Vrsar Marina, of the Montraker Group, is based in the pleasant, small town of Vrsar on the west coast of the Istrian Peninsula. Istria, in the North of Croatia is a large heart-shaped, peninsula just south of Trieste in Italy. Its grassy indented coastline is popular with the sailing set, as sea is untainted and the secluded spots still in abundance, offering much to see on a charter holiday. In front of Vrsar, there is an alluring archipelago with 18 uninhabited islets, perfect for discovering by boat. Sailing further south past Rovinj are the 14 islands of the Rovinj archipelago, an island complex of outstanding beauty.
Vrsar Marina, open all year round, is protected by the small island of St. Juraj, a breakwater with a jetty and a seawall making it a safe harbour from all winds except strong NW ones. An old stone pier, 60 m long and 20 m wide, which is located at the south end of the marina, is reserved for tourist and fishing boats.
Facilities
Vrsar Marina has 220 berths in the sea, all connected to electricity and water. The marina can handle yachts up to 50 metres in length and there are places where the depth is 14m, making it a good stop for superyachts. Berthing assistance is also offered. There are also 40 dry berths, a 30T crane and a professional diving service, if needed.
Facilities offered are sanitary facilities, a top class restaurant, a café bar, a nautical equipment shop, a launderette, car park, garbage and recycling bins, surveillance security and Wi-Fi. A petrol station is located in the marina, where the depth of the water is 4m. Visitors can also take advantage of the proximity of Vrsar town where there are plenty of restaurants and bars overlooking the marina and a delightful Mediterranean ambience, especially in the hot summer evenings. There is also an ambulance, post office and nautical shop in Vrsar.
Getting there and away
Pula International Airport is 53km away.
Vrsar itself is a real base, not just a dock. Our guests often combine a day on the boat with time ashore in the town center and along the waterfront. Actually, the immediate area is known for family-friendly beaches and calm coastal cruising, so even a first-time skipper usually feels comfortable planning a day itinerary.
In terms of access, we recommend arriving via the nearby airport in Pula (PUY), which is the main international option for this part of Istria. From Pula you can reach Vrsar by road; in practice, it’s a straightforward transfer using the regional highway network. If you’re coming from elsewhere in Croatia or from neighboring countries, the broader motorway connections in the Istrian region are commonly used for reaching the west-coast ports and marinas.
For ferry connections, we have noticed that travelers often use the larger regional routes that connect Istria with the wider Adriatic network, typically through bigger hubs rather than Vrsar itself. In other words: Vrsar is mainly a marina town for launching local sailing days, while the “big” ferry options are usually handled from larger ports in the region.
Now, about sailing destinations that fit a one-day trip or a full week: from Vrsar you can comfortably aim toward the Brijuni area. The Brijuni Islands are a well-known protected natural and cultural landscape near the coast, and many crews plan a return cruise that keeps the schedule relaxed. You can also explore the shoreline around Lim Bay, where the scenery changes from open water to sheltered approaches. Based on our experience, guests who book with us often enjoy mixing a beach stop with a longer scenic leg—Adriatic light, limestone coastline, and plenty of places to anchor briefly.
We state with certainty: Marina Vrsar is a sensible, well-situated base for cruising Istria’s west coast, with Pula as the key air gateway and Brijuni and the Lim Bay coastline as the classic “week or day” highlights.