Rovinj Yacht Charter, Croatia
As Croatia sits on the border between the Western and Eastern Mediterranean luxury yacht charter grounds, the region has seen an explosion of interest for those desiring new adventures in addition to familiar events and sights, and Rovinj in particular has captured visitors' attention. History, culture, cuisine and coast-lands all coming together to make a singular destination worthy of inclusion in an Adriatic Sea itinerary: Art galleries and an open air theatre can be found in the city's heart, while bars, clubs and restaurants will delight your taste buds after a day of relaxing on a tranquil sandy beach.
The surrounding Istria peninsula has been a popular tourist spot for decades, and exploring by luxury yacht gives you access to the islands and secluded beaches any time you please, without the worry of accommodation or the quality of meals with your professional on board chef. Skip the crowds and see the very best of the region, hosting your own private parties on board and having fun to your own schedule with the array of water toys and on board entertainments.
Five quick reasons to visit Rovinj:
Picturesque city on the Istrian peninsula, Vibrant artistic scene, Fantastic international music scene, Great family beaches, Flavoursome cuisine
More about this part of Croatia
Situated in the north of the Adriatic Sea, Rovinj is one of nine major cities in Istria as well as being conveniently close to the world-famous Italian city of Venice. Italian as well as Croatian is spoken in Rovinj, so it would be easy to continue practising your language skills or using your fluency to delve deeper into the local culture.
To the south is the Dalmatian Coast and the capital city of Dubrovnik, as well as the small and scenic country of Montenegro. The plethora of islands between Rovinj and Dubrovnik are locations for some of the region's most stunning natural habitats, with soft sand beaches and waters teeming with fish. Dive sites are plentiful and offer everything for beginner divers through to experts, and there is an enticing selection of wreck dives and cave dives to add to any trip.
Rovinj Yacht Charter Experiences
Rovinj is one of the major draws of Istria County and a prime reason why it is a favourite destination of Croatia luxury yacht charter groups on holiday or celebrating a special occasion.
The city lies on an area that used to be a separate island until it merged with the mainland in 1763, and ancient influences from Rome as well as Greece can be found in the hence the old town and the new. Rovinj looks relatively the same as the other cities in Croatia, teeming with Italian influences in their ancient architecture and landmarks. In fact, the fortification of the city showcases strong Mediterranean orientation.
To protect the pristine condition of the main streets, these areas have been pedestrianised and has resulted in cleaner air and less noise pollution for a more sedate ambiance. Take a leisurely stroll through these streets and take your time absorbing the characteristic buildings and the history they hold.
If you are only in the city for a day or so, it is recommended that you rent a bike (or use the ones aboard your luxury yacht) to reach places of interest such as Valdibora Market, the imposing entrance to Old Rovinj known as Balbi Arch, Grisia Street where artists paint and sell their canvases, and on top of the hill the Cathedral of Euphemia.
As an established destination for motor yachts and sailing yachts of all shapes and sizes, visitors to Rovinj will find marina services ready to cater to their requirements with bars, clubs and restaurants along the seafront that include the Michelin-starred Monte. Croatian cuisine is strong in Italian influences, and you can find top restaurants that serve pasta, pizza and risotto. Local specialties are also the regular fare in these establishments, and these include sauerkraut with sausages matched with asparagus and eggs, smoked ham and grilled seafood.
In the summer, international performance artists come to Rovinj and other cities in Croatia for a season of music in the clubs, bars and along the beaches. Monvi is the multi-media centre in Rovinj and has an array of options to suit various tastes.
Night-time is also a great time to discover the markets and local bazaars, which offer a variety of items including souvenirs, jewellery, truffles and truffle oil - the latter two your expert on-board chef can use to create a mouth-watering meal.
There is an excellent choice of nearby pebble beaches ideal for snorkelling, kayaking and similar water sports in crystal clear waters: Cape Skarba and Amarin Beach are some of the prettiest in the area, although there are plenty of beaches close to town for convenience. Leave the crowds behind and visit the islands for quieter beaches such as Katarina Island Beach, Sveti Andrija (St. Andrew) Beach and Maskin Island Beach.
