Best Beaches in Zadar

Zadar, Zadar

Kolovare is Zadar's most popular city beach, just a short walk from the old town, with clear water and a pebbly, rocky shore. It offers solid amenities — showers, changing areas, sunbed and umbrella rentals, cafes, a bar and beach volleyball courts — but it's narrow and gets very crowded in high season. Great for a swim and a relaxed few hours rather than a private full-day beach retreat.

Biograd na Moru, Zadar

Plaža Soline in Biograd na Moru is a lively, family-oriented beach with shallow, warm and clean water and abundant shade from pine trees and rentable umbrellas. Though marketed as sandy, the shore is mostly small stones/gravel with a sandy seabed, so water shoes help. A full promenade of restaurants, bars, shops and water activities lines the beach, which buzzes with party life at night — but it is often crowded and on the pricey side.

Nin, Zadar

Kraljičina plaža (Queen's Beach) in Nin is a rare long, sandy Dalmatian beach famous for its very shallow, warm water and its supposedly healing mud. Backed by views of the Velebit mountains, it's a strong pick for families with young children and SUP fans, with bars, snacks, showers and rental sunbeds on site. Adults wanting deep water for swimming or diving may be disappointed, and cleanliness and crowding vary in peak season.

Pag, Zadar

Prosika is the main city beach of Pag town — a long stretch of small pebbles that gives way to sand underwater, set in a sheltered, sun-warmed bay. It offers gentle, shallow entry, a wheelchair ramp, a playground and plenty of nearby bars, restaurants and shops, making it a solid family choice. Water is usually clean, though the enclosed bay can trap debris, and shade is scarce so bring your own umbrella.

Biograd na Moru, Zadar

Plaža Dražice is a lively pebble beach in Biograd na Moru with shallow, clear water and abundant shade, well suited to families. It's packed with amenities — food stalls, cafe bars, playgrounds, showers and rental sunbeds — but that comes with heavy summer crowds, cigarette smoke and persistent beach vendors. Highly rated overall, it delivers a busy resort-style beach experience rather than a quiet natural one.

Metajna, Zadar

Beach Ručica near Metajna on Pag Island is a striking pebble-and-gravel beach famed for its lunar, Mars-like scenery, dramatic views and exceptionally clear water. It has a beach bar, a restaurant and public toilets, plus free parking on both sides, but no natural shade. Popular as a starting point for the 'Life on Mars' trail and the hike to Beritnica beach, it can get very crowded in summer while staying peaceful off-season.

Novalja, Zadar

Zrće Beach near Novalja on Pag is Croatia's most famous party beach, a pebble stretch lined with open-air clubs, DJs, festivals and water activities. The sea is clear and the beach itself is clean and well organized, but the experience centers entirely on nightlife rather than relaxation. Reviewers praise the atmosphere and clubs while warning of very high drink prices, aggressive bouncers, and scam risks.

Nin, Zadar

Ninska Laguna is a long, soft-sand beach near Nin with exceptionally shallow, warm water that extends for hundreds of metres, making it a favourite for families with young children. Facilities are good in season, including bars, food stands, showers, changing rooms and paid parking. The beach also features distinctive dark medicinal mud that many visitors apply to their skin, plus scenic mountain views.

Zadar, Zadar

Punta Bajlo is a rocky, cliff-lined bathing spot on a Zadar peninsula, popular for cliff jumping, snorkeling and swimming rather than lounging on sand. It offers plenty of pine-tree shade, free showers, portable toilets and a well-liked bar with sea views, plus a calmer shallow side good for kids and a deeper, wavier open-water side. Some visitors flag litter and concerns about port-related pollution.

Šimuni, Zadar

Plaža Šimuni is a well-loved pebble beach on the island of Pag, prized for its natural pine-forest shade, crystal-clear water and relaxed, non-commercial vibe. Several beach bars and small restaurants line the shore serving drinks and food, and the gentle entry makes it suitable for families. It draws crowds in high season but stays peaceful in the evenings.

Zadar, Zadar

Plaža Uskok is a small, clean public pebble-and-rock beach in Zadar with clear, shallow water suited to families. It stands out for excellent accessibility, including wheelchair access and an assistance service for people with disabilities, plus a playground, shade from olive trees, and nearby bars and restaurants. Facilities are solid but showers are paid, and the rocky entry can be tricky underfoot.

Nin, Zadar

Nin Sandy Beach is one of the few genuinely sandy beaches near Zadar, known for its long, wide shoreline and extremely shallow water that makes it a top pick for families with young children. It offers amenities including sunbeds, umbrellas, toilets, showers, food and water sports, plus a nearby medicinal mud pond that many visitors enjoy. Opinions on water clarity and cleanliness are mixed, and paid parking (cash only) is a recurring complaint.

Kolan, Zadar

Plaža Čista near Kolan on Pag island is a highly rated mixed sand-and-pebble beach known for shallow, clear, calm water and a gentle entry, making it a favorite with families. On-site amenities include a restaurant, beach bar, toilets, showers, and umbrella and sunbed rentals, with several paid parking areas nearby. Natural shade is limited, so many visitors bring their own or rent parasols.

