Šibenik Beach (Banj Beach)

Banj is the city beach of Šibenik, a pebble and concrete bathing area on the coast of the Adriatic about a kilometre from the old town, which makes it easy to reach on foot from the centre. Šibenik is not primarily a beach resort, and the stone-built old town, its cathedral and its fortresses are the main reasons for coming, but after a morning of sightseeing in the heat, a swim at Banj is exactly the kind of break that suits the town. The beach is a recent development, opened in the early 2010s as part of a renewal of the waterfront, and it was designed to give residents and visitors a modern space beside the sea.

The beach is laid out along a promenade, with changing rooms, showers, a playground for children and courts for beach volleyball and other sports. A cafe-bar on the beach is a popular evening meeting place that changes its character after dark and hosts music events, and concerts and open-air screenings are held on the waterfront in summer. Water quality is good and the slope into the sea is gentle, which makes it suitable for children and casual swimmers. Because the base is largely pebble and concrete, water shoes are useful.

The setting is a major part of the appeal. From the beach you see the old town rising up the hill in terraces of stone and red roofs, with the dome of the Cathedral of St. James, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the walls of St. Michael's Fortress above. The beach faces the channel that leads to the sea, and ahead you can see the narrow entrance known as the St. Anthony Channel, which links the bay of Šibenik with the open Adriatic and is guarded by the Fortress of St. Nicholas, which is also listed in this guide. In the evening, the old town lights up and the view across the water is one of the best in the area.

Šibenik is one of the oldest towns in Croatia founded by Croats, first mentioned in the second half of the eleventh century, and it is a convenient base for visiting the Krka National Park, where waterfalls and swimming areas lie a short drive inland, and the Kornati islands by boat. Banj fits easily into that kind of itinerary as a place to cool off.

Practical tips: arrive early on summer weekends, when the beach fills up with locals; bring sun protection and water, as shade is limited; and check local event listings if you want to catch a concert or a film. The beach suits families with children, young people, couples and anyone who wants a swim and a sea view without leaving the city.