15 Top - Rated Best Beaches in Croatia

If you're looking for stunning beaches to add to your travel bucket list, look no further than Croatia. This relatively unknown Eastern European country boasts some of the best coastline in the world. From dramatic cliffs and crystal-clear waters to deserted coves and secluded shores, there's a beach here for everyone.

To help you plan your trip, we've rounded up our top 15 picks for the best beaches in Croatia. So whether you're seeking adventure or relaxation, these are the places you'll want to add to your itinerary. Bon voyage!

1. Zlatni Rat, Brač

With its perfect sharp angle shape that pierces the azure waters of the Hvar canal in the Adriatic Sea, Zlatni Rat (Golden Cape) is one of the best beaches in Croatia for families and is certainly the star beach of the island of Brač, close to the beautiful city Bol.

The pebble of the beach, which gives it that silvery sheen that contrasts the lush vegetation inside its V, attracts lovers of water sports - jet skiing, windsurfing, kayaking, but also those who do not shy away from taking off their swimsuit.

Add the Roman ruins that can be seen in the middle of the pine forest, on the background of Mount Vidova, and you understand why it is so charming. You can easily get here, at the end of a beautiful cruise from Split or other cities. Active tourists also enjoy this beach; due to favorable winds, it is often the meeting place for windsurfers. Also here people go diving, pedaling on pedal boats, jet skiing ... Or you can just enjoy watching all these activities on Zlatni Rat beach.

It is not surprising that this beach has been in the recommendations sections of foreign magazines, among the best beaches in the world, countless times.

Don't miss the fun this summer. You can stay in Bonaca or in the charming Borak Hotel, surrounded by lush nature. Also here is Hotel Elaphusa, the best hotel on the island of Brač, which has a wellness center of over 4000 m2, a fitness center, and a bowling alley.

Address:
Postira 21410 Croatia
GPS coordinates Latitude: 43.36937 Longitude: 16.66524

Facilities:
Parking at 50 m
Shower
Sports field
Restaurants

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2. Punta Rata, Brela

Punta Rata in the small village of Brela, located just 14 kilometers north of the town of Makarska on the Dalmatian coast, is one of the most popular beaches in Croatia. And no wonder, when you see that the pine forests, olive, and fig plantations that surround the village almost invade the gravel of the beach, ensuring that picturesque beauty appreciated by everyone. Lifeguards, sports facilities, and a promenade full of restaurants and cafes make Punta Rata Beach a perfect choice for families.

Punta Rata Beach was voted by Forbes magazine as one of the 10 most beautiful beaches in the world. The hotel Bluesun Marina is ideal for families with children as they have a fantastic entertainment program for children and are located in one of the most popular places in Brela. In addition, it is a good value for money! Tourist tax is included in the price!

Address:
Trg Alojzija Stepinca 78 Brela 21322 Croatia
GPS coordinates Latitude: 43.37001 Longitude: 16.92281

Facilities:
Parking at 10 m
Natural shade
Shower
Restaurants

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3. Uvala Dubovica, Hvar

The island of Hvar attracts not only with its renaissance port, famous for its cool bars and vibrant nightlife, but also with its beaches hidden in seductive bays. Uvala Dubovica, the largest beach on the island and one of the best beaches to visit in Croatia, shines on the south coast, close to the town of Milna. A beautiful lagoon with emerald waters that invite you to invaluable snorkeling sessions, protects this pebble beach and gives it a special beauty, complemented by historic houses and rolling hills in the background.

How to get to Hvar Island: The nearest airport to the island is Split, and from there, a ferry takes you to the island in about an hour. If you are in another city, you have to make the land connection with the port of Drvenik (100 km from Dubrovnik, for example), and from there, you need a 35-minute sea transport to the island of Hvar.

Address:
Šetalište kralja Zvonimira 37 Dubrovnik 20000 Croatia
GPS coordinates Latitude: 42.6551 Longitude: 18.07017

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4. Makarska

Between Dubrovnik and Split is that part of the Dalmatian Coast known as the Makarska Riviera, an area full of captivating strips of Croatia beaches, including the beautiful beach of Makarska, at the foot of the impressive mountain Biokovo.

A promenade full of palm trees, restaurants, cafes, and shops follows the curved line of the gravel expanse of the beach, a lively area in a dramatic landscape. The blue waters, pedal boats, and jet skis make it frequented by families, offering a series of unforgettable nautical adventures.

The beaches are the main magnet that attracts an impressive number of visitors every season. With fine sand and the advantage of having the mountain just a few steps away, the beaches in the Makarska area are described as the most beautiful beaches in Europe, maybe even around the world.