Things to Consider:
Yachting Seasons & Climate:
Temperatures in Rovinj tend to be on the mild side, with the average reaching 24°C/75°F in July and August and temperatures usually remain above 15°C/59°F from May until October.
July is the driest month while November is the wettest, however visitors in spring and autumn will have many dry days and sunshine hours last for nine hours or longer.
Sea temperatures are warmest in August at 25°C/77°F and June, July and September have similar warm temperatures.
Clothing to Pack For Your Charter:
While T-shirts and shorts will be perfectly comfortable on hot days, temperatures can be mild along the coast outside of the summer season and visitors are advised to pack a longer sleeved item or two in addition to beachwear and smart-casual attire.
Visitors should take a waterproof layer in case of showers, which are more likely in autumn and winter.
Main Ports and Marinas:
Rovinj Port, Rovinj Sjeverna Luka Marina
Famous Restaurants & Clubs:
Monte restaurant, Batel Bar, Wine Bar Piassa Grande, Havana Bar, Valentino Cocktail & Champagne Bar, Steel Club
A Must See Attraction:
The Cathedral of Euphemia, Old Rovinj, Balbi Arch, Grisia Street
Best beaches to visit in your yacht:
Cape Skarba, Amarin Beach, Katarina Island Beach, Sveti Andrija (St. Andrew) Beach, Maskin Island Beach
Local Yacht Events:
Adris RC44 Cup
Best time to go:
Summer is the best time to visit Rovinj due to the excellent weather and number of music events on in the city. Those looking for a more staid holiday can visit outside this peak time during the shoulder season for a more personal service in the cafes and fewer tourists at the main tourist sites.
Further Charter Information
Yacht Rentals Available: Go here for the current list of yacht rentals in Rovinj.
Full Croatia Yacht Charter Guide: Go here for the essential Croatia yacht charter guide.
Rovinj Itineraries: Here is a selection of broker itineraries for Rovinj.
News: Read the latest superyacht news about Rovinj.
Charter Yachts in Rovinj
Client Testimonials
What our clients say about their charter experience.
Trina: We returned Monday afternoon. The two weeks on board Navilux were simply superb. All as a result of the outstanding service, warmth, and kindness of the crew. Captain Luka found us marvellous secluded anchorages where we swam and enjoyed many meals before moving on to the next spot. Being the Split-Pula-Split itinerary, many of the passages were much longer than any compared to the Split-Dubrovnik-Split rotation. 100 miles one way vs 200 to Pula. Still, the towns we visited were pleasant (although we did not care for Zadar... too large, touristy, etc with no unique charm). Navilux, despite her age, is in very good nick. The Chef, Dominic, is excellent. He caters to all requests: we had a gluten-intolerant person aboard one week, grandkids who liked things simple for dinner, lunch... we had fresh lobster, scorpion fish, monkfish, shrimp both in salad and in pasta, duck breast, pasta w/truffles, risotto and for the 4th of July the crew surprised us with decoration of red/white/blue and flags on the outdoor dining area with burgers, ribs, beans and an American flag cake for dessert. The crew always has a ready smile and friendly greeting no matter what the situation. Service across all areas- rooms, bar service, meals, daily briefing on where to go and timing is without peer. Small laundry items are done once per week at the same time sheets are changed mid-week. Captain Luka has a drone which he uses to take pics during the voyage, which makes for great memories. If we do this again on Navilux, we will most likely limit ourselves to a Split-Split just touring the islands and small bays of that area, which Capt. Luka says we would enjoy. I and all of my family and friends believe Navilux is the perfect size and design ... no need to change. The weather these weeks was quite hot, as you no doubt knew, but aircon worked fine in cabins and on the occasions we had to dine indoors due to wasps swarming from the shore, making outside dining impossible. The new "toys" of sea bobs, jet skis, kayaks, paddle boards, snorkelling gear all got great use during the trip. In fact, the grandkids spent most of their time engaged with them as well as some fishing... only marginal success, but one grandson caught a fish after dinner on our last evening, so was quite chuffed to end the trip on that note. All of our friends and family gave their week 5 stars... I cannot imagine how this could be improved upon...
