Best Beaches of the Kvarner Gulf and Velebit Coast: Medane, Lanterna, Tatinja & Šimuni

The best beaches around the Kvarner Gulf are pebble coves rather than sand, and the four that travellers search for most are Medane at Punat on the island of Krk, Lanterna in Rabac on Istria's east coast, Tatinja at Karlobag under the Velebit mountains, and Šimuni on the island of Pag. They are not all in the same county: Punat is in the Kvarner region proper, Rabac belongs to Istria but looks out over the gulf, Karlobag is on the Lika-Senj coast of the Velebit Channel, and Šimuni is on the Zadar County side of Pag. What they share is the same clear northern Adriatic water and the same view of islands and mountains.

This guide covers each beach with what you actually need to know before you go: what the shore is made of, how much shade there is, what facilities there are, where to park, and whether it suits children.

At a glance:

• Medane, Punat (Krk): large, well-equipped pebble beach with a beach bar, olive-tree shade and summer events; sunsets over the bay.
• Lanterna, Rabac (Istria): pebble beach in a wooded cove, a walk from Rabac's centre, calmer than the resort beaches next door.
• Tatinja, Karlobag (Velebit coast): pebble cove among cliffs, reached by stone steps, shallow water, free parking above, a beach bar.
• Šimuni (Pag): shallow, clear water on pebble beaches backed by pines, next to a fishing village and a very large campsite.

The Kvarner Gulf and its islands, seen from the northern Velebit above Senj. Image: Anil Öztas, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Medane Beach, Punat (Krk)

Medane is Punat's biggest and best-equipped beach, on the shore of Puntarska draga, the almost-enclosed bay south of the town. Not long ago this stretch of coast was scrubland. Over roughly the last decade and a half the Marina Punat group turned about 10,000 square metres of it into a beach area, and it is now one of the most popular places on Krk to spend a whole day. The shore is natural pebble and faces west, so evenings here end with the sun setting over the bay.

The beach is built for long days: a beach bar and fast-food counter, a shaded lounging area among old olive trees, and play and games areas for children and teenagers. In summer Medane is also Punat's main stage, with an evening programme of concerts and small festivals, so it is lively after dark in July and August. Families who want quieter water can walk on to the neighbouring beaches of Punta Debij and, further south, the bay of Gramagul.

Puntarska draga, the sheltered bay at Punat; Medane beach is on its western shore near the bay's outer end. Image: Arne Müseler, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, via Wikimedia Commons.

Punat is also the departure point for boats to Košljun, a wooded islet in the middle of the bay with a Franciscan monastery and museum collections, an easy half-day break from the beach.

The Franciscan cloister on Košljun, the islet in Punat's bay. Image: Stefan.lefnaer, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Practical info: Medane is about a 15-minute walk from the centre of Punat. There is a car park by the beach; expect to pay for parking in summer. Shade: olive trees behind the beach, plus umbrellas to rent. Children: the bay is sheltered and calm, but the shore is pebbly, so bring water shoes. Best time: June and September for space; July and August for the events.

Lanterna Beach, Rabac (Istria)

Rabac is a former fishing village on the east coast of Istria, below the hilltop town of Labin and facing the Kvarner Gulf and the island of Cres. Most of its beaches are pebble rather than sand, and Lanterna is the one people pick when they want the clear water and the green backdrop without the full resort atmosphere. It is a pebble beach in a cove backed by woods, within walking distance of the centre along paths through the trees, and it feels calmer than Girandella next door. Part of the shore belongs to a hotel, so some facilities are reserved for its guests.

A pebble beach in Rabac, with the islands of the Kvarner Gulf on the horizon. Image: Claire POUTEAU, Clairette,, CC BY-SA 2.0 fr, via Wikimedia Commons.

Rabac's other two main beaches suit different moods. Girandella, the next bay along, is the livelier one: pebbles, rocks for snorkelling, a resort complex with beach bars and water sports. Maslinica, at the other end of the bay, is a 500-metre pebble beach that has been awarded the Blue Flag, with a section set aside for people with disabilities, an access path, restaurants and a water slide nearby. Travel guides also list Lanterna and Girandella among Rabac's Blue Flag beaches; the flag is awarded each year, so check the current list if it matters to you.

Girandella beach in Rabac, the livelier neighbour of Lanterna. Image: Czeva, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Practical info: Lanterna is on the edge of Rabac, reached on foot from the centre through the woods. Shade: natural shade from the trees behind the beach; loungers and parasols are rented on the beach. Children: easy entry over pebbles; Maslinica is the better choice for a full family day with facilities. Combine with Labin, the old town on the hill above, about a 10-minute drive away.

Tatinja Beach, Karlobag (Velebit Coast)

Karlobag sits on the narrow strip of coast where the Velebit mountains drop into the sea, facing the island of Pag across the Velebit Channel. It is in Lika-Senj County, which is why Croatians sometimes call this shore the "Lika riviera". Tatinja is the first cove on the northern approach to the town, and the local press calls it the crown of Karlobag: a pebble beach set among cliffs, with turquoise water and gently shelving shallows that suit swimmers of all ages.

