11 Beautiful Beach Towns in Croatia Worth Adding to Your List

Hvar Town has it all. A capital of the eponymous Dalmatian island, it used to be an important naval base in the Venetian Empire. High up the hill, a 13th-century fortress overlooks the gorgeous bay and the ancient walls encircle the Old Town showcasing Hvar’s military background. It’s a smaller brother to Dubrovnik with similar killer looks, cozy narrow streets, the photogenic Town Square and UNESCO World Heritage status.

Don’t Miss: In recent years, the town has also become a go-to destination for luxurious stays and high-end restaurants.

Best Beaches: As for the beaches, Hvar is about variety. Bonj and Pokonji dol are close to the city center while Jerolim and Mlini are idyllic Adriatic coves on Paklinski islets (accessible from Hvar on boat).

There’s little indication of modernity when you’re inside Korčula Town. The entrance is through the medieval gates and the city is surrounded by defensive walls. Miniature houses and palaces are built from local stone and many bear original masonry. Gothic-Rennaissance Saint Mark’s Cathedral on the central square rings the bells as it did for centuries. In other words, being in Korčula is a delight.

Don’t Miss: For evenings, the town has a scenic promenade lined with restaurant terraces with phenomenal sunset views.

Best Beaches: There’s Zakerjan Beach where you can take a dip next to the old tower. Of course, it has to be included in the best beach towns in Croatia list.

Another beach town on Hvar Island, Jelsa is a slow travel delight. The stone houses overlook the picturesque bay as fishing boats and small yachts lazily wave. It’s where you go to get away from everything. The main promenade (or Riva) hosts many cafes and seafood restaurants perfect for sunset watching. The town is strategic to Hvar Island as it’s built around a freshwater source.

Don’t Miss: Get out to Stari Grad nearby for a well-preserved medieval core and the Rennaissance Tvrdalj Castle famous for its ancient fish tank.

Best Beaches: Jelsa is the ultimate beach destination with many charming stretches dotting its long urban area. The best for sunbathing and dipping are Mina, Grebišće and Prapatna.

Zlatni Rat (or Golden Horn) in Bol is a spectacular beach. Its shape and color constantly change. The winds make the tip point in a different direction and the sun reveals various shades of blue. The pine trees behind it provide the Medditteranean aroma, music from cicadas and welcoming shade during the summer. What’s special about Zlatni Rat is that it’s not some remote place. It’s a town beach that belongs to Bol, a pretty settlement in the south of Brač island in Dalmatia. You can easily reach it by direct ferry from Split.

Best Beaches: While Bol’s city center is small (although very photogenic), the town is a great base for beachgoing. Apart from Zlatni Rat, you’ve got Kotlina next to the Baroque Dominican monastery (with Tintoretto-drawn altar inside) and Martinica with crystal-clear Adriatic waters.

No visit to Croatia is complete without seeing Dubrovnik. It’s simultaneously the country’s most fascinating destination and one of Europe’s most enchanting beach towns. No words can describe the feeling of watching the sunset from the mighty city walls, kayaking to Lokrum Island with the gorgeous Old Town silhouette behind or taking a dip at Šulić Beach at the foot of Lovrijenac Fortress (famously featured in Game of Thrones as Red Keep). This town offers unforgettable panoramas, rich history as an independent maritime republic, vibrant local culture and marvelous Adriatic beaches. It will certainly be crowded during the summer, but coming to Dubrovnik is still worth it. This town is simply spellbinding.

Don’t Miss: Choose Lapad peninsula for a base to save on accommodation and avoid crowds. Uvala Lapad and Bellevue are two lesser-known stretches to check out.

Best Beaches: For the most iconic Dubrovnik beaches with views of the Old Town head to Banje and Sveti Jakov (be aware that the access is via many stairs). For something different take a kayak to Betina Cave beach.

When you deep inside the narrow labyrinth of Trogir streets it’s easy to feel as if you’re in Venice. That’s because the Venetian Republic ruled this Dalmatian town for four centuries before being conquered by the Hapsburgs. Today, Trogir is among the most beautiful of all Croatian beach towns. The centerpiece here is the breathtaking Saint Lawrence’s Cathedral, a masterpiece of Romanesque Gothic.

