10 Croatian Beaches That Will Make You Want To Book Your Trip Right Now
Can we also talk about how clear that water looks?
Inspired By G Adventures
We worked with G Adventures to uncover the best beaches from across Croatia.
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With its rich ancient history, rugged beauty and medieval charm, Croatia has become a hot spot for not only the yachting set but a playground for budget travellers. With 1,800 kilometres of coastline and dozens of islands off-shore, it is also a dream for water babies. Book a sailing trip and explore this beautiful landscape, where wild forests meet the sea, secret coves lie in wait and beer is served on jagged rocks with waves crashing below.
Here are ten of the best Croatian beaches that you have to explore.
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Ručica Beach, Island of Pag
Forget the palm trees and tropical breeze; Ručica Beach is otherworldly, a barren moonscape fading into the sea. Framed by the stunning mountain outcroppings of Pag Island and the calm turquoise waters of the Adriatic, Ručica is as dramatic as it is beautiful, and quiet to boot.
Tip for newbies: head east past the rocks to find an even more secluded cove.
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Under The Wall, Dubrovnik
While the pebble and sand stretch of Banje Beach lies just south of Dubrovnik, it is nowhere near as romantic as the “beaches” of Old Town. Under the towering wall and red roofs that double as an epic set for Game of Thrones there are stone jetties and stepped rocks where you can scramble down to the water.
Seek out the secret passageways on the sea side of the city and you’ll find your way to beach bars perched on the rocks beside iron ladders that drop you into the sea.
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The Beach Coves Of Žuljana, Pelješac
Žuljana is a beautiful village on the Pelješac peninsula, roughly halfway between Dubrovnik and Split, past the Roman ruins in Ston. There is a small white sand beach beside the marina, but Žuljana’s best beaches are hidden in the trees. Clamber through wooded paths, glimpse stunning blue waters through the trees, and you’ll find picturesque coves and dramatic cliffs in secret folds of the coastline where you’ll feel like the only person on earth.
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Bačvice Beach, Split
Want to go where the action is? Try the bustling crescent of Bačvice Beach, on the fringe of super-cool Split. Covered in deck chairs, locals and tourists, Bačvice is an Adriatic stunner, with gem-coloured water and a green crown of hills. It is also the spiritual homeland of picigin, a net-free volleyball game that is played in the shallows, involving a whole lot of athletic thrashing around and a whole lot of fun.
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Stiniva Beach, Vis
Recently voted the best beach in Europe, Stiniva is the crown jewel of the serene island of Vis. Accessible only by steep hike or water taxi, this isolated cove is almost completely enclosed by two sheer cliffs, stretching around the crystal clear water in a titanic embrace. White pebbles, a sliver of deep blue horizon and lush green scrub cresting the cliffs make for a picturesque paradise.
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Zlatni Rat Beach, Brač
This tiny peninsula on the south side of Brač, known as the Golden Cape or Golden Horn, is the scene of thousands of picture-perfect postcards. A long pebble beach stretching deep into the sea, it’s the perfect place to drink in the summer sun, with an ancient pine forest close at hand when you need a cool break. And when the sun goes down on Zlatni Rat, it’s a doozy — dropping over the wide horizon and the close Dalmatian islands.
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Dubovika Beach, Hvar
Follow the road southeast from Hvar, Croatia’s party capital, and you’ll find yourself in one of the island’s most idyllic and pristine pebble coves. Dubovika Beach has a fascinating underwater landscape for snorkelers, with water clear enough to count your toes. The signature landmark is at the western end of the beach; an 18th century stone mansion with white walls and a red tile roof, perched on a jagged crop of limestone that juts out into the sea.
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Saharun Beach, Dugi Otok
One of Croatia’s best-kept secrets, Saharun is a crystal bay at the northern tip of Dugi Otok in the Zadar archipelago. Ringed by dense pine forest, the beach drifts from smooth white stone to small white pebble, to a long, shallow bay of turquoise blue. Calm, quiet and dreamy, you can sit in the water well out from the shore and watch the fishing boats bob about on their moorings.
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Golden Cape Beach, Rovinj
On the far north of Croatia’s coastline, on the tip of the Zlatni Rt national park, Golden Cape is remote and rocky cove where the water is still but the scenery is dramatic, with stones jutting out of the sea at the far edges of the beach. Close at hand are the forests, meadows and abandoned quarries of the national park, good for aimless wandering and adventures.
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Odysseus’ Cave, Mljet
It’s not technically a beach, but the ghostly deep blue waters of Odysseus’ Cave are a magical place to swim. Located on the isle of Mljet, a national park, this is a site of ancient legend where Odysseus became infatuated with a nymph and lived for seven years. In this secret cavern, the opal-like colours of rock and ocean change colour with the light, and the pool of water beneath your feet feels bottomless.
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G Adventures is an adventure travel pioneer offering the planet’s most awe-inspiring selection of affordable small-group tours, safaris, and expeditions. Visit their website to learn more.
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Simone Ubaldi is a ghostwriter, music journalist, film critic and frequent flyer.