Updated: October 2026
Novalja has something most towns on the Adriatic can only dream about: a whole ring of beaches within a few kilometres of the centre, and some of them are actual sand. Head north, south, east or west of town and within a short drive you reach a different kind of swim: fine sand and shallow water for toddlers, long pebble beaches with pine shade, the pebbly party strip at Zrće, a Roman bay with walls running into the sea, and wild coves near Metajna that you reach on foot or by kayak.
How to choose? Start with who you are travelling with. Small children want sand and shallow, warm water: Planjka (Trinćel), Babe and Plat. If you need shade, Straško’s pines are the best on this stretch of coast. If you came for the music, it is Zrće. If you want to hear nothing but cicadas, drive to Metajna and walk to Beritnica, or head north to the olive-tree coves around Lun.
Then check the wind. Pag is a windy island. When the bura, the cold north-easterly, comes down off the Velebit mountains, the exposed stretches get rough quickly, and the sheltered bays on the south-west coast, at Mandre and Šimuni, are where you want to be.
Beaches at a glance
| Beach | From the centre | Type | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lokunje | In town | Pebble, shallow | A quick swim, no car |
| Babe | About 2 km | Fine sand, very shallow | Toddlers, sunset; dog section |
| Planjka (Trinćel) | About 4 km | Fine sand | Families |
| Jadra | About 6 km | Fine pebble and rock | Quieter swims; dog and naturist sections |
| Straško | About 2 km | Pebble shore, sandy seabed | Shade, families, dogs |
| Braničevica | Next to Straško | Pebble | A long, easy-going beach; dog section |
| Zrće | About 2 km | Shingle and pebble | Parties, water sports |
| Caska | About 2 km | Sand and pebble, shallow | Calm swims, Roman history |
| Plat (Zubovići) | About 15 km | Sand | Families; dog section |
| Veli Žal (Zubovići) | About 15 km | Rock, sand and pebble | Late-afternoon sun |
| Ručica | About 15 min drive | Gravel and sand | Start of the Beritnica walk |
| Beritnica | 20-min walk from Ručica | Pebble cove, rock arch | Wild, no facilities |
| Mata (Lun) | About 24 km | Fine stone, some concrete | Total quiet, sunset |
| Mala Mandra (Mandre) | About 10 km | Small calm bay | Calm water for small kids |
The beaches, one by one
Lokunje
Novalja’s town beach runs along the southern edge of the bay, so you can walk to it from the centre. It is pebbly, shallow and warm, with a green belt behind it for a rest in the shade of the trees. It is not the place for a full beach day, but it is perfect for a swim before dinner or for anyone without a car.
Babe
A shallow bay about 2 km west of town and the shallowest, warmest of Novalja’s beaches. The sand is fine and the strip of beach is narrow, so it fills up on hot afternoons. It now has places to eat and some recreational facilities, and part of the beach is set aside for dogs. Good with toddlers who want to sit in the water rather than swim, and one of the best spots around town to watch the sunset.
Planjka (Trinćel)
The sand beach every family asks about, about 4 km from the centre on the south-east side of the bay of Stara Novalja. Fine sand, warm and shallow water, and everything you need for a full day: showers and changing rooms, sun loungers and parasols to rent, cafés and a restaurant right behind the sand, water slides, a playground and pedal boats. It is a Blue Flag beach (since 2004) and has twice been named one of the most beautiful beaches on the Adriatic. In July and August it fills up: arrive before nine if you want a good spot. More in our Stara Novalja guide and our Novalja with kids guide.
Jadra
On the other side of Stara Novalja, about 6 km from the centre, Jadra has a completely different character: part fine pebble with a gradual entry, part rock where you step straight into deep water. It is usually quieter than Planjka. Part of the beach is set aside for dogs, and part of Jadra is a naturist beach.
Straško
One of the longest beaches around Novalja and the best shade on this coast: a pebble shore with a sandy seabed that slopes in gently, and a belt of pine and oak right behind it. It is about 2 km from the town centre, in front of the big Camping Straško, which has a pool complex, a children’s pool and a kids’ club. There is wheelchair access and a separate stretch for dogs. It is a Blue Flag beach (since 2004). A good choice for families who want to spend the whole day at the beach.
Braničevica
Right next to Straško, with the village of Gajac behind it. It is a very long pebble beach with a good choice of food and drink and some recreational facilities; the rest of what you need is a few dozen metres away in the village. Part of the beach is set aside for dogs.
Zrće
Novalja’s most famous beach, about 2 km south-east of town: a long shingle beach that is pebbly at the water’s edge and gets deep quickly. In peak season it takes several thousand people. By day it is a beach with water sports; by night it is one of Europe’s biggest open-air party zones. There is a large (paid) car park, and a shuttle bus runs from town in summer. It is a Blue Flag beach (since 2003). Everything you need to know is in our Zrće beach guide.