Don’t Miss: Like Dubrovnik, Trogir has an imposing maritime fortress. Kamerlengo Castle is a perfect vantage point for the best town panoramas. At its foot is the Riva, or seaside promenade where huge yachts dock and tourists stroll at all times of the day.

Best Beaches: Once you’re ready to hit the beach, go to Medena, a popular resort area outside the city with a series of turquoise stretches among the endless pine trees.

If the beach is your primary focus, choose Brela. A gem of Makarska Riviera in Southern Dalmatia, this resort town has some of the most magical stretches on the whole Adriatic Coast. It comes with many smaller coves and a more intimate beachgoing experience. While the town center is rather small, you can always follow the seaside promenade to Baška Voda, another Makarska Riviera town, with more restaurants and cafes.

Don’t Miss: Nearby is the photogenic limestone Brela Rock – the best local photo spot and one of the symbols of the Croatian coast.

Best Beaches: Vacationing in Brela means never running out of new stunning beaches to discover daily with its long dramatic coastline and tall Biokovo mountains above. Pebbly Punta Rata is the town’s most famous stretch with constantly clear waters and a pine tree forest behind.

Located in a sheltered bay and protected by four fortresses, the Old Town of Šibenik is a sight to behold. One thing that makes it stand out is the Cathedral of St. James, a UNESCO-protected architectural marvel that blends Gothic and Renaissance influences. Narrow streets and old houses with red roofs snake up the hill which is crowned by massive St. Michael’s Fortress. This town has the Dubrovnik-level grandeur minus crowds and with more wallet-friendly prices. As its famous Croatian counterpart, Šibenik was featured in Game of Thrones as the Iron Bank city of Braavos.

Don’t Miss: Be sure to take a ferry ride through the narrow Šibenik Canal and admire the city’s panorama from the sea. The boat is also how you get to the striking Kornati archipelago, an Adriatic wonderland with 140 uninhabited islands.

Best Beaches: Banj Beach is an urban stretch to hit the water with views of Šibenik Old Town and Solaris is a popular family-friendly recreational area with hotels, camping sites and an Aquapark outside the city.

Poreč on the Istrian peninsula is a perfect balance between city life and leisure. You have pristine Adriatic beaches like Blue Lagoon, Parentino and Špadići-Materada just a short walk away from the historic core. This allows lazy sunbathing during the day and relaxed city strolling during the evening – an ideal combo for families with children. Short distances mean no car is needed to enjoy this Croatian idyll fully. Poreč isn’t some sleepy resort village, it’s a UNESCO-protected pearl of Istria with ruins of the Roman Temple of Mars, pretty Romanesque houses, a picturesque marina and the 6th-century Euphrasian Basilica hosting ancient frescoes.

Don’t Miss: A location in the middle of Istria makes this town a great base for day trips to beautiful hill towns, truffle farms and other beaches this peninsula is known for.

Untouched nature is what you find in Vrsar. Gorgeously set on a hilltop, it’s a prime Istrian destination for unspoiled rocky beaches and outdoor fun. And that’s just the mainland. Vrsar also has a compact archipelago of 18 islands and islets right in front with more stunning beaches to swim and sunbathe. The best way to take advantage of the marine beauty here by kayaking: you can get one from many rental companies on the promenade. Vrsar is the ultimate Istrian destination for families as all the beaches are well-kept, the entrance to the water is usually very easy and getting around is convenient.

Don’t Miss: Vrsar is home to Koversada Naturist Park, which is one of the largest in Croatia.

Zadar is one of the best beach towns in Croatia that doesn’t actually feel touristic. Come here if you want to get a taste of local life without tourist traps on every corner. The city is the unofficial capital of Northern Dalmatia, a region often absent from the majority of Croatian itineraries. But that’s exactly why you should check it out in 2025. You’ll discover a magnificent UNESCO-protected Venetian fort system, an amazing 9th century-circular Saint Donatus’ Church and a fascinating Museum of Ancient Glass with more than 1500 glass objects.

Don’t Miss: Sunsets are where Zadar stands out. The town’s promenade makes sunset watching an unforgettable experience. There’s a unique sea organ (that “transforms” the waves into notes) and the “Greeting to the Sun” art installation which lights up with solar panels at dusk.