20 Croatia Beaches

Looking for somewhere to go on a summer vacation? You’ll want to put these Croatia beaches on your list. Croatia is a European gem with a beautiful coastline along the Adriatic Sea. Croatia has around a thousand islands and 116 Blue Flag beaches.

It’s one of the world’s most popular destinations, my home country, and a place that has one of the world’s most beautiful coastlines. It’s a place where the sun shines brighter, nature becomes greener, and the sea gives you another life. Let me introduce you to my 20 top beaches in Croatia.

Croatia Beaches

20 Best Beaches In Croatia

1- Sveti Jakov Beach, Dubrovnik

In the eastern part of Dubrovnik Town, this gem is hidden in a small bay surrounded by stunning cliffs and mountains.

Sveti Jakov beach has an amazing view of Old Town Dubrovnik and is only a mile away.

The island of Lokrum is famous for its gardens and orange trees.

When you arrive at the point, you will find a church with the same name.

You can arrive either by foot or on bus number 5 or 8 or join this guided sea kayaking tour from Dubrovnik to explore the coastline and discover hidden caves on Lokrum Island. 

A bit of effort is required to walk 160 stairs down the hill, but that’s nothing compared to the beauty waiting for you on this Croatian beach.

It’s a popular spot among locals, with many entertaining activities like sea kayaking, jet-skiing and beach volleyball.

The beach is pebbly, with a crystal blue sea.

There are parasols you can rent on the beach, and it has one bar and four restaurants nearby.

2- Estravaganca Beach, Pelješac

Estravaganca Beach is on the island of Peljesac, home to one of the best Croatian wine regions and if you’d rather explore wineries and villages, take a look at this day tour. 

The beach is small and quiet, covered in pebbles, perfect for a peaceful, relaxing summer day.

It’s surrounded by mountains with a lot of green vegetation.

The easiest way to arrive is by boat, but you can also get there by car.

Estravaganca restaurant on the beach has a menu of fresh local seafood prepared in a delicious, Dalmatian way.

3- Prapatna Beach, Hvar

On the island of Hvar, there’s a pebbled beach on the shore of the breathtaking bay.

Prapatna Beach has crystal-clear blue water and a natural setting with lovely pine trees.

Escape to this beach and listen to the sound of local crickets.

The cove has a famous 18th-century countryside house.

Prapatna Beach is near Jelsa and accessible by boat or trekking. This exciting speed boat tour will take you island hopping to Pakleni Islands, Vis, with swimming stops at the Blue Cave and Blue Lagoon. 

4- Stiniva Beach, Vis

Stiniva Beach on Vis Island is one of the best beaches in Croatia and protected as a natural monument in 1967.

The famous beach in the southern part of the island is surrounded by cliffs and is known for its small sea entrance and crystal blue water.

You can reach this lovely Croatian beach by boat or by hiking along the coastline.

As this is a popular beach, visitors flock here to enjoy the sun and sand, so it can be crowded.

A great way to visit several beaches in the area is to go on a five-island day trip by speedboat that includes Stiniva Cove and the Blue Cave.

5- Zlatni Rat Beach, Brač

Zlatni Rat Beach is one of the most famous beaches in Croatia because of its unique shape.

The beach wraps around a triangular peninsula that juts into the Adriatic sea, and the 500 m (1640 ft) long pebble beach can accommodate over 10.000 people.

This natural wonder is less than 2 km from the town of Bol on the island of Brac.

It’s protected as a geomorphological monument and is a natural wonder that changes shape with the wind, tide and current.

Another interesting fact is that this Croatian beach is growing every year.

From 2006 until 2021, it grew 80 m (262 ft) in length.

Zlatni Rat is also an adrenaline addict’s dream come true, where you can enjoy windsurfing, kitesurfing, beach volleyball, parachute rides, jet skiing and banana boat rides.

