Croatia has thousands of miles of coastline on the mainland and nearly 80 islands to visit, making the beaches a main attraction. If you’re looking for the best Dubrovnik beaches, I’ve got you covered.
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What to expect from beaches in Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik has crystal clear, warm, azure waters that are perfect day to enjoy and night. Most Dubovnik beaches are located on one of the many bays around the city which eliminates heavy tides even on the windiest of days.
The one downside however is that most beaches are not particularly sandy. Instead they are often full of small rocks and pebbles at the shoreline, so you’ll want to bring appropriate footwear. Also, many locations that are designated as “beaches” by locals, and Google, are no more than large flat rock faces that have water access. If you’re lucky, a ladder has been installed to help make getting in and out of the water a little easier.
Accessibility at Dubrovnik Beaches
One other thing to note, Dubrovnik is not an accessible city. Most (public) beaches will require climbing up and down stairs to access. If you have mobility issues, the beaches around Lapad will be easier to access. Or, you can upgrade your trip and stay at a hotel with private beach access.
Best Beaches Close to Dubrovnik: Old Town/Grad
Banje Beach
Banje Beach is one of the most popular Dubrovnik Croatia beaches, due to its proximity to the Old Town walls. From the Ploče Gate at the east entrance of the city walls, walk a few minutes and you’ll spot Banje Beach.
Like many beaches near Dubrovnik, there is a free public access space and then an area where you can pay to use lounge chairs, umbrellas and cabanas. They also have a bar and restaurant. A beach club opens up on weekends and is one of the most popular spots in town for a night out.
Best Dubrovnik Beaches outside of Grad/Old Town
Bellevue Beach
The best Dubrovnik beach just west of the Old City is Bellevue Beach. From the Pile Gate in Old Town, you can walk about 20 minutes, or take the number 4 bus to the Hotel Bellevue stop. From the main road, you’ll walk down the hill past the Hotel Bellevue. Hook a left before the Rixos Premium hotel and continue to head downhill.
There are two options for water access. The first is one of the stone/cliffside “beaches” where you will lounge on the hard rock and jump directly into the water. The second option is to continue heading down the hill until you get to the stairs. From here you’ll see a sweeping view of the bay and beach below. Climb down the 100 or so stairs to the beach below.
Bellevue Beach has a public beach that is a mix of sand and pebbles. The public portion does not have chairs or umbrellas for rent. There is another portion of the beach with chairs, but that is designated for hotel guests only.
The water at this beach is incredible and perfect for swimming as the bay prevents waves or current. However, you’ll have to climb back up the hill once you’re done for the day.
Sveti Jakov Beach
Further east of the Old Town and Banje Beach is Sveti Jakov Beach. This beach has pristine water and beautiful views from above. Like Banje Beach, this beach offers sun loungers and umbrellas to rent on the pebble beach. They also have food and drinks through the restaurant.
This beach however is not easy to get to. Walking will take 30-40 minutes and then you’ll need to head down the stairs along the cliff to get down to the beach. If you choose to Uber, the ride will take about 10 minutes, but you may not be able to get an Uber back. There are taxis in Dubrovnik but their prices are significantly higher than Uber.
Best Dubrovnik Beaches in Lapad Peninsula
The Lapad area of Dubrovnik is located west of the Old Town and the port. This is an area where most locals live. While there are still plenty of hotels in this region, it’s much less crowded than around Old Town.
Copacabana Beach
One of the farthest beaches from the Old Town, Copacabana beach is also not as crowded as other beaches closer to the city center. Here you’ll have views of the mainland as well as one of the small nearby islands. But, the beach is also located along the main travel route for boats headed into port. This may cause extra waves and wake in the water compared to the other Dubrovnik beaches. Copacabana beach is known to be very family friendly, so expect to find more children here. There is a beach bar but is said to be quite expensive for food and drinks.
To get to the Babin Kuk area beach, take the number 5, 6, or 7 bus to the Solitudo Sunny Camp bus stop, and make the short walk to the beach. Or, you can easily grab an Uber to/from the beach.