Makarska is about an hour and a half from Split, and the connection between the two cities is provided by buses that run regularly. To visit the surrounding villages, you can opt for local buses that will take you to all the important locations in the area.

Address:
Trg Alojzija Stepinca 78 Brela 21322 Croatia
GPS coordinates Latitude: 43.37001 Length: 16.92281

Facilities:
Parking at 10 m
Natural shade
Shower
Restaurants

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5. Lubenice, Cres Island

Cres Island is the best place to go in Croatia for beaches. The largest island in the Adriatic and connected to Istria by ferry (Brestova - Porozina line) and to the island of Krk (Valbiska - Merag line). An important natural phenomenon on the island is the freshwater lake Vransko (crow). Cres Island is known as the habitat of the species protected from Griffon eagles, a species that is unfortunately endangered.

On the island, we recommend visiting the museum of Osor, a town near the bridge that connects Cres and Lošinj. One of the most beautiful beaches on the island of Cres, but probably in the whole of Croatia, is the beach of St. Ivan in Lubenice. Lubenice is one of the first inhabited localities, built in the rock at 387m above sea level, like a city in the story. Below, at the foot of Lubenice, is a small bay with the most beautiful beach in St. John (Sv. Ivan). It takes about 45 minutes to walk and about an hour to climb back.

This is a pristine beach with clear water and rich aquatic life, but often visited by yachts. Lubenice is a special place, isolated and with a unique feeling of mystery and loneliness.
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6. Spiaza, Susak Island

Spiaza is the main beach in Susak, a small island whose peculiarity is that it is almost entirely built on sand. But this very fact gives it a special charm, which makes the distance traveled by ferry from Mali Lošinj no longer seem so great.

Spiaza Beach near the village of Susak boasts its crescent shape and its shallow blue waters, through which you must seriously advance in the sea to be able to swim, but this makes it excellent for families with small children who are looking for the best island in Croatia for beaches.
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7. Kraljicina plaza (Queen's Beach), Nin

Kraljicina Plaza (Queen’s Beach) can be called a rarity among the best beaches in Croatia for two simple reasons: it stretches for several kilometers and is a sandy beach. Located in the northern Dalmatian town of Nin, 15 kilometers from Zadar, Kraljicina Plaza enjoys great popularity, not necessarily due to its beauty, but to the shallow waters of its lagoon, sought after by tourists for its special properties and used as a natural treatment. If you don't like to muddy your feet, you can go kitesurfing and windsurfing or just relax in the sun.

Address:
Nin 23210 Croatia
GPS coordinates Latitude: 44.25187 Length: 15.17512

Facilities:
Parking at 50 m
Sunbeds and umbrellas
WC
Shower
Restaurants
Lifeguard
Water Sports

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8. Rajska Plaza, Rab Island

Among the few sandy beaches in Croatia is Rajska Plaza or Paradise Beach on the island of Rab in the resort village of Lopar. Its shallow waters, which remain so many hundreds of meters from the shore, but also its sand that shines in the sun, make it a perfect place for a family vacation. Naturalists prefer the other beaches of the island, famous for this kind of tourism.

Address:
Lopar 488 Lopar 51281 Croatia
GPS coordinates Latitude: 44.82443 Longitude: 14.74155

Facilities:
Parking at 100 m
Water slide
Children's playground
Lifeguard
Toilet and Shower
Restaurants
Sports fields
Water sports
Public telephone
Wifi
ATM

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9. Sunj Bay, Lopud Island

The trip to Sunj Bay on the island of Lopud contributes to the charm of this sandy and gravel beach in Croatia, protected at the ends by two rocky promontories. Because you can only get here by ferry from Dubrovnik-Šipan, at the end of a 50-minute cruise, and after a lovely hike, crossing the central hill of the island where no car travels. The beach bar proves providential after this trip that is worth the effort.

Address:
From Sunja Lopud 20222 Croatia
GPS coordinates Latitude: 42.6794999 Longitude: 17.9493839

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10. Sakarun, Insula Dugi Otok

On the island of Dugi Otok stands out the beautiful Sakarun (or Saharun) beach with white gravel, caught between cool pine forests and incredibly clear turquoise waters, as only here the Adriatic can offer. Moreover, the waves are almost absent, and you have to move forward seriously to enjoy some depth. But this does not bother children at all, who can play and splash at will in the sun. A few seasonal bars and restaurants cover dining options, just check when they are open.

