Zadar Boat Rental

More islands lie in front of this city than anywhere else on the Croatian coast, and hiring a boat is the way to reach the ones the excursion boats skip. The market splits three ways: small open boats you can take out on a standard licence, larger RIBs and motor yachts that come with a skipper, and sailing yachts chartered by the week from the marinas. The nearest targets are Ugljan and Pasman, both under an hour, with Dugi otok and the Kornati archipelago beyond them.

Operators will want a licence and a deposit for anything self-drive, and will refuse to send you out when the bura blows, which is a good sign rather than a bad one. Fuel is usually extra and charged on return. For a first time out, a skippered day costs more but buys local knowledge of where to anchor and which channel to avoid.