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Regarded as one of the most beautiful destinations in the world, Croatia is surely famous for its wine, delicious food, and for its iconic Game of Thrones locations. But the wild idyllic beaches with transparent water and luxury resorts are definitely some of the finest assets of the country.
Home to 1,200 islands, islets, and crags off the coast of the mainland, Croatia is dotted with postcard-worthy beaches, more than 100 of these beaches have been granted the prestigious blue flag status thanks to their purity on land and in the sea.
From quaint beaches with white pebbles to the ones surrounded by mighty rocky cliffs and olive groves, we've got the lowdown on the best beaches to visit in Croatia during the summer.
Note: Make sure to double-check COVID 19 precautions, protocols, and operating hours before you visit any of these sites.
One of the best things about traveling to Croatia is that the country has a plethora of world-class amenities for visitors and locals alike. Aside from lip-smacking restaurants offering great food, and cool beach bars, there are several amazing accommodation options for a memorable trip.
From five-star beachfront resorts to well-equipped apartments and cozy villas, CuddlyNest has a myriad of amazing places to stay in Croatia.
Croatia beaches cannot look any more paradisiac than this. Sakarun beach is known as one of the best beaches on the Dalmatian coast, which is a must-visit place for beach-lovers. Thanks to its natural beauty and blue-green transparent waters, Sakarun Beach was included in the Croatian ecological network, which was created to protect biodiversity.
The little bay of Sakarun Beach is just like heaven. In there, you get the view of the turquoise and calm water of the ocean, soft white sand, and, of course, plenty of sun during the summer. The beach is also not extremely crowded, which means your kids would enough have space to play around while you can read a book and contemplate the Zadar Archipelago, where the beach is located.
The beach is located on the west side of Dugi Otok. If you're already in Zadar, you can take a tourist train from the Hotel Maxim and then take the ferry.
However, you can also go for a scenic ferry ride from Zadar city on Croatia's Dalmatian coast (Location on Google Map). Ferries are going daily year-round, and it takes approximately 1 hour 20 minutes for you to get to the beach.
The sun and shade make this one of the best beaches in Croatia for families with children. Located on the southeast part of Biograd, a town in northern Dalmatia, the Blue Flag Dražica Beach is perfect for fun activities and chill water sports, such as canoeing, water skiing, and kayaking.
Dražica Beach also has a great infrastructure, and it’s home to a playground for kids, WC, and a shower.
The beach is just 10 minutes walk away from the center of Biograd, and you can reach it by pathway.
Located near a camp with the same name, Slatina Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in the Cres-Lošnij archipelago. Unlike many other beaches in Croatia, Slatina has very warm water, which looks green due to its sandy bottom. The beach itself is partially sandy and partially concrete, and this feature makes it a good choice for those seeking the middle term between wilderness and infrastructure.
Another fact that makes Slatina Beach one of the best beaches in Croatia for families with children, is the fact that the beach has a great infrastructure, being home to a restaurant, showers, changing rooms, and a lifeguard's tower, as well as sports and animation centers nearby.
While Zatar is one of the top choices for families visiting Croatia exclusively for beach holidays, Zaton and Nin are famous for their sandy coasts. Zaton Beach stretches more than 1.5 km. It is on the premises of the Zaton Holiday Resort, a family-friendly vacation paradise in Croatia.
You will see many amusement parks and water attractions for children in Zaton Beach. This means the kids can have a great time, while you soak up the sun and relax. The coastline water pools are safe and the coast area is shallow, making it perfectly safe for children as well.
Other attractions, like bars and restaurants, are also available to serve delicious Croatian food. For your comfort, the beach also has outdoor showers, cabins, sports shops. There's also a beach chair and umbrella rental, public toilets, and a grocery store.
As we already wrote, Krk Island is amazing purely to experience the Croatian winemaking tradition, but you may as well enjoy the local beach in the daytime.
Vela Plaža is a popular sandy beach on Krk Island, and you are likely gonna find yourself between crowds of Croatian, Italian, and German tourists whilst sunbathing in this paradise. The water, always calm, has a perfect turquoise shade, which makes this beach looks like it came straight out of a postcard.
Visiting Vela beach with the little is a great idea, especially if your kids love making sandcastles or creating pebble stone fortresses. With that said, the Vela beach has it all - white sand and gravel alike, supplied with a couple of beach bars and opportunities to keep one active playing sports.
You can rent a ball and play volley with your kids, or get on a pedal boat with them and enjoy the calm blue sea of Krk Island.
One of the most curious fun about Croatia is that the country has a beach that changes shape and position. Located less than 2km from the town of Bol, Zlatni Rat Beach has a unique shape that stretches into the Mediterranean Sea, and it changes depending on the wind, tide, and current.
Listed many times as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, Zlatni Rat is 500 meters long and can accommodate over 10.000 people. The beach is surrounded by a crystal-clear sea, which is extremely calm on one side of the beach, offering the ideal conditions for families with kids.
Definitely one of the best places for families, this paradisiac beach is also home to an inflatable water park filled with slides, trampolines, and lily pads for little ones who want to have a good time.
Also known as Sveti Ivan Beach, Lubenice is a veritable paradise blessed with pristine white shores and azure waters. Located on the island of Cres, this beach is a prime pick for couples who are seeking to spend some quality time together indulging in the beauty of Croatia’s coastline.
The highlight of the beach is, unarguably, the Blue Cave, which is reachable by swimming along the beach's half moon bay.
Located in the Adriatic Sea, just off the Dalmatian coast, Korčula Island is a sight to be seen. The sixth-largest island in Croatia, this densely forested island is filled with eye-popping vineyards, olive groves, quaint small villages, and, of course, amazing beaches. Not by chance, it’s one of the top destinations for couples in Croatia.
Some of the island’s most amazing – and romantic – beaches are Beach Vela Przina, Beach Bacva, Pupnatska Luka Beach, and Samograd Bay.
Adventurous couples who are dreaming of exploring the lesser-known marvels of Croatia shouldn’t miss the chance to visit Kamenjak National Park. Encompassing beautiful protected areas of southern Istria, on the Premantura peninsula, the park features miles of rugged coastline, coves, caves, and several paradisiac beaches, like the Skoljic Beach.
Originally named Rajska beach, this 1.5 kilometers long beach is a prime pick for families and couples alike. This blue-flag sandy beach is perfect for sports lovers, as it creates perfect conditions for kayaking, canoeing, jet-skiing, and wind-surfing.
While we strongly encourage you to enjoy your family beach holidays when your schedule allows you to, the best times to visit Croatia are nevertheless the shoulder seasons, that is May and September - October. For tips on what you need to bring to each beach and insider tips, Sail Croatia, is an excellent source. Between our guides, you can't go wrong when planning a beach vacation in Croatia.
Although speaking only English is not going to be a barrier, as 81% of Croatians speak English, practicing German is not a bad idea, either, as German and Italian are both popular languages as well.
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Here are some curated readings for you:
Croatian Food Guide
What You Need to Know Before Visiting Croatia
Dubrovnik Game of Thrones Guide
Top-rated activities and experiences
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