Stari Grad Anchorage Guide
Also known as: Stari Grad Bay, Starogradski Zaljev, Pharos
Stari Grad (literally 'Old Town') sits at the head of a 7km-long deep inlet — one of the finest natural harbours in the entire Mediterranean. Founded by the ancient Greeks as Pharos in 384 BC, making it one of the oldest towns in Croatia. The surrounding Stari Grad Plain is a UNESCO World Heritage landscape — a 2,400-year-old Greek agricultural layout still in use today, divided by ancient dry-stone walls (parcelisation). The all-weather shelter is exceptional — the long, deep inlet provides protection from all significant wind directions including Bura and Jugo. Mud and sand holding is superb. A quieter, more culturally significant alternative to the party atmosphere of Hvar town (28nm away by sea, 20km overland).
Quick Reference
GPS Coordinates
43°10.97'N 16°35.8'E
Depth
4–10m
Bottom
mud, sand
Holding
Excellent holdingProtected From
N, NE, E, SE, S, NW, W
Exposed To
None
Best Months
May, June, September, October
Anchoring Fee
Free to anchor; town quay berth fee applies (approx €20–35/night)
Permit
No
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
70m in the bay head is conservative — the enclosed inlet geometry limits swing dramatically. Excellent mud holding means the anchor rarely drags. In the mid-inlet section at 8–14m, increase to 100m. Stari Grad is one of the few true all-weather anchorages in the Adriatic — even in force 7–8 conditions the bay head is benign.
Set this in Safety Anchor Alarm — FreeAnchoring Zones
Stari Grad has 2 distinct anchoring zones.
Zone 1: Bay head — main anchorage
- Depth: 4–10m
- Bottom: mud, sand
- Holding: Excellent holding
- Protected from: N, NE, E, SE, S, NW, W
- Alarm radius: 70m
The Stari Grad inlet runs approximately 7km deep into Hvar — one of the longest natural inlets in the Adriatic. The bay head provides outstanding all-weather shelter from virtually all directions. Mud and sand bottom gives exceptional holding. The anchorage is well away from the ferry terminal and town quay. Multiple anchorage positions throughout the inlet but the bay head is most sheltered. Depths 4–8m in the inner anchorage; up to 18m in the main channel.
Zone 2: Mid-inlet — secondary anchoring
- Depth: 6–14m
- Bottom: mud
- Holding: Excellent holding
- Protected from: N, NE, E, SE, S, W
- Exposed to: NW
- Alarm radius: 100m
The mid-inlet section in 8–14m also provides good all-weather shelter with excellent mud holding. More swing room than the bay head but slightly more exposure to NW Mistral funnelling down the inlet. The inlet walls and hills provide significant shelter even from NW. Suitable for larger vessels.
Setting Your Anchor
The bottom at Stari Grad is primarily mud and sand.
- Approach slowly — deploy at minimum 7:1 scope (70m chain at 10m depth).
- Drop into wind or current and pay out chain steadily.
- Set firmly in reverse for 30–60 seconds.
- Snorkel to verify — confirm no Posidonia. Fines up to €2,000 for anchoring on Posidonia in Croatia.
Recommended anchor types: Rocna, Mantus, Spade, Delta, CQR.
Overnight Anchoring & Anchor Alarm
Set your GPS anchor alarm to 70m radius. 70m in the bay head is conservative — the enclosed inlet geometry limits swing dramatically. Excellent mud holding means the anchor rarely drags. In the mid-inlet section at 8–14m, increase to 100m. Stari Grad is one of the few true all-weather anchorages in the Adriatic — even in force 7–8 conditions the bay head is benign.
Excellent year-round. The all-weather capability makes this the safest Hvar anchorage for Bura or Jugo conditions. July–August is moderately busy but nothing like Hvar town. September–October is outstanding: quiet, warm water, excellent sailing conditions.
Navigation Hazards
- Split–Stari Grad car ferry — large ferries run multiple times daily; keep anchor well clear of the approach channel
- NW Mistral can funnel down the inlet in sustained F5+ conditions — move to bay head for maximum shelter
- Posidonia on inlet margins — snorkel to verify before setting anchor on the inlet sides
- Ferry wash at quay — if berthed stern-to the town quay, ferry wash can be significant
Rules & Regulations
- Permit: No special permit required
- Anchoring fee: Free to anchor; town quay berth fee applies (approx €20–35/night)
- Maximum stay: 7 days
- Restrictions: Ferry terminal priority — the Split–Stari Grad car ferry route is active; keep clear of the marked approach. 150m beach exclusion from bathing beaches in season. No anchoring on Posidonia — present on inlet margins. No tying to trees or rocks.
- Croatian eNautička (MMPI) permit required for all foreign yachts.
- SSVO 2025: 150m beach exclusion zone Jun 15–Sep 15.
Facilities
- Fresh water: Available
- Fuel: Available
- Restaurant/Konoba: Good range of restaurants, fish market, and supermarkets in Stari Grad town.
- Provisions: Available nearby
- Wi-Fi: Available
Skipper's Tips
- Anchor in the bay head for the best all-weather shelter — the long inlet provides extraordinary protection even in storm conditions
- Walk or hire a bicycle to explore the UNESCO Stari Grad Plain — the ancient Greek agricultural landscape visible from the road above the inlet
- The Dominican monastery and town walls are a 10-min walk from the anchorage — excellent museum of Greek finds
- This is a better base than Hvar town for exploring the whole island — day sail or bus to Hvar town (20km)
- In ferry season, use a stern line to the quay wall only if no anchorage spot remains — the ferry wash is significant
A note on this guide: Always check current weather, NAVTEX/VHF bulletins, and HHI charts. Use a GPS anchor alarm and never rely solely on a guide for navigational decisions.
Sleep peacefully at Stari Grad
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