabac is the seaside resort beneath the medieval hill town of Labin (a 10-minute taxi or shuttle bus inland) — the medieval Labin old town with its 14th-century walls, narrow lanes and small museum is the headline historical detour. Off the boat at Rabac: pebbled-beach swimming along the Lungomare promenade, scampi buzara at a cliffside konoba, and the easy uphill walk through the pine forest to Labin.

Things to do

Take the shuttle or taxi up to medieval Labin old town

Walk the Rabac Lungomare promenade

Swim at one of the pebbled beaches along the bay

Order scampi buzara at a Rabac konoba

Sample Istrian truffle products at a Labin small shop

Mooring tip

Marina Rabac (lazy lines, full services) is the all-weather option. Bay is well-sheltered from N, NE and W; exposed to S gradient.

Pula
7
Day 7

Rabac → Pula

Twenty miles southwest back to ACI Marina Pula. Saturday handover protocol: boat back at base by 09:00, fuel topped, holding tanks emptied, decks rinsed, inventory checked. Course passes the long fjord-like Raša Bay (the largest natural harbour on the eastern Istrian coast); a quick stop at Trget on the western side of the bay for a final swim is the standard close to the week. With fuel pumped and inspection clear, ACI Marina Pula is a 5-minute walk from the 1st-century AD Roman Arena (one of the six largest surviving Roman amphitheatres in the world). Pula airport 15 minutes by car.

Things to do

Stop for a final swim at Trget in Raša Bay

Top up fuel and pump out before the 09:00 inspection

Walk to the Roman Arena (1st century AD)

Visit the Temple of Augustus on the central forum

Take a final swim at Verudela Beach south of the marina

Mooring tip

Return into ACI Marina Pula per your charter contract — base manager directs the slot. Saturday handover window 08:00–09:00; arrive by 17:00 Friday if your contract specifies night-before return.

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