When you picture a summer holiday on the Adriatic, most people immediately think of crowded Split or pricey Dubrovnik, but Zadar in northern Dalmatia often stays a little unfairly in the shadows. And that’s a shame, because this Croatian city is utterly charming, blending three thousand years of history with modern art, and according to the famous director Alfred Hitchcock, you’ll find the most beautiful sunset in the world right here. The historic centre sits on a narrow peninsula ringed by old walls, where you can wander for days along the smooth stone pavement and soak up the laid-back seaside atmosphere.

The destination’s biggest advantage, though, is its strategic location, because the city makes an absolutely ideal base for day trips across the wider region. On a single holiday you can easily cover four breathtaking national parks, picturesque islands and historic towns, so you definitely won’t be bored for a single minute. While you can stroll past Roman ruins in the morning, by the afternoon you might be on a boat in the middle of the sea or hiking through wild mountains.

In this article I’m bringing you a complete guide with 15 things to see and do in Zadar, whether you’re coming for a long weekend or a two-week holiday. I’ll also advise you on where to stay strategically, when the best time to visit is, and how much you’ll pay to enter the most famous landmarks and nature reserves nearby.

TL;DR

• Biggest draws: The city is famous for its modern installations, the Sea Organ and the Greeting to the Sun, which you should ideally experience at dusk.
• Historic centre: It sits on a peninsula and you can walk it in a single day — don’t miss St Donatus’ Church and the Roman Forum.
• Perfect base: Zadar is a crossroads to four national parks, with easy access to Plitvice Lakes, the Krka waterfalls, the Kornati islands and the Paklenica mountains.
• When to go: For sightseeing and trips, May, June or September are best, when you avoid the biggest crowds and the extreme summer heat.
• Getting there: A low-cost airport runs just outside the city with direct flights, but you can also drive here easily via Croatia’s A1 motorway.
• Where to stay: Families with children will love the Borik district near the beaches, while couples will appreciate the romance right in the historic centre.
• Food: Be sure to try the local vegetable risotto and, as a digestif, sample the famous Maraschino cherry liqueur, which has been made here since the 16th century.

When to Visit Zadar

If you’re planning a holiday focused purely on swimming and topping up your tan, then July and August are your best bet, when temperatures climb well above thirty degrees and the sea is beautifully warm. But you’ll need to factor in that this is the absolute peak of the season, which brings packed beaches, long queues for the ferries and the very highest prices for accommodation and services. On top of that, the Zadar weather in the historic streets can be almost unbearably hot during the day, so it’s better to leave sightseeing until late afternoon.

The city offers a far more pleasant atmosphere in May, June or September, when the weather is already gloriously sunny and stable but the tourist crowds are considerably smaller. This period is absolutely ideal for an active holiday, whether you’re heading off on mountain hikes or full-day trips around the national parks. The sea is usually warm enough for a quick dip by early summer, while in September it holds on to the heat it has soaked up over the holidays.

Early spring or autumn can also be a very appealing alternative, because unlike the small resort towns, the historic centre doesn’t go to sleep over winter and you’ll still find cafés and restaurants open. This gives you a unique chance to walk the Roman monuments with hardly anyone around, and you’ll save a fair bit of money too, since the national park entry fees are many times cheaper outside the high season.

Where to Stay in Zadar

💡 Tip for accommodation and experiences: We like to look for accommodation on Booking.com, which tends to have the best cancellation policies. Tickets, tours and activities are then worth comparing and booking through GetYourGuide.

Choosing where to stay depends mainly on how you’re travelling to Croatia and what you expect from your holiday, because each neighbourhood offers a completely different experience. If you’re flying in and planning a shorter stay full of culture and romantic evenings, look for hotels right on the historic peninsula. You’ll be just a few steps from the landmarks, restaurants and the Sea Organ, but bear in mind the centre is largely pedestrianised and it can get fairly lively in the evenings. If you arrive by car, parking near the walls can be expensive and tricky.

For families with children and anyone who wants to spend their days mostly by the sea, the best choice is the Borik district, which lies about four kilometres northwest of the centre. Here you’ll find lovely beaches, a quieter setting, plenty of parking and hotels that often have pools or entertainment programmes. If you’re after a happy medium with friendlier prices, I recommend the Diklo district or traditional Arbanasi, from where you can easily reach the centre by public transport or a pleasant walk. Most accommodation is easy to book through the popular Booking portal.

Among the top-rated places right in the centre is the luxurious Bastion Heritage Hotel, which is literally built into the remains of the old Venetian walls and offers a beautiful spa and a top-class restaurant. If you’re looking for something modern and more affordable right in the heart of the action, the stylish Boutique Hostel Forum is a great choice, offering both shared rooms and lovely private rooms overlooking the Roman monuments. And for a family beach holiday with every comfort, I can warmly recommend the Falkensteiner Club Funimation Borik, with a huge outdoor and indoor water park that kids will absolutely love.

15 Things to See and Do in Zadar

The historic core of the city isn’t huge, so you can easily walk between the most important landmarks in a single afternoon — but I definitely recommend not rushing. The city hides plenty of little details, picturesque lanes and tucked-away squares that are best enjoyed with a scoop of ice cream in hand. Let’s take a look at the best of the city itself and its immediate surroundings.

1. Listen to the Sea Organ

As you stroll along the promenade at the northwestern tip of the peninsula, you’ll come across wide stone steps descending straight into the sea waves, from which deep, melancholic tones constantly emerge. This is the unique Sea Organ (Morske orgulje), a fascinating architectural and sonic work by local architect Nikola Bašić, ceremonially opened in spring 2005. Beneath the unassuming stone steps lies a complex system of thirty-five polyethylene pipes of various lengths and diameters, all connected to the sea.

The whole magic lies in the fact that the music here is made by nature itself, as the energy that sounds the pipes comes from the force of the waves and tide pushing air up through narrow channels. The organ is tuned to seven chords of five tones each, creating a constantly changing, never-ending concert that sounds completely different every time. For this brilliant idea, the city even won the prestigious European Prize for Urban Public Space, and the spot became an instant hit.

The installation stretches around seventy metres, and the loveliest thing is simply to sit on the sun-warmed steps, close your eyes and listen to the power of the sea. Access to the organ is, of course, completely free, and the spot is open twenty-four hours a day.

