In this list of the best beaches in Dubrovnik to visit in Croatia this year, I’ll detail what each beach has to offer and why these beaches are worth a visit.
Croatia’s most famous city has so many different types of beaches that it’s really worth researching what type of beach you want to visit. On a recent visit to Dubrovnik I didn’t expect to discover so many beaches to explore.
After one day spent sightseeing around the old town of Dubrovnik, I was impressed but somewhat put off by the amount of tourists there and the overpriced food and drinks.
Don’t get me wrong, the old medieval town of Dubrovnik is an amazing place full of fascinating history (which you’ll love if you’re a Games of Thrones fan!). But, if you want to escape the crowds for a few days of sun and sand, then there are so many choices! So let’s find out what are the best beaches in Dubrovnik, based on my own experience.
17 Best Dubrovnik Beaches
My selection of beaches in Dubrovnik listed below is surprisingly varied. Yes, most beaches in Dubrovnik are pebbly or rocky but there are some secluded, sandy bays hidden away which a lot of people are not aware of.
After reading this list you’ll be spoiled for choice! They are all fairly close from the centre of Dubrovnik, some are within walking distance while others are a quick taxi or bus ride away from the old town.
What all these beaches have in common though is stunning views of the Dalmatian coast! So without further ado, here are the 17 best Dubrovnik beaches to visit in Croatia in 2023:
1. Lokrum Beaches
If you really want to escape the crowds then I suggest catching a ferry or kayaking to the amazing Lokrum Island, which is situated south east from Dubrovnik and is clearly visible on the Dubrovnik horizon.
The beaches all around the island are small and rocky but you’re surrounded by stunning nature.
The Dead Sea is a landlocked salt lake in the middle of the island which cannot be missed as well! Visitors stay on the island for a few hours or half a day, depending on how much time you want to explore the island and sunbathe of course.
2. Bellevue Beach
This was the first beach that I visited during my stay in Dubrovnik and the one I enjoyed the most. It’s about a 20-30 minute walk west from the old town, which is a really pleasant walk along the coastline.
There is a steep descent to the beach via steps, so it doesn’t have the easiest access on this list. But the view from the pebbly beach is so beautiful!
It’s not a huge beach but is quite secluded, and as it’s not in the heart of the city it’s less crowded than the likes of Banje beach, which we’ll discuss later in the list.
There are showers available on the beach as well as a bar (although that was closed when I visited).
3. Sveti Jakov Beach
Arguably the most beautiful beach in all of Dubrovnik! This is a lovely pebbly/sandy beach hidden away about 1.6 kilometres east of the old town. For that reason it’s not well known by most tourists so it’s a great place to escape too!
It’s a small bay that’s accessible via 160 steps that are located behind St. Jacob church and is surrounded by stunning cliffs and has views of the old town on the horizon.
The views are picturesque, the water here is very clear and there’s also a cafe and a bar close by. Perfect!
4. Banje Beach
Banje beach is the most popular, central beach that Dubrovnik has to offer and is known as the city’s main beach. It is located not very far from the east entrance of the old town and only takes around 10 minutes to walk there.
Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of Banje beach:
Pros
☑️ Situated very close to the centre, just a ten minute walk from the old town.
☑️ Plenty of restaurants, cafes and bars close by, great place to experience Dubrovnik’s nightlife.
Cons
❌ Probably the busiest beach, plenty of tourists!
❌ Quite a small beach as well, not a lot of space for peace and quiet.
5. Lapad Beach
This is also known as ‘Sunset Beach’ and is another popular sun worshiping spot situated about 10 minutes away from the old town by bus (catch the number 2 or 6 bus).
For the most part it’s a pebbly beach though it does have some sandy areas too. The great thing about this beach is that it has plenty of amenities.
From sunbeds and umbrellas that you can rent to showers and changing cabins, this is probably Dubrovnik’s best beach to visit if you plan on a full day of sunbathing.
And Lapad is a nice quiet part of the city away from the tourist part.
6. Šulić Beach/Kolorina Bay
You should definitely head to Šulić beach/Kolorina Bay if you’re a Games of Thrones fan!
This beach is situated just outside the old town’s walls and you’ll instantly recognise King’s Landing close by, which is where a lot of Games of Thrones scenes were filmed.
Again it’s another small pebbled beach with concrete surroundings, but it does have showers as well. The whole Kolorina Bay area is a lovely place with stunning scenery.
And because you’re so close to the old town there are numerous coffee shops, bars and restaurants nearby.
