North Adriatic and Istrian coast
Istria and its coast, for many sailing enthusiasts, is the first part of the Adriatic with which they familiarize. If one comes from Slovenia, Trst, marina Monfalcone or Lignana, Venice and Ravene, usually one of the ports or marinas in the western Istrian coast is the first one they will run into.
The Istrian coast is low and tame, with rich vegetation and distinctive settlements. Rovinj, Poreč, Vrsar and Pula are its pearls. The coastline is indented, with many bays but also many shallows which must be looked out for, especially on its western side. Here you can find many large and well equipped marinas. The eastern coastline is its complete opposite. Except in the southern most areas, where the land cuts in to form the Medulin bay and Premanturska cove and in spite of many coves and bays all the way to Mošćenička draga, Lovran and Opatija, the coastline is much steeper and much less inhabited. A coast like this is a challenge for sailing enthusiasts, as there are numerous places to sail to and places to stay here. The Raški bay, Krnik port and Rabac may, for example, be a discovery. When we arrive in Opatija we are already into Kvarner.