💡 Tip: The organ’s sound is strongest and most dynamic when larger ferries or boats pass by, churning up big waves.

2. Be Dazzled by the Greeting to the Sun

Right next to the Sea Organ, at the very tip of the peninsula, sits a second famous installation by the same architect, in close dialogue with the musical work. The Greeting to the Sun (Pozdrav Suncu) is a huge circle twenty-two metres in diameter set into the stone pavement, made up of three hundred multi-layered glass plates. Beneath these plates hide modern solar panels that soak up energy from the scorching Dalmatian sun all day long.

The real show, however, only begins when the sun sinks below the horizon and dusk falls over the city. The glass circle lights up with thousands of colourful lights that pulse, shift hues and create a hypnotic light show. Interestingly, the rhythm and dynamics of the flashing lights aren’t random but respond to the tones and frequencies of the neighbouring Sea Organ, linking the sound and visual experience into one amazing whole.

If you examine the installation up close in daylight, you’ll notice the names of Zadar’s patron saints and significant saints engraved around the circle, along with the dates of their feast days. This modern monument also works as a small power station, producing an impressive forty-six thousand kilowatt-hours a year — enough to cover roughly half the electricity used for street lighting along the entire waterfront.

💡 Tip: The light circle draws crowds of tourists after dark, so if you want to photograph it without people, come early in the morning before sunrise, when the panels are still glowing faintly.

3. Walk the Riva Waterfront at Sunset

The western shore of the historic peninsula is lined by a beautiful promenade known simply as the Riva, which invites long, undisturbed walks beneath the canopies of mature trees. From the waterfront, a wide view opens up over the open sea and the green hills of the nearby island of Ugljan, served by a constant stream of white passenger ferries. The promenade is bordered by carefully tended parks and lawns where locals and tourists alike love to have afternoon picnics.

It was from this very spot that one of the most famous quotes about the city came, spoken by the legendary film director Alfred Hitchcock during his visit in May 1964. Looking out of the window of room 204 in what was then the Hotel Zagreb, he was so captivated that he declared the local sunset was far more beautiful than the one in Key West, California, and called it the most beautiful in the entire world. And when the sky starts playing in every shade of orange, pink and purple, you can’t help but agree with him.

The best place to watch this daily light show is the tip of the peninsula by the Sea Organ, where the colours of the sky blend with the music of the waves. The spot has an incredibly romantic atmosphere that practically begs you to slow down for a while and simply take in the beauty of the present moment.

💡 Tip: For the best spot, take a seat on the steps by the organ about thirty to forty-five minutes before sunset, as it really fills up later on.

4. Admire the Massive St Donatus’ Church

As you step into the very heart of the old town, your attention is instantly drawn to a monumental circular building that has become the architectural symbol of all Zadar. St Donatus’ Church is a massive pre-Romanesque rotunda dating from the 9th century, rising to an impressive twenty-seven metres and holding the title of the largest building of its kind in all of Croatia. Interestingly, it was originally named the Church of the Holy Trinity, but was later renamed after Bishop Donatus, who probably initiated its construction.

The builders of this unique sanctuary were incredibly pragmatic, as they erected the church directly on the remains of the old Roman square and used ancient columns and huge stone blocks as building material. When you examine the building up close, you can clearly see Roman architectural elements and column capitals built right into the outer walls, creating an utterly fascinating fusion of two different historical eras.

These days the church no longer serves religious purposes, but thanks to its circular shape and high vault it boasts absolutely perfect acoustics. During the summer season it regularly hosts hugely popular evening concerts of classical and Renaissance music, which have an unrepeatable atmosphere thanks to the historic setting.

💡 Tip: Admission to the rotunda’s interior is around five euros — I’d recommend carrying a little cash just in case, as the card terminals here occasionally go down.

5. Explore the Remains of the Roman Forum

Right in front of St Donatus’ Church spreads a vast open space that, as if by the wave of a magic wand, transports you more than two thousand years back in time. These are the remains of the Roman Forum, founded here by the first Roman emperor Augustus, which served as the main town square from roughly the first century BC until the third century AD. In its day it was a pulsing centre of public, political and religious life, surrounded by magnificent temples and shops.

Today you can wander freely among the surviving foundations of ancient buildings, fragments of Corinthian columns and precisely worked stone blocks that are scattered across the spacious lawn. Unlike many other ancient sites around the world, there are no fences or barriers here, so you can happily sit on the old stones and drink in the history in deep draughts.

One particularly well-preserved monumental column is worth your attention, as it served for centuries as the so-called pillar of shame, or pillory. Right up until the nineteenth century, petty thieves and offenders were tied to it to be exposed to public mockery and humiliation from the townsfolk passing by.

💡 Tip: Visiting the entire Roman Forum area is completely free and unrestricted, and in the evening the ruins are very tastefully illuminated.

6. Climb the Bell Tower of St Anastasia’s Cathedral

Just a few steps from the St Donatus rotunda, the largest — and according to many visitors the most beautiful — cathedral in all of Dalmatia rises majestically. St Anastasia’s Cathedral (known locally as Sv. Stošija) is a stunning Romanesque basilica whose present form dates mostly from the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. Its richly decorated façade with two enormous rose windows resembles delicate lace carved into pale stone, while the interior hides amazing vaults and rare frescoes.

Entry to the cathedral’s main nave is free, but if you want to experience something truly special, don’t miss the climb up the adjacent landmark bell tower. Construction began as early as the fifteenth century, but the upper floors in neo-Romanesque style weren’t completed until the end of the nineteenth century, by the famous English architect Thomas Graham Jackson.

The way up takes a bit of fitness, as you’ll have to tackle around one hundred and eighty narrow steps, but the reward at the top is more than worth the effort. From the fifty-metre-high tower you get a breathtaking panoramic view over the entire historic centre with its red roofs, the blue surface of the sea and the outlines of the surrounding Dalmatian islands.

💡 Tip: Admission to the bell tower viewpoint is roughly between two and three euros, and tickets are bought right at the foot of the staircase.