7. Betina Cave Beach
Betina Cave beach is one of the most stunning beaches in all of Dubrovnik! It’s situated very close to the city centre but it’s only accessible via boat or kayak!
If you’re looking for adventure while in Dubrovnik, then book a kayak tour to Betina cave here. The beach itself is very small, only thirty metres wide and pebbly, but the view of the cave interior is absolutely stunning!
8. Buža Beach
One of the best kept secrets in Dubrovnik is Buža beach. You can only reach it by going through a hole in the southern side of the old town wall’s (Buža literally means ‘hole’ in Croatian).
Once through the hole you make it down some steps to the cliffs. The famous Buža Bar is located close by, meaning you can grab a beer and head down to the cliffs, which is what I did!
I can guarantee there won’t be many tourists in this spot! It’s ideal for swimming and it has incredible views. Note that there is no accessible access to Buža Beach.
9. Pasjača Beach
Another stunning location that is not very well known is Pasjača beach, which is located around 25 kilometres east from the old town. Here are the pros and cons for Pasjača beach:
Pros
☑️ Pasjača beach has stunning rocky cliff walls which are absolutely breathtaking!
☑️ It’s not a very well known beach, very secluded with clear blue waters.
Cons
❌ Pasjača beach is not the easiest place to reach. You can only really get there via taxi or car.
❌ It has a steep descent alongside the rocky walls, not accessible for wheelchair users.
10. Cava Beach
Another beach area outside of the city worth checking out is Cava Beach, which is located in Babin Kuk in the Lapad peninsula.
It’s about 16 kilometres away from the old town and is a popular area with sunbeds, umbrellas and bars nearby.
Cava Beach is actually separated into two areas; a usual sunbathing part and the other area is a nudist beach, so don’t get the two confused! The beach is a real mix of sandy, pebbled and rocky coves.
11. Danče Beach
I headed to Danče beach hoping to do a bit of sunbathing but was a little bit disappointed to discover rocks instead of sand. But it has some positives too, so let’s see what the pros and cons of Danče Beach are:
Pros
☑️Very secluded! Only one or two people were there when I visited.
☑️Great spot for diving, it has very dramatic views!
☑️Perfect location: just below Gradac Park, a close walk from King’s Landing.
Cons
❌Not exactly a beach: mostly concrete and rocks!
❌Not much in terms of amenities: there was a small bar there when I visited but it was closed.
12. Rijeka Beach
Not to be confused with the town of Rijeka, which is in the north of Croatia and also has several beaches, Rijeka beach in Dubrovnik is a really idyllic place about a 15 minute drive outside of the city.
What makes Rijeka beach so great is that it’s surrounded by stunning mountain views everywhere you look, the scenery is fantastic here!
The pebbly beach stretches out quite considerably, the water is very clear and there’s not going to be too many tourists as well.
13. Plaža Neptun
Plaža Neptun is situated in the Lapad peninsula and is located below Hotel Neptun. The beach is quite lengthy in size and is mostly pebbly as well as boulders and rocks.
As it’s right next to a hotel, there are plenty of sunbeds and umbrellas available to rent and plenty of restaurants and cafes nearby too.
What makes Plaža Neptun a great spot to consider is that it has the best views of the Elafiti Islands and Lapad beach as well.
14. Sunj Beach on Lopud Island
You may have noticed that nearly all the beaches on this list so far are pebbly to one extent or another (which reminded me very much of Brighton beach in the UK!).
But if you’re really after a sandy beach then you have to head to Sunj beach on Lopud island.
Lopud island is based north west of Dubrovnik, it’s a car free island but you can catch a passenger ferry there from the port of Gruz.
Lopud itself is a lovely little village on the island with some restaurants, a botanical garden and a beautiful monastery. But the best attraction that the island has to offer by far is Sunj beach, which is as sandy as sandy beaches come!
15. Mlini Beaches
There are a few really beautiful small villages along the Dubrovnik coastline that also offer exceptional beaches.
One of these villages is Mlini, which is just 10 kilometres away and it’s possible to reach by bus or boat. Mlini is a lovely, quiet village that has a harbour, hotels, restaurants and of course beaches!
It’s a great place to get away from the crowds if you’re really craving peace and it’s quickly becoming known as one of the most beautiful resorts along the Dubrovnik coastline.
16. Cavtat Beaches
Comparable to Mlini is Cavtat, which is a little bit further away from the centre, around 20 kilometres.
Cavtat is another beautiful town on the Dubrovnik coast that has plenty to offer. Similar to Mlini it has a beautiful harbour, a lovely little town centre and the waterfront area is packed with cafes and restaurants.
