New Improved Croatian Marina in Zadar?

It was bound to happen eventually. This majestic building in Zadar, once the home of the Maraska distillery, is apparently destined to become a 5 star, 120 room hotel. Next door there will be a luxury residential complex and a commercial zone including shops, restaurants and bars.

Dogus Group, who own three marinas in Croatia, including the flagship D-Marin Mandalina Marina in  Šibenik, announced recently they will be investing €80 million in the project which is due to start later this year and take approximately one year. Dogus does not have a marina in Zadar city centre itself though it’s difficult not to suppose that they must have their eyes on Zadar Marina which lies right next to the Maraska building and could probably do with some new investment.

Dogus opened a new hotel at D-Marin Mandalina last year and, this year, will also be upgrading facilities at nearby D-Marin Borik and  D-Marin Dalmacija Sukošan.

Zadar is a rising Croatian star. Ten years ago it was little known as a tourist destination and pretty hard to find a decent choice of hotels. Now, thanks to its own special charms and Ryannair favouring its airport, its attracting more and more visitors. For nautical tourists, however, it’s always been a very special destination with a marina that’s right in the heart of everything.

Sister blog Croatia Online has many postings on Zadar and here are a few, in chronological order – oldest first – which will give you an idea of just how much (or how little?!) some things have changed:

Zadar - November 2006

Ryanair Flies to Zadar & HMS Cornwall in Split - February 2007

Croatia Destinations - Zadar & Sibenik - February 2007

Zadar's Newest Hotel - November 2008

Zadar's Sky Diving Cocktail Bar Owner - July 2010

Croatia's Zadar Airport Continues To Grow - Feb 2015

Croatia’s Neighbour Build’s Largest Ever Yacht Berth

Ok, I know Montenegro is not Croatia but it does have a habit of stealing the limelight from its neighbour! Montenegro has a tiny coastline but some of it, particularly the Bay of Kotor, is spectacular, and it is here you will find Porto Montenegro and plenty of other superyacht marina activity. Small though it is, Montenegro has the distinct advantage of being able to offer Croatia’s amazing cruising grounds as part of its package. It has deliberately focused on the luxury end of the nautical tourism market, with considerable success, and now offers the world’s largest superyacht berth at 250 metres (820 feet), much bigger than the world’s largest yacht….so far!

Have a look here - Porto Montenegro - for the full story and to see how fast and how far the marina has changed since the photo above, taken in 2012.