Across the Atlantic, European sailors (and visiting yachties) have unparalleled access to a vast variety of international cruising destinations, from the ritzy to the relaxed. As summer draws to a close, we're ending this three-part summer series with our favorite spots to experience the yacht life around the coasts of "the Continent" in the Mediterranean Sea. 

Don’t forget to enter for your chance to win a YETI cooler stocked with DWY merch by the giveaway deadline at the end of this month! Post your favorite cruising pic on Instagram, Facebook, and Instagram with the hashtag #DWYSummerCruisingGiveaway or click here to enter.

Italy

From the Amalfi Coast to Sardinia, Italy offers miles and miles of winding, picturesque coastlines, with colorful towns and vertical cities stretching up vertiginous mountainsides from the shore. Visit 11th century churches, Roman ruins, and natural wonders like the famed Blue Grotto (or the swimmable Green Grotto). Bask in the undeniably romantic rays of Italian sunshine while cruising like a star of yesteryear, blasting Volare on the stereo while sipping an Aperol spritz. And lest we neglect to mention the food ?? Italy is a foodie's paradise, with delectable cuisine at every port, featuring fresh “frutti di mare,” handmade pasta, and, of course, pizza. 

Greece

When the coastline ahead sparkles as the sun bounces off dazzlingly white sugar-cube buildings capped in turquoise echoing the impossible hue of the sea, you know you’re pulling into a Greek port. From Santorini to Serifos, the Ionian Islands to the Dodecanese, island-hopping in Greece puts the best of Greek culture, history, and hospitality at your fingertips. Sail through the birthplace of Western civilization, snorkeling in the wake of mythological heroes, tasting timeless Greek recipes, and making modern friends by starlight in Mykonos. No matter what your cruising vibe, from the adventurous to the luxurious and everything in between, you’re sure to find an island or two to match your speed.

Croatia

Thanks in part to some high-profile exposure as the seat of the Iron Throne on everyone’s favorite medieval-flavored, dragon-smoked melodrama, Croatia has swiftly risen in the ranks of top destinations for summer cruising. Gorgeous beaches, like the famed Zlatni Rat, welcome you to sunbathe, swim, play volleyball in the sand, or try your hand at windsurfing. Be sure to disembark at Trogir for a tiny tour of history jampacked alongside bars and nightclubs that cater to the boating crowd, and don’t skip Split (a.k.a. King’s Landing) to explore the mix of classical and contemporary architecture in Croatia’s second largest city. 

And so concludes our Top Summer Cruising Destination series. If you missed Parts I or II, check out our favorite spots in the Northeast here and on the West Coast here. Got another favorite anchorage we skipped? Shout it out in the comments on our social channels: follow us on Instagram or Facebook, and join the Summer Cruising conversation while entering to win a free YETI Hopper Flip 8 soft cooler stuffed with DWY swag and two crew shirts customized with your boat’s name. Just post a pic or video from your summer cruising adventures with the hashtag #DWYSummerCruisingGiveaway or enter here.

Don't forget to double-check your hashtag spelling so we can track your entry. We won't be able to track entries from private accounts, so make sure your account and post is public (at least while the contest is running!) if you'd like to be entered.