Zadar has quickly become one of the most popular holiday destinations in Croatia, partially due to the many beautiful beaches in the region.
Whether you want to visit a beach near the old town, in the city, or in a resort, there’s no shortage of options. Some of the beaches in Zadar are beautiful – with stunning bays and soft sand. Others due have pebbles or slightly less picturesque views, but all have something to love.
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Many Zadar beaches have actually been given a Blue Flag, which is a certificate for high quality sea and great beach facilities. In this article, we’ll take you through all of your options so you can decide on the best beach for you.
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Zadar Beaches Map
The Zadar Beaches Guide
1. Borik
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Beach type: Sand, pebbles and concrete
Beach Facilities: Showers, toilets, sunbeds, changing rooms, cafes, restaurants
Borik is one of the most popular Zadar beaches, with a beautiful 1.5-kilometer stretch of coast. This is mostly a pebble beach, but has a sandy cove and the sea is a beautiful shade of blue with fantastic water quality, making it the ideal place to take a dip.
The sand cove is a long stretch making it the perfect spot for sunbathing and beach games. There are also plenty of amenities here with several cafes and restaurants.
This is the biggest beach in Zadar making it very popular with locals and tourists. This is actually part of Falkensteiner hotel complex and is managed by them, so you have to pay a small fee (10kn) to enter.
How do I get to Borik beach from Zadar?
Borik beach is easily reached by public transport. Hop on a local bus that drive directly to the entrance.
2. Sakarun Beach
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Beach type: Sand
Beach Facilities: Toilets, sunbeds, cafes, restaurants
Sakarun beach is a boat ride away on the northwestern side of Dugi Otik island. Based in the prettiest cove on the island, the beach has crystal blue water, white sand and pine trees. It’s one of the best beaches in Zadar to relax at, and turns into a party destination at night.
Sakarun is one of the most famous beaches in the Zadar archipelago. It’s a popular place for day trips from Zadar and is most often seen in adverts for the area. Sakarun is known as the most picturesque beach in Croatia, and therefore attracts a lot of tourists.
How do I get to Sakarun Beach from Zadar?
The port at Zadar has a regular ferry ride to Dugi Otok, a beautiful boat trip along the scenic Adriatic islands. Once you get off the ferry, you can take a bus to the beach. Another option is renting a car so you can explore more of the island.
3. Nin Lagoon / Queen Beach
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Beach type: Sand
Beach Facilities: Toilets, sunbeds, beach bar
The historic town of Nin has several kilometers of beautiful sandy beaches and magical coves that aren’t too far from Zadar. The waters here are shallow and warm, so you’ll see a lot of people playing ‘picigin’ – a Croatian ball game played in the water. There are also other beach activities to choose from such as volleyball and kitesurfing. The beautiful Velebit mountain in the background makes Nin Lagoon a truly unique beach.
One of the main highlights of Queen beach is it’s home to the largest natural mud spring in Croatia, which is said to have rejuvenating properties. This allows you to get a spa mud treatment as you swim in the sea, leaving with silky smooth skin.
How do I get to Nin Lagoon from Zadar?
Nin has fantastic connections to Zadar and is easy to reach. It’s only about 20 minutes by car on the motorway, so you can hop in a taxi or get a rental. You can also get a bus with a service running once every hour. Another option is getting the train – this will take a bit longer but will allow you to enjoy the beautiful scenery.
4. Zaton Beach
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Beach type: Sand and pebbles
Beach Facilities: Toilets, sunbeds, beach bar, showers and shops
Well known to be one of the best beaches in all of Croatia, Zaton beach has certified Blue Flag status meaning it has fantastic water quality, safety and environmental management. It’s only a short distance northwest of Zadar, between Petrcane and Privlake.
Zaton beach is located in the Zaton Holiday Resort and is only 13 km from Zadar. It’s 1.5km of beautiful sandy coastline and crystal clear seas. The resort is also home to a pool, water park and leisure activities making it the perfect location for a beach holiday.
The beach is a mix of sand and pebbles with a pine tree backdrop to provide cool shade in the summer months. It’s a popular place to try out watersports, or you can just relax here.
How do I get to Zaton Beach from Zadar?
It’s easy to get to Zaton by bus from central Zadar, with the journey taking about an hour. You could also get a taxi or take the half hour drive there in a rental car.
5. Kolovare Beach
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Beach type: Pebbles and concrete
Beach Facilities: Showers, toilets, sunbeds, changing rooms, cafes, restaurants
If you don’t want to travel outside of Zadar, head to Kolovare beach in the city centre. Just a few minutes walk from the historical centre is this wonderful slice of Mediterranean paradise. The beach is a mix of very fine pebbles and bathing areas, and shade can be found under the many pine trees or rentable parasols. As it’s by the center, there are lots of amenities nearby including restaurants, cafes, kiosks and ice cream parlors.
It gets busy here in peak season, as it’s popular with both locals and tourists. Because of this, they do have lifeguards on duty during peak season to add an extra layer of safety.
How do I get to Kolovare Beach from Zadar?
Kolovare beach is just outside the city center, a short 5 minute walk south.
6. Puntamika Beach
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Beach type: Fine pebbles
Beach Facilities: None
Puntamika is a quiet beach in Zadar, with coarse pebbles and a small promenade along the coast. Here you’ll find a small marina, cafe and lighthouse. Mostly popular with the locals, more tourists are starting to visit as well due to rentable vacation apartments right by the beach.
Spend the day here on a sun lounger and admire the views of the old town.
How do I get to Puntamika Beach from Zadar?
Only 3.5km from the city, Puntamika Beach is easily reachable by foot, bike, taxi or rental car.
7. Riva
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Beach type: Concrete
Beach Facilities: Food and drink vendors
A popular spot for sunbathers, Riva is a promenade in the old town of Zadar. While technically not a beach, this is the perfect place to relax on a hot day, with multiple access points and ladders leading into the crystal clear sea.
It’s often referred to as the town beach as it’s right next to the city center.
How do I get to Riva from Zadar?
Riva is a short 7 minute walk from the city center of Zadar.
