Best Pebble Beaches in Istria and Kvarner
We rank the 12 pebble beaches in Istria and Kvarner. Lone Bay (Croatia) comes first with 4.4 / 5, followed by Stara Baska Beach, Zlatni Rt, Rovinj.
The sea reaches about 24 degrees C in season, and most of these beaches are at their best from June to September. 12 of the 12 have easy access, and 1 are hidden gems.
1Lone Bay
Rovinj, Istria · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 24 °CA pebble and rock bay with clear water, shaded by pines in the Zlatni Rt forest park just south of Rovinj, with paths along the coast.
2Stara Baska Beach
Stara Baska, Krk · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 24 °CA long bay at the southern tip of Krk with fine gravel and pebbles and clear water, framed by bare limestone hills.
3Zlatni Rt, Rovinj
Zlatni Rt Forest Park, Rovinj, Istria · 4.4 / 5 · Easy access · about 24 °CZlatni Rt, or Punta Corrente, is a forest park of pines and cypresses south of Rovinj old town, with pebble and rock beaches along its shore.
4Njivice Beach, Krk
Njivice, Krk · 4.3 / 5 · Easy access · about 24 °CNjivice is a pebble beach in a sheltered bay on the northern side of Krk island, with pine trees behind and a long seafront promenade.
5Valun Beach, Cres
Valun, Cres · 4.3 / 5 · Easy access · about 24 °CValun is a small fishing village on the west coast of Cres, with a pebble beach in a sheltered bay, old stone houses and a quiet harbour.
6Crikvenica Beach
Crikvenica, Kvarner · 4.2 / 5 · Easy access · about 23 °CCrikvenica has several kilometres of pebble and shingle beach along its seafront promenade on the Kvarner coast.
7Girandella Beach
Rabac, Istria · 4.2 / 5 · Easy access · about 24 °CA pebble beach in the resort of Rabac on the east coast of Istria, lined with pines and facing the Kvarner Bay.
8Lovran Beach
Lovran, Kvarner · 4.2 / 5 · Easy access · about 23 °CLovran is an old Habsburg seaside resort on the Kvarner coast, with a small pebble beach along a long stone promenade.
9Medulin Beach
Medulin, Istria · 4.2 / 5 · Easy access · about 24 °CA broad bay at the southern tip of Istria with shallow water, pebble and stone beaches and pine shade.
10Novi Vinodolski Beach, Kvarner
Novi Vinodolski, Kvarner · 4.2 / 5 · Easy access · about 23 °CNovi Vinodolski sits on the Kvarner coast, with a long pebble beach running along a palm-lined promenade and a small fortress above the harbour.
11Selce Beach, Crikvenica
Selce, Kvarner · 4.2 / 5 · Easy access · about 24 °CSelce is a small resort on the Kvarner coast between Crikvenica and Novi Vinodolski, with pebble beaches, calm water and green pine-covered hills behind.
12Umag Beach
Umag, Istria · 4.2 / 5 · Easy access · about 24 °CUmag sits on a small peninsula on the north-west coast of Istria, and its beaches are a mix of pebbles, rocks and concrete platforms.
Quick comparison
| # | Beach | Country | Score | Water | Best season | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lone Bay | Croatia | 4.4 | 24 °C | June–September | Easy |
| 2 | Stara Baska Beach | Croatia | 4.4 | 24 °C | June–September | Easy |
| 3 | Zlatni Rt, Rovinj | Croatia | 4.4 | 24 °C | June–September | Easy |
| 4 | Njivice Beach, Krk | Croatia | 4.3 | 24 °C | June–September | Easy |
| 5 | Valun Beach, Cres | Croatia | 4.3 | 24 °C | June–September | Easy |
| 6 | Crikvenica Beach | Croatia | 4.2 | 23 °C | June–September | Easy |
| 7 | Girandella Beach | Croatia | 4.2 | 24 °C | June–September | Easy |
| 8 | Lovran Beach | Croatia | 4.2 | 23 °C | June–September | Easy |
| 9 | Medulin Beach | Croatia | 4.2 | 24 °C | June–September | Easy |
| 10 | Novi Vinodolski Beach, Kvarner | Croatia | 4.2 | 23 °C | June–September | Easy |
| 11 | Selce Beach, Crikvenica | Croatia | 4.2 | 24 °C | June–September | Easy |
| 12 | Umag Beach | Croatia | 4.2 | 24 °C | June–September | Easy |
How we picked these beaches
Included when the shoreline is mostly of this type, then ranked by our editorial score. See how we rate beaches for the full method.
Frequently asked questions
Which are the top-rated pebble beaches in Istria and Kvarner?
Our top three are Lone Bay (4.4 out of 5), Stara Baska Beach (4.4 out of 5), Zlatni Rt, Rovinj (4.4 out of 5). Scores are editorial ratings from the EuroShores team.
When is the best time to visit these beaches?
Most are at their best from June to September. Water temperatures average about 24 degrees C in season. Each beach page lists its exact season.
Which of these beaches are easiest to reach?
Lone Bay, Stara Baska Beach, Zlatni Rt, Rovinj, Njivice Beach, Krk, Valun Beach, Cres and 7 more have easy access. The others need a walk, stairs or a rougher road, so check the access note on each page.