Three countries in seven days? Slovenia, Italy, and Croatia in one sailing trip? Yes, it's absolutely possible! The Gulf of Trieste offers a unique opportunity to experience three different cultures, cuisines, and maritime traditions without having to sail hundreds of nautical miles. Let us show you how we did it during our Easter sailing adventure.
Why the Gulf of Trieste?
When planning a vacation, everyone has different ideas, but it usually starts with choosing the right destination. But what if you could visit three countries during one week? Sounds expensive and time-consuming? Let us prove you wrong.
Slovenia, Italy, Croatia. Three countries you can visit, explore, and experience a real adventure. The Slovenian city of Portorož, Italian Venice, and Croatian Pula. These were our three main destinations for this cruise.
We completed this route during the Easter holidays in the pre-COVID era. The weather was sunny throughout, with mild conditions and sometimes no wind at all. The sea was cold for swimming - anyone brave enough had to grit their teeth! We wanted to spend Easter on the boat, and we made it happen. If you prefer warmer swimming conditions, we recommend doing this route in summer months.
Day 1: Portorož → Venice (54 NM)
Night sailing full of adrenaline
We started in the Slovenian city of Portorož (45° 30' 47.41" N, 13° 35' 28.29" E). We checked the boat, loaded our gear and luggage, and set off around noon. We headed directly across the Gulf of Trieste to the Italian city of Venice, specifically to the San Giorgio port on the Venetian island of San Giorgio Maggiore (54NM, 45° 25' 47.54" N, 12° 20' 38.54" E).
With no wind, we had no choice but to start the engine and keep the sails down. As night fell, we approached the Italian coast.
⚠️ Important navigation tips for this route:
- If you're not heading directly to the Venetian Lagoon entrance, keep your distance from the shore
- The coast has shallow waters - you can easily run aground!
- Night sailing brings incredible experiences and extra adrenaline
- Constantly monitor navigation marks to guide you in the right direction
The entrance to the Venetian Lagoon and the navigation channel are marked by wooden poles driven into the bottom. More information about navigating the Venetian Lagoon can be found in our separate article.
Entering Venice in fog
We entered the Venetian Lagoon around 10 PM. It was challenging. Fog had set in and visibility was poor. After entering, we still had to cover about 3.5-4 NM to reach the small island of San Giorgio Maggiore, where you'll find the basilica and monastery of the same name.
It's a tiny harbor with a direct view of all Venice. Around midnight, we successfully moored at the port and enjoyed the night view of the illuminated city emerging from under the fog. A ferry runs between the island and the mainland, making it easy to reach Venice proper - for a small fee, it will take you to the center at San Marco Square at regular intervals.
Day 2: Easter Sunday in Venice
We spent Easter Sunday exploring the city, monuments, museums, and climbing St. Mark's Campanile tower. We recommend visiting Venice in the early morning hours - this way you'll avoid crowds and long queues. We managed to see everything before noon, including tasting typical Italian dishes.
Sailing to Pula (71 NM)
Around 1 PM, we sailed one last time into the Grand Canal on our sailboat, but then had to turn around and slowly start the long journey across the northern part of the Adriatic Sea to the Croatian city of Pula (71 NM, 44° 52' 22.5177578" N, 13° 50' 41.2842751" E).
The weather during the 14-hour sail was stable, sunny, and sometimes completely windless. Like true sailors, we tested the cold water, but after a few moments, we escaped back to the boat and continued our journey.
Day 3: Pula - Cultural Pearl of Istria
Around 3 AM, we arrived in Pula and moored at ACI Marina Pula. Despite the late hour, our excitement got the better of us, and we ran into town to see the Roman arena, located just about 300 m from the marina.
💡 Fun fact: The Pula Arena is the only remaining Roman amphitheater with all four side towers completely preserved. It was built between 27 BC and 68 AD and is one of the six largest surviving Roman arenas in the world.
Slovak Easter traditions in Pula
Easter Monday was dedicated to Slovak traditions first. There was plenty of water available, so why not use it! Then we spent the entire morning exploring the city, which has a lot to offer visitors.