Lapad Beach / Sunset Beach
Lapad Beach is one of the best public beaches in Dubrovnik. This Dubrovnik Croatia beach faces directly west which is why it also has the nickname of “Sunset Beach”. This is the perfect place to watch the sun slowly set beyond the horizon.
Like many other Dubrovnik beaches, it is located in a bay giving it perfectly calm, warm waters to swim and enjoy. The main beach has a beachside bar where you can order cocktails to enjoy along the water. These are pricey compared to most other Dubrovnik bars. Here you’ll also find rows and rows of sun loungers available. When I visited the first week of September in 2023, these were free to use on both days that I visited the beach. No one was walking around to collect payment.
Unless you are staying in Lapad this is not only a long walk, you’ll also be climbing up and down hills to get to this part of the peninsula. Instead, take the number 4 bus to the Hotel Adriatic 1 stop and walk downhill a few blocks until you reach the beach. The buses only come once every 20-30 minutes, so if there’s no one at the bus stop you may be waiting awhile. The other option is to take an Uber which is relatively cheap to get back toward the center of town.
Best Dubrovnik Beaches: Elafiti Islands
The best beach in Dubrovnik is not actually in Dubrovnik. If I could only go back to one beach in Dubrovnik, it would be the Koločep beach. This beach truly feels like a hidden gem. However, you can’t walk, bus or uber. To get to this beach you’ll need to hop on a boat.
Koločep
Koločep is one of the 13 Elafiti Islands located along the coast just northwest of Dubrovnik. This island is the closest of the group to Dubrovnik. To get to Koločep, or any of the Elafiti Islands, you can either take a day tour or a public ferry. My suggestion is to take the ferry and enjoy a full day on the island.
For only €10 round trip, hop on the ferry from the Dubrovnik port to Koločep. The ferry will dock next to the quaint city center. With a population of just over 200 there is not much for restaurants and shopping. There are however miles of trails available to hike the island for breathtaking views of the coastline. Find ferry pricing and schedules here.
As you curve around the path you’ll encounter the expansive sandy beach. This is the only beach I found in Dubrovnik without rocks or pebbles. You can choose to bring a towel and enjoy the soft sand below, or rent a lounge chair further down the beach.
Beyond the beach, is the main hotel of the island, the Tui Blue Hotel, which has a restaurant and bar as well.
If you prefer a guided tour, enjoy a small group tour of the island with hiking, swimming and optional cliff jumping.
Dubrovnik Beaches Map
Safety at Dubrovnik Beaches
As a solo female traveler, Croatia, and Dubrovnik in particular, is one of the safest cities I’ve visited. The beaches were no exception. When you travel alone it can be hard to enjoy a cool dip in the pristine waters if you are worried about someone stealing your things. This was not an issue at all while at various beaches in Dubrovnik. You can feel confident whether you are traveling single, in a couple or with a group that you can leave your personal items on the beach without fear of something happening.
Another thing I LOVE about Dubrovnik beaches, there are no vendors selling things. I absolutely love the soft sandy beaches in Mexico, and the short flights to get there. However, having someone asking you to buy things every 3 minutes can really ruin the serenity of your relaxing vacation. You will be left blissfully alone on the beaches of Dubrovnik, unless you choose one that has bar service.
Dubrovnik Beaches FAQs
Does Dubrovnik have good beaches?
Dubrovnik beaches have warm, crystal clear waters with little to no waves. However, the beaches are not soft sandy beaches, they are almost all full of pebbles. It really depends on your preference, if you care more about the quality of the water, then yes these are good beaches. However if you want a sandy beach, you can find those outside the city on some of the nearby islands.
How far is Dubrovnik from the beach?
There are beaches all around Dubrovnik. From the Old Town, the closest beach is Banje Beach, which is a short walk from the east gate.
Does Dubrovnik have sandy beaches?
No, the beaches around Dubrovnik are not sandy, they are full of small rocks and pebbles. Bring appropriate footwear to step on rocks. There are however sandy beaches located on some of the nearby Elafiti Islands.
Can you swim in the beach of Dubrovnik?
Absolutely! The beaches around Dubrovnik have very clean, clear water with almost no wake. You can swim out far distances without having to worry about waves or undercurrent.
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