They absolutely loved the boat and described it as phenomenal. The meeting with the captain at a café the day before departure was excellent and helped establish a great rapport. They loved the flexibility of having the captain tailor each day around their preferences. The boat would typically move in the morning, although some evenings they would travel as well. The food onboard was exceptional. They did not want to miss a single meal and were consistently impressed with the quality. The crew's service was a major highlight. They loved that the crew knew one another well and were all Croatian, which created a very warm and cohesive atmosphere. The crew offered two massages each day, allowing everyone to take turns enjoying them. The captain would regularly go into town to purchase fresh produce and local fish, which added a wonderful local element to the experience. One day, the captain went out diving for octopus and later enjoyed it as part of their onboard meal. Overall Takeaway: The clients were exceptionally positive about the trip, with the yacht experience, crew, flexibility, food, and personalised service standing out above everything else. They repeatedly emphasised how much they loved being onboard and how little they wanted to leave the boat.
Simply top-notch personalized service: From the very beginning of the process matching a boat and location with our party size and desires Trina Howes of Charterworld was outstanding. She had personal experience & was familiar with various yachts enabling our choices both in Turkey and Croatia. I have used her and CharterWorld for 4 separate charters all of which were 5 stars... The process is easy, seamless and each step of the process is easily understood. Trina is available by email and phone during the entire process of investigation, choice and final selection as well as payments and preferences. Highly recommended.
Thank you to all of the amazing crew and our captain because it was you all who made this trip so special. I'm so thankful to have had this experience, and I hope I will be able to do it again! (…) What an incredible week! The islands, the boat and the food were outstanding, but the crew is what truly made our trip so special! Thank you for spoiling us. Can't wait for the next visit. Cheers. (…) Thank you for a wonderful trip that we all will remember for a long time. OMNIA is a beautiful yacht, but the key to our adventure was the crew! You all did an amazing job that made this the best trip ever! (…) We have been planning a trip to Greece for many years, and now have actually made it! What an amazing way to see a new country! The crew was outstanding - thank you all!
What can we say? Unbelievably amazing experience. You are all such wonderful people whom we can now consider friends we hope to have long into the future. Thank you for sharing your hospitality and incredible country with us; we could not have asked for a better experience. We look forward to seeing you all in the very near future – in Croatia or Florida. All the very best and with much affection
To the Reverie team: We want to say a huge thank you for everything you have done for us on this trip. You are the best crew we have ever had on a yacht, hands down. Everything has been flawless. Keith’s food has been healthy, tasty, voluminous, and so varied. The toys and tenders were always ready for us when we needed them, and we loved having 3 Sea-Bobs, 3 efoils and 2 jet skis. Always charged and ready to go, from the moment we woke until we went to bed. Our rooms were cleaned so fast we often wondered if there were fairies who appeared and did it. Our washing was done and returned so quickly we wondered if we dreamed it. Service was perfect (thanks Megan and team!) - always nearby when we needed it, and invisible when we didn’t. We aren’t sure how we will survive at home, and there won’t be a drink, a cold towel and a smile waiting for us. Shane - you found us the best anchorages - exactly where we wanted to be - out of the way, out of the wind, but close to everything. We wanted adventures, and you went out of your way to source e-bikes, which ended up being a highlight. We know it wasn’t easy to find or to get them on and off the boat. The smaller things: remembering everyone’s names; the printed AllTrails maps; taking our kids jet skiing. They have all been noticed and appreciated. We know that it isn’t easy to build a team that can create such an exceptional experience. Congratulations to everyone on board - including those behind the scenes we don’t get to see as much. We would love to come back again next year - only if the crew is the same! Thanks so much!
