
Active Tourism in Croatia
We have compiled a calendar of all the key sports events in Croatia happening in 2020. Let us know if you are hosting an event that you would like adding, or if you know of any others!
Nature’s Playground
Croatia is nature’s playground. The landscape and climate are perfect for outdoor activities of all sorts. Active tourism is on the rise and you can find sports events in Croatia for any combinations of running, cycling/MTB, swimming, track and trail, water sports and regattas you can imagine.
We have searched through all the competitions in the region… ironman, triathlon, biathlon, aquathlon, marathons, mountain bike and road cycling races, sailing regattas, SUP and kayak events. Do any of these sports events in Croatia take your fancy?
Plan your Holiday Around a Sports Event in Croatia
Use our calendar to find all the sports events in Croatia that you are interested in. Then all you need to do is enter, and persuade your support team to come to watch. There are plenty of opportunities to extend your stay beyond the main event – treat yourself and your support team to a week on a yacht for a well-earned rest afterward!
Please Everyone
So if you have a fitness fanatic in your family, or you can’t keep still on holiday, why not kill two birds with one stone? After all, you can be as active or luxuriously lazy as you like when you charter a yacht for a sailing holiday! With early and late season sports events in Croatia, it is often possible to charter a yacht for a half week (4 days), which makes it even more affordable.
Reward yourself with a yacht holiday!
To help get your plan in motion, we have given you an idea of yacht prices available at marinas nearby to each sports event. If the link does not work, it is because someone got there first. Don’t panic – there are plenty of yachts in the portfolio, get in touch and let us help make a plan around your sports event in Croatia!
2020 Sports Events in Croatia – Do it in Dalmatia!
This first sports event in Croatia this year has something for everyone. There is a full marathon, marathon relay, half-marathon, 5km race and kids’ races of 650m, 1.25km and 2.5km. It starts and finishes on the famous Split Riva waterfront right next to Diocletian’s Palace.
There are three different length trail races eminating from Sala along Dugi Otok (Long Island) to the Telašćica Nature Park. The Bay Green 9.3km, Cliff Blue 24km and Red 40km
The starting and finishing point is in the town of Sinj, 320 metres above sea level on the edge of a fertile plain (Sinjsko polje). This is about 35 km inland from Split. The half marathon route is a flat and fast out-and-back course across the plain, offering wide panoramic views of the mountain scenery around.
This is the 3rd race held in the wonderful Krka National Park. Runners will have the opportunity to choose between Half Marathon and Fun Run (5.5km). Races will start at the Eco Campus Puljani and the finish line will be set at the magnificent Roman military camp, the Amphitheater Burnum.
You could combine your run with a half week or week sailing on a yacht from the nearby marina at Šibenik? Prices for a full week charter start from €897.
POSTPONED – NEW DATE 12 Sep 2020
Zadar Night Run includes a half marathon as well as shorter 2.5km, 5km and 10km races. It is unique way to experience beautiful city of Zadar, with the marathon course mainly following the seafront.
You could combine your run with a half-week or week sailing on a yacht from the nearby marina at Sukošan. Prices for a full week charter on a Lagoon 40 catamaran start from €1610.
This race kicks off the Husqvarna Adria Bike Series for 2020, which is starting even earlier than previous years with this MTB marathon in Vodice near Šibenik. The series has made a few changes and is aimed for everyone, from professionals to amateurs. both young and old.
You could combine your run with a half week or week sailing on a yacht from the nearby marina at Šibenik. Prices for a full week charter start from €897.
POSTPONED – NEW DATE YET TO BE DECIDED
Discover and experience Mali Lošinj through the first-ever XTERRA Off-Road Triathlon in Croatia. The race starts with a 1.5km swim in Čikat bay, then a 30km mountain bike course along the island, followed by a 10km off-road run. There are both individual and relay events.
POSTPONED – NEW DATE YET TO BE DECIDED
An off-road MTB 40km race (total elevation 900m). The race starts and finishes at Mali Lošinj harbour. The course is full of narrow single trails and lots of technical parts.
CANCELLED
Mitas 4 Islands is a team MTB stage race with 4 stages and a prologue. Amateurs compete side-by-side with professionals across the hard core climbs and technical descends. With each team consisting of two riders, over the course of five days participants will cycle 300km and 5.5km vertical meters. The events are held on the beautiful islands of Krk, Rab, Cres and Lošinj. This is one of the extremely high demanding sports events in Croatia. You will definitely deserve a rest after this one!
