New flight routes to our favorite sailing destination from Ireland

We couldn't be happier to hear that new routes from Ireland to Croatia have been announced for 2019

New flight routes announced for 2019

Regardless of whether you love or hate Ryanair, they will get you from pretty much anywhere in Europe to most Mediterranean sailing hubs. Since the most important items you need to bring with you are sun cream, swimming togs, shorts, t-shirts and flip-flops, you can probably cram all of these into a small bag to bring on board with you. Your friends and family can be transported at an additional cost!

Until not so long ago, it wasn't easy to find one's way to Croatia. Early 90's enthusiasm of Croatia Airlines quickly fizzled out and they stopped their direct flight from Zagreb to Dublin. Adria Airways (Slovenian national air carrier) followed suit in the early 00's. Both offered connecting flights to Dubrovnik and Split while many other hubs remained dependent on shuttle buses and costly private transfers. Aer Lingus appeared rather revolutionary when they introduced a direct flight from Dublin to Dubrovnik and filled their seats easily.

That's all changed now... With thousands of Croats living in Ireland and Croatia finding itself on pretty much every blogger's and travel writer's 'Must see' lists, airlines are scrambling for their chunk of travelling population.

Nowdays, Ryanair fly directly from Dublin to Zadar on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, starting from 1st of April 2019.

More conveniently, they fly Direct from Dublin to Split on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, from 1st of June 2019.

They will also bring you to Dubrovnik on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays from 2nd of June 2019.

Even though, we would be thrilled to have abundance of cheap flights landing at our favorite sailing hubs on Saturdays, approximately an hour before check-in time for yacht charters, we see a huge amount of opportunity in flights which get us where we want to be a day or two early. Anywhere you go in Croatia is spectacularly beautiful and full of places well worth seeing.

Church of St. Donat in Zadar

Zadar placed 9th on New York Times' '52 Places you Must Visit in 2019'. You may want to stay put in Zadar for a few days and check out the city’s architectural treasures, which span some 2,000 years. Begin with the Forum, a football-field-sized public square designed in the first century B.C. Encircling it are subsequent outcroppings of history: the ninth-century Church of St. Donat, the 11th-century St. Mary's Convent, an Orthodox church built upon a Roman temple and the St. Anastasia Cathedral — Dalmatia’s largest — begun in the 12th century. And when you've seen them all, you may want to spend some time enjoying the Sea Organ which is a combination art, musical architecture and science project — on Zadar’s northwestern point. It won the 2006 European Prize for Urban Public Space. What is it? Under stone steps, which disappear into the water, 35 pipes continually blow the notes of an unpredictable concert based on the sea’s undulations and the ensuing air pressure. It is quite special and shouldn't be missed!

Local legend says that if you make a wish and rub Grgur's big toe, he will make sure that your wish comes true. You will find him just outside of the north wall in Split Old Town.

The Telegraph declared Split to be better weekend break destination than Dubrovnik. Whether you agree or not, it is an amazing city to visit. Split will charm you with its honeycombs of unique historical buildings with a cosmopolitan, palm-lined “Riva” waterfront. The heart of the Old Town is a unique city within a city - a Roman fortification which was built some 1,700 years ago for the Emperor Diocletian. It's windy, narrow streets packed with artisan shops, cafes and bars, often trick even locals into getting completely and hopelessly lost.

Meanwhile, if you are straight forward, in and out charterer, Aer Lingus operates direct flights from Dublin to Pula, Split and Dubrovnik on Saturdays. There are alternative flights to those destinations throughout the week.

WannaGoSailing.com operate fleets of over 7,000 sailing monohulls, catamarans, motor and classic yachts in 42 destinations worldwide. Contact us today to book your first or next sailing adventure! We promise not to disappoint you!