There are so many amazing things to do in Dubrovnik, but if you’re here during summer then swimming at Dubrovnik’s beautiful beaches is definitely a highlight. We think that some of the best beaches in Croatia are in Dubrovnik, with their clear blue water and beautiful surrounds. Honestly, it’s tempting to jump into the water every time you see it in Dubrovnik. So here are our picks for the best beaches in Dubrovnik Croatia, and everything you need to know before you go to choose the right beach for you.
Contents
Dubrovnik Beaches Video
Things To Know Before You Go
Dubrovnik Beaches Map
Best Beaches In Dubrovnik Old Town
- Banje Beach
- Sveti Jakov Beach
- Buza Beach
- Šulić Beach
- Bellevue Beach
- Lokrum Island Beaches
Best Beaches In Lapad + Babin Kuk Dubrovnik
- Lapad Beach
- Copacabana Beach
- Coral Beach Club
- Lapad Beaches Between Hotel Kompas and Hotel Splendid
- Lapad Beaches Between Hotel Kompas and Hotel Neptun
Dubrovnik Beaches Video
Things To Know Before You Go
Dubrovnik beaches are part of the beautiful Adriatic Sea. If you’re not already aware, Croatian beaches are not white sand beaches, but more often than not, pebble beaches or rocky areas with stunning clear blue water to swim in. It can take a little getting used to, but once you do, they’ll quickly become some of your favourite beaches to swim at. Or at least they have for us! Also, I love that the water is mostly flat and calm, with no big waves, so it’s super relaxing. As you might be getting into the water off rocks, or you might be at a pebble beach, and occasionally there might be sea urchins, the best way to enjoy a Croatian beach is to come prepared with reef shoes (swimming shoes). You can buy them at stalls near the beaches or at the local supermarkets once in Dubrovnik for between 50 – 75 kuna (roughly $10 – $15 AUD).
Obviously, the best time to visit Dubrovnik for beaches is in the Summer. But keep in mind that Dubrovnik can get super busy in Summer, although I do believe they are taking measures to improve this. July and August are the two busiest months, so perhaps consider June or September as better options for visiting Dubrovnik and it’s beaches. We have been to Dubrovnik in June and the water was absolutely beautiful for swimming, and the crowds were fewer than when we went in July.
Dubrovnik Beaches Map
Here is our map of all the best beaches in Dubrovnik and the areas they are located.
Best Beaches In Dubrovnik Old Town
Banje Beach
Banje Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Dubrovnik, and for good reason. It’s walking distance from Dubrovnik Old Town, just outside of Ploče Gate. You can swim in clear blue water whilst looking back at the Old Town and the city walls. It’s pretty spectacular. Sure, it’s definitely busy, and we usually avoid that, but swimming at Banje Beach has so much going for it that it’s great to experience at least once during your trip to Dubrovnik. It’s also a great spot to watch the sunset in Dubrovnik. Most of the beach is taken up by a beach club/chairs, but there is also a free section towards the end where you can lay your towel out.
Chairs and Umbrellas To Rent: Yes
Food: Yes, there is a restaurant/beach club on site.
Toilets: Yes
Beach Access: Steps to get down to the beach but not too many when compared to other beaches in Dubrovnik.
How To Get To Banje Beach: Walk out of Dubrovnik Old Town via Ploce Gate. Continue walking around the coast for about 5 minutes, where you will see Banje Beach. Take the stairs down to the beach.
Sveti Jakov Beach
In our opinion, Sveti Jakov is the best beach in Dubrovnik. Sveti Jakov is a more secluded beach, but it’s still pretty popular. It’s a very pretty pebble beach area below cliffs, so there are quite a few stairs to get down, but it’s definitely worth it. The water here is a beautiful blue colour and really clear to swim in. You can still see views of the Old Town but it’s a lot less crowded than Banje Beach.
Chairs and Umbrellas To Rent: Yes
Food: Yes, there is a restaurant and bar on site.
Toilets: Yes, as well as temporary changing areas.
Beach Access: Quite a few stairs, but they are in great condition. On the way down the stairs were fine. On the way up you definitely feel it, but it only took us about 2 minutes to get to the top.
How To Get To Sveti Jakov Beach: Sveti Jakov beach is about a 25-minute walk from Dubrovnik Old Town (Ploče Gate) towards Sveti Jakov Church. As you see the church, walk down the left side and around the back. Continue until you see the stairs, then take these down to the beach.