7. Discover the Five Wells Square and the Land Gate

As you explore the southeastern edge of the historic centre, you’ll come across a very picturesque and photogenic open space with a fascinating technical past. The Five Wells Square (Trg pet bunara) takes its name from the five identical stone wells built in one precise row, dating from the sixteenth century during the period of Venetian rule. These wells were connected to a huge underground cistern and served as a key source of drinking water for the whole town until the mid-nineteenth century, when a modern water supply was built.

Right beside the square lies the pleasant Queen Jelena Park, surrounded by mature trees, and the old Captain’s Tower, which offers a lovely view over the harbour. Walk a little further towards the sea and you’ll reach the most impressive entrance to the old town, the monumental Land Gate (Kopnena vrata).

This beautiful structure, resembling a Roman triumphal arch, was designed in 1543 by the famous Venetian architect Michele Sanmicheli. The gate is adorned with a relief of Saint Chrysogonus on horseback, and right above the main arch watches over a large winged Lion of St Mark, the unmistakable symbol of the powerful Venetian Republic, under whose rule the city fell for centuries.

💡 Tip: Pass through the Land Gate beyond the walls and you’ll reach the small, romantic Foša harbour, where traditional fishing boats are moored and you’ll find excellent restaurants.

Lukáš and Lucie recommend

Where to Stay in Zadar

4 accommodations — wellness hotels, hotels and other accommodation options

⭐ TOP CHOICE ⭐ Luxury

Bastion Heritage Hotel

Luxury hotel literally built into the remains of old Venetian walls, offering beautiful wellness facilities and a top-class restaurant. Great choice for stays right in the historic center.

★★★★ Check prices

Check availability 🏨 Hotel

Boutique Hostel Forum

Stylish modern hostel right in the heart of the city, offering both shared and beautiful private rooms with views of Roman monuments. More budget-friendly option in the center.

★★★★ Check prices

Check availability 🏖️ Beach

Falkensteiner Club Funimation Borik

Family hotel by the beach with a huge outdoor and indoor aquapark that will absolutely delight children. Ideal for a family vacation with all the comforts.

★★★★ Check prices

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View all accommodations in Zadar

Explore all available accommodation options in Zadar and find the best one according to your preferences and budget.

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8. Soak Up the Atmosphere on Narodni Trg

While the Roman Forum is the historic heart of antiquity, the real centre of contemporary public life and meeting place for locals is Narodni trg. This cosy square has served as the main gathering point since the Middle Ages, and even today you’ll find the most popular cafés here, where locals quietly enjoy their strong espresso in the morning. It’s the perfect place to sit out on a terrace, soak up the sunshine and watch the lively bustle of a Dalmatian resort waking up.

The square is lined with beautiful historic buildings, dominated above all by the City Loggia from the sixteenth century and the old town hall. But your attention will surely be drawn to the charming city watchtower with its clock and picturesque arcade, dating from the mid-sixteenth century. Right next to it crouches the unassuming but architecturally precious pre-Romanesque little Church of St Lawrence (Sv. Lovre), one of the oldest surviving buildings in the city.

The whole square is paved with gleaming white stone worn perfectly smooth over the centuries, and from every side narrow lanes full of boutiques, bakeries and small craft shops converge on it.

💡 Tip: Try walking across the square early in the morning or at dusk, when the warm stone radiates heat beautifully and the cafés fill with a mix of Croatian and Italian.

9. Be Dazzled at the Museum of Ancient Glass and the Gold and Silver Exhibition

If you’re a lover of history and the artistic crafts, Zadar offers two utterly unique collections without equal for miles around. The first is housed in the beautifully restored Cosmacendi Palace, home to the specialised Museum of Ancient Glass (Muzej antičkog stakla). Here you’ll find one of the largest collections of ancient glass in Europe, numbering thousands of incredibly fragile flasks, goblets and pieces of jewellery excavated across the Dalmatian region.

Besides the display cases of precious exhibits, a huge draw is the museum’s live workshop, where at regular intervals you can watch local glassmakers at work. Seeing with your own eyes how the glowing mass before the furnace is transformed into an elegant vase using traditional blowing techniques is a fascinating experience for adults and children alike.

The city’s second great pride is the exhibition known as The Gold and Silver of Zadar, tucked away in the rooms of the Convent of St Mary right next to the Roman Forum. This priceless collection of sacred goldwork, reliquaries, crosses and decorated vestments has been carefully looked after for centuries by the local Benedictine nuns, who once even saved these treasures from destruction during the bombing of the Second World War.

💡 Tip: Admission to the Gold and Silver exhibition costs around five euros (prices may vary slightly by season), and I’d definitely recommend dressing modestly with your shoulders covered.

10. Relax on the City Beaches of Kolovare and Borik

After hours spent walking the scorching city pavement, you’re bound to crave a refreshing dip in the salty water, and the beaches right next to the centre are perfect for that. Just south of the peninsula begins the main city beach of Kolovare, stretching for roughly a kilometre and a half. It’s a mix of concrete platforms for comfortable sunbathing and stretches of fine pebbles or sand, and the beach holds a Blue Flag award for cleanliness — you’ll find all the facilities here, including plenty of beach bars.

If you’re looking for the ideal spot for families with younger children, head about four kilometres northwest of the centre to the Borik recreation zone. This sprawling beach offers a lovely gradual entry into the sea and finer gravel that sometimes turns to sand, so children can safely play in the shallows.

The Borik area is also superbly equipped for a full day of fun, with a large outdoor water park with flumes and slides right by the beach. Nearby you’ll also find plenty of parking, snack stands and rental places for pedalos or paddleboards, so it’s easy to keep yourself entertained all day.

💡 Tip: If you’re heading to Borik beach by car, it’s best to arrive first thing in the morning, as in summer the best parking spots in the shade of the pines fill up very quickly.

11. Find Peace at the Semi-Wild Punta Bajlo Beach

While Kolovare and Borik tend to be packed with tourists in the summer months and loud music plays from the bars, the locals swear by a small peninsula at the very southern edge of the city. Punta Bajlo beach is a hidden gem surrounded by a dense, fragrant pine grove that provides plenty of welcome natural shade even in the fiercest heat.

The coastline here is a little wilder, made up mostly of gorgeous white rocks from which you can safely jump straight into the crystal-clear deep water. Among the rocks you’ll also find smaller pebble coves that allow for a more comfortable entry into the sea. The whole place has an incredibly relaxed and peaceful atmosphere — the scent of resin in the air and the hum of cicadas.

