49 Awesome Beaches in Croatia
We’ve already wrote about reasons to fall in love with beaches in Croatia, and now it’s time to take you through the best beaches in Croatia. This was the idea behind a contest we’ve run past week among our friends who helped us choose their favorite beaches in Croatia.
Beaches In Croatia
Here are 49 awesome beaches in Croatia (in no particular order). Some of them are well-known spots on the Adriatic, others just hidden gems visited mostly by locals.
1 | Lone Bay Beach
Beaches In Croatia | Lone Bay Beach
Situated in Rovinj, at the entrance to the Golden Cape nature park, Lone Bay beach is a full service beach, primarly aimed at the guests of the nearby hotels – Monte Mulini, Lone, and Eden.
The beach is a top-notch, designed by famed Croatian architects, it consists of a seafront promenade, sunbathing areas, and a pebble beach.
2 | Ravni, Istria
Beaches In Croatia | Ravni Beach, Istria
This beach is so pretty that you can’t snap a bad photo of it. Located in a village of Ravni, 20 km southwest of Rabac, the beach is popular among locals, and windsurfers. Along with Preluk, and Premantura, a village of Ravni is the most popular windsurfing location in Istria.
3 | Golubjera, Rabac
A short walk from the Girandella beach in Rabac, you’ll find the Golibjera beach. This is a wonderful pebble beach, that once was a popular spotfor electronic music parties.
Today, the beach is run by a local tour agency – Four Elements and it’s known as the Bounty Bay. Many sea kayaking tours starts and finish at this beach.
4 | Brsec (Klancac Beach), Istria
Beaches In Croatia | Beach in Brsec
A wonderful pebbly beach at the east coast of Istria, the Brsec beach is surrounded by steep, rugged mountain that shelve steeply toward the blue Adriatic, creating quite dramatic scenery especially when seen from the sea or from the village above.
The road to the beach is narrow. This beach, although small and difficult to reach, is very popular among locals. Unless you are a confident driver, consider walking down to the beach instead of using your car.
Bring your own food and water as the beach doesn’t have any facilities. The beach has very little shade, so bring a sun umbrella and wear a sun screen at all times.
5 | Moscenicka Draga (Sipar), Istria
Beaches In Croatia | Beach in Moscenicka Draga
Perhaps the pretties and the busiest beach along Opatija Riviera, Moscenicka Draga beach is a lovely pebbly beach located in a village of Moscenicka Draga.
This beach is seriously crowded as there are two hotels in a village – a 180-room family friendly hotel Marina, and a 60-room Mediteran hotel. Many locals also rent apartments and rooms, and on weekends, tour buses bring daily tourists from the neighbouring Slovenia. This means a lot of people at the beach.
There is no shade at the beach, but there are lots of facilities nearby.
6 | Potovosce
Beaches In Croatia | Potovosce Beach, Krk Island
The Potovosce beach, located in the east part of the Krk island, in a cove, beneath the village of Vrbnik, is a nice and secluded pebbly beach.
There is a single beach bar at the Potovosce, and a nice shaded parking in the wood above the beach. You can also rent deck chairs and sun umbrellas. No other facilities, so you’ll need to bring your own props.
7 | Velo celo
Beaches In Croatia | Velo Celo Beach, Krk
Velo celo Beach is a nice pebble beach located in the southern part of the Krk island. The beach is characterized by vertical cliffs, gold in colozr, and rising steep above the beach. These cliffs gave another popular name to Velo celo beach – the Golden Beach.
The beach is only accessible by boat.
8 | Oprna
Beaches In Croatia | Oprna Beach, Krk
Oprna is just one of many pretty beaches around Stara Baska, on the Krk Island.
Beach is pebbly, off the main touristy routes, quiet and relaxing. It takes some effort to reach this beach, but you’ll be awarded with nice views as you descend down to the beach, and a blissfully clear turquoise sea.
