Explore the Region
The best beaches near Zadar — choose by mood, not ranking
The useful question is not which beach wins. It is whether today calls for an easy swim, shallow sand, a city-and-sea afternoon or a full family day.
Quick answer
Quick answer: The best beaches near Zadar — choose by mood, not ranking
Stay close to Kožino for an uncomplicated swim. Choose Kolovare when the beach follows a Zadar Old Town morning. Go to Queen’s Beach for the shallow sandy landscape of the Nin lagoon, Ždrijac when wind and open space are part of the day, or Zaton for a more organised commercial experience. For one memorable island day, reserve a full-day Sakarun boat excursion from Zadar. Always check the forecast, current access and external operator terms before leaving.
Choose by mood, not by ranking
Beaches around Zadar are not versions of one ideal shore. The city coastline is lively and easy to combine with culture. Kožino gives you the freedom of a short local swim. Nin opens into sand, shallow water and wind. Zaton turns the beach into an organised full-day experience.
That difference is useful. Decide first how much of the day you want the beach to occupy, who is swimming and what the wind and heat are doing. Then choose the shore.
The best beach is the one that fits the day you want to have.
Six shores, six different days
Kožino and Diklo
Keep the day light. Swim from the nearby coast, return for lunch in the garden and let the pool take over later. Check the exact access point, shade and sea conditions locally.
Explore the Kožino coastKolovare
Zadar Tourist Board presents Kolovare as the city beach closest to the centre. It works when a historic morning should end with the Adriatic rather than another museum.
Open in Google MapsBorik and Puntamika
A useful alternative when you want Zadar’s city coast without returning to the Old Town. The official guide describes Borik as a mix of pebble and sand; verify the precise access and facilities you need.
Open in Google MapsQueen’s Beach, Nin
A long sandy lagoon landscape with an extended shallow approach. Nin Tourist Board notes that reaching the beach includes crossing a short stretch of shallow water, so pack for the place rather than for a polished beach club.
Open in Google MapsŽdrijac, Nin
Part of the Nin lagoon and a recognised starting point for windsurfing and kitesurfing. On a windy day, match the area and activity to ability, forecast and current local advice.
Open in Google MapsZaton Holiday Resort
Choose this when facilities and a full resort day matter more than solitude. It is independent from Villa Lostura; check current external-visitor entry, prices and included areas directly before going.
Check current visitor rulesThe island day: Sakarun by boat
Sakarun belongs in a different category from the beaches you reach by car. It sits on the north-western side of Dugi Otok, where pale sand, shallow turquoise water and the wider Zadar archipelago turn the journey into part of the day. From Lostura, the most coherent version is a pre-booked full-day boat excursion from Zadar — not an extra stop squeezed into an already full itinerary.
Leave early. Return with salt in your hair.
Plan roughly eight to nine hours for the complete experience, then verify the operator’s actual check-in and return time. Depending on the format and conditions, the day may include a direct Sakarun programme, a land transfer on Dugi Otok, or additional northern-island stops such as Veli Rat, a swimming cove, shipwreck or former military tunnel. Treat every stop as provisional until the operator confirms the route for that day.
Families, couples and groups who want one bigger excursion during the week.
Keep the evening simple and avoid placing another fixed reservation immediately after the boat.
The skipper or operator may change, shorten or cancel the route when conditions require it.
Choose the boat day that fits your group
Scheduled full-day excursion
A fixed programme can work well for couples or smaller parties who prefer transport, guiding and meals to be arranged together. Some Sakarun excursions combine boat and island bus transfer rather than taking the same vessel directly onto the beach.
See an independent scheduled optionSkippered speedboat
A private boat suits a family or group that values its own pace and a route shaped around conditions. Confirm the exact boat, maximum passengers, shade, toilet, child life jackets, fuel, insurance and which stops are genuinely included.
See an independent private optionBefore you book
- Confirm the exact departure and check-in point in Zadar, where to park and the expected return time.
- Ask whether the route is direct by boat or includes a transfer on Dugi Otok, and how guests reach the shore at Sakarun.
