Here's our list of some famous and special beaches in Croatia. These aren't ranked in any order of
Zlatni Rat Beach, Bol on the island of Brac
Where else to
start a guide to the special beaches in Croatia than the
Zlatni Rat beach in Bol on the island of Brac?! If the name doesn't
ring a bell, than it's image - see below - surely does; this is one of the
most famous and iconic images of Croatia and often used in promotional
material. The white pebble beaches stretches out over 600 metres into
the sea, with a narrow tip that changes direction according to the tide
and to winds - an unusual phenomenon. There are changing facilities
here, plus a playground, restaurant and cafes.
Zlatni Rat Beach
Bacvice Beach, Split
A true city beach, very popular with the locals - if you're there, you
may well see them engaged in a very energetic game called picigin
that's played in the shallow waters of the sea. The sand/shingle beach
isn't one of the Dalmatia's best beaches by any means, though it should
surely be included in this list for its fun vibe; it's very central
location means it's also great if you have a few hours to kill and
fancy a bit of sunbathing or a quick dip. The beach has a good range of
facilities and there's cafes and bars nearby; Bacvice is also home to a
number of events during summer (such as the Enter Festival). In 2011, Bacvice was awarded a Blue Flag for the 10th year in a row.
Banje Beach, Dubrovnik
Another popular city beach, this one has an ever-so-slightly more
refined air. This pebble beach, just to the east of the Old Town (so,
very well located - perfect if you need a break after a hard day's
sightseeing) means that whilst you doggy-paddle away, you've got a
truly stunning backdrop. (Our tip: get a waterproof camera - or be
careful with a normal one - for some snaps; you'll never take anything
like it!) The swimming area is cordoned off so you won't be at risk of
straying into the path of anyone's yacht, or similar. The beach doesn't
have the best facilities in terms of changing rooms and so on, so keep
this in mind. What it does have, however, is one of Dubrovnik's most
popular bars - EastWest - which is great for a mid-afternoon tipple or to party away in until the early hours.
Banje Beach, Dubrovnik
Zrce Beach, Novalja, on the island of Pag If you lean towards a more hedonistic style of life, Zrce Beach is THE place in Croatia to come to. Situated 5 minutes from the centre of Novalja - Pag's most popular resort - is this long stretch of pebble beach next to woods that's home to some of the best nightlife in Croatia each summer. Clubs such as Papaya and Aquarius set up shop from around mid-June to the end of August; these days they don't just put on any old club nights, but big club nights featuring some of the world's best DJs. Aside from the nightlife, the beach has good facilities (plus lifeguards on hand during the day) and watersports are on offer too.
Cape Kamenjak, near Pula
Part of a nature reserve, Cape Kamenjak is right on the southern tip of the Istrian peninsula (you can get buses from Pula to the town of Premantura), Cape Kamenjak is a picturesque though unusual landscape with a rocky coastline of over 3.5km in length featuring over 30 bays. The delight of this place is that although it can be very popular, explore just a little bit further and you can come across a deserted little cove that's yours for the day. The Daily Telegraph chose Cape Kamenjak is one of its best beaches on the Istrian coast in 2010.
Cape Kamenjak, near Pula
Lake Jarun, Zagreb
You may think Croatia's capital city - far away from the coast - is
unlikely to have an entry in a guide to Croatia's beaches. But we
thought we'd include it for something a little different - and also
because it's not a bad place to find yourself if you can't make it to
the coast! (It's not too unusual for those that live away from the coast in Croatia to take themselves off to a local lake instead for the weekend.) Located in a suburb in the south-west part of the city, Lake Jarun is easily reached by public transport. Given the reason for its development in the 1980s (as a venue for the World University Games held in Zagreb), there are excellent sports facilities here. The pebble beaches have a nice, relaxed vibe although (understandably) can get busy in summer. And yes, even part of the beach at Lake Jarun has been awarded a Blue Flag!
