Tired of the busy Adriatic shores during the summer? Don't worry, you can enjoy those beautiful Dalmatian waters and still have the same luxury you'd have in a large resort. Just head to Rogoznica, a small fishing village in central Dalmatia that offers some of the best sailing this side of the Adriatic.
General Info
In the middle of the Dalmatian coast in Croatia you’ll find the village of Rogoznica which has been a popular destination for some time now, but the area was inhabited as soon as 1390, also playing an important part in the Croatian War of Indepedence.
Rogoznica lies on an islet that is connected to the mainland by a bridge. The reason why boatmen choose this destination is because the whole island is located in a deep bay that has sheltered waters from the rest of the Adriatic, thus making it the perfect place to moor your yacht but also providing some excellent sailing around the island.
Travel & Arrival
Being located on the Dalmatian coast, the village is 35km from Sibenik and 55km from Split, but more importantly, 28km from Split Airport, the main air transit hub for this part of the country. If you are content with making the 28km journey from the airport in a car or bus, then you could fly your party here.
By land, one should only follow the M2, E65 roads which run along the coast in order to get to town. There are also bus lines that run daily from Split and Zadar, offering a cheaper alternative for those v sailors on a tighter budget.
There are no direct ferry lines to Rogoznica, but you could take one of the ferries that arrives in Spilt or Zadar from Ancona in Italy and then take the bus to reach the final destination. The only other alternative to arriving by water is having your own boat or chartering a yacht.
Avant & Apres Sail
The small but beautiful region doesn’t offer much in the way of touristic attractions but there are some things worth visiting, such as The Eye of the Dragon salt lake, the modern and beautiful yacht harbor Marina Frapa and the Virgin Mary chapel or the parish church. The more adventurous seamen could also head outside of the village for a little bit of exploring of the backcountry, with the Krka Waterfalls and the Kornati Archipelago.
If you’re thinking about posh boutiques of famous brands, think again, Rogoznica is not that kind of resort. However, you too can sample in the local aromas and tastes, by shopping at the local market which sees the rural homesteads from the region bring their produce and selling them at decent prices. Fish and fruit and vegetables are generally available and always fresh.
This region of the Dalmatian coast somehow benefitted more of the Italian influences more than other seaside towns in Croatia. That’s why local specialties include prosciutto with olives, lamb stew with vegetables, fish stew, brodetto with cornmeal, risotto with sea fruits (a must try!), manestra di verdure basically vegetable soup, mackerel and sardines grilled with olive oil and many more. The restaurants in the old part of town specialize in serving fish dishes to the hungry masses of guests.
The other places where you can get a bite to eat, double as entertainment in the evenings, in the form of the bars which during the summer months organize parties every night with local and international music. For crews looking for a livelier time, the Aurora discoteque complex is located in the vicinity (15 minutes), and is actually the largest in the country, housing up to 5000 people at one time.
Events & Actions
Most of the time spent in Rogoznica will inevitably be in or around water, so sailing and sunbathing take up most of the time of your vacation. The region has mostly pebble beaches, but it makes up for the lack of sand with the beautiful setting that combines the deep blue of the Adriatic with the dark green of the pine woods covering the coast.
The only significant local celebration is the Fishermen night held in summer, when local fishing traditions and recipes are showcased for the visiting tourists.