There isn’t any shade on the beach. There is a small beach bar at the far end of this beach. Deck chairs and parasol rental available.
9 | Vela plaza Baska
Beaches In Croatia | Vela Plaza Beach, Krk
The most popular beach on the island of Krk, Vela Plaza stretches along the village of Baska, in a lenght of over 1.800 m.
The beach is pebbly, and even sandy at some places. Being pocated in the center of the village, easily accessible, and suitable for all and every, this beach is way too crowded in high season.
There are lits of facilities, water sport options, restaurants, and bars all aling the beach.
There aren’t any natural shade onthe beach.
10 | Vela luka
Beaches In Croatia | Vela Luka, Krk | Photo credit: TZ Baska
Located east of Baska, Vela luka is a 2 km long bay with a nice pebbly beach of the same name. Terrain here is interesting, for most part deserted, except for the grassy parts.
The beach is off the beaten path, and only accessible by boat unless you are in for a couple of hours of trekking. During the summer, many taxi boats operate between Baska and Vela Luka beach.
There is a small restaurant on the beach, open only from June through September.
11 | Sv. Ivan, Lubenice
Beaches In Croatia | Sv. Ivan, Cres | Photo credit: My Adventures in Italy and Beyond
A wonderful pebble beach located on the Cres Island, Sv. Ivan is difficult to reach, but worth every step once you get to it.
You can reach Sv. Ivan by boat, or on foot. The walk starts in a village of Lubenice, 378 m above the sea level. The path down is mostly gentle, but can get slippery at times. It takes 40 minutes to reach this beach.
The beach has no facilities, and very little shade.
12 | Koromacno Cres
Beaches In Croatia | Koromacno, Cres | Photo credit: Kroatien-netz.de
Located in an absolutely lovely cove, with a long pier protecting it from the north winds, Koromacno beach consists of bare rocks, and three small beaches engraved in a cave-like cliffs.
13 | Mali Bok Cres
The island of Cres abounds in beautiful beaches, but to get to the most of them you need to put in some effort. Many of them are secluded, and only accessible on foot, or by boat.
Mali Bok Beach is a small, maybe only 50 m long beach, located in the southern part of Cres, not far from the village of Orlec.
It takes 15 minute walk down the hill to reach this beach from the main road where you need to leave your car.
Mali Bok is a pebble beach with some sandy parts at the shoreline. There isn’t any facilities on this beach.
14 | Ručica Pag
Beaches In Croatia | Rucica, Pag | Photo credit: Chorvatsko Ostrov Pag
The Rucica beach, located 12 km southeast of Novalja on the island of Pag, is a nice partly pebble and partly sandy beach.
Located in the part if the island with very little to no vegetation, the Rucica beach looks absolutely surreal. Thus, there isn’t any shade on the beach.
The beach can be reached by car. There is a cafe at the beach.
15 | Silba Beaches
Beaches In Croatia | Silba Beach | Photo credit: TZ Silba
A small car-free island Silba is licated south of Losinj, and north of Zadar (and you can reach it by ferry from either of them).
There are many wonderful pebble, rocky and sandy beaches on the island. The most popular beaches are Sotorisce, Zalic, Tratica and Carpusina, all located at the center of the island.
However, for us, the nicest beaches are Pernastica, Dobre vode, and Nozdre. All three beaches have a sandy seabed. They are further away, and never crowded. There aren’t any facilities on these beaches, so make sure to bring your own water, food, and other things you might need.
16 | Sakarun
Beaches In Croatia | Beach Sakarun, Dugi Otok | Photo credit: TZ Dugi Otok
Sakarun beach is located on the island of Dugi Otok. It’s one of the best sandy beaches you’ll find in Croatia. The beach is actually pebbly, with a sandy seabed starting right at the shoreline.
This beach is popular, especially among locals, but it’s rarley overcrowded. Dugi Otok remains a place off the beaten path, that attracts few tourists in search of peace and quiet.