Caska
About 2 km from Novalja, off the road towards the Žigljen ferry, Caska is a shallow sand-and-pebble bay built on top of the Roman town of Cissa. Massive Roman walls run along the shore and under the water, which makes it the best snorkelling-with-a-story beach on the island. There are places to eat and some recreational facilities, and outside August it is usually far quieter than the beaches nearer town. Climb the Sveti Juraj hill above the bay in the cooler hours for the view. Our Caska guide has the history.
Plat (Zubovići)
A small sandy beach about 1 km south of the village of Zubovići, roughly 15 km from Novalja: 150 metres long and 10 wide. It has food and drink, paddle boats and canoes, sun loungers and parasols, a car park with about 60 spaces on a paved road, and since 2016 a 50-metre section for people with dogs. Ideal for families with small children.
Veli Žal (Zubovići)
A 300-metre beach in Zubovići, roughly 15 km from Novalja, that changes as you walk along it: rocks, then fine sand, then small stones and pebbles, ending at a pier that is a favourite meeting point for younger visitors. There is very little natural shade, but the sun stays on it until late afternoon.
Ručica
A gravel-and-sand bay about 1 km before Metajna, about a fifteen-minute drive from Novalja. You can drive right down to it, which makes it popular, and it has a few places to eat, but there is no natural shade. This is where the guided sea-kayak trip along Pag Bay starts, and where the walk to Beritnica begins. See our Metajna guide and Novalja on the water.
Beritnica
A small pebble cove pinched between huge boulders, with a natural rock arch and three rocks lined up in the shallows. It is often named one of the most beautiful beaches in Croatia, and it has absolutely nothing: no kiosk, no shade, no lifeguard. Reach it on a twenty-minute walk from Ručica (easy at first, then steep and rocky on the last drop, so wear proper shoes) or by kayak or small boat. Bring water and food.
Mata (Lun)
A quiet bay near Lun, at the northern tip of the island, about 24 km from Novalja, with hidden coves surrounded by centuries-old olive trees. The shore is fine stone in places and concrete or stone slabs in others. There are no facilities, which is exactly the point, and it is one of the best places on this part of Pag to watch the sun go down. Combine it with a walk through the Lun olive gardens.
Mala Mandra (Mandre)
About 10 km from Novalja, in the middle of the village of Mandre on the south-west coast. The little bay is closed to motorboats and jet skis, so the water is unusually calm, and it is a Blue Flag beach (since 2006). If you have small children and Zrće sounds like a bad idea, this is your beach. It is also a good escape when the bura blows. More in our Kolan, Mandre and Šimuni guide.
Best beaches for…
- Small children: Planjka (Trinćel) and Babe for sand and shallow water, Plat in Zubovići, Mala Mandra for calm water, and Straško if you need shade.
- Peace and quiet: Beritnica, the coves around Mata near Lun, Jadra, and Caska outside August.
- A party: Zrće, day and night. See our Zrće guide and the events calendar.
- Sunset: Babe, close to town, and Mata near Lun.
- Dogs: designated dog sections at Babe, Braničevica, Jadra, Straško and Plat (a 50-metre section since 2016). Follow the signs on each beach.
- Naturists: part of Jadra beach in Stara Novalja is a naturist beach.
Practical tips
- When is the sea warmest? The sea reaches about 22–23°C in June and peaks around 25°C in August. In late September it is often still around 23°C, with far fewer people. In spring it is still cold: around 18°C at the end of May. Month by month: the best time to visit Novalja.
- Crowds: in July and August get to the popular beaches early in the morning or after five, when the day-trippers thin out.
- Parking: all the beaches around town can be reached by car and have parking, but in early August parking in the town centre is a competitive sport. Where you can, walk, cycle or take the shuttle.
- Shade and shoes: shade is limited on most of Pag, so bring a hat, water and a parasol. Even the sandy beaches have pebble patches, so pack water shoes for children.
- Where to stay: Stara Novalja puts you close to the family beaches, Straško gives you a campsite on the beach, and the town centre lets you walk to Lokunje. See where to stay and our neighbourhood guide.
Frequently asked questions
Does Novalja have sandy beaches?
Yes, which is rare in Croatia. Planjka (Trinćel) in the bay of Stara Novalja and Babe west of town have fine sand, and so does the small Plat beach near Zubovići. Straško has a pebble shore with a sandy seabed.
Which beach in Novalja is best for small children?
Planjka (Trinćel) and Babe, for sand and shallow, warm water. Straško if you need shade, and Mala Mandra in Mandre for calm water, as the bay is closed to motorboats and jet skis.
Are dogs allowed on the beaches in Novalja?
On designated sections. Babe, Braničevica, Jadra, Straško and Plat all have stretches set aside for dogs; follow the signs on each beach.
How far is Zrće from Novalja town?
About 2 km south-east of the centre. In summer a shuttle bus runs between town and the beach (around €6 a ticket in 2026), or you can walk it in about 30 minutes.
When is the sea warmest in Novalja?
In August, at around 25°C. September is the local favourite: the sea is still around 23°C in the second half of the month and the beaches are much quieter.
