In addition to the numerous beautiful pebble beaches, you can also discover the wonderful sandy beaches along the Croatian Adriatic, which you are probably not yet familiar with. Quiet bays surrounded by green nature are a guarantee for a relaxed dream vacation in Croatia.
On a rainy day, especially in winter, you probably catch yourself thinking about your next summer holiday in Croatia on a dreamy sandy beach under the blazing summer sun. You can almost hear the melodic sound of the crystal blue sea and smell the fresh sea breeze with a tinge of pine trees.
To make such dreams of a beautiful sandy beach come true, you can travel to Croatia which, in addition to its many pebble beaches of immense beauty, also offers quite a few sandy beaches. Read this blog and let us take you on a journey along the coast of the Adriatic Sea which will introduce you to the best and most beautiful sandy beaches in Croatia and make your holiday dreams come true.
Relaxation and Escape from Everyday Life on the Sandy Beaches of Istria and the Kvarner Bay
Our journey begins all the way in the north of Croatia on the coast of Istria. In Istria and the Kvarner Bay you will find everything your heart desires: beautiful sandy beaches, numerous pebble beaches and majestic rocky beaches.
Discover Umag’s Sandy Beach Zambratija in Istria
In the north of Istria there is the beautiful city of Umag where our journey begins. In the suburbs of Umag is Zambratija with a sandy beach of the same name, which is one of the most beautiful beaches in Istria. The beach is suitable for children and non-swimmers, as the sea is not too deep. The beach is surrounded by beautiful rocks giving the ambience a special something, while the bars and restaurants on the beach will take care of your well-being.
Plan the Perfect Family Trip to the Beach Maro near Porec
During a vacation in Istria, a visit to the historic town of Porec is inevitable, as is a trip to the small island of St. Nikola right in front of the coast, which features a wonderful sandy beach ideal for families. From Porec you can take a 5-minute boat ride to the island and enjoy the crystal clear sea and the fine sand between your toes. Refreshment is also available on the beach so that nothing stands in your way of having an unforgettable day at the beach.
Enjoy a Fun Beach Day at the Sandy Beach Bijeca in Medulin
At the tip of the Istrian peninsula in the north of Croatia, not far from Pula, you will find the coastal town of Medulin where the sandy beach Bijeca is located at. This beach is about 1 km long and is particularly suitable for families with small children due to the shallow depth of the sea. Additionally, this beach offers fun and entertainment for the whole family, so that you can enrich a simple day at the beach with numerous activities. The little ones can build fortresses and castles on the sand while adults can sip on cocktails in one of the bars and restaurants nearby.
Explore the Beauty of the Island of Krk & the Sandy Beach of Sv. Marak
Let’s depart from the mainland and visit the largest island of Croatia – the island of Krk. The island is extremely easy to reach due to the bridge connecting it to the mainland. Travel to Krk and discover one of the few sandy beaches on the island near the village of Risika in the east of the island. The beach, like the whole island itself, is wonderfully suitable for families with children and offers everything you need for a wonderful family vacation. The beach is located in a sandy bay with shallow sea.
Travel to the Island of Rab – the Queen of Sandy Beaches in Croatia
We continue our island hopping adventure on the island of Rab which is a paradise full of sandy beaches. This might be one of the reasons why the ancient Romans used to call it the Island of Happiness. With dozens of sandy beaches to choose from, you will find what you are looking for whether it is a family-friendly beach or a nudist beach. However, we have decided to introduce you to the best and most famous sandy beach – Beach San Marino located in the seaside resort of Lopar in the north of the island. It is a sandy bay that goes several hundred meters into the shallow sea and is the best choice for families with small children. Furthermore, there is a smaller island in the bay that you can swim to and relax at for a little bit. Additionally, the beach offers other leisure and entertainment options and a wide range of restaurants.
North Dalmatia with its Most Beautiful Sandy Beaches
We are leaving Istria and the Kvarner Bay and heading south where the Adriatic coast of Croatia changes its character and thus offers slightly different beaches. Travel to the north of Dalmatia and discover the region surrounding the culturally rich city of Zadar in the north of Dalmatia, blessed with some of the best sandy beaches in Croatia.
Pure Relaxation on the Sandy Beach Ricina in the Jesenovo Bay
In the vicinity of Zadar, there is a small seaside resort called Vrsi in the Jesenovo Bay where the sandy beach Ricina found its home. This beach is very popular among young and old, as well as suitable for non-swimmers due to its shallow water. Located in a quiet area, this beach offers pure relaxation for the whole family, as well as some entertainment options and leisure activities.
