Dubrovnik beaches - Top 10 sandy, rocky and pebble beaches

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There have been many travel guides about Dubrovnik, but most focus on the historic old town, accommodations, and museums. Although all of these are worth a visit, there is nothing like a good old swim in the Adriatic sea - and Dubrovnik and its surroundings are full of beautiful beaches.

Dubrovnik captivates all visitors because the hospitality of the people living here, the beautiful landscapes, and the city's culture are all fit for a fairy tale!

Where is Dubrovnik?

Dubrovnik is located in southern Croatia, near the border with Montenegro and Bosnia. It is part of the Dalmatian region, one of the country's most significant regions, accounting for 21% of Croatia's territory.

Also referred to as the pearl of the Adriatic, it is the southernmost city and port on the Croatian coast. If you approach Dubrovnik by car, you will have a winding road full of mountains and valleys until you reach the coast.

Weather

Since the city is located on the border of the Mediterranean and subtropical climate zones, the average annual temperature does not fall below 16 °C. What's more, the sun shines 250 days a year! The winter months are cooler, but you shouldn't expect snow even if you visit at Christmas.

Dubrovnik Beaches

One can find sandy, shingle (pebbly), and concrete beaches in or around Dubrovnik. There are endless swimming opportunities, but we have collected the top 10 beaches along the shore.

#1 Banje Beach

The most famous and popular beach in Dubrovnik is Banje beach. You may have seen it on countless postcards, as this is where most pictures are taken of the Oldtown of Dubrovnik (it is only 100 meters away). Bring only a towel; you can rent a sunbed here! Also, since the beach is pebbly, it is worth bringing slippers.

You indeed have a fantastic view of the old town, Lokrum Island and the Adriatic Sea, but remember that this beach is trendy and often very crowded. If you like a buzzing beach atmosphere, this is the place for you!

• Cover: gravel
• Recommended for: Families, groups of friends
• Distance from the Old Town of Dubrovnik: 100 meters
• Address: Ul. Frana Supila 10/B, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia

#2 Buza beach

You can find Buza beach close to the Oldtown of Dubrovnik. The beach is perhaps not the best word for this stretch of coast, as it is more of a series of rocks and concrete surfaces with metal steps in places that make it easier to approach the sea. The place is beautiful, as it lies directly under the castle wall.

Like Banje beach, many people come here during the day, but the unique feature of the place is that it is also open at night! It's a beautiful experience to come out here at night and float on the sea's waves under the moonlight and the starry sky - we especially recommend it for couples!

• Cover: gravelly, rocky
• Recommended for: couples, groups of friends
• Distance from the Old Town of Dubrovnik: 50 meters
• Address: Old Town of Dubrovnik under the castle wall, entrance through St. Stephen's Gate through a small opening

#3 Sveti Jakov beach

To the south of Oldtown, far away from the crowded streets, you can find Sveti Jakov beach. The Adriatic view from here is also breathtaking, but the most significant advantage of the place is that it is much quieter than the beaches nearby.

The beach is pebbly, so it's worth bringing slippers. You don't have to climb over rocks to get to the sea; you can walk into the water, so this beach is also a good choice for small children. You can get here on foot, by car or by bus number 5 from the city of Dubrovnik.

• Cover: gravel, concrete
• Recommended for: families, couples, groups of friends
• Distance from the old town of Dubrovnik: 1.5 kilometres (approx. 20 minutes walk)
• Address: Ul. Vlaha Bukovca 14, 20000, Croatia

#4 Sulic beach

If you'd rather stay downtown but want to avoid the crowds, visit Suluci Beach. The sea is crystal clear, and fewer tourists visit it. The surface of the narrow little bay is gravel, surrounded by concrete on two sides. You can't rent sunbeds here, so bring a towel and even 1-2 pillows to sunbathe comfortably. Protect your head with a straw hat or baseball cap.

• Surface: pebble, concrete
• Recommended for: couples, groups of friends
• Distance from the old town of Dubrovnik: 500 meters
• Address: Ul. od Tabakarije 37, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia

#5 Copacabana beach and Cava beach

North of Dubrovnik, you can find Copacabana and Cava beaches next to each other on the Lapad peninsula. Copacabana is a beach designed for the crowd, where it is possible to rent sunbeds and canopies, a water polo court, and several restaurants and bars.