Buza Beach
The two Buza Bar’s in Dubrovnik are extremely popular. If you haven’t already heard of them, they are little bars that you access through little doors, or quite literally holes in the city walls. There are seats on rocky areas near the water, and you can swim off the rocks if you choose. So it’s not a traditional beach, but a rocky area you can swim off. We prefer to just go here for a drink and to relax, but plenty of people go swimming off the rocks.
Chairs and Umbrellas To Rent: No, just seats for drinks. You can also lay your towel out on the rocks if you find a spot.
Food: No, only drinks.
Toilets: No
Beach Access: No beach area, just swimming off the rocks.
How To Get To Buza Beach: There are two Buza Bar locations near each other in Dubrovnik Old Town. One is right around the corner from Azur restaurant along the city wall. Once you get to the first one, If you continue walking around the wall you will reach another opening in the wall to another Buza Bar. We prefer the one closer to the Azur Restaurant, but it’s a personal choice.
Šulić Beach (Suluci)
Even though it’s so close to Dubrovnik Old Town, it’s a little hidden so it’s not too overcrowded. Sulic Beach is only small, with a small pebble area, and some concrete areas around the sides. So there’s not a lot of ‘beach’ area to lay out your towels or sit, but many people just spread out there towels on the concrete area around it too. Sulic Beach is in a little cove surrounded by beautiful rocky landscapes, its very pretty. We didn’t swim here but instead came here for lunch at Ala Mizerija. Ala Mizerija serves simple tasty food that’s perfect for the setting. It’s the perfect spot to grab a bite to eat in the sun with the beach down below. Ala Mizerija is pretty popular, so your best bet is to come for an early or late lunch.
Chairs and Umbrellas To Rent: No
Food: There are a few restaurants at Sulic Beach, we enjoyed Ala Mizerija.
Toilets: Yes
Beach Access: A few stairs, but not many.
How To Get To Šulić Beach: Before you enter Pile Gate, follow the signs to Fort Lovrijenac. As you reach the area where you can look up and see the fort, rather than taking the stairs to the fort, head to the right before the restaurant and follow that road around until you see a door in a wall. Walk through the opening and you will come out at Sulic Beach.
Bellevue Beach
Bellevue Beach is a stunning wide beach below Hotel Bellevue, about a 20-minute walk from Dubrovnik Old Town. It is a pebble beach which also has some large rocky areas in the water. There are quite a few stairs to get down to the beach, but there is a restaurant/facilities once there. Bellevue beach seemed to be popular with families.
Chairs and Umbrellas To Rent: I believe the chairs/umbrellas are only for hotel guests.
Food: Yes
Toilets: Yes, at the restaurant.
Beach Access: Quite a few stairs down to the beach.
How To Get To Bellevue Beach: Walk past Bellevue Hotel, until you see another hotel, Rixos Libertas Dubrovnik. Just before this hotel, there is a small road that takes you down to Bellevue Beach. Follow it around the coast, then you will come to quite a few stairs, which will lead you down to the beach. You can catch a bus to Bellevue Hotel or nearby at the intersection with the main road, or you can walk 20 minutes from Dubrovnik Old Town.
Lokrum Island Beaches
Lokrum Island is a short 10-minute boat ride from Dubrovnik Old Town. There is a beach area on Lokrum but it’s really just a rocky area that you can swim in the sea from the rocks. There is no pebble or sandy beach there. There is also what they call the ‘dead sea’, as it’s meant to have a higher salt content so you can float. This area is like a little lake on Lokrum island, not too far from the beach. We had a look but it just looked like a small area to swim, and it didn’t look like you float like you’re in the dead sea. It looked like a good spot for families. Honestly, I think there are better places to swim in Dubrovnik, but these are definitely an option if you visit Lokrum Island. A visit to the island, on the other hand, I would definitely recommend. And actually, you can jump in the water from many different rocky spots on Lokrum Island, and some of these spots looked beautiful.
Chairs and Umbrellas To Rent: There are some chairs available to rent but mostly it’s just sitting on the rocks.
Food: There are a few restaurants on Lokrum Island, but not directly at the rocky beach area or the dead sea.
Toilets: There are toilets on Lokrum Island.
Beach Access: Swim in off rocks at the rocky beach, or go down a small flight of steps to access the dead sea.
How To Get To Lokum Beach: You can get to Lokrum Island via a 10-minute ferry that leaves from the Old Town harbour. Once on the island, you can follow the signs to the rocky beach or the dead sea. They are about a 10 to 15-minute walk from where the boat drops you off.
Best Beaches In Lapad + Babin Kuk Dubrovnik
Lapad Beach
Lapad Beach is a pebble beach located right at the end of the pedestrian street (Šetalište kralja Zvonimira) in Lapad. It’s in a great location and there are plenty of restaurants around, the closest probably the Sunset Beach Bar. It’s a great beach for families, watching the sunset, and for people who don’t want any stairs to access the beach.