Zlatni Rat Beach is at Put Zlatnog Rata, 21420, Bol, Croatia. From Split, you can organise a private speedboat day trip to Zlatni Rat.

6- Sakarun Beach, Dugi Otok, Zadar

A hidden gem on the Zadar archipelago, Sakarun Beach has white sand, turquoise water and pine trees.

This beach in Croatia is on the northwest coast of the island of Dugi Otok.

It’s 800 m (2625 ft) long, and the water is quite shallow, which makes it attractive to the youngest swimmers.

A beach bar also becomes a restaurant as the evening approaches and serves delicious seafood freshly caught by the owner. 

Arriving at this beach is only possible by ferry, which you can take either from Božava or Brbinj, depending on whether you want to take a car.

A relaxing way to the beach is on a catamaran tour from Zadar. Find out more information here. 

7- Punta Rata, Brela

Punta Rata is in Brela on the Makarska Riviera and is one of the most beautiful beaches in Croatia.

In 2004, Forbes magazine listed it as one of the “10 best beaches in the world”, alongside Copacabana, St. Tropez and the Maldives.

It is another pebble beach with sparkling turquoise water and is in a protected area, surrounded by green vegetation.

In the middle of the beach, a dense pine forest offers shade in the summer.

Active beachgoers have many options, such as snorkelling, paddling, kayaking, jet-skiing and parasailing.

8- Mali Raj, Baška, Krk

Mali Raj means “Little Heaven”, and this beach in Croatia is truly heaven on Earth.

It’s about a 30-minute walk from Baška, and you will find a breathtaking view of the crystal blue sea and soaring mountains surrounding the beach.

Hidden in a small bay, the beach offers a hike along the coast, fresh air and incredible sunsets.

A great way to spend a few hours is to take this Krk Island half-day boat trip to visit five islands. 

9- Velika Raduča beach, Primošten

Velika Raduča is one of the largest beaches in Primošten and a short walk from the centre.

It’s a large pebble beach with lovely turquoise water and a thick pine forest that offers shade on hot summer days.

It’s on a small peninsula and is suitable for children and adults as it offers a range of sports activities.

A cruise to Krka National Park and Primosten will introduce you to the area’s gems. 

10- Kosirina Beach, Murter

Wrapped around a small bay, this beach is on Island Murter, 33 km from Šibenik.

The beach is covered in pebbles, with diverse marine life, which you can see in the shallow water.

It’s surrounded by thick pine trees and rich nature, allowing Kosirina to develop a camping culture.

You can get to the beach or camping spot by car or boat.

11- Solaris Beach, Amadria Park, Šibenik

6 km from Šibenik, there is a fantastic string of several beaches in the Amadria Park beach resort.

Solaris Beach is a versatile beach with pebbles and sand, pools, restaurants, bars, a campsite and a waterslide park.

As it’s a resort, you can rent a sunbed and an umbrella on any of their beaches to protect yourself from the strong Dalmatian sun.

Entry to the resort is free, and you can arrive by car, bus or boat.

12- Sv. Ivan Beach, Cres

One of the must-see locations in the north of Croatia is the island of Cres, where Sv. Ivan Beach is a gem not to be missed.

German magazine Bild ranked Sv. Ivan in 15th place among the 40 most beautiful beaches in the world.

This beach sits under the village of Lubenice, which translated means watermelon, but there are no watermelons here.

Instead, you will find untouched nature, a crystal, clean blue sea, fresh air and a pebble beach.

Access to this Croatian beach is either by foot or by boat. This sailing experience from Cres will get you Lubenice and other hidden beaches.

If you’re walking, as high cliffs surround the beach, it’s a bit difficult to reach, so wear appropriate hiking shoes and bring lots of drinking water.

13- Paradise Beach, Rab

As the name describes, this is truly a paradise in the small town of Lopar, 12 km from Rab.

This Croatian beach has two kilometres of golden sand, and you will find everything you need.

