Best Surfing Beaches in Croatia

Located on the island of Brac off the coast of Split, Zlatni Rat Beach – also called Golden Horn Beach or Golden Horn and originally called Dugi Rat and Long Cape – is a 500-meters-long, popular, and south-facing beach with gravel, some light-brown sand, many pebbles, and nearby pine trees in Croatia.  This pebble beach has a unique shape, which resembles the English alphabet “V” and it is located near the town of Bol.  The tip of this V-shaped beach seasonally changes in size and shape because of natural wind and water movements – the tip of this V-shaped beach is usually straight in the summer.  However, its tip sometimes turns eastwards in early summer and it sometimes turns westwards in autumn.    

Travel+Leisure magazine and The Times newspaper have listed Zlatni Rat Beach as one of the 15 best and most beautiful beaches in Croatia in 2024.  Travel+Leisure magazine listed this beach as one of the 20 best beaches in Europe in 2024.  In addition, a travel website named Big 7 Travel also listed Zlatni Rat Beach Croatia as one of the 50 best beaches in the world, and it is also a favorite of Randall Kaplan, the world’s foremost beach expert who is known as Mr. Beach.  In addition, Zlatni Rat Beach is family-friendly beach that also been awarded a Blue Flag because of its cleanliness.  

This beach is also a popular nude beach – the western side of this clothing-optional beach is particularly popular with nudists. 

Dugi Otok Island – which translates to “Long Island” – is a 50-kilometer long sliver of island inhabited by only 1,500 locals, and is home to some fantastic beach escapes.  Sakarun Beach consists of 800 meters of brilliant white pebble beach, curling around an enclosed bay with a shallow swimming area that extends 250 meters from the beachfront.  The tantalizing, clear waters shine with turquoise hues, reminiscent of the Caribbean.

Situated on Dugi Otok’s uninhabited and untouched southern coast, Sakarun Beach is the most popular beach on the island.  Although this sandy stretch is located over a mile from the nearest towns (Soline, Veli Rat, and Verunić), you’ll never feel the need to leave the beach during your perfect vacation day.  Amarcord Beach Bar sits on the southern edge and offers beachfront picnic tables, food, drinks, and rental lounge chairs. You can also escape from the sun into the thick pine forest, just a few feet behind the beach.

Reaching the beach area can be a bit complicated – you can take the daily ferry from Zadar, which runs about 1 hour and 20 minutes.  The beach itself can be reached by train from Božava, bus, or car on a dirt road that leads to beachside parking. Taking a boat over to the beach is also an option, and the bay is a popular spot to anchor for the day and enjoy the beach.  Since the island has so few inhabitants, transportation is not readily available, so your best choice may be to rent a car. While in the area, be sure to visit the Veli Rat lighthouse – built in 1849, it’s the tallest lighthouse on the Croatian coast at 138 feet (42 meters).  Overall, Sakarun Beach is a gorgeous vacation destination that has it all!

Located on the Isabella Island, near the coastal town of Porec, in the Istria region of Croatia, Val Maro Beach - also known as Val Maro family Beach or Plaza Maro Porec​ - is a 50-meter-long beige sand beach with pebbles.  The beach is positioned within the Valamar Isabella Island Resort and has a spectacular backdrop of several oceanfront buildings, creating a picturesque setting along the Adriatic Sea.   The beach is divided into two sections: one is shaped like a sandy plateau with steps leading into the sea, and the other is shaped like a pool with a pebbly seabed and shallow access to the water.  Val Maro Beach has been awarded the Blue Flag certification due to its natural beauty, cleanliness, and water quality standards.  In addition, the beach promotes eco-friendly practices, ensuring cleanliness and sustainability.

Located east of the Old Town of Dubrovnik, Croatia, Plaza Banje - also known as Banje Beach - is an immensely popular, world-famous 300-meter-long and 100-meter-wide beige sand beach with many pebbles.  The beach is considered one of the most popular beaches of the region and has a spectacular background of cliffs, lush vegetation, and many oceanfront buildings, including homes, restaurants, and nightclubs, that offer stunning views of Dubrovnik's city walls, the island of Lokrum, Port Dubrovnik, and the Adriatic Sea.