Beaches of Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik attracts travelers from all over the world for various reasons. Some come to enjoy the culture and architecture, while some want to visit Game of Thrones filming sites and others just want to party. One thing all have in common is that most will also want to enjoy the Sun and cleanest sea that Europe has to offer. Beach life is prominent in Dubrovnik so here are some choices that will allow you to better enjoy your stay in our town and take home some great memories.

In Dubrovnik, you can swim almost anywhere where you can reach the sea but we will take a look at some of the beaches available. Keep in mind that Dubrovnik area is full of cliffs dropping dramatically towards the sea, so rock and pebbles are far more present that sand and there are very few classic beaches that you may be expecting.

Banje Beach

Banje Beach is the first on the list as it is the most popular and more or less sandy, depending on the waves, which is rare on the Adriatic. It's located on east side of the Old Town, few minutes walk from Ploce Gate and it features showers, beach bars, jet skis and you can even get a parasailing tour. Deck chairs or and sun loungers are also available as on most beaches in town. Banje is known as a tourist beach so you will not find too many locals there. If you have kids with you, this beach is an excellent choice, more so if you stay near the Old Town.

St. Jacob

St. Jacob's beach (Sveti Jakov in Croatian) is probably the most beautiful beach in Dubrovnik but it is not so frequented as it is a little hard to get to. Also on the east side of the Old Town, it will require about 20-minute walk since no city buses go all the way there. It is well worth the visit thou since you will find a truly beautiful and serene place to enjoy your day. Just like Banje, St. Jacob is sandy and has showers, sun loungers, beach bar and a restaurant. There are a lot of stairs to that lead down from the road so, when it is time to go back to town, it will be a bit of a challenge to climb. If you enjoy nature and do not like crowds, this is the one for you.

Sulic Beach

Sulic Beach is located on the west side of Old Town, between two cliffs. On top of one is St. Lawrence fort and Gradac Park on the other. It is a little hard to find as the entrance is just a doorway between houses, but when you find it you will love it. It is small, rocky with shower and two beach bars. This one is frequented by locals since most tourists never realize it is even there and it is placed just off Pile square, the main entrance to the Old Town so it is also convenient for a quick dip to cool yourself on a hot summer day after exploring the Old Town.

Dance, pronounced Danche and not to be confused with dancing :), is placed just beyond Gradac Park and you will have to climb up the road to the park and then descend on the other side of it towards the sea. It is a rocky location with large boulders giving you an opportunity for jumping into the sea and, if you want to mingle with the locals you are in the right place. Features showers and a beach bar.

Lapad Beach

Lapad Beach is in the area where most of Dubrovnik's Hotels are placed, away from the Old Town, on Lapad peninsula. Located next to a very nice pedestrian walkway with a lot of small shops, souvenir and otherwise, bars, restaurants, tours and all other imaginable touristy amenities, it attracts a lot of people. Most modern beach in town, completely renovated in 2017 and made specifically for tourists so it is a perfect choice for families and it will feature everything that a modern beach should have – from obligatory showers and sun loungers to jet skis for rent, bunch of places to sit down for a drink or have a meal.

Dubrovnik's Copacabana

Further down this promenade, towards Babin Kuk you will find Copacabana, young crowd party place with bars, lounges, restaurants, and music playing on loudspeakers. Pebble covered with gentle sea approach it is ideal for anyone looking for a good time in a lot of company.

Besides the ones I mentioned already you should know that most hotels in town have their own beaches and there are a few hidden gems as well. For example, if you want to do some cliff jumping ask where Boninovo Beach is. There will be no amenities there, not even a shower, it is very small, but a beautiful location that seems to be hidden on purpose and offers several height levels for jumping into the sea. You should also consider spending a day on some of Dubrovnik's islands, Lokrum being the closest, with a small ferry leaving Old Town port every 30 minutes. There you will find a natural forest preserve with stunning beauty, beaches and even rabbits and peacocks running around free and unafraid of people.

There are many more beach choices in and around Dubrovnik and I have presented you with most prominent one but to find them all you will have to do some exploring on your own.   

Lokrum Island