Water Fun for Royals on the Queen’s Beach in Nin
A trip to Nin is definitely worth your time, because there you will find one of the best and the longest natural sandy beach in Croatia, the famous Queen's Beach. With a total length of approx. 3 km and natural healing mud, the beach is truly something unique. The site of healing mud is the biggest in Croatia and was even used by Queen Jelena herself. Due to the shallow water, the Queen's Beach is perfect for families with children. Therefore, you can relax without any worries while your little loved ones are having fun in the sand and in the water splashing around and building castles.
If you want to find out more about the historical town of Nin and its beautiful sandy beach, click here!
Enjoy the Seemingly Endless Sandy Beach Sabunike in Privlaka
Not far from Nin and the Queen's Beach is the sandy beach Sabunike in the seaside resort of Privlaka. The place itself is popular for families with children, as is the beach. The sand is present in the shallow sea enabling your children to swim and play in the sea completely carefree. Even at the peak of the season, the beach is not terribly crowded so that you can enjoy your family vacation in peace and fully relax. A nice touch is the incredible panorama view of the Velebit Mountain.
Spend a Day on the Sandy Beach on the Island of Vrgada and Be Surrounded by Untouched Nature
As we continue our journey south, we will make a quick detour to the small island of Vrgada. This inconspicuous island impresses with a wonderful sandy beach in the midst of untouched nature, which you can easily reach by boat from Biograd na Moru, a town south of Zadar. On this island you can truly enjoy nature, since there are only a few gastronomic options and no cars. The beach is definitely worth a trip as the sand appears reddish due to erosion.
Adventure Fun on the Dreamy Beach Sakarun on the Island of Dugi Otok
One of the most famous beaches in all of Croatia is Sakarun Beach on the island of Dugi Otok. The island can be reached from Zadar by ferry or you can go on an organized day trip. The beach boasts crystal clear turquoise water and an amazing view of the open sea which will leave you speechless. The sandy beach is around 800 m long and surrounded by pine trees while the two bars on the beach will take care of your well-being. This beach with fantastic nature sites, white sand, blue sea and warm sun is the secret recipe for the perfect beach day in Croatia.
Sandy Beach Slanica with a Unique Charm on the island of Murter
To the south of the small island of Vrgada is the island of Murter, which is very easy to get to by car. There is the beautiful sandy beach Slanica, which is also the most popular one on the island. In addition to a rich gastronomic offer, this beach offers numerous leisure activities and is therefore suitable for young and old. Part of the beach is characterized by rocks, so even holidaymakers who do not prefer sandy beaches will get their money's worth. In addition, Murter is a popular venue for festivals in the summer months which will nicely round off your relaxing day on the beach.
Would you like to discover other dreamy beaches in the Zadar region and northern Dalmatia? Click here and be amazed at the variety of beaches.
Off to the South: The Most Beautiful Sandy Beaches in Southern Dalmatia
Now we are on our way south towards Split and Dubrovnik and to the dream islands in this region, which are known for their incredible beaches and indescribable bays.
Relax on the Sandy Beach Bacvice in the Historic City of Split
We are saying goodbye to the north of Dalmatia and heading south to the beautiful city of Split and its sandy city beach, Bacvice Beach, which is ideal for those travelers who want to spend their holiday in the big city. With a view of the city's harbor, you have a beautiful panorama while you are swimming and having fun in the sea. The sand extends into the sea, which is not deep, making it idea for children. Featuring conditions for some leisure activities, this beach is also very popular with the locals and the perfect place to really relax during your vacation. Of course there is also a generous gastronomic offer near the beach.
Experience the Fantastic Sandy Bay Lovrecina on the Island of Brac
After our stop in Split we make a short detour with the ferry to the popular holiday island of Brac, as it is the location of the beautiful sandy bay Lovrecina near the village of Postira on the northern coast of the island. This sandy bay is the only sandy beach on the island. Yes, Golden Horn Beach is on the island of Brac and no, it is not a sandy beach, but a beach made of fine pebbles. It is the Lovrecina Bay that was blessed with the finest soft sand. Due to the surrounding trees, there is sufficient natural shade on the beach even in the midday sun while the shallow sea depth makes the beach ideal for kids.
Untouched Nature & Incomparable Sandy Beaches on the Island of Vis
From the island of Brac we continue to the island of Vis on the open sea. A few-hour ferry ride from Split can take you to this pristine little island, but we guarantee that the trip will be worth it! In order to highlight the three most beautiful sandy bays on the island, we decided to introduce you to the bays Milna, Zaglav and Stoncica.