Despite its semi-wild character, basic comfort isn’t lacking here: there’s a stylish café built right among the trees that makes a great frappé, and just a short walk from the beach you can park for free without any trouble. Punta Bajlo is simply the ideal choice for days when you just want to read a book, swim far from the shore and have complete peace from the bustle of the city.

💡 Tip: The rocky coast can be slippery and sharp in places, so I warmly recommend packing water shoes in your bag to avoid hurting your feet.

12. Chase Waterfalls at Plitvice Lakes and Krka National Parks

As I mentioned at the start, Zadar lies within ideal driving distance of Croatia’s most famous waterfalls, which you absolutely have to set aside time for. About an hour and a half by car inland sits the famous Plitvice Lakes National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offering a chain of sixteen emerald lakes connected by beautiful cascades. Ticket prices change dramatically with the season: in winter and spring you’ll pay a very pleasant €10 per adult, while at the peak of summer from June to September entry climbs to as much as €40 (this already includes the sightseeing boat and the little train).

The second fantastic option is Krka National Park, with its Lozovac entrance reachable from Zadar in about an hour. Here you’ll find the stunning, mighty Skradinski buk and Roški slap waterfalls and the picturesque monastery on the islet of Visovac. Just like at Plitvice, the summer entry here is around €40, dropping to €30 after 3 pm.

It’s important to flag one major change that catches a lot of tourists out unpleasantly. Since 2021, there has been a strict swimming ban below the Skradinski buk waterfalls in Krka National Park for nature protection reasons, so the photos of people bathing right beneath the cascades are now definitively a thing of the past.

💡 Tip: You can reach Krka National Park either by driving to the upper Lozovac car park, or by leaving your car in the town of Skradin and being taken to the waterfalls by boat, which is usually included in the ticket price in season.

13. Discover Kornati National Park and Telašćica Nature Park by Boat

When you gaze southwest from the Zadar coast, you’ll see dozens of tiny islets on the horizon, forming the densest island labyrinth in the entire Mediterranean. Kornati National Park encompasses around a hundred islands, islets and reefs, distinctive for their utterly bare, white karst surface, which from afar resembles a lunar landscape or huge stone crowns rising from the sea.

There’s no way to reach these uninhabited islands other than by water, so the ideal option is to pay for a full-day organised boat trip with a local guide straight from the harbour. These trips tend to be brilliantly arranged, the national park entry fee is usually already included in the ticket, and during the cruise the crew often prepares a tasty lunch right on deck, with the chance to dive into the water in the middle of the open sea.

Most boat trips combine a visit to the Kornati with a stop on the neighbouring long island of Dugi otok, home to the protected Telašćica Nature Park. The biggest draw here is the staggering cliffs plunging dozens of metres vertically into the sea and the fantastic salt lake Mir, whose warm water is enriched with healing mud you can bathe in.

💡 Tip: On Dugi otok you’ll also find the famous Sakarun beach, with its fine sand and turquoise water, nicknamed the Croatian Caribbean thanks to its incredible colour.

14. Swap the Sea for the Mountains in Paklenica National Park, or Explore Pag Island

If you’ve had enough of lounging on the beach and you’re missing a bit of exercise, all it takes is to hop in the car and after roughly forty-five minutes’ drive north you’ll find yourself in a completely different world. Paklenica National Park, listed as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, spreads across the steep slopes of the mighty Velebit mountain range. The main draws here are two huge limestone canyons – Velika and Mala Paklenica – which cut deep into the massif and offer treks from sea level all the way up to over seventeen hundred metres. The place is also an absolute mecca for rock climbers from all over Europe, with entry kept at a friendly €6 to €10 depending on the season.

For lovers of bizarre landscapes, I’d recommend heading a little further northwest, where the incredibly photogenic island of Pag lies. The bonus is that you can reach its southern tip comfortably by car from the mainland via a long bridge, so there are no ferries to worry about.

The landscape on Pag looks utterly barren, scoured by the strong bora wind, but it’s in these harsh conditions that the best local specialities are born. The island is world-famous for its delicate lace and, above all, its excellent Pag cheese (Paški sir), whose distinctive salty taste comes from the fact that the sheep graze on herbs coated in sea salt.

💡 Tip: When hiking in Paklenica, definitely consider visiting the Manita peć stalactite cave, reached by a beautiful, roughly hour-and-a-half climbing trail.

15. Get Muddy in the Royal Town of Nin

About fifteen kilometres north of Zadar lies an unassuming little town of absolutely key importance to Croatian history. Nin is, in fact, the oldest Croatian royal town, once home to the first kings and bishops. Its historic core spreads charmingly across a tiny islet connected to the mainland by two stone bridges, and you’ll also find the adorable pre-Romanesque little Church of the Holy Cross here, which proudly holds the title of the smallest cathedral in the world.

Besides its history, Nin is also famous for two natural curiosities. The first is the vast shallow salt fields (Solana Nin), where sea salt has been harvested in the traditional way with the help of sun and wind for over fifteen hundred years. You can visit the salt museum here and buy excellent fleur de sel as a wonderful edible souvenir to take home.

The second and, for many, the most fun curiosity is the area near the long sandy Queen’s Beach (Kraljičina plaža), where there’s a deposit of healing black mud known as peloid. The water here is shallow and incredibly warm, and you’ll commonly see people smeared from head to toe in the dark mud, said to have beneficial effects on joints and skin problems.

💡 Tip: The sandy Queen’s Beach, with its very shallow water, is an absolutely brilliant spot for families with small children, who can safely play and build sandcastles here.

Where to Go Next from Zadar

If you have a car and want to explore more corners of this beautiful country, Zadar is an absolutely brilliant springboard. If you’re craving more stunning waterfalls and emerald pools, you’ll find detailed information in our article on Krka National Park or in our guide to Plitvice Lakes. About an hour’s drive south along the motorway you’ll reach the historic town of Šibenik with its stunning stone cathedral, and if you go a little further, vibrant Split awaits you with its majestic Diocletian’s Palace.

If you’re drawn more to rugged scenery, read our tips for a trip to the stony island of Pag, where you can taste the finest cheeses. And if you’re still mulling over which route to take to southern Europe at all, check out our article on the beautiful and scenic drive through the Julian Alps to Zadar. You’ll find plenty more inspiration and practical advice in our big complete guide to Croatia.

