Starting your day from ACI Marina Šimuni puts you in one of the best positions on the Adriatic. The open sea is right in front of you, uninhabited islands are within 10 minutes, and the Zadar archipelago stretches to the horizon. Whether you have one day or a full week, here’s what we tell every guest before they set off – the honest version, not the tourist brochure.
Maun - 4 miles, 10 minutes
Maun is the closest uninhabited island to the marina, and almost every guest ends up there — it’s hard to resist a 10-minute ride to Janica beach with its clear water and sandy bottom.
The downside? In peak season, Janica gets crowded. You’ll often share it with 10–15 other boats anchored in the same spot, which takes away some of the magic.
That said, we have a favourite spot on the island that most people don’t know about — quieter, just as beautiful, and worth a short detour. If you want to skip the crowds, read our guide to Rakovica Bay — a hidden inlet on the south side of the island that most visitors never find.
Olib - 10 miles, 25 minutes
Olib is the real gem of this area — and one of the most underrated islands in Croatia. It’s known as the “king of sandy beaches” on the Adriatic, which sounds like tourist marketing but is actually true. Sandy beaches are genuinely rare on the Croatian coast, and Olib has several beautiful ones.
The catch? The best ones aren’t visible from the main port or from any road. That’s where your satellite map comes in. Before every guest leaves our marina, we show them the same trick: open Google Maps, switch to satellite view, and zoom into the coastline of Olib. You’ll immediately see which bays have light sandy bottoms (they show up pale turquoise) and which are rocky (darker). Pick a pale one, point the boat at it, and you’ll almost always find something worth stopping for.
The most popular spot is Slatinica Bay on the east side of the island — shallow, sandy, and protected from most winds. There’s a bar in an olive grove nearby if you want a cold drink without getting back on the boat. One thing to keep in mind: anchor to the left side of the bay, away from other boats, and never go past the beach barriers or too close to shore.
Our personal favourites are Draga Beach on the west side of the island and Južna Slatina further south. Both are quieter, just as beautiful, and far less crowded than Slatinica — especially in peak season. We’ll help you pick the best one based on the wind forecast during your safety briefing.
If you’re hungry, there’s a small restaurant near the main port in the village. No cars on the island, so the walk from the port is quiet and pleasant. A full loop around Olib is 30 miles — at cruising speed, that’s about an hour and a half, with plenty of spots to stop along the way.
Silba - 15 miles, 35 minutes
Silba is a different kind of island. No cars, no traffic — just pine forests, stone paths, and the kind of quiet that’s hard to find anywhere in summer Croatia. It’s been a favourite of artists, writers, and sailors for decades, and it has a slightly bohemian atmosphere that you don’t find on more commercial islands.
The landmark everyone visits is the Toreta — a hexagonal stone tower built in 1872 by a sea captain named Petar Marinić. The story goes that he built it so his beloved could climb up and watch for his return from sea. She eventually gave up waiting and married someone else. Petar came back years later and fell in love with her daughter instead. They married and lived on the island for the rest of their lives. The tower is still there, with an external spiral staircase, and the view from the top is worth the climb.
There are several restaurants in the village and good anchorage at Sv. Ante bay on the south side, which is protected from most winds.
One important tip: in July and August, the harbour is packed. Finding a berth is stressful, often impossible, and the village loses some of its charm under the weight of summer crowds. Our honest advice — visit Silba in June or September. The sea is warm, the restaurants are happy to see you, and you’ll actually be able to enjoy the walk through the village without fighting for space on the path. The island genuinely rewards the off-peak visitor.
Fuel - will you have enough?
At cruising speed of 25 knots, the Galia burns around 25 litres per hour. But real-world consumption depends on how many people are on board, sea conditions, and how much time you spend at full throttle — at 35 knots, consumption jumps to over 60 litres per hour.
Here’s what that means in practice:
A quick trip to Maun and back — around 20 litres including the exit and return to the marina. A full loop around Olib — around 50 litres. A full day covering both Olib and Silba — around 75 litres. These are averages — your actual consumption may vary.
With a 200-litre tank, you can comfortably do any of these trips and return to Šimuni with fuel to spare. We designed it that way deliberately. Range anxiety is not something our guests need to think about.