Tatinja beach at Karlobag, with the island of Pag across the Velebit Channel. Image: Domaine public, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Access is down neat stone steps from the road, and there are two large free car parks on the clifftop above the cove. A beach bar and grill run by a local company serves the beach, and in summer it hosts evening parties that can go on late, although the cove is far enough from the houses that nobody complains. Karlobag also has almost 4 km of seafront promenade, so you can walk from Tatinja along the coast to the town beach and the other Karlobag beaches.

One thing to know about this coast is the bura, the strong cold wind that comes down off the Velebit. On a bura day the sea turns choppy and the beach can be uncomfortable even in sunshine; on calm days the water is exceptionally clear.

Swimming off the rocky Karlobag shore below the Velebit. Image: Fraxinus Croat, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Practical info: Tatinja is at the northern entrance to Karlobag, a few minutes' walk from the centre. Parking: free car parks above the cove. Shade: limited on the beach itself; bring an umbrella. Children: the gentle shallows suit small children, but the steps make it harder with a pushchair.

Šimuni Beach, Pag

Šimuni is a small fishing village on the southwestern coast of Pag, roughly halfway between Novalja and Pag town. It has two bays: the northern one holds the marina, and the southern one has the pebble beach. The water is shallow and very clear, and the shore is backed by pine trees, which is unusual on an island famous for its bare, stony landscape.

Šimuni and its bays on the southwestern coast of Pag. Image: Silverije, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Next to the village, a very large campsite stretches along several kilometres of coast with a string of pebble beaches, some of them family beaches with gradual entry and calm water, and a naturist section that is rocky rather than pebbly. Outside the campsite, the public beach in the village has cafés and restaurants close by.

Practical info: Šimuni is on the road between Novalja and Pag town. Pag is reached by the Pag bridge at the island's southern end, or by the ferry from Prizna on the mainland coast, north of Karlobag, to Žigljen near Novalja. Parking: informal free parking along the track behind the shore; the footpath to the beach takes about five minutes. Shade: pine trees behind much of the shoreline. Children: shallow, calm water makes it one of the easiest beaches in this guide for small children. Bring water shoes for the rockier sections.

If You Want Sand: Rajska Plaža on Rab and Vela Plaža in Baška

Sand is rare on this coast, but there are two famous exceptions within the Kvarner Gulf, and they are the beaches to choose if you are travelling with toddlers.

Rajska plaža, "Paradise Beach", is at Lopar on the northern tip of the island of Rab. It is a genuine sand beach of fine brown sand, between 1.5 and 2 km long depending on who measures it, and the sea stays shallow for an exceptionally long way out: local guides put the point where the water gets deep at roughly 900 metres to a kilometre from the shore. That makes it one of the safest beaches in Croatia for non-swimmers and small children. In season there is a lifeguard service, with changing cabins, showers, bars, a restaurant, playgrounds and an inflatable water park, and travel guides list it as a Blue Flag beach. The flip side is that it is busy in July and August, and the shallow water warms up quickly.

Rajska plaža at Lopar on Rab: fine sand and shallow water stretching far out into the bay. Image: Isiwal, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Vela plaža in Baška, at the southern end of Krk, is the other classic. It is a pebble beach rather than sand, about 1.8 km long, with a sandy seabed once you are in the water and the bare limestone mountains of Krk rising behind it. It has flown the Blue Flag for many years and can take thousands of swimmers, so even in August you will find a space.

Baška's Vela plaža, a 1.8 km curve of pebble below the bare mountains of southern Krk. Image: Wakowlk, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Practical info: Lopar is on the northern tip of Rab, which is reached by ferry from the mainland at Stinica to Mišnjak or from Valbiska on Krk to Lopar. The Stinica–Mišnjak crossing takes about 15 to 20 minutes and runs all year; the Valbiska–Lopar car ferry is slower but links Rab directly with Krk. Baška is at the southern end of Krk, on the far side of the island from the Krk bridge.

Planning Your Beach Days

Which beach for whom. Families with small children: Rajska plaža on Rab for sand and very shallow water, or Šimuni and Maslinica in Rabac. Lively days with events and a bar: Medane or Girandella. Scenery and quiet: Lanterna, or Tatinja on a weekday.

When to go. The sea is warmest from July to early September. June and September are the sweet spot: warm water, fewer people and easier parking. Beach bars and rentals are seasonal, so outside summer bring what you need.

What to bring. All four beaches are pebble, so water shoes make a real difference, especially for children. Shade is natural at Medane, Lanterna and Šimuni, but bring your own umbrella for Tatinja.

Getting between them. These beaches are spread around a large gulf, and the coast road and island bridges add time. Krk is connected to the mainland by bridge near Rijeka, Rabac is on the Istrian side of the gulf, and Karlobag and Pag are further south. It is better to base yourself in one place and pick the beach on your side of the gulf than to try to do all four in a week.

For more ideas, see our Kvarner region guide and the beaches of Krk.