The coastline of Croatia is one of the most enviable in Europe and its islands are like undiscovered gems appearing out of the Adriatic. Whilst Croatia's recent history includes a civil war, the former Yugoslav country is a beautiful land whose beaches are just waiting to be found. Below is a round up of the ones that simply must be visited.
UVALA DUBOVICA, HVAR ISLAND
The port of Hvar has an array of chic bars and racy nightlife and is perhaps less known for its beaches, with Uvala Dubovica being one of note. It is a pebbly beach that neighbours an historic manor house. The bay is shallow nature making it great for young families wishing to paddle only, but it is also very popular with yachts and motorboats in the summer months. The limited parking spaces and accessibility issues ensure that the beach is relatively peaceful.
KUPARI
Kupari located just south of Dubrovnik, was a one-time holiday resort to the Yugoslav Peoples’ Army. It was very badly damaged during the civil war and sadly its hotels have been left derelict since that time. Despite the echoes of conflict and apocalyptic backdrop, the beach is a beautiful crescent of shingle and remains popular. The crowds of people are testament to the resolve of the natives and tourists alike.
PROIZD, NEAR KORČULA ISLAND
You must approach Proizd by taxi boat from Vela Luka. The islet is made up of pine trees and maquis and is surrounded by turquoise waters that feed into three beautiful beaches. Whilst they may not appear conventional ‘beaches’ since they comprise part white shingle and part sloping, slanted rocks, it still makes for perfect sunbathing and is not too crowded.
ŠUNJ BAY, LOPUD ISLAND
Šunj is a beautiful crescent of fine shingle and sand, neatly sandwiched between rocky promontories and perfectly accessible by superyacht. With Dubrovnik’s beaches being largely pebbly, this makes for a welcome change. The beach has a nudist section at the northern end of the beach but since they are quite close to the non-nudist section, it all pretty much mixes together.
ZLATNI RAT, BRAČ ISLAND
A line of shingle beach that extends into a stunning turquoise sea , Zlatni Rat (“Golden Cape”) is the most photographed beach when associated with Dalmatia holidays. The pebbly peninsula is still highly sought after, despite the fact it gets very busy. Shallow seas and breathtaking views mean that the pull to come here is always there.
GREBIŠĆE, HVAR ISLAND
The sandy Grebišće is perfect for paddling and makes for a pleasant change from the pebbly beaches elsewhere. The beach is very narrow, contains very little shade and is very shallow – making it a popular venue for splashing about with friends.
LOVREČINA BAY, BRAČ ISLAND
Four kilometres east of Postira on Brač, Lovrečina Bay is one of several beaches on the island that has picture perfect qualities - a sandy shore and translucent waters. There is also a ruined medieval church set among olive groves just behind. There is limited parking so the beach is quiet in comparison to others with better transport links. .
Croatia boasts some of Europe's most spectacular beaches, with crystal clear turquoise waters and are perfect for discovering via a luxury yacht charter. Here is a comprehensive list of some of the best to visit around one of the most enviable coastlines in the world.
SPIAZA, SUSAK
Desert island getaways don’t get much better than Susak, a tiny island almost entirely made up of sand. It’s a ferry ride away from Mali Lošinj and the island’s main beach, Spiaza, is a perfect crescent shape, stretching out from Susak village. The bay is very shallow and in order to get deep enough to swim, you will have to wade out for at least 500m.
