11. Paradise Beach: for a beach with a buzzing atmosphere
San Marino stretches around a vast expanse of sand known as Veli Mel (mel being an archaic word for “beach”, although it’s also referred to hereabouts as Rajska plaža – “Paradise Beach”). The beach is backed by cafés and restaurants and packed with families from June to September. The bay on which Veli Mel is situated is unusually shallow, and you can paddle almost all the way to an islet about 500m offshore.
There’s a sequence of smaller, progressively less crowded, sandy beaches beyond the headlands to the north, beginning with Livačina Bay, followed by the predominantly naturist Kaštelina Bay slightly further up.
12. Sakarun Beach: the largest beach
Some 43km long and at no point more than 4.5km wide, Dugi otok (Long Island) is the largest and arguably the most beautiful of the Zadar archipelago islands. With fewer than two thousand inhabitants, it boasts a wilder and more dramatic landscape than any of its neighbours, with sheer cliffs on its western side and a rugged, indented coastline.
One of the local attractions here is Sakarun Beach which is known thanks to its crystal-clear turquoise waters, soft white sand, and pine trees that provide natural shade. The beach is relatively secluded and visitors can reach it by car or by boat. Sakarun Beach is surrounded by lush Mediterranean vegetation and offers stunning views of the Adriatic Sea.
What to do in Dugi otok
Enjoy sun, sea, and sand on
this full-day catamaran trip to Sakarun Beach from Zadar.