Croatia’s Best Beaches
The beautiful Croatian coastline boasts over 1700km of the Adriatic coast, while its 1,246 islands and islets encompass even more. If you want a coastal European getaway with stunning beaches, and views to die for then Croatia should be your next holiday destination!
We’ve compiled a list of some of the best rated beaches for you to visit on your next trip as you do some island hopping by boat.
Northern Adriatic
Sveti Ivan Beach on the island of Cres is one of the most beautiful beaches in the entire Cres-Lošinj archipelago. Nestled at the foot of the cliffs, the beach is perfectly sculpted with native pine trees and an emerald green sea.
The medieval fortified town of Lubenice is nearby, which you can access via a steep path The climb takes about 1.5hrs so it’s not for the faint hearted, but you will be rewarded at the end. Due to this, the beach is almost exclusively visited by boaters, so it’s a hidden treasure.
Right next door lies Žanje Bay and the Blue Cave (Plava Špilja), a sea cave sparkling with all shades of blue giving a magical experience to all explorers. We recommend taking a boat here to get the most out of your exploration!
Sveti Ivan Beach on the island of Cres is one of the most beautiful beaches in the entire Cres-Lošinj archipelago
Sakarun Beach on the island of Dugi otok, is an amazing beach and a perfect sailing vacation. This sandy beach of turquoise shades is irresistibly similar to Caribbean bays and is straight off a postcard.
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There are numerous underwater cold springs making it a refreshing destination on the hottest summer days.
We highly recommend visiting Sakarun under the stars! You can tie the boat to one of the 20 available floats and enjoy a romantic evening on your boat or relax at the local beach bar with a glass of your favourite drink.
The turquoise waters of Sakarun Beach
Middle Adriatic
Zlatni rat beach on the island of Brac proudly boasts its ‘golden’ name and may even be the most spectacular beach on the Adriatic. It is a cape several hundred meters long, and it changes its shape every day under the influence of wind and waves. The shores are covered in tiny white pebbles and a particular type of seashell similar to the sea snail. Locals call it ‘the stone of happiness’ and legend has it that whoever finds this unique shell will have eternal happiness!
If you are visiting via boat we recommend that you also sail to the calm Blace Bay. Take a walk through the pine trees to a unique monastery erected at the top of a cliff.
Stiniva Beach on the island of Vis, was declared the most beautiful beach in Europe for 2016. The area used to be a cave, however when the vault of the cave collapsed , the wind and tides have now transformed this ‘pile of stones’ into a beautiful bay. Unfortunately, glory has taken its toll, and Stiniva is visited at the peak of the season by numerous inflatables and various other sea vessels, so it’s worth a visit in the early morning or late afternoon to get as much to yourself as possible.
Stiniva Beach – declared the most beautiful beach in Europe for 2016
If it is too busy you can instead head to the western shores of the nearby island of Bisevo. There you’ll find Porat Beach, listed by The Irish Times among the seven most beautiful beaches in the world.
The beach features turquoise sea colours, a rocky shoreline, a sandy beach covered with pine trees, and a small ‘love’ cave – perhaps the reason many associate the bay of Porat with the fondest memories of their Croatian discovery.
Southern Adriatic
Divna Beach, meaning ‘wonderful, is located at the edge of the green slopes of the Peljesac Peninsula. It is a long beach made of white pebbles nests, highlighted with beautiful turquoise colours of the sea. Many enjoy swimming to the islet nearby. There is also a local campsite nearby.
On the edge of green slopes lies the turquoise ocean of Divna Beach
Saplunara Beach on the island of Mljet will at first glance captivate you with its beauty. According to many, it is one of the most beautiful sandy beaches in Croatia. It’s a long beach with several great restaurants that provide mooring for boaters. At the eastern end, there is a beach bar where you can discover another sandy pearl, Limuni Beach. While Saplunara does get busy, there is almost a quiet corner for everyone in this spacious bay.
Discover more of Croatia on our Beautiful Croatia tour. See the itinerary here.
Tags: beach, adriatic, Sveti Ivan, Sakarun, Zlatni rat, Stiniva, Divna, Saplunara