Betina - The Cradle of Shipbuilding
Here you have a great opportunity to look over a shipbuilder’s shoulder. For centuries, Betina has been known as the place where first class ships are built.
General Info
The small village of Betina can be found on Murter island off Croatia’s northern Adriatic shore. It’s just 7km from the town of Tisno, which is the connecting point to the mainland via a drawbridge. Though not nearly as famous as some other Yacht Charter locations in Dalmatia, Betina is a quiet fishing village that caters to tourists coming to Murter island to relax.
Apart from the being a lovely place for Yacht Charter tourists, Betina is also a cultural center for the island of Murter, hosting an active folklore and cultural community which hold events every summer and is tasked with preserving the old village lifestyle.
Travel & Arrival
The only way into Betina is via Tisno, the entry point on the island, which happens to be the largest of the Sibenik archipelago and also the closest to the mainland. The closest big cities are Biograd and Zadar, which is where you’ll find the nearest airport. The transfer time is just under an hour, which is considerable for the 73km by road, but Yacht Charter travelers will encounter a lot of toll booths on their way.
There are two main roads on the mainland that can be taken to reach Murter island and Betina. First, there’s the big E65 European road, coinciding with a stretch of the A1 highway (accounting for all the tolls) and the smaller, less frequented but more picturesque Route 8, which hugs the coastline to offer arriving Yacht Charter groups the full view of the Adriatic.
Avant & Apres Sail
With its economy based on farming, fishing and tourism, the small village of Betina was first mentioned in the 16th century, when it was founded by the refugees who fled from the Turks. Today, the best sights in town are the church of Saint Francis and the small medieval church of Our Lady Gradina which Yacht Charter regulars will find very well preserved.
The marina constitutes pretty much the rest of the town, and most of its attractions. Seafood and in particular seashells are local specialties and there are several species that is endemic to this location. Yacht Charter can enjoy all of these in the local restaurants, the traditional Croatian taverns, pizzerias and saloons.
As you can imagine, the small nature of the village and the isolated position means that the nightlife can be described as quiet at best. There are a few places where Yacht Charter guests hang out after dark, but for serious parties, you’re better off travelling to Biograd or Zadar. However, there’s a local cinema where you could catch an evening film.
Events & Actions
Apart from the nice pebble beaches sheltered by the pine woods, there are a lot of activities on land that can fill up the days of your Yacht Charter vacation. There is a long promenade, there a plenty of quaint fishing hamlets to visit and hiking available. On water, there’s diving, fishing, wind surfing and lots of sailing around the Sibenik archipelago.