Best known for its impressive medieval fortifications, Dubrovnik is a destination where you can combine cultural sightseeing and lazy afternoons on the beach with fun. With a mild Mediterranean climate and a generous share of the sparkling Adriatic Sea, the beaches here range from chic locations frequented by sun-tanned glitterati sipping cocktails in designer swimwear, to hidden rocky coves on castaways where not a soul is in sight.
According to Croatian law, beaches are public and accessible to everyone. No entrance fees may be charged, although some beaches have a concession where you must pay to use facilities such as sunbeds, parasols and water sports equipment.
Read on to discover the best beaches in Dubrovnik. And for more inspiration, see our guide to a weekend in Dubrovnik, the best hotels, restaurants, things to do and nightlife.
Banje beach
With stunning views of the turquoise Adriatic Sea and the medieval fortifications of Dubrovnik, Banje is stylish and idyllic. It’s a stretch of fine pebbles and is lined with sunbeds and white parasols, and four-poster beds with chiffon curtains (quite pricey; booking recommended). Vendors also offer drinks and snacks, DJ music, massages, kayaking, water skiing and parasailing.
How to get there: Directly east of the old town, a five-minute walk from Ploče Gate.
Insider tip: On a wooden terrace on the water, lounge restaurant Banje serves champagne in silver ice buckets and refined Mediterranean dishes. When darkness falls, a festive atmosphere is created with flickering candles and live music, creating an unforgettable venue for parties and wedding receptions.
Betina Cave Beach
Located between Banje and Sveti Jakov, Betina is backed by cliffs and hidden in a huge gaping cave, accessible only from the sea. This will be yours Robinson Crusoe moment, stranded on pebbles lapped by translucent turquoise water – note that the castaway Betina faces southeast, so only gets sunshine until noon.
How to get there: Take an early morning sea kayaking tour (2 hours and 30 minutes; €40) with Adventure Dubrovnik. You’ll paddle around Dubrovnik’s old city walls and to Betina, stop for a swim and sunbathe, then return (just over three kilometers in total).
Insider tip: Adventure Dubrovnik also offers a longer tour visiting the island of Lokrum (see below).
Sveti Jakov beach
This small pebble bay offers distant but beautiful views of Dubrovnik’s city walls rising from the deep blue Adriatic Sea and is backed by rock walls, pine trees and the 13th-century Church of St. James (Sveti Jakov), after which the bay is named. There are sunbeds and parasols for rent, and there is a beach bar.
How to get there: A 25-minute walk east from Ploče Gate, then down steep stone steps (not recommended for those with poor mobility) to the seaside.
Insider tip: Sveti Jakov is beautiful, but it does get busy – bring your own towel for an early morning swim and then lie on the pebbles to dry in the sun.
The island of Lokrum
This uninhabited island is planted with pines, cypresses, palms, eucalyptus, cacti and agave, complete with proud peacocks. An expanse of smooth, flat rocks off the south coast make a wonderfully relaxing spot for swimming and sunbathing – there are no facilities other than a shower and step ladders providing easy access to the sea.
How to get there: Regular daily boats (€7; journey time 10 minutes) depart from Dubrovnik’s Old Town Harbor from May to October. It is forbidden to stay on Lokrum after sunset.
Insider tip: The abandoned 11th century Benedictine monastery of Lokrum houses a Game of Thrones exhibition including a replica of the Iron Throne, where many visitors like to have their picture taken.
Lapad Bay beach
On the Lapad Peninsula, in a deep, sheltered west-facing bay, this pebble beach was concessioned in 2017, urbanized, partly paved and renamed Sunset Beach. It had about 200 sunbeds and was backed by a concrete terrace with an international lounge-bar-restaurant. The company that managed Sunset Beach from 2017-2023 has gone bankrupt. But local authorities will clean the beach and keep it open for swimming until the concession issue is resolved.
How to get there: Bus number 6 from Pile (old town) to Lapad, get off at the roundabout and walk through Šetalište kralja Zvonimira to Lapad Bay.
Insider tip: Look for orange-purple sunsets – the former beach club’s biggest selling point.
Val President Relaxing beach
Overlooked by the Valamar Dubrovnik Hotel President, with dreamy views of the Elafiti Islands, this pebble beach is lined with sunbeds and umbrellas (free for hotel guests) and backed by a dozen palm trees. Expect pedal boats and canoes for hire, banana boat rides, water skiing and a beach bar.
How to get there: Bus number 6 from Pile (old town) to Babin Kuk, get off at the terminus in front of the hotel.
Insider tip: On the beach, the Abyss Diving Center offers diving lessons for all levels (including underwater photography) and trips to diving sites such as the Taranto shipwreck and a red coral reef.
Coral Beach Club
Rows of large black parasols line two arches of fine gravel, shading (expensive) sunbeds, canopies and lounge furniture. There is a chic bar-restaurant on a wooden terrace, serving cocktails and Mediterranean dishes, and a resident DJ playing relaxed house music. Extras include massages, jet skis, stand-up paddleboards and glass-bottom kayaks.
How to get there: Bus number 6 from Pile (old town) to Babin Kuk, get off at the Valamar Dubrovnik Hotel President, then walk five minutes north along the coast.
Insider tip: Coral uses a cashless system. Upon arrival you will be given a wristband with which you can upload your money. This wristband is scanned with every purchase.
Srebreno-Mlini beach
This beautiful natural pebble beach runs around Srebreno Bay, all the way to the village of Mlini. Away from the hustle and bustle of Dubrovnik, it is surrounded by a mile-long waterfront promenade, with several cafes and restaurants that rent sun loungers and umbrellas. It is peaceful and relaxing, with a calm, shallow sea, ideal for families.
How to get there: Srebreno and Mlini are served by regular boats sailing between Dubrovnik and Cavtat, leaving from Dubrovnik’s Old Port (€10; 45 minutes), plus public buses (11 km).
Insider tip: The beach is overlooked by several hotels, including the Sheraton Dubrovnik, Hotel Mlini and Hotel Astarea, which is a good alternative for a stay in Dubrovnik.
Sunj Beach
On the car-free island of Lopud, in Dubrovnik’s Elafiti archipelago, you will find one of Croatia’s rare sandy beaches. Ideal for families, this glorious crescent offers a sheltered bay with warm, shallow waters and a gentle seabed, backed by several beach bars offering drinks, snacks and sun loungers.
How to get there: Take a Jadrolinija catamaran (€5, 45 minutes) from Gruž harbor to Lopud Town, then stroll the islet (2¼ miles) or take a golf buggy ride.
Insider tip: Art lovers should visit Your Black Horizon, a pavilion with a contemporary lighting installation by Olafur Eliasson and David Adjaye in gardens in Lopud Town.
Bowa
A dozen sunbeds in a fine pebble cove, a terrace shaded by awnings, plus seven wooden cabanas built into the rocky shore – this is Bowa in Vrbova Bay on the island of Šipan. Surrounded by pine forests and overlooking turquoise waters, this rustic-chic beach resort is also a gastronomic retreat beloved by sailors.
How to get there: Most guests arrive by private sailboat, but BOWA also offers return transfers by speedboat from Brečine, 21.5 km northwest of Dubrovnik.
Insider tip: The owners farm oysters in Ston Bay and are big game fishing enthusiasts, so Bowa serves up delicacies such as fresh oysters with samphire, tuna tartare and shrimp risotto.