If you are not only interested in water sports, but also in history and ancient castles, then Kastela is the right place for you! There are plenty of dreamlike castles in and around Kastela.
General Info
Actually made up of 7 distinct locations along the central Dalmatian coast, just northwest of Split, Kastela is home to some of the best shores of the Adriatic and hence it’s considered the best starting place to begin the exploration of the Croatian sea coast.
Founded as a Greek port and later home of the first Roman floating docks, today the region was added with two new settlements where marinas and other tourist facilities are provided.
Travel & Arrival
The area benefits from the proximity of the Split airport located just to the west along the coast. This has flights from all major cities in Europe, and there are even low-cost airlines available for booking for those holidaymakers on a tighter budget.
The whole region of the coast is crossed by a single road which hugs the shore and provides bus and car access from the mainland. The number 8 road also connects with the airport in Split so pretty easy to navigate the region without fear of getting lost or missing some highway exit.
The local harbor gets visited by private boats but the one in Split does have regular ferry and hydrofoil boats arriving on a daily basis from as far as Ancona in Italy or from Rijeka. Also, it’s a good place to start your expeditions of the neighboring Korni archipelago.
Avant & Apres Sail
The castles of the region are renowned for their beauty and their history, so any trip should begin with a visit to these castles (Stafilic, Novi, Stari, Luksic, Kambelovac to name but a few). Then you could head out to the back country which is also very picturesque and very Mediterranean in appearance with lots of vineyards, orchards and olive groves. Among the natural regions worth visiting there are the Vitturi Park, the Botanical Garden of the Ostrog Primary School and the biblical Garden Stomorija-Gospa.
There are lots of restaurants in the region, but for a true Dalmatian experience, we recommend the ones by the shore, which provide a beautiful view of the Kastela Bay. You’ll get the best fish dishes with that Italian twist that includes olive oil (the region is famous for its olives) and wine also made by the locals.
Nightlife isn’t that popular around here, but for those sailors keen on spending a good night out, Split is just minutes away by car and there are plenty of clubs and bars there to last you for a whole week, let alone a single evening.
Events & Actions
Beaches are the main recreational activity around here and the Croatian seashore provides plenty of that. Other than that you can spend time with your group engaging in numerous sports activities, both indoor and outdoor, ranging from tennis to soccer and basketball.