Best Pebble Beaches in Croatia
The sunlit pebble beaches in Croatia can be enjoyed in most of the country's sea resorts as they dominate a great many bays that are found along the indented shoreline and on the islands. Croatian pebble beaches are widely known for their superb water quality and well-maintained coast line. Some of them have Blue Flag award for environmental quality, safety and services.
The majority of hotels in Croatia have their own pebble beaches or concrete platforms equipped with water sports facilities, playgrounds for children, different cafes and beach bars.
The large elegant Banje beach occupying an amazing length of pebble coast in front of the Dubrovnik city walls is always ranked among the best beaches in South Dalmatia. The spectacular natural and historical surroundings, inviting crystal clear Adriatic waters, the lively atmosphere produced by a wide array of fun facilities make this trendy beach a favourite destination with tourists. You can rent everything from simple parasols to fashionable canopies, from banana boats to paragliders and then stay for a night party in the chic beach club.
However, there is a still more gorgeous resort among the pebble beaches in Croatia and that is the far-famed Zlatni Rat or Golden Horn beach that charms every visitor of Bol, a vibrant town on the central Dalmatian Brac Island. The beach is a vast 500 m long triangular-shaped stretch of golden-coloured pebbles, with its edge pointing west or east as influenced by the wind and tides. The beach is packed with water sports and other recreational facilities, especially for windsurfers who have trained and competed here for decades.
Another world-famous series of Croatia's pebble beaches stretches for 6 km on either side of Brela on the Makarska Riviera. The 2 km long Punta Rata beach running along a romantic tree-shaded promenade is listed among the world's top 6 beaches by the Forbes magazine and has been given the Blue Flag award for years. One of its trademarks is a cliff rising from the sea not far from the coast. The choice of catering and sports facilities will suit every person's taste, from scuba divers to bowling players, while families with kids will appreciate the sandy access to the water.
Guests of North Dalmatia take pleasure in visiting the historical royal town of Biograd that is home to one of the most impressive urban pebble beaches in Croatia, the Drazica beach. A 10 minutes' leisurely stroll from the town centre will take you to a neat and clean 300 m long beach that boasts a full range of modern sea resort amenities, including a water polo playground and a big aquagan. The nearby walkway running along the edge of a pine wood provides extraordinary views of the adjacent islands.
A wealth of Croatian pebble beaches measuring around 30 bigger and smaller bays is the best attraction for people arriving in Baska on the Kvarner island of Krk. The 1.8 km long Vela Plaza or Great beach located in a sheltered semicircular bay next to the town centre is often referred to as one of the biggest and loveliest. The beach is children-friendly with a number of sandy areas and provides lots of content for sports enthusiasts.
On the eastern side of the Istrian peninsula, buried in exuberant Mediterranean verdure and lapped by the welcoming limpid sea is the 500 m long Maslinica beach that rates among the most wonderful white pebble beaches in Croatia. Located in the vicinity of Rabac, the beach is accessed by a coastal promenade and equipped with all sort of facilities. You can rent different types of beach boats, enjoy a water slide or a swimming pool, use one of the sports courts while the kids amuse themselves on the playground.