POSTPONED – New date 30 Oct 2020
The Marco Polo Challenge is a weekend of triathlon set on the beautiful island of Korčula. There are supersprint, sprint and middle distance triathlons as well as 5km / 10km / 21km street races.
- Triathlon: Sprint triathlon (750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run) for individuals and teams, and a supersprint triathlon (375m swim, 10km bike, 2.5km run).
Treat your support crew to a half week or full week on a yacht and make a holiday out of the occasion. Yacht prices start from €1720 for a full week sailing from Dubrovnik or €1560 from Split.
CANCELLED
This half marathon is run from Lun to Novalja on the island of Pag, north of Zadar
You could combine your run with a half-week or week sailing on a yacht from the nearby marina at Sukošan. Prices for a full week charter on a Lagoon 40 catamaran start from €1960.
CANCELLED
Some sports events in Croatia can be enjoyed globally – all around the world, runners join in the Wings for Life run. Everybody starts at exactly the same moment, no matter which timezone the event is held in. The Croatian race runs down the coast from Zadar to Vodice, starting at 1pm local time. There is no official end, and the race could last the whole 76km if you can pace yourself at 3:30mins/km. Contestants races are over when the inteceptor vehicle catches them. How far will you get?!
Recover with a half week or week sailing on a yacht from the nearby marina at Šibenik. Prices for a full week charter start from €1541.
POSTPONED – New date 25-27 Sep 2020
Zadar Outdoor Festival runs over two days. One day one there is a Kayak race (3 x 800m), SUP races and a sunset run (700m / 5km / 10km). The second day there are trail runs suitable for both amateurs and competitors on Otok Ugljan (5km / 10km / 21km).
Why not make this event the start of a half-week or week sailing on a yacht from the nearby marina at Sukošan. Prices for a full week charter on a Lagoon 40 catamaran start from €2310.
Ironman 5150 Triathlon Poreč: 1.5km swim, 40km bike, 10km run. Perched on the glistening Adriatic coastline, this storied Croatian town with its Mediterranean climate, striking contrast between the ancient and modern, is a treasure trove of sights, sounds and experiences.
The Trogir Outdoor Festival runs over two days. There are ‘Masters of Trail’ races and SUP races on the first day, with triathlons on the second day.
- Trail races: Fire 22km, Earth 11km and Water 5km.
- SUP: 1.5km and 800m.
- Triathlon: Sprint triathlon (750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run) for individuals and teams, and a supersprint triathlon (375m swim, 10km bike, 2.5km run).
Why not make this festival the start of a week sailing on a yacht from one of the nearby marinas? Yacht prices start from €1800.
POSTPONED – New date 10 Oct 2020
The ZadarHalf is a middle distance triathlon hosted in the chic city of Zadar – 1.9km swim, 90km bike, 21.1km run. On the same day, kids can enter the Aquathlon – 50m swim, 500m run and there is also a 5km run.
Why not make this event the start of a week sailing on a yacht from the nearby marina at Sukošan. Prices for a full week charter on a Lagoon 40 catamaran start from €2380.
POSTPONED – New date 16-23 May 2021
Adventure Race Croatia will be a qualifying race of the AR World Series. The 500km race over 4 days will include mountain biking, paddling, running, roping and navigation. This third edition of ARC will explore a new part of Croatia. Four beautiful islands of Kvarner region and mystical forests of Gorski kotar will leave you breathless in every sense of the word. This is an extreme sports event in Croatia not for the faint-hearted!
Lošinj Run 4 Vitality Festival is a unique three-day event for all lovers of healthy living and active rest, professional runners and recreational people. As well as 5km and 10km runs, there is a half marathon (21km) and aquathlon.
This is the first ever Brač Groove Trail. There are three distances for this trail race around the island of Brač. All races start in the village of Gažul : Light (7km), Active (14km) and Challenger (24km). Prizes and the after party are held on the new waterfront at Vlacica in Supetar.
The Plitvice Marathon weekend, has a 5km on day one and full and half marathons on day two set in the amazing National Park.
Plitvice is around 1hr40 by road from Zadar and the marina at Sukošan. Take a week on a catamaran to recover, prices for a Lagoon 40 start from €3520.
The Hvar Half Marathon runs from Stari Grad on the northern side of the Island, over the 425m hill Radinjac, back to the sea level in the finish in Hvar town. This is a beautiful, if hilly marathon to run. Given that it is being held at the end of June, it is just as well that it is a 6pm start! Hot stuff!
