The special charm of this coastal town in the middle of Croatia makes it so popular as a yacht charter destination. Apart from the first-class marina Kornati there are plenty of great places to visit and good restaurants in the cosy old town centre.
General Info
This town with a long touristic tradition along the Adriatic Sea Coast was actually at one point the capital of the Croatian medieval Kingdom. The name literally translates into “white city by the sea” and it refers to the small peninsula that it sits on, with the Planac and the Sveta Katarina islands in front of it.
Once a city for Croatian kings, today Biograd is the perfect location for boat rental with its numerous marinas, surrounding natural parks as well as cultural and recreational facilities.
Travel & Arrival
While there is no direct flight to Biograd, your charter crew can catch a plane from and to any of the neighbouring airports in Zadar, Split, Rijeka or even Zagreb. Zadar is the closest one, less than 30km away and here you can fly low cost from Germany, Great Britain and Sweden.
When it comes to land travel, Biograd is part of a very extensive system that connects it with other cities in Croatia and the rest of Europe via train or bus. There are intercity buses to take sailors to and from Zadar, Zagreb, Split as well as cities in neighbouring countries such as Switzerland, France, Germany and Slovakia. The railway system is even more comprehensive, with lines running to Italy, Greece, Austria and Serbia and Montenegro.
Nautically speaking, the city of Biograd is connected to the rest of the Adriatic coast via the ferry service. There are numerous boats heading to other charter destinations such as Split or Zadar.
Avant & Apres Sail
The pride of the locals in Biograd is the 11th century St. John’s basilica, the only thing to survive the town’s destruction by the Venetians. When you come on a yacht hire you should also visit the museum of history situated on the waterfront with ancient boats on display. Nature lovers will get a kick out of the tropicarium which houses exotic species of reptiles and fish.
Remember that the surroundings of Biograd are equally attractive, like the natural park of the Kornati Archipelago, the Krka national park and the Velebit Paklenica that can be reached by booking a trip with several providers located on the waterfront.
Just like most of the sights, the majority of the restaurants can be found along the waterfront. This is where you can sample some of the Dalmatian cuisine which is rich in textures and flavours coming from the sea. The recipes are simple yet delicious and hold something of the continental heritage as well as something from the Mediterranean side, which is why you’ll find many pizzerias around town.
In the old town and along the promenade you’ll find many bars and clubs. There’s something for everyone, from quiet bars to loud discos that stay open until the early hours of the morning.
Events & Actions
The maritime tradition is very strong here and plays an important part in the locals’ life. The marinas here are famous for their regattas and their boat shows like the one going one in October.