Frequently Asked Questions

For many of us, Croatia is the ultimate summer classic — a place we love to return to for sunshine, the scent of pine trees, and endless relaxation. If you’re thinking about heading south to the Adriatic this year, you’ll definitely want to know where to find the most beautiful beaches in Croatia. Although the coastline might seem uniform at first glance, it actually offers incredible variety, from hidden romantic coves to long sandy shallows that are perfect for the youngest travellers.

While many other destinations are all about soft sand, the Croatian coast is defined by its pebble and rocky beaches — and that comes with one huge advantage. Thanks to the pebbles and the absence of stirred-up sand, the sea here is crystal clear and shines in gorgeous turquoise shades that practically beg you to grab a snorkel and explore the underwater world. On top of that, the country boasts an enormous number of beaches awarded the prestigious Blue Flag, which guarantees clean water and excellent facilities ☺️.

When you’re packing for your holiday, you definitely shouldn’t forget your water shoes, because sea urchins often hide on the rocky seabed and walking over slippery stones barefoot can be rather unpleasant. I’ve put together a detailed guide to the most magical swimming spots, so you can pick exactly the kind of place that perfectly matches your idea of a dream holiday.

TL;DR

• Best sandy beaches: If you’re after sand for building castles, head to Sakarun beach on the island of Dugi Otok, Paradise Beach on Rab, or Queen’s Beach in Nin.
• Iconic pebble beauties: For perfect photos and crystal-clear water, make for Zlatni Rat on Brač, Punta Rata beach in Brela, or the romantic Dubovica cove on Hvar.
• Hidden and dramatic coves: Adventure lovers will appreciate the hard-to-reach but breathtaking Stiniva on the island of Vis, or Pasjača beach near Dubrovnik.
• Ideal for families with kids: The youngest travellers will enjoy the shallow, warm waters at the beaches in Nin, on Rab, or at Split’s popular Bačvice beach.
• For party lovers: If you’re looking for non-stop fun and dance clubs right on the coast, the obvious choice is Zrće beach on the island of Pag.
• Naturist options: Croatia has a huge tradition of FKK campsites and beaches — for stunning swimming without swimwear, try the remote Nugal beach on the Makarska Riviera.

When to Head to the Croatian Seaside

Choosing the right dates is absolutely key to a perfect seaside holiday, because the Croatian coast experiences huge swings in visitor numbers and temperatures throughout the year. If you want to enjoy swimming without endless crowds of tourists, the best time to visit is June or September, when the sea is already pleasantly warm but there’s still plenty of personal space on the beaches. September is especially great because the water stays beautifully warm after the whole summer, often reaching a comfortable 24 to 25 degrees.

Peak summer season falls in July and the first half of August, when you should expect the most famous beaches to be absolutely packed and prices for accommodation and services to shoot sky-high. This is when the coast gets the hottest, which is ideal for splashing about in the water all day, but if you’re also planning some walking trips around towns or national parks, it can be pretty exhausting 😅. On the flip side, it’s precisely during the summer holidays that all the beach bars, water attractions, and regular ferry connections to the islands are running at full capacity.

Where to Stay in Croatia Near the Best Beaches

💡 Tip for accommodation and experiences: We like to look for places to stay on Booking.com, where you’ll usually find the best cancellation conditions. For tickets, tours, and activities, it’s worth comparing and booking through GetYourGuide.

Finding the ideal place to stay depends mainly on what type of beach you prefer and whether you want to spend your holiday on the mainland or set off to discover the magic of Croatia’s islands. If you’re longing for long sandy beaches, a great choice is the area around Zadar and historic Nin, or the island of Rab, which is famous for its sandy coves. For lovers of dramatic cliffs, pine groves, and the cleanest pebble beaches, the Makarska Riviera and the popular islands of Brač and Hvar are absolutely unbeatable.

Accommodation prices vary widely depending on location and season, so it pays to book hotels and apartments well in advance through popular portals like Booking. To make your planning easier, I’ve picked out a few specific recommendations for great hotels near famous beaches, offering excellent service and a strategic location.

• Boutique Hotel Bol on the island of Brač offers a stunning, stylish base with a pool, from which you can easily reach the iconic Zlatni Rat beach on foot or by tourist train.
• Valamar Padova Hotel on the island of Rab is an absolutely ideal choice for families with children, offering beautiful sea views with the sandy beaches just a short stroll away.
• Hotel Bellevue Dubrovnik will please more demanding travellers, as it sits right on a cliff above a gorgeous bay and offers perfect luxury close to the historic centre.

15 Most Beautiful Beaches in Croatia: What to See and Do

Let’s take a look together at the fifteen most amazing swimming spots that the Croatian coast and islands have to offer. In this list you’ll find everything from iconic photogenic spots to hidden gems you can only reach on foot or by boat.

1. Zlatni Rat on the Island of Brač

Picture a stunning pebble spit plunging into a crystal-clear sea, its tip constantly shifting shape depending on the wind and the sea currents. That’s exactly what you get at the iconic Zlatni Rat near the town of Bol, which ranks among the most photographed spots on the entire Adriatic and turns up on practically every postcard. The beach is covered in tiny pale pebbles that gleam in the sun, and a pleasant pine grove stretches across the middle, offering that all-important shade on hot summer days.

Getting here is fairly easy, since a beautiful paved tree-lined promenade leads from the nearby town of Bol, and a relaxed walk will bring you to the water in about twenty to thirty minutes. If you’d rather not walk, you can take the regular tourist train or park at the nearby paid car park, where prices in peak season run to around twenty euros for the whole day.

Zlatni Rat is an absolute paradise for water sports enthusiasts, because thanks to a regular wind called the maestral it offers ideal conditions for windsurfing and the ever-popular kiteboarding. At the same time, it’s a great spot for families with children or couples looking for full beach facilities, including showers, comfortable loungers, and several pleasant beach bars serving chilled drinks.

💡 Tip: Head to the beach early in the morning to grab the best spot near the tip, because in the afternoon this place gets really busy with tourists.