The water is warm, crystal clear, and shallow at only waist height.
There is one beach bar offering also simple food.
17 | Veli Zal Dugi Otok
Beaches In Croatia | Beach Veli Zal, Dugi Otok | Photo credit: TZ Dugi Otok
Veli Zal Beach is another popular beach on the Dugi Otok Island. This beach is located on the unihabited southwest part of the island, overlooking the islet Mežanj, and the open sea.
The beach is over one kilometer long, and made of perfectly round white pebbles.
This beach can be reached by car, and it’s only five minutes walk from the asphalted road.
18 | Lojena, Levernaka (Kornati Archipelago)
Lojena is the only sandy beach in all Kornati Archipelago. Thus, it’s one of the most popular stops on any cruise around the archipelago.
The beach is less crowded in the morning and late afternoon.
19 | Zlatni Rat
Beaches In Croatia | Zlatni Rat Beach, Bol
The most famed and photographed beach in all Croatia, Zlatni Rat is a cone-shaped beach made of such fine stones they almost feel like a sand. Due to its shape, this beach takes winds only on one side, while the sea on the other side always remains calm.
Beach bars and a self-service restaurants are scattered along the central part of the beach, in the thick shade of pine trees. Yes, the beach gets really crowded, but crowds are there only in July and August.
At the Zlatni Rat beach you’ll find all necessary facilities, from showers, and changing cabins, to chill out bars, and a restaurant.
20 | Murvica
Beaches In Croatia | Murvica Beach | Photo credit: VisitBrac.com
Just 6 km west of Bol, you’ll find a small village of Murvica. Many people in search of a quieter beach than ones found in Bol, head to beaches below Murvica.
Beaches here are pebbly, situated in small coves, and separated one from another with rocky coast.
21 | Lovrečina
Beaches In Croatia | Lovrecina Beach, Brac Island
The only true sandy beach on the island of Brac, the lovrečina beach is located at the north side of the island. The beach is set in a small bay, of the same name, and it’s off the beaten path. There is just one house to rent at the beach, and remains of the old pre-Christian church.
The water is warm and shallow, the sea clear and turquoise. The views from the beach give over to the mainland, and the Biokovo Mountain. A nice place to spend a day out. Bring your own picnic.
22| Sv. Nedilja Hvar
Beaches In Croatia | Beaches in Sv. Nedilja, Hvar | Photo credit: Island-hvar.info
A small secluded village located on the south shores of the Hvar Island, just east of the town of Hvar, a coastal strip between Sveta Nedilja and Zavala hides some of the best beaches on the island.
The coast here is rocky, with dramatic cliffs rising high from the sea. You’ll find many tiny fine pebble beaches between the rocks.
The area is only accessible via one-lane tunnel. This is also a popular wine-growing region.
23 | Dubovica Hvar
Beaches In Croatia | Dubovica Beach, Hvar | Photo credit: Hvar-dubovica.com
This stunning beach is located in a bay of the same name, just ten kilometers southeast of the Hvar town.
The beach is pebbly, with little shade, and not too crowded. There are a couple of old houses at the end of the beach; one of them houses a rustic cafe.
The Dubovica beach is a ten minutes walk down from the main road.
24 | Stiniva
Beaches In Croatia | Stiniva Beach, Vis | Photo credit: Visislandhouse.com
Stiniva Beach is one of the Vis main natural attractions. The beach is located on the south side of the island, and you can only reach it by walk, or by boat. The hike back up is steep, takes 20 minutes, and it’s not suitable for elderly.
The beach is set in a cove, that opens to the sea through not more than 5 m wide passage.
There is a little beach bar on the beach. Little shadow, but the sun sets quite early (mid-afternoon).
During the summer too many tour boats pull in, the beach gets crowded, and a bit polluted.