Zadar, Zadar

Beach Borik is a long, kilometer-stretch beach north of Zadar's center with a mix of fine pebbles, sandy sections, concrete and shady grassy areas under trees. It offers shallow, clear water ideal for families, plus a full range of facilities including showers, changing cabins, toilets, bars, restaurants and water-sport rentals. It gets crowded around the service areas but stays quieter farther along the shore.

Novalja, Zadar

Plaža Caska is a long, natural pebble-and-rock beach near Novalja on Pag, valued for its calm atmosphere and clear, slightly cool water. It's a quiet family alternative to nearby party-focused Zrće, with gradual shallow entry ideal for small children. Facilities include several bars, a restaurant, toilets, sunbeds and free parking, though there's little in the way of water activities beyond pedal boats.

Zadar, Zadar

Golden Wave Beach is a free, concrete city beach near Zadar's Old Town, built around a salt-water pool and a multi-level diving tower rather than sand. Visitors swim directly into clear Adriatic water via steps and platforms, then relax on flat stone terraces or in a shaded bar. It's popular with locals and young people, offering an easy, urban swim spot with basic facilities.

Biograd na Moru, Zadar

Plaža Lumbrak is a small, wild pebble-and-rock beach near Biograd na Moru with clear, shallow water and a sandy seabed further out. It's backed by shady pines and stays uncrowded, making it a peaceful, natural spot. There are no bars or restaurants, so visitors must bring their own supplies, and water shoes are advisable due to sea urchins.

Nin, Zadar

Plaža Ždrijac in Nin is a rare long sandy beach with warm, very shallow water that stretches far out, making it a standout family destination near Zadar. It offers a full range of facilities including free showers, toilets, changing rooms, cafes and food stalls, plus easy free parking. Afternoon winds draw kitesurfers and windsurfers, and the setting features dramatic views toward the Velebit mountains.

Nin, Zadar

Nin Laguna (Ninska Laguna) is a long, sandy Dalmatian beach with famously shallow, warm and gently sloping water, making it a favourite for families with small children and non-swimmers. It offers scenic views of Mount Velebit and is known for natural healing mud pools. Facilities include beach bars, fast food, showers and toilets, but natural shade is scarce and parking is paid.

Zadar, Zadar

Plaža Karma is a relaxed pebble-and-rock city beach in Zadar with clean, clear water and pleasant sea views. It stays notably less crowded than nearby Kolovare, making it a calm spot for a swim, with bars and restaurants close by. The rocky shoreline and sea urchins make water shoes essential.

Pag, Zadar

Plaža Veli Bok is a long, wild pebble-and-sand beach on Pag prized for its natural beauty, stunning views and peaceful, uncrowded atmosphere. It has no facilities and is reached by a steep, unpaved downhill path (or by boat), so visitors must bring their own supplies. Nudism is common on both sides, and an underwater wreck makes it interesting for snorkelers and divers.

Metajna, Zadar

Beach Suncana is a secluded string of pebble coves near Metajna on Pag island, reached only on foot via a flat 10–20 minute concrete walkway. It stands out for crystal-clear water, rare natural shade from pines and olive trees, and excellent snorkeling around its rocky inlets. Its car-free access keeps it quiet and unspoiled, though it can fill up in high season.

Biograd na Moru, Zadar

Prirodno pješčano kupalište is a natural, quiet beach outside Biograd na Moru with a mix of sand and rocky, pebbly sections and a gentle entry into the sea. It appeals to visitors seeking peace away from crowded resort beaches, though it offers no facilities and requires a walk to reach. Water is generally clean, though some visitors found it cloudy in high season, and litter is a recurring complaint.

Biograd na Moru, Zadar

Plaža Kumenat is a quiet, clean beach near Biograg na Moru favored for avoiding the crowds of the main town beaches. It's long but narrow, with rocky water entry and pine-shaded areas, plus a single cafe/bar and rentals for sunbeds, umbrellas, SUP boards and pedal boats. The sea is clean and warm, though water shoes are strongly advised due to rocks and sea urchins.

Pag, Zadar

Plaža Durinićovo is a small, secluded pebble cove near Pag with strikingly clear turquoise water and no sea urchins. Loved for its peace, wild beauty and intimacy, it's reached via a steep path through vegetation and offers good snorkeling. The main drawbacks are the challenging descent, occasional litter, and heavy fines for roadside parking in this protected area.

Zadar, Zadar

Strand von Zadar (Puntamica) is a small, clean pebble beach in a quiet part of Zadar known for impressively clear water and good snorkeling. It offers free showers, a changing cabin, and a nearby bar and restaurant, with several cleared sea entrances. Space is limited, so it can feel crowded during peak daytime hours.

Zadar, Zadar

Puntamika is a small, natural pebble-and-rock beach near central Zadar known for exceptionally clear water and a calm, lake-like feel. It's quiet and peaceful with plenty of free shaded parking, but lacks facilities like showers. Reviewers love the scenery and cleanliness, though a few flag sea urchins and occasional litter.

Biograd na Moru, Zadar

A quiet, natural nudist (FKK) beach set in a shady pine forest near Biograd na Moru. It offers clean, clear water good for snorkeling and diving, but the entry is rocky with many sea urchins, so water shoes are essential. Reviews are mixed and low-rated, mainly due to difficult access and reports of voyeurs.