Copacabana is one of the most famous Croatian beaches. Locals call it Babik Kuk. We recommend the northern part of the Lapad peninsula primarily to travellers who want to party. The quieter, more secluded Cava beach is two hundred meters from Copacabana. It's good to know, however, that this section of the beach has been set aside for nudists!

• Cover: gravel
• Recommended for: couples, groups of friends
• Distance from the old town of Dubrovnik: 3.2 kilometres (the beach is approximately a 50-minute walk or 8-minute drive from the centre of Dubrovnik.)
• Address: Ul. Ivana pl. Zajca, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia

#6 Sunj beach

The Dubrovnik area's only sandy beach is Sunj beach! The beach is clean, beautiful and not too crowded. You can also find restaurants, changing rooms and public toilets here. The beach, covered with fine sand and slowly deepening sea water, is ideal for families with small children.

• Cover: sandy
• Recommended for: families, couples, groups of friends
• Distance from the old town of Dubrovnik: 17 kilometres (approx. 1 hour by ferry)
• Address: Beach Sunj, 20222, Lopud, Croatia

#7 Mlini beach

Mlini is a small, quiet fishing village south of Dubrovnik. Although the city and its surroundings are full of beautiful beaches, we recommend you also explore the magical villages further away!

There are several beaches here, but Mlini beach is perhaps the most attractive. The shore is covered with small pebbles. The water is shallow and easily accessible. There are no shades, but you can hide from the sun higher on the rocks.

• Cover: pebble
• Recommended for: families, couples, groups of friends
• Distance from Dubrovnik: 12 kilometres
• Address: Beach Mlini, 20207, Mlini, Croatia

#8 Plat

Plat village lies to the south of Dubrovnik and Mlini. It is another small Croatian town. If you want to avoid crowds, choose Plat, where you can read a good book. Here, you will have plenty of space to play ball with the kids. Find five different smaller beaches along the coast of Plat.

• Cover: pebble, rocky
• Recommended for: families, couples
• Distance from Dubrovnik: 14.7 km
• Address: 20207, Plat, Croatia

#9 Pasjaca beach

You might not have heard of Pasjača beach a few years ago, but in 2019 it won the Best Beach in Europe award! And not by chance: the tiny beach and its view are unparalleled.

You can get to Pasjača beach via several paths and steps along the mountain's side. The road can be steep and tiring in some places, but it's worth going, if only for the most beautiful photos! We do not recommend it for families with small children or those with mobility issues.

• Cover: pebble, rocky
• Recommended for: couples, groups of friends, families with older children
• Distance from Dubrovnik: 30 kilometres
• Address: Pasjača, 20215, Popovići, Croatia

#10 Luka Cilipi beach

Luka Cilipi near Cavtat is a smaller rocky beach where you will meet more locals than tourists, so luckily; it is not too crowded. The water is beautiful and clear, and you can jump from the rocks into the sea. You will also find a small bar along the coast if you feel like chilling with a cold drink.

• Cover: rocky
• Recommended for: couples, groups of friends, families with older children
• Distance from Dubrovnik: 24 kilometres
• Address: Luka Cilipi, 20213, Čilipi, Croatia (2.5 km from Dubrovnik Airport)

Game of Thrones

Game of Thrones was perhaps one of the most popular TV series of the last decade. Many scenes were shot in Croatian cities, such as Split or Dubrovnik. The city's medieval architecture, combined with the Mediterranean atmosphere, served as the perfect filming location.

If you also want to visit all the locations where the series was filmed, you can do it in several ways! If you are a big fan of the series, you can try to find the locations on your own, as if you were on a treasure hunt. If, on the other hand, this is too time-consuming for you, many tour operators organize Game of Thrones Walking Tours. It costs approx. 400 HRK/person.

Montenegro

If you have already visited all the beaches in and around Dubrovnik, or if you want more sandy beaches, head to Montenegro! Get in the car, drive south along the coast, and don't stop at the Bay of Kotor.

It is 45 kilometres from Dubrovnik and 10 kilometres from the Croatian-Montenegro border. One of the most extensive sandy beaches in the area can be found here. And if you are here, visit the old town of Kotor.

We hope you got a complete picture of the beaches in Dubrovnik. Now you know which is ideal for children, where you can find a sandy beach, and which "beach" is best for reading a book or ending the day with a cocktail.

Dubrovnik deserves the nickname of the pearl of the Adriatic. The beautiful beaches we have listed are only a tiny part of all the many natural wonders that this city and its surroundings hide. Discover as many of them as possible!
Go to Dubrovnik, go to Croatia!

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