10 Magical Places to Swim in Croatia
Beach Hopping Has Never Been Better
Croatia is a country bursting at the seams with picture-perfect towns, rich history, music festivals and delicious food. When it comes to what to do in Croatia, the most compelling aspect of the country is without a doubt the spectacular natural beauty that can be found everywhere from the coast to the capital.
With fairy tale waterfalls, stretches of glittering Adriatic coastline and more islands than you can count, Croatia is a nature lover’s paradise.
The perfect summer destination, Croatia is famed for its beautiful beaches and stunning swimming spots. While conventionally sandy beaches may be scarce, Croatia’s lengthy coast is packed with secluded coves, pebbly beaches and sunbaked rocks from which you can leap straight into the crystal clear water.
Croatia is a big kid’s playground, where cliff jumping, sunbathing, island hopping and leisurely swimming are just some of the ways to fill long sunny days. All you need is a bathing suit, sunscreen and a camera to make the most of your summer escape.
A list of unmissable places to swim helps too.
Here are 10 incredible swimming destinations in Croatia, ready and waiting for you to discover them.
1. Sakarun, Dugi Otok
Perhaps Croatia’s best kept secret, the glorious beach of Sakarun (also known as Saharun) on the island of Dugi Otok is the perfect spot to escape the crowds, towns and all the other trappings of the mainland. The closest thing Croatia has to a sandy beach, Sakarun is a secluded cove boasting more than half a mile of dazzling white beach.
The cove provides a wide, shallow swimming area distinct for its crystal clear, sky blue water. Apart from the yachts that drift into the mouth of the cove, few people make the ferry plus bus trip to this little slice of paradise, so you will be sharing the beach with only a handful of others.
2. Mljet National Park
Mljet, Croatia’s southernmost and greenest island, is home to a spectacular national park. Mljet National Park is notable for the two salt water lakes it encompasses. The water in the lakes is much warmer than that of the Adriatic, so it is the perfect place for swimming a little earlier in the season.
Then there is the added bonus of unspoiled Mediterranean forest, good local wine and goat’s cheese and the adventure of getting to the island by ferry from Dubrovnik.
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3. Zadar at Sunset
Alfred Hitchcock himself declared that sunsets in Zadar are the most beautiful in the world. He may well be right — sunset in this charming seaside town is an event in itself.
Locals and tourists alike gather to watch the sun dip into the sea each evening. For a more unique experience, ditch the throngs of people and watch the sunset from the sea itself. With the many colors reflecting off the calm water, taking a dip at this time of day is almost irresistible.
