Borovici Beach(Uvala Lašna, Plaža Šljunčara)

Nearby dining options blend coastal Croatian flavors with international influences. Gardenia Restaurant Novalja stands out with its 4.6 rating and sea-front location, offering curated seafood dishes and an extensive wine list in a casual yet upscale setting. For late-night events, Starac i More provides rooftop dining with premium seafood platters and Adriatic views, though prices lean towards the higher end. The 4.5-rated Bistro No5 serves affordable Croatian classics like cevapcici, while Boskinac combines winery experiences with refined farm-to-table cuisine in a countryside setting. Villa Rooms Mediteran adds a romantic option with its beachside cocktails and Mediterranean-inspired dinners, though it's slightly farther from the immediate shoreline.

These establishments emphasize outdoor seating and local ingredients, with many offering wheelchair accessibility and pet-friendly policies. While most restaurants cluster near Novalja's harbor, a few hidden gems like Konoba Porat showcase authentic Pag Island specialties like lamb prepared under peka bells.

Accommodation ranges from beachfront resorts to boutique stays. Hotel Olea ($97/night) pairs modern design with dual pools and sea views, ideal for travelers seeking contemporary comforts. The Loža Hotel ($58/night) offers budget-friendly rooms steps from the beach, complete with a terrace bar for sunset cocktails. For luxury seekers, Boskinac ($204/night) delivers wine-country elegance with its stone-clad suites and infinity pool. Liberty Plaza Hotel ($122/night) caters to families with its dual outdoor pools and beachfront location, while Villa Rooms Mediteran ($113/night) provides intimate seaside lodging with private beach access.

Many properties emphasize sustainability through local stone construction and solar heating. The LGBTQ-friendly Pansion Comfort Bok and Hotel Boskinac highlight Croatia's progressive hospitality scene, whereas Joel Hotel's saltwater pool and sea-view apartments cater to wellness-focused travelers. Booking typically requires advance reservations during July-August due to high demand.

Borovici Beach provides essential facilities including free restrooms, cold-water showers, and shaded picnic tables. Rental services offer lounge chairs (€8-12/day), umbrellas, and water sports equipment like paddleboards and jet skis. The beach features multiple waste stations and freshwater foot showers to maintain cleanliness. During peak months, mobile snack bars sell local Pag cheese and seafood wraps, while nearby shops stock beach gear and sunscreen. WiFi hotspots appear intermittently near hotel zones, though signal strength varies.

Accessibility options include wooden pathways across sandy sections and reserved parking closer to the shore. Night lighting along certain stretches enables evening strolls, though full illumination doesn't cover the entire beach area. Visitors recommend bringing water shoes due to scattered pebbles in swimming zones.

Water dominates the activity scene, with kayaking tours to nearby coves and stand-up paddleboarding lessons for beginners. Jet ski rentals (€70-100/hour) and banana boat rides create adrenaline options, while certified dive centers offer scuba excursions to marine caves. The beach's gradual shelf makes it safe for swimming, though parents should monitor children near deeper zones. Dry-land options include beach volleyball tournaments and yoga sessions at dawn.

Boat tours depart frequently to Zrće Beach's electronic music clubs and Pag's historic salt pans. Fishing charters targeting sea bass and dentex operate from Novalja's harbor, while hiking trails wind through the moon-like Pag Island karst landscape. Evening entertainment ranges from live klapa music performances to open-air cinema nights during summer festivals.

Accessibility features include wooden ramps leading to the central beach area and amphibious wheelchairs available for free rental (24-hour advance notice recommended). Designated changing rooms with hoists and lowered sinks accommodate wheelchair users, while trained staff assist with water entry at marked buoy zones. Service animals are permitted across all beach sections without restrictions.

Tactile pathways guide visually impaired visitors to key facilities, and select hotels like Boskinac offer rooms with roll-in showers and auditory alert systems. During July-August, sign language interpreters join some guided tours upon request. While uneven terrain exists in northern beach sections, the southern zone maintains ADA-compliant grades under 5%.

A mixed parking system operates near the beach, including free street parking (limited to 2 hours) and paid lots (€3-5/hour). The main gravel lot offers 200+ spaces with EV charging stations, though it fills by 10 AM in peak season. Disabled parking bays sit closest to access ramps, requiring a valid permit. Overflow parking extends along agricultural tracks west of the beach, where shuttle buses run every 20 minutes (€2/ride). Visitors advise arriving before 9 AM to secure convenient spots.

Motorhomes can utilize designated RV areas 1.2km inland with dump stations and freshwater hookups. Some hotels like Liberty Plaza offer reserved parking for guests at €15/day, while private villas often include free off-street spaces.

Borovici Beach sits on Pag Island, home to world-renowned sheep's milk cheese aged in sea winds. Local legend claims the beach's crescent shape resulted from a mythological giant's footprint. The area serves as a nesting ground for loggerhead sea turtles, with conservation volunteers monitoring shores each spring.

During low tide, remnants of ancient salt pans emerge offshore, dating to the Republic of Venice's 15th-century rule. The beach occasionally hosts night swimming events illuminated by bioluminescent plankton, creating an ethereal blue glow in the waves.

Beyond the shoreline, Novalja's 1st-century Roman aqueduct and olive oil museum showcase the region's history. The Luna Island farm park (15-minute drive) allows hands-on experiences with donkeys and cheese-making. Zrće Beach, Croatia's answer to Ibiza, pulsates with beach clubs like Aquarius and Kalypso, reachable by water taxi in 25 minutes.

Nature lovers can explore the Pag Triangle's mysterious rock formations or join guided tours to the secret Blue Lake cave system. The nearby Velebit mountain range offers challenging hikes with Adriatic panoramas, while boat rentals enable island-hopping to Premuda and Silba's car-free villages.