2. Sakarun on the Island of Dugi Otok

If you secretly dream of the Caribbean but can’t face spending long hours on a plane, Sakarun beach on the island of Dugi Otok will completely win you over with its incredible atmosphere. This roughly 800-metre-long bay is covered with a mix of dazzling white sand and fine pebbles, which gives the shallow water here a breathtaking turquoise and azure colour. It’s probably one of the few places in Croatia where you’ll feel like you’re on some exotic island.

Getting here takes a bit of planning, because first you need to catch the ferry from Zadar to the port of Brbinj, then continue by car or bus for about another fifteen kilometres to the north of the island. There’s a paid car park by the beach where daily parking costs around fifteen euros, and from there it’s just a few dozen metres on foot through a pleasant little pine forest to the water.

Thanks to the very gradual entry into the sea and the huge shallow stretch reaching hundreds of metres from the shore, Sakarun is absolutely perfect for families with small children, who can safely splash around here. The beach keeps a fairly wild, natural character, so don’t expect any big hotel resorts — just calm island bliss with only two simple beach bars.

💡 Tip: Since the facilities on the beach are really minimal, I recommend bringing your own snacks and plenty of drinking water so you can spend a whole laid-back day here.

3. Stiniva on the Island of Vis

Stiniva cove on the island of Vis is without doubt one of the most dramatic and fascinating natural wonders you can see on the Croatian coast. This tiny pebble beach is almost entirely enclosed by towering cliffs that close in so tightly towards the sea that they form only a narrow four-metre passage for smaller boats. It was precisely thanks to this unique and sheltered location that Stiniva was rightly named the most beautiful beach in all of Europe back in 2016.

Reaching this hidden beauty isn’t for everyone and definitely requires a bit of fitness if you decide to come overland from the nearby hamlet of Žužec. You’ll face a very steep and demanding descent down a narrow goat track that takes about half an hour, and you’ll need to save plenty of energy for the climb back up. A far more comfortable, if less adventurous, option is to rent a boat or take one of the organised boat trips, which you can easily book through GetYourGuide.

The beach itself has an enchanting sense of calm and a feeling of being cut off from the outside world, although in peak season the boats bring in quite a few curious day-trippers. The water here is perfectly clean thanks to the pebble seabed and ideal for snorkelling along the steep rock walls — just watch out for the occasional sea urchin.

💡 Tip: Come here either very early in the morning, or after four in the afternoon, when most of the tour boats have left and you can enjoy the cove’s magical atmosphere in peace.

4. Zrće on the Island of Pag

If what you really want from your holiday is dancing, having fun with friends, and enjoying a never-ending summer party, the pebble beach of Zrće near the town of Novalja is just the place for you. This bay, more than a kilometre long, has earned the nickname “the Croatian Ibiza” around the world, thanks to huge beach clubs like Papaya, Kalypso, and Aquarius, which regularly host the best DJs on the planet.

Getting to the island of Pag from the mainland is very easy thanks to the bridge connecting the island to the mainland in the south, or you can take the ferry from the more northerly part of the coast if you’re coming from Zadar. From the popular resort of Novalja, where most visitors stay, a shuttle service runs day and night, so you can get to the beach and back very conveniently without worrying about parking.

By day, Zrće offers classic beach pleasures with a huge range of water sports, adrenaline-pumping bungee jumping, and endless rows of loungers and parasols. But as soon as the sun starts to set, the whole area transforms into an enormous festival ground, where the music thumps until the early hours and thousands of young people from all over the world soak up the summer atmosphere to the full.

💡 Tip: This beach is definitely not suitable for families with children or anyone seeking peace and quiet, so if you’re after a tranquil spot to relax, I’d recommend choosing a different part of the island of Pag.

5. Punta Rata in the Resort of Brela

The Makarska Riviera is full of gorgeous spots, but Punta Rata beach in the picturesque resort of Brela stands out from the crowd with its charm and rightly counts among the most popular. This roughly 400-metre-long beach covered in pale pebbles was even ranked by the prestigious Forbes magazine among the ten most beautiful beaches in the world, which alone promises a truly exceptional experience. The whole bay is lined with dense old pine trees that cast pleasant shade right onto the pebbles and fill the air with that distinctive Mediterranean scent.

The symbol of the entire beach — and indeed the resort of Brela — is a huge boulder known as Brela Rock, from which green pines grow right out of the middle of the sea, creating an utterly iconic scene. You can reach the beach by a pleasant walk along the well-kept coastal promenade that connects the surrounding towns, and the whole area has been protected since 1964, which helps preserve its beautiful natural character.

Thanks to the pebbles, the water here is incredibly clear, and the beach proudly holds a Blue Flag award, making it a fantastic spot for snorkelling and safe swimming for the whole family. You’ll find excellent facilities, from clean showers and toilets to cosy little cafés where you can enjoy an afternoon coffee with a view over the sea.

💡 Tip: Stay here until late afternoon, because it’s at sunset that Brela Rock and the surrounding sea take on the most beautiful golden hues, ideal for romantic photographs.

6. Paradise Beach (Lopar) on the Island of Rab

For all families with younger children, Paradise Beach — often called Rajska Plaža in Croatian — stretching out near the town of Lopar on the island of Rab, is an absolute dream come true. It’s the longest sandy beach in all of Croatia, measuring an impressive kilometre and a half, with incredibly fine sand perfect for building the very best castles. It’s also been included in CNN’s Top 100 beaches, which only confirms its exceptional quality and popularity among tourists from across Europe.

Getting to the island of Rab is easy thanks to regular ferries from the mainland, and the beach in Lopar itself offers huge parking areas, so even in season there’s rarely any problem arriving by car. What makes Paradise Beach so special is its extremely gradual entry into the sea — even hundreds of metres from the shore the water reaches no higher than an adult’s knees, so children can romp about safely.

Given its popularity, the beach offers completely comprehensive tourist facilities full of restaurants, souvenir shops, and ice cream stands. During the day you can try a huge range of activities, from renting pedalos with a slide and playing beach volleyball to messing about on the big inflatable aqua parks right out on the sea.

💡 Tip: If you tire of the shallows and crave some proper swimming, hop on a rented pedalo and head out from the shore towards the nearby little islet, where the water is deep enough and beautifully clean.