Zal beach is probably the most popular beach in Cavtat as it’s very close to the waterfront, and beach Rat has some of the most stunning views of nearby mountains.
17. Plat Beaches
And finally, another lovely village with beautiful beaches is Plat, which is located quite close to Cavat and also Dubrovnik airport.
Plat is a quieter village compared to Cavtat and Mlini with less attractions, making it ideal if you really want beaches all to yourself!
The beaches here are secluded, mostly pebbly but unspoiled, making them the perfect location away from tourists!
Where To Stay In Dubrovnik
So there’s my list of 17 best Dubrovnik beaches to visit in Croatia in 2024! Now let’s take a look at options of where to stay in Dubrovnik.
There are plenty of options when it comes to accommodation in Dubrovnik. From cheap hostels to luxury home rentals and hotels, you really have a lot of choices. Here are three options, from a budget option to mid-range to luxury:
Budget Option: Old Town Hostel is perfect for those on a budget.
With dormitory beds starting from around 22 Euros a night, the Old Town Hostel is located in the very heart of the old town.
You can’t get much more central than this and it’s a great price! Just note that you’ll have to book up months in advance as it’s a very popular hostel!
Mid-Range Option: Buža Apartment is a great option if you want your own apartment.
Buža Apartment is located within the old city, has two bedrooms, a living room and all the amenities you could wish for. It has fabulous reviews and prices start from around 75 Euros a night.
Luxury Option: Hilton Imperial Hotel is the perfect place if you want to splash out on a luxury hotel.
This impressive, fantastic looking building is located right opposite the main entrance to the old town.
It has an indoor pool, restaurant, gym, and a business centre. Rooms start from 380 Euros a night.
How To Get Around Dubrovnik
The best option for getting around Dubrovnik in my opinion is public transport, which we’ll discuss in a moment. It’s convenient, cheap and Dubrovnik buses are very frequent.
Renting a car is a good option too. Traffic in the city all depends on what time of year you visit, but the roads are in very good condition, well maintained and of course there are some fantastic coastline views to be seen on a road trip.
Renting A Car
If you’re flying into the city from Dubrovnik Airport then renting a car from the airport is a great choice. Not having the hassle of waiting for buses and working out which bus to catch is a major advantage. Click here to see the best options on my trusted Holiday Extras, the only site I use when I hire cars abroad.
Public Transportation
Dubrovnik has a really well connected bus system that runs throughout the city. There are six bus lines in total which are colour coordinated.
I found this to be a little confusing at first, but the buses are frequent and it’s easy to hang of, after a while.
A single bus ticket is less than 2 Euros, or you can purchase a 3 Day Dubrovnik card for 45 Euros. Included in this card is entry to 5 museums, galleries and the city walls and a total of 10 bus rides, which is really good value for money.
I chose the 3 Day Dubrovnik card and it made life easier when it came to using public transport. Of course there are plenty of taxis that you can use to get around the city as well but they won’t be cheap!
Beaches in Dubrovnik: FAQs
Still have a few questions regarding Dubrovnik? Let’s answers some common FAQs:
Are beaches better in Split or Dubrovnik?
The general consensus is that Dubrovnik beaches are better than the beaches in Split, and I would totally agree.
Although Split has many great beaches as well, Dubrovnik has a much wider variety of different types of beaches as we’ve looked at in this blog post.
Both cities are fantastic places though and I’d recommend a visit to Split as well as Dubrovnik if you have the time!
Is the sea warm in Dubrovnik?
This all depends on what time of year you’re planning to visit Dubrovnik.
During the summer months the sea temperature can range between 22 to 30 degrees Celsius, while in the winter it’s going to be much cooler, typically around 12 to 14 degrees Celsius.
It depends on if it’s a windy day as well, but if you visit Dubrovnik on a hot summer day without any wind then the temperature should be perfect.
I visited during the month of April and the sea temperature was quite a shock to the system initially but warmed up after a while.
Conclusion: Beaches in Dubrovnik To Visit In Croatia in 2024
So there is all the lowdown on the 17 best Dubrovnik beaches to visit in Croatia in 2024!
While researching this blog I was reminded just how many great beaches Dubrovnik has to offer. There are so many great options that you simply can’t go wrong!
If you’ve never been to Croatia then it is definitely worth visiting, it’s a great alternative to popular European destinations such as Spain for example.
From rocky island beaches to beautiful hidden sandy bays, the beaches in Dubrovnik have everything you could want and more. Just don’t forget to bring your sun cream!
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