Chairs and Umbrellas To Rent: Yes
Food: Yes, there are a lot of restaurants surrounding the beach and it’s also at the end of Lapad Pedestrian Street, which is lined with restaurants.
Toilets: Yes
How To Get To Lapad Beach: You can walk to Lapad Beach if you are staying in the area, and reach it at the end of the Pedestrian Street. You can also get a bus to Lapad, we took bus No. 6, but you may get a different bus depending on what area you are staying in Dubrovnik. The closest bus stop is at the end of Lapad Pedestrian Street (Šetalište kralja Zvonimira). There are also a couple of small car parks nearby if you wish to drive.
Copacabana Beach
When we went to Copacabana Beach, it seemed really popular with families. There is a huge carpark and camping grounds nearby, and a couple of restaurants here. You also don’t need to go down any stairs to access the beach. The beach looked nice enough but definitely wasn’t our favourite in Dubrovnik. I have heard that at night, there are events and parties here.
Chairs and Umbrellas To Rent: Yes
Food: Yes, there are restaurants on site.
Toilets: Yes
How To Get To Copacabana Beach: Copacabana Beach is located in Babin Kuk, near Coral Beach Club. You can drive and park nearby, or get a bus or taxi. If you are staying in the area, you can walk there.
Coral Beach Club
Coral Beach is a beach club not too far from Copacabana Beach. There is free entry but you have to pay to rent chairs/umbrellas. As it’s a beach club, there are plenty of facilities, like bars and restaurants. The beach club has a pretty luxurious feel to it, and they also have music playing. The water is beautiful, really blue. A good option if you want to relax and spend the day at a nice venue.
Chairs and Umbrellas To Rent: Yes, but as it’s a luxury beach club, it will cost more than some other places.
Food: Yes, there is a restaurant as part of the beach club.
Toilets: Yes
Beach Access: Down some stairs but not too many.
How To Get To Coral Beach Club: Coral Beach Club is halfway between Copacabana Beach and Valamar Dubrovnik President Hotel. From either of these locations, you can walk 5 to 10 minutes on a coastal path to reach Coral Beach Club. Valamar Dubrovnik President is the last stop of Bus no. 6.
Lapad Beaches Between Hotel Kompas And Hotel Splendid
As you walk from Lapad Beach or Hotel Kompas towards Hotel Splendid and Hotel Dubrovnik Palace, you will stumble across many little beach areas. Some of these have small pebble areas with clear water and some are just rocks with ladders. They are a little more secluded than other beaches in Dubrovnik.
Chairs and Umbrellas To Rent: No
Food: There are some restaurants along this area, but not necessarily at the little beaches.
Toilets: No, unless you eat at a restaurant nearby and use theirs.
Beach Access: Stairs, unpaved paths, rocks
How To Get To Lapad Beaches Between Hotel Kompas and Hotel Splendid: From Lapad Beach, you can walk around the seaside towards Hotel Splendid and Hotel Dubrovnik Palace and you will come across many little beaches. The closest bus stop is at the end of Lapad Pedestrian Street (Šetalište kralja Zvonimira).
Lapad Beaches between Hotel Kompas and Hotel Neptun
These are some of our favourite beaches in Dubrovnik, even though they are just little rocky areas where you can lay out your towel rather than sandy beaches. As you walk from Hotel Kompas towards Hotel Neptun you will notice many stairs going down to rocky areas by the sea. Some of these areas have little ladders you can use to get into the water, others don’t. All the areas feel fairly private and the water is beautiful.
Chairs and Umbrellas To Rent: No
Food: There are some restaurants along this area, but not directly at the little beaches.
Toilets: No, unless you eat at a restaurant nearby and use theirs.
Beach Access: Stairs, rocks
How To Get To Lapad Beaches Between Hotel Kompas and Hotel Neptun: From Lapad Beach, you can walk around the seaside towards Hotel Neptun and you will come across many little beaches. The closest bus stop is at the end of Lapad Pedestrian Street (Šetalište kralja Zvonimira).
So that’s it for our favourite beaches in Dubrovnik, hope you found a beach you love! Thanks so much for reading and have a great time in Dubrovnik :)
Read More:
Where To Stay In Dubrovnik Croatia: Our Dubrovnik Accommodation Guide
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Wow these beaches look amazing! Really informative post! I need to go to Dubrovnik now.
Hi Catherine, thanks so much :) The beaches are amazing in Dubrovnik, we can’t wait to get back there!