The 7 Best Beaches Near Dubrovnik, Ranked
Pebble beach with clear turquoise water and pine trees near Dubrovnik
Seven beaches within an hour of Dubrovnik, ranked by water quality, access and how packed they get in July.
1. Pasjača, Popovići (Konavle)
Voted Europe's best beach by European Best Destinations in 2020 and it hasn’t been ruined yet, mostly because reaching it requires walking down 200-plus stone steps carved into a cliff. Pasjača is a small pebble cove at the base of a 100-metre cliff about 40 minutes' drive south of Dubrovnik, near Popovići village in Konavle. The water is the deepest, clearest blue on this coast because it drops off fast — swimming rather than paddling, and not suitable for young children.
There's a small seasonal beach bar at cove level (open June to September) selling drinks and grilled sardines, and one tiny shaded section under the cliff. Arrive by 10am in July or you’ll fight for a spot; by noon the tiny beach is elbow-to-elbow. Parking above is limited to about 30 cars and fills by 9:30am in high season. Skip if you can’t manage the steps back up — there's no other exit, and it's a proper climb in heat.
2. Šunj, Lopud island
The only genuine sand beach in the immediate Dubrovnik region, on the far side of Lopud island — a 55-minute ferry ride from Gruž (around 7 EUR each way, Jadrolinija line). Šunj is a shallow, south-facing bay with warm water, fine sand, and a gentle slope that makes it the best family beach on this coast. Two seasonal restaurants (Konoba Barbara and a beach bar) serve simple grilled fish and pizza, and sunbeds are 20 EUR for two with an umbrella.
From the Lopud ferry dock it's a 20-minute walk across the island on a paved path, or a 5 EUR golf cart shuttle if you’re travelling with small children or heavy bags. Come as a day trip: ferry over at 9am, beach until 4pm, lunch at Barbara, ferry back. Off-season (September and October) the water is still 22°C and the beach is nearly empty. The single flaw is the crowd in July and August; arrive early.
3. Sveti Jakov, Ploče
The best beach walkable from the Old Town, though 'walkable' means 20 minutes on foot including a steep descent down 160 stone steps from the main road above Ploče. Sveti Jakov is a pebble and shingle cove with clear water, a west-facing aspect that gives it late-afternoon sun, and one of the finest views back at the Old Town walls from the water. A beach bar and small restaurant operate May through October; sunbeds 15 EUR.
This is the local swim after work — quieter than Banje, cleaner water, and with real character rather than imported sand. Best from 3pm onward when the sun swings around. Bus 5 or 8 from Pile drops you at the top of the steps if you don’t want the walk. The steps back up in 35°C heat are the disincentive that keeps it manageable in high season. Kids from six can handle it; younger, and you’ll be carrying them.
4. Betina Cave beach, Lokrum
Only reachable by kayak or private boat, which is the whole point. Betina is a small pebble cove on Lokrum's southern shore, tucked under a shallow sea cave, with water clear enough to see the bottom at eight metres. The standard three-hour Dubrovnik kayak tour (35-45 EUR from Pile beach, operators Adventure Dalmatia or X-Adventure) includes a 30-minute snorkel stop here, which is not quite enough.
Better: rent a kayak or SUP for a half day from the same operators (25-35 EUR) and come independently. Bring water and a snack; there is nothing on the beach itself. The cave provides shade even at midday, which is rare on this coast. Skip if the wind forecast is above 15 knots — the paddle across from Dubrovnik gets choppy fast, and Betina is exposed. Not suitable as a first kayak outing; you want some experience.
5. Pržina, Šipan island
Šipan is the largest and least visited of the three Elaphiti islands you can reach easily from Dubrovnik, and Pržina is its finest swimming beach — a long pebble cove on the eastern shore of the island, backed by pine and olive, with a single small konoba above. Reach it via the Jadrolinija ferry to Šipanska Luka (about an hour from Gruž), then a 25-minute walk or a rental bike from the harbour.
The water is calm, clear, and about 24°C in August. Almost no crowds even in high season because Šipan requires a full-day commitment — the ferry timetable makes half-day trips awkward. Pack a picnic from Gruž market or eat at Konoba Kod Marka near the harbour before you walk out. Off-season this beach is genuinely empty. Best for travellers who want the Elaphiti experience without the group-tour bus effect.
6. Banje, Ploče
The famous one, five minutes' walk from the Ploče gate of the Old Town, with the postcard view of the walls and Lokrum offshore. Banje is the closest swim to the city centre, which is why it's ranked mid-list rather than higher — the sand is imported, the water is fine but not the clearest on this coast, and the private beach club (East West) charges 30-40 EUR for two loungers with an umbrella.
The public strip at the western end of the beach is free and gets tightly packed by 11am in July. Rent snorkel gear from the small shack near the entrance for 8 EUR a day. Best for a quick post-walls swim, not a beach day — for that, take the bus or ferry to somewhere on this list ranked higher. Facilities (showers, changing rooms, café) are the best of any beach walkable from the Old Town, which is a real point in its favour.
7. Copacabana, Babin Kuk
The family beach for the Lapad and Babin Kuk hotel zone, on the northern side of the peninsula about 20 minutes by bus 6 from the Old Town. Copacabana is a mostly pebble beach with a few sand sections, shallow entry, water slides in summer, jet ski rental, and multiple beach bars. It faces west and gets the sunset. Not the cleanest water on the list — proximity to Gruž harbour and boat traffic — but perfectly swimmable.
Ranked last because it's the least distinctive beach on this list — you could find similar in most Adriatic resort towns. The reason to come is convenience if you’re staying at one of the Babin Kuk hotels (Valamar, Royal, or the Iberostar), or if you’re travelling with children who want the water slides and food kiosks rather than a scenic cove. Sunbeds 18 EUR for two with umbrella. Skip if you have a car and can reach anything else on this list.
Before you book
What people ask before booking Pile.
Šunj on Lopud is the clear winner — sand, shallow entry, warm water, and food on the beach. Copacabana at Babin Kuk is the runner-up if you can’t face a ferry. Avoid Pasjača, Sveti Jakov and Betina with kids under seven; the steps or the swim depth make them unsuitable.
June through October reliably. Sea temperature hits 22°C in mid-June, peaks around 26°C in August, and stays swimmable at 22-23°C through mid-October. May is committed-only at 19-20°C. April and November are for cold-water swimmers. Off-season the water is often clearer than in high summer.
All the beaches themselves are free access — Croatian law guarantees shoreline access. What you pay for is loungers, umbrellas, and beach club sections. Bring a towel and mat and you can use any beach without paying. Parking at Pasjača and food anywhere are the real hidden costs.
