Here is the Visit Croatia list of some of the most special and famous beaches in Croatia. These aren’t ranked in any particular order – they are all as wonderful as each other!
Zlatni Rat Beach, Bol on the island of Brac
Where else to start a guide to the famous beaches in Croatia than with one of the most photographed?! Zlatni Rat Beach (which means ‘Golden Horn’) is in Bol on the island of Brac. If the name doesn’t ring a bell, then its image – see below – surely does; this is one of the most famous and iconic images of Croatia and is often used in promotional material.
The white pebble beach stretches out over 600 metres into the sea, with a narrow tip that changes direction according to the tide and winds – an unusual phenomenon. There are changing facilities here, plus a playground, restaurant and cafes.
Bačvice 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 Dalmatia’s best beaches by any means, although it should surely be included in this list for its fun vibe; its very central location means it’s also great if you have a few hours to kill in Split and fancy a bit of sunbathing or a quick dip. If you walk further along the coastline (away from the centre of the city), there are also lots of little spots you can lay out in for a more quiet time.
The beach has a good range of facilities and there are cafes and bars nearby; Bacvice is also home to a number of events during summer; 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 in Dubrovnik (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!) Surely the most famous beach in Croatia in terms of the view?!
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 – Banje Beach Club – which is great for a mid-afternoon tipple or to party away the early hours.
Zrće 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. For this reason, Zrce Beach is surely one of the most famous beaches in Croatia – for clubbers, at the very least!
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 ones featuring some of the world’s best DJs. Some of Croatia’s top festivals – such as Hideout and Sonus – are held at Zrce Beach’s clubs.
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, although having your own car is best). Cape Kamenjak has a picturesque and unusual landscape of 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 park as a whole is also great for exploring.
The Daily Telegraph chose Cape Kamenjak as one of its best beaches on the Istrian coast in 2010.
Lake Jarun, Zagreb
You may think Croatia’s capital city Zagreb – 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!
Kraljičina (Queen’s) Beach, Nin, near Zadar
Do you want a sandy beach in Croatia? Here’s a sandy beach in Croatia! And not just a tiny little hidden sandy beach, but a collection of beaches that together cover a distance of over 3km. Located by the small town of Nin, just north along the coast from Zadar, these beaches are perfect for those with very young children as the shallow calm waters mean its ideal for a bit of gentle padding.
This beach also features natural, medicinal mud which is supposed to have healing properties – cover yourself in the mud, then let it dry in the sun! (And then wash it off in the sea, of course!)
Paradise Beach, island of Rab
Known as Rajska plaža in Croatia (with raj meaning paradise), Paradise Beach is – would you believe it – another sandy beach in Croatia! Stretching out almost over 2 kilometres in length, this beach is exceedingly shallow which again makes it ideal for those with young children. It is located near the town of Lopar on the northeastern side of the island of Rab.
As well as being sandy and shallow, the beach provides almost everything you might need for…well…a day at the beach. As well as beach furniture (loungers, chairs and sun umbrella) rental, there are numerous cafes and restaurants a short walk away, and plenty of places to get cool drinks and ice cream.
There are plenty of water sports rental opportunities and even sports available on land such as the nearby beach volleyball and tennis courts. There are even water slides close to the beach.
For all of the above reasons, this beach is very popular in peak season, so be prepared to share it with numerous other holidaymakers.
Sakarun Beach, Dugi Otok
Why have just one sandy beach on this list when you can have three in a row? You only need to look at images of this beach (see below) to know immediately its big draw…and to understand one it’s sometimes referred to as the “Caribbean of the Adriatic” with its gorgeous turquoise water and white sand set around a sheltered bay. Again, this beach is very shallow and perfect for families.
One of the smaller, more remote beaches on this list (you can reach it by tourist “train” from Bozava on the island of Dugi Otok, where some ferries dock) you can rent beach chairs and umbrellas and enjoy refreshments at the simple cafe bars next to it.
By and large, you come here to relax and take in the stunning setting.
Pasjača Beach, south Dalmatia
Situated about 30 kilometres south along the coast from Dubrovnik, or 13 kilometres from Cavtat, is this ultra-secluded beach that’s a mix of pebbles and sand. Part of its charm is its position at the base of a cliff, meaning it is surrounded by a high rock face. It’s a little tricky to get to as you certainly need a car to get here (there is a parking lot nearby) and then walk along a narrow path and steps for about 10 minutes.
The beach is very small so can sometimes feel a bit full (or you may be lucky to visit when few others have chosen to do the same.)
There are no beach facilities here, so you will need to bring with you all that you need for your beach time.
Stiniva Beach, island of Vis
Another beach that’s a little tricky to get to, but well worth it! This small beach is set in a sheltered cove on the southern part of Vis island, with high cliffs almost entirely encircling it and just a narrow gap out to the Adriatic Sea. It’s no surprise that this beach is often proclaimed to be one of the most beautiful in Europe.
You can reach Stiniva by driving (or getting a taxi) most of the way to south part of the island – there is a parking lot here – and then walking down the path to the beach. You can really appreciate the beauty of the beach in this way.
Some visitors to Stiniva Beach reach it by boat, and you may well find yourself doing so on a tour. Powered boats cannot enter the cove, however, so you will need to do the last part of the journey by dinghy.
There are no facilities on Stiniva Beach apart from a small beach cafe.
Ražanac Beach, Razanac, North Dalmatia
Razanac Beach is perhaps one of the lesser known beaches on this list. This is certainly a beach with a view – of course of the Adriatic Sea, but located as it is on Velebit Channel, you actually have a view inland of the Velebit mountains and Paklenica National Park.
The pebble/rocky beach has several cafes, bars and restaurants and the usual standard beach facilities. You can also rent some water sports equipment here.