Your support team can follow you around the coast by boat and be ready to set sail for a wonderful week on the water to recover and celebrate your achievements! Prices for a week on a sailing yacht from Split start from €3240.
RESCHEDULED EVENT (was going to be held in April)
Zadar Night Run includes a half marathon as well as shorter 2.5km, 5km and 10km races. It is unique way to experience beautiful city of Zadar, with the marathon course mainly following the seafront.
You could combine your run with a half-week or week sailing on a yacht from the nearby marina at Sukošan. Prices for a full week charter on a Lagoon 40 catamaran start from €1610.
Race along the historic Ston Wall, built in the 14-15th century. The race stretches along the Pelješac penisula north of Dubrovnik. There are 4km, 15km, and 42km races for all types of competitors. The longer races takes runners along the longest fortified walls in Europe as well as along the narrow salt dam.
Your support team can follow you around the coast by boat and be ready to set sail for a wonderful week on the water to recover and celebrate your achievements! Prices for a week on a sailing yacht from Dubrovnik start from €2592.
Zadar Outdoor Festival runs over two days. One day one there is a Kayak race (3 x 800m), SUP races and a sunset run (700m / 5km / 10km). The second day there are trail runs suitable for both amatures and competitors on Otok Ugljan (5km / 10km / 21km).
Why not make this event the start of a half-week or week sailing on a yacht from the nearby marina at Sukošan. Prices for a full week charter on a Lagoon 40 catamaran start from €2240.
On day one you can enter the ‘Run the Wall‘ event, racing the 2km of Dubrovnik’s old city walls, which includes 1080 steps across slippery polished limestone flags. The following day sees the demanding Dubrovnik Half Marathon, which starts and ends on the Stradun. There is also a 5km fun run as well as a short kids race.
Prices for a week yacht charter from Dubrovnik start from €1720. Don’t forget that half weeks are available at this point in the season.
RESCHEDULED EVENT!
The ZadarHalf is a middle distance triathlon hosted in the chic city of Zadar – 1.9km swim, 90km bike, 21.1km run. On the same day, kids can enter the Aquathlon – 50m swim, 500m run and there is also a 5km run.
Why not make this event the start of a week sailing on a yacht from the nearby marina at Sukošan. Prices for a full week charter on a Lagoon 40 catamaran start from €2380.
POSTPONED – New date 30 Oct – 1 Nov 2020
The Marco Polo Challenge is a weekend of triathlon set on the beautiful island of Korčula. There are supersprint, sprint and middle distance triathlons as well as 5km / 10km / 21km street races.
- Triathlon: Sprint triathlon (750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run) for individuals and teams, and a supersprint triathlon (375m swim, 10km bike, 2.5km run).
Treat your support crew to a half week or full week on a yacht and make a holiday out of the occasion. Yacht prices start from €1720 for a full week sailing from Dubrovnik or €1560 from Split.
The Earth, Sea & Fire Triathlon Event is held in the historic city of Dubrovnik, a famous UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is a race for everybody to enjoy: first-timers and Ironman finishers, families and fans.There are three distances: Super Sprint triathlon, Sprint & Olympic triathlon. Events can be run individually or as a team.
- Olympic triathlon: 1.5km swim / 40km bike / 10km run
- Sprint Triathlon: 0.75km swim / 20km bike / 5km run
- Super Sprint Triathlon: 0.375km swim / 10km bike / 2.5km run
This sports event comes at the end of the sailing season. Get prepared for the race by taking a week or half week yacht charter before – you might find you have a healthy support crew happy to accompany you! You can swim, run and cycle every day in the build up to the event! Prices for a full week charter start from €1935.
The Dalmacija Ultra Trail is on of the ultimate sports events in Croatia. It has been running for 5 years now, and is growing each year. This is a hardcore race with three different distances converging in Omiš.
- Mountain DUT is an overnight race of 118km, starting in Solin (ascent: 5160m, descent: 5170m, time limit 30hrs)
- Sea DUT is a 54km race through the day, starting in Makarska (ascent: 2470m, descent: 2470m, time limit 13hrs)
- Ethno DUT is 18km, starting on Dugi Rat (ascent: 840m, descent: 840m, time limit 5hrs)
The following day there is a kids race.
Our Other Calendars
It is not only sports events in Croatia, the whole sailing season sees a host of cultural events and music festivals. Check out our other guides and see what else is on. Enjoy sports events in Croatia, cultural festivals and even raves!
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