7. Kamenjak in Istria

At the very southern tip of the Istrian peninsula lies the Cape Kamenjak nature reserve, a completely different world from the typical manicured town beaches with their rows of loungers. This wild and untamed piece of land offers dozens of kilometres of rugged coastline, full of hidden pebble coves and dramatic cliffs that drop straight into the deep blue sea. It’s an ideal spot for any traveller looking for a bit of adventure, gorgeous nature, and an escape from civilisation.

Driving into the reserve by car comes with a fee, costing around five to fifteen euros in season depending on the month, but for walkers and cyclists entry is completely free. Inside the park you’ll travel along dusty, stony roads that lead you to the most amazing spots, such as the popular coves of Mala and Velika Kolombarica, where you can enjoy perfect peace and quiet.

Kamenjak is famous among lovers of adrenaline jumps into the water, since the cliffs here practically invite it, and thanks to the clean water teeming with fish, it’s an absolutely fantastic spot for snorkelling. After your swim, don’t miss the legendary Safari Bar, hidden away in the reeds, offering a one-of-a-kind relaxed vibe with excellent refreshments and giant swings hanging from the trees.

💡 Tip: The most comfortable and enjoyable way to explore the whole cape is to rent a mountain bike and ride through the reserve under your own steam, avoiding both the car fee and the summer traffic jams.

Lukáš and Lucie recommend

Where to Stay in Croatia

4 accommodations — wellness hotels, hotels and other accommodation options

⭐ TOP CHOICE 🏨 Hotel

Boutique Hotel Bol

Amazing and stylish property with a pool on the island of Brač, from which you can easily reach the iconic Zlatni Rat beach on foot or by tourist train.

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Valamar Padova Hotel

Absolutely ideal choice for families with children on the island of Rab, offering beautiful sea views and sandy beaches just a short distance away.

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Hotel Bellevue Dubrovnik

Will delight all discerning travelers, as it is located directly on a cliff above a beautiful bay and offers perfect luxury near the historic center of Dubrovnik.

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View all accommodations in Croatia

Explore all available accommodation options in Croatia and find the best one according to your preferences and budget.

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8. Pasjača near Dubrovnik

Pasjača beach, lying in the Konavle region roughly thirty kilometres south of historic Dubrovnik, is a complete one-off, because it wasn’t formed naturally but by human activity. Back in the 1950s, when a tunnel was being dug here, the excavated rock was dumped from the steep cliffs into the sea, and the waves gradually ground this material down into a beautiful mix of sand and fine gravel. This fascinating story, combined with the breathtaking backdrop of towering red cliffs, even earned it the title of European Best Beach in 2019.

Getting to the beach is an experience in itself, because after parking up on the cliff you face a fairly steep and demanding descent down narrow stone steps and through a tunnel carved straight into the rock. Because of this tricky access, the beach really isn’t suitable for small children or people with limited mobility, since you have to tackle around two hundred metres of elevation difference.

On the beach itself you’ll find no tourist facilities whatsoever — no bars, no lounger rentals — but this only adds to its wild, romantic atmosphere. The water here is incredibly clean and constantly washes against the steep cliffs, which creates perfect conditions for undisturbed relaxation and gazing out at the open sea far from the crowded resorts.

💡 Tip: Given the complete lack of services and shade, don’t forget to bring your own parasol, plenty of drinking water, and comfortable shoes for a safe descent down the steps.

9. Nugal on the Makarska Riviera

The Makarska Riviera hides one true gem that has kept its remote, undisturbed atmosphere for decades — the magical pebble beach of Nugal. This place is historically tied to a very strong naturist tradition and to this day operates mainly as an FKK beach, although in recent years it’s increasingly attracted nature lovers in swimwear too. The beach is bordered on one side by towering vertical cliffs and on the other by dense pine forest, creating an absolutely fairy-tale, photogenic corner.

Getting to Nugal takes a bit of effort, because no road leads here and the only path is on foot through the beautiful Osejava forest park, which takes about thirty minutes of pleasant walking from the centre of Makarska. An alternative is to hire a small boat or use a water taxi, which will drop you right onto the pale pebbles, where you can immediately start enjoying that wonderful solitude and calm.

It’s precisely because of its tricky access that the beach keeps its wild character, and even in the highest season you won’t run into excessive crowds of tourists here. The sea is incredibly clear and deep just a short way from the shore, making it an absolutely superb spot for lovers of swimming and snorkelling along the jagged rocks.

💡 Tip: Since this is a purely natural beach tucked away in the forest, you won’t find any refreshment kiosks or toilets here, so you’ll need to carry all your supplies for the day in your own backpack.

10. Banje in Dubrovnik

If you’re visiting the enchanting city of Dubrovnik, you definitely shouldn’t miss Banje city beach, located just a short walk beyond the historic Ploče city gate and offering an absolutely exclusive swimming experience. From this pebble-and-sand beach you’ll get an unforgettable, iconic view straight onto the ancient city walls, the old harbour, and the green islet of Lokrum, making it one of the most photographed spots in the country.

The beach is split into two parts, one half operating as a luxury beach club where you’ll pay fairly high prices to rent comfortable loungers and parasols, often forty to fifty euros a day. The other half, however, is freely accessible to the general public and completely free, so you only need to bring your own towel and you can enjoy those same breathtaking views of the historic city without paying a penny.

The atmosphere on Banje beach is always very lively, cosmopolitan, and full of energy, because travellers from all over the world come here to rest after exhausting exploration of Dubrovnik’s narrow streets. During the day you can try jet skiing or parasailing behind a motorboat, and in the evening the beach club becomes a popular spot for elegant nightlife right by the sea.

💡 Tip: If you want to avoid the biggest crowds and enjoy the free part of the beach without being squashed in, come here early in the morning, before the tourists from the big cruise ships descend on the city.

11. Lubenice (Sveti Ivan) on the Island of Cres

Sveti Ivan beach, lying deep below the historic little village of Lubenice on the island of Cres, is the very definition of perfect remoteness and untouched Mediterranean nature that will literally capture your heart. This roughly 150-metre-long bay full of dazzling white pebbles, which the German newspaper Bild ranked among the forty most beautiful beaches in the world, is surrounded only by steep slopes and fragrant shrubs. The crystal-clear water plays in every shade of emerald and turquoise, creating a perfect contrast with the rugged surrounding landscape.