25 | Porat Bisevo
Beaches In Croatia | Porat Beach, Bisevo | Photo credit: TZ Komiza
The Bisevo Island, located 5 km southwest of Vis, has a surface of a mere 5,8 km2, and only 15 permanent inhabitants.
Besides the Blue Cave, island’s most popular natural sight, Bisevo has a number of lovely beaches.
The most popular beach on the island is Porat beach. The beach is sandy, set in a bay and protected from the wind. There are two restaurants, and one bar at the beach.
26 | Velu Zolo, Palagruza
Beaches In Croatia | Velu Zolo, Palagruza | Photo credit: TZ Komiza
Palagruza is an archipelago, located in the middle of the Adriatic Sea, 125 km from Split.
It consists of 15 rocks, islets, and islands.
Velu Zolo Beach is a nice pebble beach located on the south side of the Palagruza.
27 | Pisak beach
Beaches In Croatia | One of many beaches in Pisak | Photo credit: Lahodný
Located 11 km north of Brela, a small village of Pisak hides a couple of really nice pebble, sandy and rocky beaches. The best beaches are located in uninhabited area, north of Pisak.
The village is friendly, and safe with a couple of restaurants, bars, and private accommodations.
28 | Punta Rata
Beaches In Croatia | Beaches Punta Rata, Brela | Photo credit: Tempet Makarska
The most popular beach on Makarska Riviera, the Punta Rata is located in Brela. It’s often featured in various international magazines as one of the best beaches in the world and in all Croatia (along with Zlatni Rat Beach).
The beach is pebbly, but it’s characterized by few large rocks coming out of the sea. One such rock has a pine tree growing on it, and it’s a symbol of Brela.
The beach is within a village; easy to reach, but parking can be a problem especially in high season. Daily parking fee is approx. 11€.
29 | Nugal
Beaches In Croatia | Beach Nugal, Makarska
We’ve already written about Makarska Riviera Beaches here at our blog. This part of Croatia is a beach paradise, and seriously you can’t go wrong with any of beaches here. Since it would be impossible to liste them all, we’ve picked our favorites.
One of the most attractive beaches along Makarska Riviera, the Nugal beach is located just few kilometers northeast of Makarska. This pebbly beach is accessible only on foot or by boat; and it’s popular among nudists.
In winter months, a stream of fresh water falls from the Mountain above the beach, and it creates a 10-meter high waterfall right at the beach.
30 | Dracevac Beach
Beaches In Croatia | Dracevac Beach, Tucepi
Dracevac beach is one of the most popular beaches in the area. The beach lies between Podgora and Tucepi. It’s naturist-friendly. It’s easy to reach it, but difficult to park in the vicinity. There is a little shadow within a small olive orchad in the back of the beach.
31 | Drasnice Vodice
Beaches In Croatia | Beach Vodice, Drasnice | Photo credit: Tempet Makarska
A small village just southeast of Makarska, Drasnice is full of wonderful pebbly beaches, streching southeast and northwest of the village.
Vodice is the most popular village beach.
32 | Beaches southeast of Drasnice
Beaches In Croatia | Beaches East of Drasnice | Photo credit: Tempet Makarska
A coastal strip from Drasnice all the way to Igrane hides lots of coves, and natural pebbly beach. These beaches are only accessible on foot or by boat. They are less crowded, and lined with thick pine forest.
33 | Zivogosce Blato (Velika Duba Beach)
Beaches In Croatia | Beach Vela Duba, Zivogosce
A small settlement on Makarska Riviera, Zivogosce Blato consists of family houses. The main village beach is awesome, but there are also another two nice beaches within a walking distance. Northwest of Zivogosce Blato, you’ve got a Velika Duba beach, a wonderful secluded and uninhabited pebbly beach. Another nice beach is southeast of the village, in a campsite Dole.
34 | Proizd Beaches, Korcula Island
Beaches In Croatia | Beach Proizd, Korcula
Just 5 nm from Vela Luka, lies an islet of Proizd, one of locals favorite swimming spot on the Korcula Island. The islet has four swimming areas: Veli, Srednji i Donji Bili Bol, and Batalo.