Nature combines with bars, restaurants and all the sports activities you can think of, including volleyball, tennis, kayaking, jet-ski, parachute rides and waterslides.

Paradise Beach is also a central area for nightlife and has a European summer vibe.

14- Ručica, Pag

This beautiful beach on Croatia’s Pag Island is 1.2 km from the centre, so you can easily walk to the beach.

It has a large, desert-like surface without any green vegetation, which contrasts nicely with the blue sea.

As the beach is quite large, it never gets crowded.

The only problem is there is no shade, so high-factor suncream and sun umbrellas are highly recommended.

15- Zrće, Pag

Party in the Croatian Ibiza 2.5 km from Novalja, where bars, restaurants, and other amenities on this beach will keep you busy.

The 700 m long pebble beach is backed by a thick pine forest and offers a variety of sports, fine dining, live music and magical sunsets.

This place is home to festivals and is one of Croatia’s best summer clubbing hotspots.

The season starts in early May until the beginning of September, so pack your bags and have fun at Zrće Beach.

A great way to explore Pag Island is to go on a sea kayaking adventure to enjoy caves, rock formations and beaches. 

16- Starčinska Beach, Šolta

The island of Šolta near Split is home to beautiful bays with amazing beaches that lift your heart and soul.

One of the most popular is Starčinska beach, which offers a relaxed atmosphere with an amazing view of an endless sea, the sound of waves, and a thick pine forest.

It is approachable by foot or bike but beware of the Jugo wind if you decide to come with the boat.

At this beach, you will have an opportunity to take a swim at the spot on the pebble beach “where grandpa washes his bottom”.

It’s a good story for your friends back home. Find out for yourself by checking out this Blue Lagoon, shipwreck and Solta cruise.

17- Sunj Beach, Lopud

Lopud is an island in Dubrovnik County with several beautiful beaches.

Sunj Beach is beside a U-shaped bay surrounded by mountains covered in green vegetation and crystal sea where 50 shades of grey get overtaken by 50 shades of blue.

To reach this beach, take a boat or electric car from Dubrovnik port or walk through the forest for 30 minutes.

The sandy beach has shallow water, so it’s perfect for families.

This Elafiti Islands cruise from Dubrovnik will take you to three stunning places, including Sunj Bay.

18- Queen’s Beach, Nin

You’ll find one of the sandy beaches on the Dalmatian rocky coast in Nin, the oldest Croatian royal city.

The legend says that the wife of the first Croatian king Tomislav often visited this beach, so that’s why it’s called Queen’s beach. And why wouldn’t she, with beautiful surrounding nature and crystal blue sea?

Due to its weather conditions, strong winds and big waves attract surfers and hang-gliders.

Not far from Queen’s beach, Nin’s lagoon is one of the largest places in Croatia where you can find healing mud.

19- Jadrija Beach, Šibenik

If you visit Šibenik, spend time on the oldest city beach, Jadrija Beach.

It dates back to 1921 and is perfect for a day trip.

Famous for colourful doors on the beach, Jadrija is the spot for a family day or gathering with friends.

It has a few bars, restaurants, and places to walk around and enjoy nature.

The beach is pebbly and easy to access, so it’s convenient for children.

One of the top features of this beach is the view of St. Nicholas Fortress, located in the sea, at the entrance to St. Anthony Channel.

You can get to Jadrija by car or by boat.

20- Bačvice, Split

This beach is one of the symbols of Split and is in the heart of the city, not far from the historic centre.

The advantage of this beach is you can have a quick dip on hot summer days after exploring the historic city.

This sandy beach is very shallow, up to 100m from the coast and where picigin (a game on the UNESCO intangible heritage list) was born.

The game doesn’t have a set number of players, and the aim is to try to keep the ball in the air and not allow it to touch the water.

Every year there is a Picigin World Cup and, not surprisingly, the Croatian team usually wins. 

21- Slatina Beach

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