The reason this beach stays wonderfully calm and half-empty even in the middle of summer is its extremely demanding access overland. From the stone village of Lubenice, perched on a cliff hundreds of metres above the sea, you face a steep walk down lasting roughly forty-five to sixty minutes, and the climb back uphill in the scorching sun really is only for those in good shape.

For those who’d rather not sweat it out on steep tracks, by far the most pleasant option is to arrange a water taxi at the nearby harbour or rent a small motorboat. Your reward for a bit of discomfort will be swimming in complete solitude and silence, broken only by the murmur of the waves and the cries of seagulls — a real luxury in today’s hectic world.

💡 Tip: For the walk down to this beach, absolutely wear sturdy trainers, because walking down the steep, stony track in ordinary flip-flops is not only very uncomfortable but also dangerous.

12. Pupnatska Luka on the Island of Korčula

The island of Korčula is full of picturesque coves, but Pupnatska Luka, lying about fifteen kilometres from the island’s main town, is probably the most charming and greenest of them all. This sheltered pebble beach, which the prestigious British newspaper The Guardian ranked among the top twenty European beaches, cuts deep into the island’s interior and is protected on all sides by dense Mediterranean forest. The water here is wonderfully calm, quiet, and has an incredibly clear, almost emerald colour.

Driving to this cove is a small adventure, because you have to turn off the main island road and continue along a fairly narrow, winding, steep tarmac road all the way down to the sea. Right above the beach you’ll find a paid car park where all-day parking costs roughly seven to ten euros, and from there it’s just a short way down to the pebbles themselves, via steps or a gentle slope.

Unlike the completely deserted coves, Pupnatska Luka offers a great compromise between wild nature and basic comfort for a relaxed holiday. You’ll find two very pleasant traditional konobas (taverns) here, where you can have lunch with a view over the shimmering water, plus the option of renting comfortable loungers with sunshades.

💡 Tip: When driving down to the beach by car, be very careful and go slowly, because the narrow little road often doesn’t allow two oncoming vehicles to pass safely, and occasionally you’ll need to reverse a little.

13. Bačvice in Split

Right in the heart of vibrant historic Split, just about fifteen minutes’ easy walk from the famous Diocletian’s Palace, you’ll find a phenomenon called Bačvice beach. This popular city beach is fairly rare for Croatia, because it’s made up of clean sand and has an extremely shallow seabed that slopes only very gradually, making it an ideal spot for non-swimmers and families with children. You’ll always find huge numbers of people here, music playing, and the endless buzz of a big seaside resort.

Bačvice beach has become world-famous as the birthplace of a traditional and very distinctive ball game called picigin, which was even added to UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage. Local people here, all year round and regardless of the weather or season, leap about in the shallow water with huge enthusiasm, trying to keep a small rubber ball in the air — an utterly fascinating spectacle.

Entry to the beach itself is of course completely free, but you can rent loungers and parasols here for a fee for added comfort. The area around the beach is literally packed with modern cafés, restaurants, and bars with terraces, from which you can comfortably watch the bustle on the sand and the daring acrobatic feats of the picigin players, drink in hand.

💡 Tip: If you want to experience the real local atmosphere and avoid the worst of the afternoon heat, come around five in the afternoon, when the beach fills up with local families and sportspeople.

14. Queen’s Beach (Nin) near Zadar

The historic little town of Nin near Zadar hides a huge natural treasure in the form of the so-called Queen’s Beach, which stretches for more than three kilometres and is thus one of the longest in the country. This vast sandy beach lies in a huge shallow lagoon, where thanks to the low depth the water warms up incredibly quickly and often reaches temperatures more reminiscent of a pleasantly warm bath than a refreshing sea.

What makes this area absolutely unique is the extensive deposit of natural healing mud called peloid, found right next to the beach itself. Many visitors therefore enthusiastically cover themselves in dark mud from head to toe, let it dry in the sun, and then wash it off in the warm sea — which is said to work wonders for rheumatic complaints and various skin conditions.

Thanks to the fine sand, zero waves, and warm water, Queen’s Beach is an absolute paradise for families with the very smallest children, toddlers, and non-swimmers, who can play safely here all day long. What’s more, thanks to the regular gentle winds from the Velebit mountains, you’ll find great conditions for learning kitesurfing, so a relaxed family atmosphere mingles with an active sporting spirit.

💡 Tip: Don’t be afraid to get dirty — try the mud treatment for yourself. Not only is it good for you, but you’ll also have plenty of fun and take some genuinely hilarious holiday photos.

15. Dubovica on the Island of Hvar

The island of Hvar is synonymous with lavender, luxury, and gorgeous beaches, and of these it’s the picturesque Dubovica cove, just eight kilometres from the island’s main town, that often tops the popularity charts. This beautiful pebble beach is set in a deep, calm bay, its atmosphere completed by ancient stone noblemen’s houses and a little chapel standing right by the crystal-clear water.

To reach this paradise, you have to park your car along the main island road and then face a descent down a narrow, fairly steep stony track to the sea, which takes about ten to fifteen minutes. Although the path isn’t exactly the most comfortable, once you arrive at the beach you’ll realise that the little hike was definitely worth it, because the bay is well sheltered from strong winds and offers perfect conditions for swimming.

The underwater world in Dubovica bay is extraordinarily rich thanks to the pebble seabed, so don’t forget to pack your snorkel and diving mask. Right on the beach you’ll also find a very cosy, rustic konoba, where you can rest in the shade during the day and enjoy refreshing drinks or simple but excellent local snacks.

💡 Tip: When parking along the road above the beach, take extra care and park as close to the edge as possible, because the road here is quite narrow and in summer a huge number of cars and buses pass through.

Where to Go Next in Croatia

If these beaches have whetted your appetite to explore more of this country’s beauty, be sure not to miss our other articles full of tips. If you’re not yet sure which region to head to this year, read our big guide on where to holiday in Croatia. For lovers of the photogenic Golden Horn, we have detailed tips on the island of Brač, and those longing for the hidden Stiniva beach will enjoy our article on the romantic island of Vis.

Families with children who fell for the sandy Paradise Beach will find plenty more useful information in our guide to the island of Rab. And if you’re currently figuring out where to rest your head and how to choose the best hotel with a sea view, we’ve put together lots of practical, tried-and-tested advice in our article on accommodation in Croatia.

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