Top 10 Beaches in Croatia

Croatia is a beach-lovers paradise littered with beautiful seaside scenery. With over 3,000km of coastline and 718 islands to choose from, there really is nowhere better to kick back, relax, and soak up the sun and waves.

Croatia’s beaches come in all shapes and sizes: from isolated and exclusive shady coves to busy family-friendly strips with facilities and activities. You’ll find a mix of pebble, rock, and sand, with backdrops of pine forests, mountains, and picturesque villages. 

We’ve put together our ultimate top ten Croatian beaches below!

Saharun Beach, Dugi Otok

Dugi Otok is an island off the coast of Zadar and can be reached by ferry from Zadar. The sea color here is unlike anything you have ever seen before – if you didn’t know any better, you’d think you were in the Caribbean! 

The beach is almost a kilometer long and made out of very small and smooth white stones. Backed by fragrant pine trees, you can find the necessary shade on hot summer days, making it a perfect beach to spend an entire day at. With a shallow rake for dipping into, two beach bars, and sunbeds and parasols to rent…what more could you possibly want?

Zlatni Rat, Brac 

Brac is an island off the coast of Split and is famous for its long pebble beach that stretches out into the warm Adriatic Sea. This golden horn beach is often named among the best in Europe – and it’s well deserved. 

The beauty of Zlatni impresses visitors from all around the world, attracting sun-seekers, swimmers, and windsurfers. Don’t worry if it gets a bit too crowded – as there are plenty of other beautiful beaches to be found across the island of Brac.

Stiniva Beach, Vis

This unique beach lies in a hidden cove on the island of Vis, embraced by stone rock formations with a narrow entrance in the middle. It looks like a work of art: a true masterpiece of Mother Nature, created by the strong wind and waves. 

The pebbles on this beach are large and white, adding to the charm of this little piece of unspoiled nature. The beach can only be reached by boat, then a short hike through a goat trail, but the extra effort is truly worth it. 

Paradise Beach, Rab

The name says it all. This 1.5km long sandy beach near Lopar on Rab island offers plenty of facilities for all ages, from water sports and playgrounds for the family to sunbeds and seafood restaurants for sophisticates. 

Paradise beach is the longest and easily the most popular beach on Rab, but there are plenty of others to choose from – ask your consultant! You can reach Lopar by ferry from the island of Krk, which is connected to the mainland by a bridge from nearby Rijeka.

Punta Rata, Makarska

The Makarska Riviera is famous for its stunning white pebble beaches, and Punta Rata in Brela is considered to be the most beautiful one of all. 

The combination of white pebbles, thick pine forests, a lovely seafront promenade, and the impressive backdrop of Mount Biokovo makes this piece of the Dalmatian coast a little slice of heaven.

Saplunara Beach, Mljet

One of the last hidden jewels in the Adriatic, Saplunara beach is isolated and largely untouched, with a sandy lagoon that looks to have come straight out of a movie set. This beach is purely for the purists – there are no watersport facilities or playgrounds, only a beach bar, and a few sunbeds. 

Mljet island lies off the coast of Dubrovnik and can be reached by ferry. The ferry will take you to Sobra and from there you can take a bus or a taxi to Saplunara.

Queen’s Beach, Nin

The Nin lagoon is an oasis of sandy beaches – the longest of which being Queen’s Beach. This 3km beach is ideal for children and very safe thanks to its shallow rake. Facilities are good too, with several beach bars and shower blocks. 

The view of the Velebit Mountains behind the lagoon is breathtaking. For a natural spa treat, try bathing in the medicinal peloid mud pool located right next to the beach.

Baska Beach, Krk 

Baska beach is the most attractive pebble beach on Krk island. It is an almost 2km stretch and offers all the facilities that you could possibly imagine. 

The beach lies in the heart of Baska town so you will be able to reach plenty of restaurants and bars in just a few steps. The sea is shallow here and the pebbles are very fine, so it’s a great place for kids and non-swimmers.

Hawaii Beach, Pula

Located just outside the historic town of Pula, in the Verudela resort area, this pretty cove beach offers a beautiful turquoise sea with a shallow entrance which is perfect for young children. 

The beach is mostly pebble, with rockier outcrops and surrounding cliffs serving up fantastic natural dive spots. There are plenty of pine trees around the beach providing natural shade.

Dubovica Beach, Hvar 

This little gem doesn’t attract too many visitors – which makes it even more special. It is an idyllic place where you can relax and escape the crowds on 150m of pebbled paradise. 

Uvala Dubovica lies 8km from Hvar town, with the beach found via a steep and unmarked trail. On both sides you will find a small church and a series of old stone houses, one of which is a small tavern serving up delicious seafood. 

Why not try one of our Croatian island cruises and spend a week visiting these beautiful islands with their picturesque seaside towns, tranquil beaches, and restaurants offering an array of mouth-watering freshly caught seafood.

You can find more information about our Deluxe Balcony cruises here; email our travel experts at customerservice@cruisecroatia.com, or call on +1 844 637 9747 in the USA or +44 203 950 9613 in UK and Australia, to start planning your getaway now!