Pula is a modern city with a rich history and numerous cultural monuments. The largest city on the Istrian peninsula will charm you with its rich culture and turbulent history. Whether it's the amphitheater, Temple of Augustus, Triumphal Arch of the Sergii, town hall, Hercules Gate, castle, Twin Gate, city walls, Church and Monastery of St. Francis, Chapel of St. Mary Formosa, and many other attractions.
Brijuni National Park (5 NM)
In the afternoon, we got back on the boat and headed towards the islands of Brijuni National Park archipelago, consisting of two larger islands - Veli and Mali Brijun and 12 smaller islets. The area was declared a national park in 1983. We anchored in the small harbor of Veli Brijun (5 NM, 44° 55' 3.90" N, 13° 46' 6.63" E) in the northeastern part of the island. The national park covers 736 hectares and its coastline stretches almost 47 km - it's truly a beautiful place.
Day 4: Encounter with dolphins
On Tuesday morning, waking up to a sunny day, we set sail around 11 AM towards the city of Rovinj (11NM, 45.076N, 13.635E). We navigated through the small islands on the western side of Veli and Mali Brijun. We were treated to magnificent views of natural scenery.
🐬 Unforgettable experience: At Rovinj ACI Marina, we wanted to refuel with water and fuel and spend a comfortable night. Our journey was made even more pleasant by dolphins that accompanied us for quite a distance, and we eventually jumped into the water to swim with them!
Red Island
We stopped at Red Island, located about 1 NM from Rovinj. The beaches of Red Island are one of the most popular tourist spots in Rovinj. There are many beautiful beaches there, most of them pebble beaches covered with smooth stones. We spent the entire afternoon there and in the evening returned to ACI Marina Rovinj, where we spent the night.
💡 Tip: Don't skip exploring Rovinj town. You'll be pleasantly surprised!
Day 5: Poreč - UNESCO Heritage (10 NM)
Wednesday morning had a clear sailing direction - the Croatian city of Poreč (10NM 45°13.506' N, 13°35.384' E). Here you simply have a choice: buoy, anchor, or tie up in the harbor. You'll be satisfied with any option for spending the night.
Poreč also offers many attractions nearby. You can either take a boat to St. Nicholas Island or head straight to the city center. You'll be welcomed by narrow streets, monuments that are part of UNESCO cultural heritage, and unique gastronomy. The route to Poreč is lined with numerous bays, small islands, beaches, and almost everything is covered with forest.
Day 6: Trieste - Authentic Italian Coffee (32 NM)
Thursday morning we headed north to the Italian city of Trieste (32 NM, 45°38.898' N, 13°45.578' E). A relatively long sail awaited us. The weather was favorable all week. Sails, engine, sails. It alternated between sunny and cloudy skies.
We entered the city around 2 PM. We settled in San Giusto Marina, which has good access to the city center. The center will captivate you with its charm, quality coffee, and typical Italian specialties. You simply can't resist and have no choice but to enjoy it all.
Day 7: Return to Portorož (20 NM)
To reach our final destination (Portorož city), we had about 20 NM left to sail. We followed the coastline of Italy and Slovenia. One last chance to get to know the region and enjoy the cold April water. After all, cold water swimming is said to be healthy!
The sunny weather helped. We saw the border town of Muggia, vineyards on the Debeli Rtič peninsula, camping in Ankaran, the most important Slovenian port of Koper, the seaside resort of Isola, and the fuel station for boats :-), where we concluded our Easter cruise along the coast of these three countries.
Practical tips for this route
- Total distance: Approximately 180 NM in one week
- Best season: April-October (we went for Easter and it was perfect!)
- Recommended supplies: Refuel water and fuel in Pula or Rovinj
- Marinas: ACI marinas in Croatia are excellently equipped
- Venice: Best visited early morning before tourist crowds
- Documents: Don't forget valid documents for all 3 countries
MarinaTips Team
xmacm