Address:
Verunić 23287 Croatia
GPS coordinates Latitude: 44.13411 Length: 14.87229

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11. Bacvice, Split

Located in the warmest part of the northern shores of the Mediterranean Sea, with the Marjan forest park being the green lungs of the city, Split boasts 2700 hours of sunshine annually. Besides tourism, Split is an economic, industrial, and cultural center of the region. Bacvice is a residential area and a neighborhood of Split, but also the name of one of the best beaches in Split Croatia.

Bacvice Bay has a length of 600 m, and the sand part occupies 180 m, the rest of the bay being a paved walkway. Bacvice Beach is a favorite area for bathing and a playground for the game. Every year the Picigin World Cup is organized here. The beach was awarded the blue flag.

Address:
Šetalište Petra Preradovića Split 21000 Croatia
GPS coordinates Latitude: 43.5024186 Longitude: 16.4449095

Facilities:
Parking at 30m
Natural shade
Playground for children
Toilet and shower
Sunbeds and Umbrellas
Lifeguard
Wifi internet
Cafes and restaurants Beach Bar
Fast food
Water sports

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12. Children's Paradise Beach (Djecji raj)

Stretching from Barbira Head to Podvar, in Sukosan we find the "Children's Paradise" beach. As its name suggests, due to its shallow sandy bottom, Djecji raj beach is the best family beach in Croatia, a paradise for children and for those who, besides swimming, want to enjoy a variety of other beach games.

This is especially suitable for lovers of "picigin". On the beach, you can rent sunbeds and boats and you can cool off with ice cream or a drink in one of the cafes. There are also showers, changing cabins, and ecological toilets.

Address:
Sukošan 23206 Croatia
GPS coordinates Latitude: 44.04168 Longitude: 15.30725

Facilities:
Parking
WC and Shower
Restaurants
Lifeguard

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13. White beach in Šibenik

Šibenik, the best protected natural harbor in the central Adriatic Sea, not far from the mouth of the river Krka, is the center of a tourist region with two national parks and green areas that blends naturally with the Croatian coast. The white sand beach is located about 6 km from the center of Šibenik, at the hotel complex 'Solaris' and is awarded the Blue Flag for its internationally renowned clean water.

The beach has a length of about 700 m and is suitable for children, people who do not know how to swim, and people with disabilities.It is covered with fine sand and gravel and equipped with numerous facilities, as well as showers, toilets, changing cabins, and lifeguards. Solaris White Beach is one of the most prestigious sandy beaches in Croatia.

Address:
Šibenik 22000 Croatia
GPS coordinates Latitude: 43.69733 Longitude: 15.88091

Facilities:
Parking at 100 m
Toilet
Shower
Sunbeds and umbrellas
Swimming pool
Water slide
Children's playground
Lifeguard
Sports fields
Restaurants
Public telephone
ATM
Wifi internet
Disabled access

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14. Slanica Beach

Murter Island is especially famous for its beaches, among which it occupies a special place and the one near the town of Murter. Slanica Beach is located one kilometer from Murter city center.

Because it is one of the best beaches in Croatia, it is always visited by a large number of swimming lovers, and the clear shallow water makes it an ideal location for picigin players. On the paved side of the Slanica coast, there are numerous cafes, bars, and an entertainment center for children, being frequently visited by young people and families with children. In the immediate vicinity, there is a campsite where you can rent boats, scooters, and bicycles.

Address:
Podvrške 1 Murter 22243 Croatia
GPS coordinates Latitude: 43.81663 Length: 15.57971

Facilities:
Parking at 100 m
WC
Shower
Sunbeds and umbrellas
Water slide
Playground Sports field
Restaurants

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15. Vela Pržina Beach on Korcula Island

Korcula Island comprises a significant number of bays and islands, covered with lush vegetation consisting of young forest and conifers, grasses, and flowers. Along the coast of Korcula are the towns of Korcula, Lumbarda, and Vela Luka. The town of Korcula, the historical and tourist center of the island, is known as the birthplace of the famous explorer Marco Polo.

At a distance of only six kilometers from the town of Korcula is one of the most beautiful Croatian beaches - Vela Przina. Located in a valley and surrounded by vineyards, it is very popular with young people who come here to have fun, play volleyball and picigin or enjoy one of the bars and restaurants around the beach. Sunbeds and parasols can be rented on the beach.

Address:
Lumbarda 20263 Croatia
GPS coordinates Latitude: 42.91791 Length: 17.18662

Facilities:
Parking at 10 m
WC
Shower
Sunbeds and umbrellas
Sports field
Restaurants

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Conclusion:
If you're looking for a breathtaking beach escape, Croatia should be at the top of your list. With crystal-clear waters, stunningly white sand beaches, and dramatic coastal scenery, these 15 Croatian beaches are sure to please. So start planning your vacation now – we promise you won't regret it!