As soon as your luxury yacht for charter approaches the marina of this striking town, you might feel as if it has an aristocratic air about it. And you wouldn't be wrong. Biograd Na Moru is known as the royal town of Croatia, and served as the capital of the mediaeval state of this coastal country.
But it's not history tours that make this city stand out - the sun kissed sandy beaches, wild nature, and stellar culinary scene made it a summer hotspot that many revisit year after year. The name of the town means “White City On The Sea '', and already from the harbour, you will understand the etymology.
Adored by yachtsmen for its excellent location that gives you the privilege to explore numerous nature parks and the nearby towns of Šibenik and Zadar, Biograd naturally developed a ritzy marina to accommodate numerous visitors. With 750 berths available, Marina Kornati is one of the largest in Croatia and offers facilities that meet the highest standards.
Although it is a very convenient base for your bespoke yacht charter holiday in Croatia, the city shouldn't be viewed as a mere stop-over of your itinerary. It offers a superb balance of choices to equally satisfy families, groups of friends looking for a good time, and adventurers who want to admire the highest mastery of Mother Nature.
If you don't have much time to spare and would like to use those precious days off work to their fullest by partaking in a luxury yachting cruise, Biograd is a town that can be reached quite quickly - Zadar airport is located just 50 kilometres away, and your charter yacht can await you in the marina there.
Things To See In Biograd Na Moru
Although just cruising Dalmatia by sea without previous education and allowing yourself to be surprised by its beauty is exciting, here are some spoilers of what's to come. Just as enthralling on land as it is while your charter yacht smoothly cuts into waves, Biograd Na Moru is a well-rounded city that will enamour even the best-travelled visitors.
Homeland Museum
Because of its tremendous heritage, Croatia’s Crown City is the source of patriotic pride. To preserve the memory of the town’s glory, The Homeland Museum was established and holds an enviable exhibition of the findings from Biograd Na Moru and its surroundings. Here, you’ll get the chance to see a well-curated exhibition of paintings, the archaeological and ethnographic collections, as well as the findings from a Venetian merchant ship that sank in the 16th century a few miles south from the town. The latter includes murano glass goods (how they didn’t break is truly a mystery), silverware, candle holders and other luxurious items from the Renaissance era, crafted by the most talented Venetian artisans.
Church of St. Anastasia
Erected in the 18th Century to honour the holy martyr Anastasia, this church is worth a visit if you are interested in sublime examples of baroque architecture, as well as for the treasure of art found inside, most notably the gilded-wood altar. The pine-tree tufted church plays an important role in the life of highly religious locals and is a great place to observe the typical atmosphere of the town.
St. Ivan Convent
Surely one of the most important landmarks in Biograd Na Moru is this well-preserved Benedictine convent. Established in the 11th century by King Peter of Croatia, the convent of St. Ivan includes the remains of the old 6th century basilica and important historical documents written in the forgotten slavic alphabet “glagoljica”. While many forget to fully explore the historic monuments of the town as they are naturally distracted by the beaches, if you have to choose just one, this would be our recommendation.
Have an excursion to Vransko Lake Nature Park
Good news - some parts of Earth seem to be completely untouched by the fast-developing industries and have retained their beauty for thousands of years. Such is the Vransko Jezero (Vransko Lake), a shelter for numerous endangered species and the largest lake in Croatia. Because of the climate, rare mix of salt and spring water, and unique karst valley, it has impressive biodiversity. A visit to this lake will be a special treat for bird watchers, since it was even proclaimed an Ornithological reserve and Ramsar site. A whopping 265 bird species call this place home, while 100,000 water birds spend the winter here. The lake also has an intriguing history, with the first findings dating to 2,000 BC.
Fun Park Biograd
Children onboard? Reward them for a lesson in history by taking them to the Fun Park in Biograd Na Vodi, with an incredible choice of attractions that will easily keep them busy for the whole day. Several theme sections of the park, such as the western express train, space car simulator, the alien rollercoaster, zero gravity trampolines and twenty others are suited for different age groups, so that fun is ensured to toddlers, teens and adults.
Best Beaches In Biograd Na Moru
We’ve gathered the best beaches in Biograd Na Moru for a quick taste of what’s to come during your bespoke yachting holiday, but words don’t do them justice. Home to some of the nicest sandy beaches in Croatia, this town will let you get the best out of the Adriatic sea, while your captain will show you even more azure coves nearby while cruising.
Drazica Beach
The main town beach is just perfect for a family day in the sun - fine pebbles, completely translucent seas and a variety of activities for those not satisfied with just basking in the sun earned Drazica a Blue Flag standard. The vibrant beach is organised around the harbour and has several restaurants and bars in its proximity where you can get some refreshments after jet skiing, parasailing, or simply snorkelling in this summer oasis.
Soline Beach
Peach-hued sand and pebbles, turquoise seas, and pine trees are part of the scenery that makes Soline one of the best beaches in the area. Since it’s not far from the city centre, you can come here for a nice cocktail after a day of cruising or during the day with little ones - the water is shallow and therefore perfectly safe for kids.
Red Bay (Crvena Luka)
The picture-perfect Red Bay has mesmerising scenery that will help you achieve complete relaxation, with several small coves hidden under the pine trees. Sandy or pebbly ones - the choice is yours.
Lumbrak Beach
If you like to avoid any crowds and even the smallest noise takes away from your beach experience, come to the wild and naturally beautiful Lumbrak. With few to no tourists depending on the month, this beach offers a true Blue Lagoon feeling where you can lay back and enjoy the soothing sound of waves and birdsong.
Bosana Beach
A stunning Eden-like beach where you can find shade under the pine trees even in intense hours of summer heat, Bosana is a beach best suited for families, since it is relatively quiet, yet well-organised with a volleyball court, playground and a watersports centre to keep your munchkins busy while you read a book or work on your tan.
Best Restaurants In Biograd Na Moru
Dalmatian cuisine is a hedonist’s dream come true. Olive oil that shames Spain and Italy, fresh seafood, and the freshest ingredients often grown at family orchards by the restaurant’s owners pair up to bring a healthy and delicious gourmet experience even at the simplest tavernas.
Konoba Kampaniel
Set in a typical Dalmatian stone house, Konoba Kampaniel would even make for a nice outing with the delicious food not included in the rating - the views of the clock tower set the tone that shouldn’t be missed while in Biograd Na Moru. Yet, when the mouthwatering seafood delicacies start to arrive, you will probably be ready to make another reservation. The staff is very friendly and very devoted to making guests feel at home.
Dupin
If you find yourself spending a beach day at Bosana, consider heading to the Dupin restaurant and enjoy simple, yet perfectly prepared Dalmatian dishes. In the evenings, the ambiance becomes super romantic with candle lit tables just by the sea - great for a special date with your partner.
Blandona
One thing that few mention when describing the culinary scene of Dalmatia are the magnificent ice cream shops where you will eat the best sundaes of your entire life. An atmosphere reminiscent of the long gone seventies, easygoing staff, and gelato that shames Italian competition are an underrated symbol of the Croatian coast, where families gather on the weekends to treat their kids. After exploring the town for hours, you might want to cool down - if so, stop by Blandona for a colourful cup bursting with flavour.
Pizzeria Beštek
While it would be great to stick to a seafood diet during your charter holiday in Croatia, sometimes we just yearn for a sinful bite. When you enter the small alley right of the corso, the temptation for some delicious oven baked pizza will become even stronger when you sense the smell spreading from Pizzeria Beštek, a cult favourite in Biograd Na Vodi. They have some 5 star bruschetta, too!
