7 of the best beaches in Croatia

With nearly 1,800km of coastline and 1,244 islands and islets, Croatia has no shortage of gorgeous beaches. They’re squeezed into tiny coves, stretched out along pine-shaded coasts and gently rolling into peaceful bays – all in the sparkling blue-green colours of the Adriatic Sea.

You’ll find party beaches, family-friendly resorts and bays so secluded you can get there only by boat. What’s more, even during the height of the pandemic, Croatia offered a safe haven for holidaymakers.

Take a look at these seven beauties for inspiration...

The towering cliffs above Stiniva beach curve around this pebbly bay so much that they almost meet in the middle, making this idyllic spot seem even more sheltered than it is.

The narrow gap of just a few metres also means that only very small boats can sail through the cliffs.

You have to hike down a rocky steep path to reach the beach – which makes the beach all the more desirable when you eventually get to plunge into those turquoise waters.

Hvar town’s glittering beach clubs attract the chic set, but for something more rustic, follow the island’s heavily indented south coast to find a string of intimate locations.

One of the most picturesque ones is Dubovica bay, where a walk down a rough path brings you to a beautiful white pebbled beach. There’s even a little restaurant where you can feast on fish caught that day.

The beaches along the mainland’s Makarska Riviera, particularly around Baška Voda and Brela, have been attracting families in search of glistening, child-friendly waters and plenty of facilities for decades.

Punta Rata near Brela is one of the loveliest, with Aleppo pines forming a cooling backdrop.

Mention Croatian beaches and Zlatni Rat on the island of Brač usually springs to mind. It’s little wonder – this slender, v-shaped beach of fine white pebbles is a dazzling sight. Its shape is constantly shifting with the tides, but one thing doesn’t change: the intense vividness of those mesmerising waters.

Burrowing its way into the island of Korčula’s southern coast is this laidback, pebbly beach set in a deep bay. Flanked by tall cliffs smothered in pines, it’s a wonderfully sheltered spot that makes it a favourite with families.

Have lunch in one of Pupnatska Luka’s restaurants and take in fabulous views from their elevated terraces.

Most of Croatia’s beaches are pebbly – so make sure you bring some swimming shoes – but Saplunara on the incredibly green island of Mljet is an exception.

Here within this pine-fringed bay, you get not one but two beaches where you can feel the sand between your toes. The smaller of the two beaches is sprinkled with pines if you’re in need of more shade.

Fans of Croatia’s festival scene will know that Zrće beach on the island of Pag is the place to head to when summer comes round and brings international DJs and performers to the beach’s giant outdoor stages. But even when the likes of Hideout and Sonus aren’t running, Zrće’s nightclubs and beach bars are still some of the liveliest places to be in Croatia.

Discover more at croatia.hr/en-GB