Colin & Angela
Just the two of us

Yacht Week Croatia on Our Buddymoon: Split, Vis, Hvar and Brač (Plus Dubrovnik)

The Croatia leg of our wedding buddymoon: a few days in Dubrovnik, then Yacht Week with our friends, sailing from Split to Vis, Hvar and Brač with coves, scooters, Carpe Diem and sunsets on the water.

Croatia · Jun 26 – Jul 5, 2024 · by Angela

Clear turquoise cove with rocky shore and boats anchored off a pine-covered coast

After our wedding in Tuscany and a few days on the Amalfi Coast, our buddymoon crew kept going to Croatia for Yacht Week: a week of sailing the Dalmatian islands with our friends on a yacht, swimming in coves so clear you can see the bottom, and a party in every harbor. If you want a celebration trip with friends, this is the one.

This is part of our Tuscany wedding and buddymoon trip.

Route
Dubrovnik → drive to Split → Yacht Week: Vis → Hvar → Bol on Brač
How long
10 days
Who came
Colin, me and our buddymoon crew
Getting around
A car from Dubrovnik to Split, then our Yacht Week yacht between the islands (and scooters on Vis)
Best for
Groups who want sailing, swimming and nightlife

Dubrovnik

We started in Dubrovnik with seaside walks along the stone promenade, a pebble beach, cocktails at a beach bar, and a sunset dinner on the water. Then came a late night out with friends.

Woman walking along a stone seaside promenade toward a pier, with green islands and blue sea under clouds
Seaside strolls on our first day in Dubrovnik
Woman in a white robe standing on a terrace railing looking out over the sea at sunsetIced amber cocktail with a lime wheel and straw on a wooden table at a beach barColin, Angela and a friend smiling together at a restaurant table

Split, where Yacht Week starts

On the 28th we drove up the coast to Split, where our Yacht Week began. We wandered around Diocletian’s Palace, had coffee by the sea, climbed up to the viewpoint over the city’s terracotta rooftops and harbor, and then got on the boat with the crew.

Tall stone bell tower and Roman columns of a palace square in Split, under a blue sky
Split's old town at golden hour
Colin and Angela, she in a cowboy hat, standing on the deck of a boat with pine-covered shore behindIced coffee and a cup of coffee on a wooden table at a cafe overlooking the seaHands raising spritzes and beers in a toast over a plate of olives and snacks

Vis

Vis was our first island on the yacht, and the quieter, wilder one. We rented scooters and rode the coastal roads, swam off the boat with friends, and wandered the stone waterfront of Vis town.

Scooter day on Vis.
Colin and Angela in scooter helmets and sunglasses taking a selfieSailboats and motorboats moored along the stone waterfront of Vis town under blue skyAngela hugging Colin on a boat deck, both smiling in swimwear

Hvar

Hvar is the party island of Yacht Week, and we did it right. We anchored in turquoise coves, took in palm-framed views of the sea, and spent a night at Carpe Diem Beach with the whole crew.

Clear turquoise cove with rocky shore and boats anchored off a pine-covered coast
Hvar's coves are unreal
Group of friends in hats and sunglasses sitting on a boat on the waterClose selfie of Colin and Angela smiling outdoorsPalm fronds framing a view of blue sea below

Bol on Brač

We finished the week in Bol on the island of Brač with one more day on the water, a long outdoor dinner with friends, and a sunset over the sailboats in the marina.

Coastal town and green hills seen across blue water from a boat
Brač from the water
Colin sitting on the bow rail of a boat on bright blue water with a sailboat nearbyLong white tables with flowers and wooden chairs set on a lawn beneath treesSailboat masts silhouetted against a bright orange sunset in a marina

From Brač the whole crew flew to Amsterdam to end the buddymoon at the Taylor Swift concert. Yes, really.

Yacht Week with friends: what worked

  • Book as a group, early. Summer weeks fill up, and a full boat of friends keeps the cost per person down.
  • Pack light, in a soft bag. Cabins are small and hard suitcases don’t fit.
  • Rent scooters on Vis. The island is made for it.
  • Pace yourselves. There’s a party every night. Pick your big nights (Hvar!) and take the quiet anchorages slow.
  • Add a few days on land first. Dubrovnik before the boat was a great way to start.

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