These sandy beaches are beautiful bays in small fishing villages. If you are a nature lover wanting to leave your everyday life behind you during your holiday and are just looking for peace and relaxation, then the island of Vis and its delightful fishing villages are the right place for you. The beaches are not overcrowded and the nature is literally untouched while the dreamy beaches there offer everything you need for your perfect vacation in Croatia.
“The Diamond in the Rough” of the Croatian Adriatic - the Island of Bisevo & the Sandy Beach of Porat
Since we are already on the island of Vis, it is also worth taking a short detour to the small island of Bisevo in the open sea. Daily excursions to Bisevo are organized from the island of Vis in the summer months, but there is also a daily ferry from Komiza on Vis to Porat on Bisevo and our wonderful sandy beach located in Porat. The sandy beach, which is a bay in the west of the island, is in the middle of nature and provides natural shade thanks to the surrounding trees. Due to the shallow water, it is suitable for families with children and there are some cafes and bars near the beach, where you can really enjoy the nature of the island of Bisevo and strengthen yourself after you swim.
Beach Fun for Young and Old at Velika Plaza Beach in Omis
Our journey of the sandy beaches in Croatia continues in Omis on the mainland south of Split. The city beach in Omis, called Velika Plaza (eng. Large beach) is a large beach that, thanks to its size, offers many leisure activities for the whole family. This beach is a nice compromise if your group has some lovers and haters of sandy beaches, since there are some areas made of fine pebbles. The sand is, however, present in the shallow sea water and offers an unforgettable bathing experience, especially for children. In addition, the beach and the town of Omis offer an indescribable panorama of the mountains behind and the Cetina river, which flows into the Adriatic Sea in Omis.
Let Yourself Be Enchanted by the Island of Korcula and Its Sandy Beach Vela Przina
Once again we will leave the mainland to visit the holiday island of Korcula, which you can reach from Split by ferry. In the southwest of the island, not far from the village of Lumbarda, there is the wonderful sandy beach called Vela Przina, popular with tourists and locals alike. The beach is located in a bay offering a view of the open sea and the island of Lastovo. In summer there is a small snack bar that takes care of your physical well-being so that you don’t have to worry about anything. The sandy beach leads into the shallow sea, making the beach perfect for families with children.
Relax on the Beautiful Beach Prapratno on the Peljesac Peninsula
In the vicinity of the island of Korcula is the Peljesac peninsula in southern Dalmatia. You can easily reach the peninsula by car via the bridge from the mainland or by ferry. The peninsula is known for the wall in Ston and a few kilometers from Ston is the small seaside resort of Prapratno with the sandy bay that we would like to introduce to you. The beach is suitable for children as the water is shallow and the surrounding trees provide natural shade. Near the beach you will also find a gastronomic offer to refresh yourself after all the water fun.
Unique Nature and a Spectacular Sandy Beach on the Island of Mljet
From Prapratno you can hop on a ferry to the island of Mljet, because there is the beautiful sandy beach of the same name in the seaside resort of Saplunara in the south of the island. In a bay, surrounded by nature, this sandy beach offers the perfect conditions for a relaxing holiday in Croatia. The beach is suitable for children, but also offers leisure activities for the elderly. The soft and fine sand continues in the shallow sea water. Even in the peak season this beach is not overly crowded. Therefore, the nature lovers among you can combine the exploration of the untouched nature with a bit of bathing fun on the island of Mljet.
Well-Rounded Experience on the Sandy Beach Sunj on the Island of Lopud
Our trip ends in the south of Dalmatia on the island of Lopud near the cultural city of Dubrovnik. Lopud is a small island off the coast of Croatia, which you can easily reach by ferry from Dubrovnik. The sandy beach is located in the south of the small island and is called Sunj. The sandy beach itself is around a kilometer long and thanks to the shallow water you can go up to 100 m deep into the water, making it the perfect beach for children and families. In the vicinity of the beach you will find a rich gastronomic offer and leisure activities. Thanks to the surrounding pine forest, you are protected from the direct sun. Furthermore, a part of the beach is intended for nudists.
Our journey along the Adriatic coast of Croatia ends in the south after numerous sandy beaches and beautiful bays that Croatia has to offer. We hope that these beautiful sandy beaches will show you another side of Croatia and that you will get a step closer to your dream vacation.
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If you have any further questions or require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Thanks for reading!