Veli Bili Bok consists of a nice pebble beach surrounded on both sides with large stone plates descending down to the Adriatic Sea.
What we like here: amazing blue and turqoise sea; feels peaceful and unspoilt;
Tips: bring your own food and drinks as there is only one beach shak on the island; there is very little natural shade (if any at all).
35 | Orlandusa, Korcula Island
Beaches In Croatia | Beach Orlandusa, Korcula | Photo credit: Korcula Explorer
A small, hidden beach Orlandusa is located below Zrnovo on the island of Korcula. The beach is made of perfectly round pebbles, and the color of the sea is amazing (all shades of blue).
The beach can be reached by car from Zrnovo, via a narrow and only partly asphalted road.
36 | Bratinja Luka, Korcula Island
Beaches In Croatia | Beach Bratinja Luka, Korcula | Photo credit: TZ Korcula
Bratinja Luka beach is also located on the south shores of the Korcula island, close to Orlandusa (see no. 2). Similar to Orlandusa, Bratinja Luka is a small pebbly beach located in a cove of the same name. There are few cottages to rent nearby.
37 | Pupnatska Luka, Korcula Island
Beaches In Croatia | Beach Pupnatska Luka, Korcula
Located southwest of Korcula Town, Pupnatska Luka is perhaps the nicest bay on the island of Korcula.
The bay is dotted with only a couple of old houses, and a wonderful pebble beach. At the end of the beach, there is a beach bar m.a.t.e., run by the same family who’s behind very popular restaurant on the island – Konoba Mate in Pupnat.
Deck chairs and parasols available for rent.
38 | Vela Pržina, Korcula
Vela Pržina is perhaps the most visited beach on the island of Korcula. This sandy beach is located just out of Lumbarda, in the uninhabited part of the village. The beach faces south, and it’s overlooking the open sea, and the Lastovo Island. There is a fast food bar in the vicinity, as well as volleyball course. There is a parking nearby, and it costs 10 kn per day.
39 | Divna
Beach Divna | Photo credit: Villa Montana Trpanj
North shores of Peljesac peninsula hide a couple of wonderful little beaches. The beach Divna is one of them. Even it’s name – Divna – means gorgeous in Croatian. Divna is a pebbly beach, 10 km southeast of Trpanj. This beach is popular among locals. There is a small family-run campsite at the beach.
There is an islet within a swimming distance from the beach.
There is some shade under the olive and fig trees in the campsite.
40 | Duba
Beach jezero | Photo credit: Ladislav Skácal / Panoramio
Duba is a small settlement on the north side of Peljesac peninsula. There are two beaches in the village. Both are pebbly, and both are awesome.
The more popular one is located 10 minute walk from a village. A small lake forms in the back of the beach and it creates a stream that flows across the beach into the sea.
Bring your own food and drinks, as there isn’t any bar or store to be found at the beach.
Very little natural shade.
41 | Trstenica
Best Beaches On The Peljesac Peninsula | Trstenica Beach
Trstenica is the most popular beach in Orebic, if not on all Peljesac peninsula. This long pebble beach has a slow descent in the sea, with a shallow sandy seabed at the sea entrance. In the back of the beach, tall pine trees provide enough shadow from the strong summer sun.
You can rent sunbeds and sun umbrellas at the beach, as well as sport equipment like a pedalo boat, or kayaks. There is a restaurant close by where you can have a lunch, a quick bite or just a drink. Trstenica beach is extremely popular and it gets crowded in high season.
42 | Saplunara Mljet
Beaches In Croatia | Beach Saplunara, Mljet | Photo credit: Saplunara.com
Mljet is one of the greenest Croatian islands, and even one third of the island is a national park.
On the south part of the island, you’ll find a mile long sandy beach Saplunara. The beach is located in a bay and it’s surrounded by pine forest.
