Discover Croatia’s Finest Sandy Beaches: A Guide to Sun, Sand, and Crystal Clear Waters
A sea holiday in Croatia is one of the favorite choices of Europeans, who usually, from June to September, flock along the coasts that stretch from Istria southwards to southern Dalmatia or go to explore the hundreds of islands that dot the eastern side of the Adriatic Sea.
If it is true that Croatia is full of seaside resorts and a crystal clear sea, from the point of view of soft beaches, the situation is certainly less attractive, given that most of the beaches are pebbly or rocky; on the other hand, it is true that this is precisely one of the reasons that makes the sea look so clean and with such beautiful colors.
In any case, for those who can’t resist that soft sensation of feeling the sand under their feet, we present below some of the best sandy beaches in Croatia to enjoy for a day or a holiday, albeit with a fly in the ointment: they are often crowded, given their relative scarcity.
Bijeca beach
In the southern part of Istria, Medulin is a tourist town only 7 kilometers from Pula. Here, the most famous is the Bijeca beach, 1 km long and particularly appreciated by families with small children thanks to its facilitated approach to the sea. As we mentioned in our article on the most beautiful beaches in Istria, the beach has water sports facilities, bars, restaurants, sunbed and umbrella rentals, as well as many other services.
Morlacca Canal and Veglia
Moving further south, along the Morlacca Channel, in the Kvarner region, we find the Crikvenica Riviera, which offers its visitors numerous sandy beaches that follow one another for several kilometers along the coast.
One of the best sandy beaches is located in Manestra Bay between Dramalj and the Kacjak peninsula. Another sandy beach near Crikvenica is Balustrada. Not far from these shores we find the island of Krk, which is connected to the mainland by a bridge. Here are the arenas of Komoriska, near Klimno, well surrounded by large umbrella pines.
In Meline, you can enjoy its beautiful sandy beach, which measures almost half a kilometer in length. In Baska, there is another beach that can only be reached by a path, which makes it one of the least frequented beaches in all of Croatia.
Islands of Rab and Murter
Moving on to the island of Rab, we find Rajska Plaza, a 2-kilometer-long beach of very fine sand. The surrounding beautiful pine forest offers natural shade, and the site is very popular with families with young children, which tends to make it quite busy.
For further information, refer to our article dedicated to the most beautiful beaches in Rab. On the island of Murter, we find the famous beach of Slanica, which is very popular, especially with those who love sports. Furthermore, on the island of Vis there are various sandy beaches (the best known is that of Stonica), while another rather popular lido is located in Milna. Finally, on the nearby small island of Bisevo, we find Porat, one of the most famous beaches in all of Croatia.
Northern Dalmatia
Returning to the mainland, near Zadar, we find the town of Nin, where a long sandy beach welcomes you with shallow and pleasant warm waters, ideal for children: it is the beach of Laguna Ninska.
Also in Dalmatia, we find other beautiful places where you can lie down comfortably in the sun. On the island of Dugi Otok (Long Island), there is Saharun, a long beach facing the open sea. This magical place is located in a beautiful cove with white sand that gives the sea a beautiful turquoise color. Here, the waters gradually become deeper and are very suitable for small children.
Brac
On the island of Brac, the undisputed queen of summer is the long horn-shaped beach of Zlatni Rat, a strip of sand that juts out into the blue Adriatic, considered one of the most beautiful beaches in Croatia. We point out Mlaska, a lido that both families and naturists frequent, as we pass by the island of Lesina (Hvar in Croatian).
The whole area around Split is full of islands, and in Korcula, the former Venetian possession, there is the sandy beach of Vela Przina, near the town of Lumbarda. The beach is located in a large bay, which, in addition to protecting it from the northern winds, also offers a beautiful view of the open sea and the nearby island of Lastovo.
Split and Surroundings
Even the mainland in these parts has something to offer: Bacvice Beach in Split is perhaps the most popular beach in all of Croatia, as it is located within walking distance of the historic city center. This lido is perfect for small children, thanks to the rather low water level up to tens of meters from the shore. The Omis Riviera, which stretches 35 km along the coast south of Split, is also known for its large sandy beaches, especially in the direction of Dugi Rat.
Southern Dalmatia
Croatia also manages to offer beautiful beaches in areas of southern Dalmatia, such as in Dubrovnik, where we find the large beach of Uvala Lapad, accompanied by a beautiful promenade with numerous hotels, restaurants, sports facilities, and children’s playgrounds. This sandy beach is also well equipped with showers, changing cabins, deck chairs, and umbrellas.
In the surroundings of the ancient Ragusa, on the spectacular peninsula of Peljesac, near Orebic, there is the beach of Trstenica (about eighty kilometers north of Dubrovnik), with a bottom mixed with sand and pebbles. Finally, we point out the island of Mljet: the cove of Saplunara is a jewel that boasts two fine sandy beaches protected for their unique natural beauty.
There are forests all around the beaches, which face the open sea. This is the ideal place to visit if you are one of those who want to escape from the holiday crowds.