43 | Blace Beach Mljet
Beaches In Croatia | Beach Saplunara, Mljet | Photo credit: Zoran Kurelić Rabko / Panoramio
Just a bit further south from Saplunara, you’ll find the Blace beach, another wonderful sandy beach on the Mljet Island.
44 | Veli Zal Brsecine
Beaches In Croatia | Beach Veliki Zal, Brsecine | Photo credit: Kim @ zeitlose-mediterrane-schoenheit.de
Located below the main coastal road E65, 30 km north of Dubrovnik, Veliki Zal is a wonderful pebbly beach.
There is a parking near the beach. The beach is kept clean. You can rent deck chairs for 30 kn, and a parasol for 20 kn. A nice cocktail & food bar is right at the beach and it offers refreshment, and simple meals like pizza, pasta, grill, and salads.
Jet ski, banana and tubes ride, pedalo, and kayak rentals are available at the beach.
45 | Sunj Beach
Beaches In Croatia | Beach Sunj, Lopud | Photo credit: Kim @ zeitlose-mediterrane-schoenheit.de
Sunj is a wonderful sandy beach located on the island of Lopud, off the coast of Dubrovnik.
This 1000 m long beach is very popular among locals and tourists. The beach has a couple of beach bars serving also simple food, deck chairs and parasol rental, snorkeling and kayak tours.
46 | Sv. Jakov
Beaches In Croatia | Beach Sveti Jakov, Dubrovnik
Sv. Jakov Beach is located south of Dubrovnik old town. This beach is way less crowded than Banje beach, and it’s certainly more classy.
It takes 20 minutes walk, and over 150 steps down to reach this beach from the old town. However, it’s worth every step.
Sunbeds, and parasols rent for 30 kn a piece. A small bar next to the beach serves some food too, and drinks aren’t too pricey. Kayak and jet ski rentals are also available on the beach.
47 | Pasjaca Beach
Beaches In Croatia | Beach Pasjaca, Konavle
Pasjaca beach, located near the village of Popovici, in Konavle region, 20 km south of Dubrovnik, is perhaps the most secluded beach in all Dubrovnik area.
This wonderful pebbly beach, hidden from the sights, is hard to reach. You need to take more than few steps down the cliffs. But once there, you’ll enjoy a peace and quiet, and your own puece of heaven.
No facilities on the beach, just a sound of the sea. Bring your own props, and provisions.
Following two beaches are perhaps not the nicest beaches you’ll find on the Adriatic, but hey we spend lots of time on these two beaches, so they deserve a mention. As they say the beauty is in the eye of a beholder. We love them for the privacy they provide, even in the highest period of the season.
48 | Delfin Beach
Beaches In Croatia | Beach Delfin, Porec
Located in Porec, in Zelena Laguna Resort, this beach is partly rocky, pebbly and cemented. There is a lot of shade under the pine trees, and a large grassy area for deck chairs. Activities offered at the Delfin beach include a jet-ski rental, a crazy UFO ride, a banana ride, a parasailing, a motor boat rental, pedal boat rental, and a kayak rental.
49 | Komarna Beach
Beaches In Croatia | Beach Uvala, Komarna
Komarna is a small village in the southern Croatia where we spend lost of time. Komarna has a couple of beaches, but the most popular one, Uvala Beach, is located in a small uninhabited bay, just 200 m from the village. There is a beach bar on the beach, and a free parking.
49 awesome beaches in Croatia: location on map
We’ve probably just listed a small fragment of all beautiful beaches in Croatia, but we hope we gave you a few ideas where to find awesome beaches in Croatia.
Do you know of another beach in Croatia? Please let us know in the comments bellow.
Further reading:
Five reasons I love Croatian beaches
Where to find sandy beaches in Croatia
Things to do in Croatia
Snorkeling in Croatia
Outdoor activities in Croatia
Croatia Travel Guide & Blog