- Check what the price includes: skipper, fuel, insurance, meals, drinks, equipment, harbour costs, buoys or any entrance fees.
- Share children’s ages, mobility needs and swimming confidence, and confirm suitable life jackets and shade.
- Read the weather, cancellation and route-change policy before paying. The safest decision belongs to the skipper on the day.
Villa Lostura does not operate, sell or book this excursion. The links above are independent planning options; guests verify current details, suitability, availability and payment directly with the provider.
Read the conditions before the list
Wind, waves, heat, water quality, parking and seasonal services can change the character of the same beach. A place that feels ideal at nine in the morning may be exposed by midday. For children or less confident swimmers, shallow water does not remove the need for active supervision and a current local check.
Bring water, shade and suitable footwear when the shore is rocky or access is informal. Do not assume that facilities, lifeguards, rentals or accessible entry are present unless a current official source confirms them.
Make the villa part of the beach day
A beach does not need to hold the whole day. Start with an early swim, return to Lostura for lunch and rest, then go out again when the light softens — or stay by your own heated pool and let dinner begin beneath the trees.
For a week that balances sea days with time at home, continue to our seven-day Lostura itinerary.
Good to know
Questions, answered.
Which beach near Zadar is best for families with younger children?
Queen’s Beach and other parts of the Nin lagoon are known for long, shallow water, while Zaton Holiday Resort offers a more organised commercial day with facilities. Conditions, supervision needs, access and current external-visitor rules still need to be checked on the day.
Can I combine Zadar Old Town and a beach in one day?
Yes. Kolovare is the clearest city-and-sea combination because it lies beyond the historic peninsula on Zadar’s eastern coast. Keep the cultural route compact, avoid the hottest hours and leave the swim for later in the day.
Where should I go for a quick swim from Villa Lostura?
For the simplest swim, use the Kožino and Diklo coast rather than turning every beach visit into an excursion. Access, sea state, shade and parking vary along the shore, so choose the exact entry point after a local check.
Is Ždrijac only for wind sports?
No, but its open lagoon character and association with windsurfing and kitesurfing make wind and current conditions especially important. Swimmers and families should choose the day and area according to the forecast and current local guidance.
Do Villa Lostura guests receive access to Zaton Holiday Resort?
No special access is implied. Zaton Holiday Resort is an independent commercial venue. External-visitor entry, prices, parking and access to particular facilities must be confirmed and paid directly with the resort.
Can I visit Sakarun Beach as a day trip from Villa Lostura?
Yes. The most coherent version is a pre-booked full-day boat excursion from Zadar, usually with either a scheduled group format or a private skippered speedboat. Timings, vessel, transfers, stops and inclusions vary, and every route remains subject to weather and sea conditions. Guests arrange and pay the independent operator directly.
Is a shared excursion or private speedboat better for Sakarun?
A scheduled excursion is simpler for couples or smaller parties who are comfortable with a fixed programme. A private skippered boat gives a family or group more control over pace and possible stops, but suitability still depends on the vessel, passenger ages, swimming confidence and forecast. Confirm shade, toilet, life jackets, fuel, insurance and cancellation terms before booking.
Sources & editorial notes
Details were checked against the official sources below on 14 August 2026. Opening times, tours, reservations and seasonal conditions can change; check directly before setting out.
- Zadar Tourist Board — Beaches Official overview of Kolovare, Punta Bajlo, Borik and Zadar’s city coastline.
- Nin Tourist Board — Beaches Official overview of Queen’s Beach, Ždrijac, Prodorica, Bilotnjak and Zaton.
- Nin Riviera — A Rich Treasury 2026 Official current destination guide with beach and wind-sport context.
- Zaton Holiday Resort — Visitor FAQ Current independent-resort information; confirm external entry and payment directly.
- Dugi Otok Tourist Board — Island Guide Official destination context for Sakarun, Dugi Otok and the island’s beaches and coves.
- ZadarVista — Sakarun Excursion Independent scheduled and private boat-trip information; confirm the current vessel, timetable, route and inclusions directly.
- Zadar Region Excursions — Full-Day Speedboat Independent private speedboat option; confirm current availability, pickup, route, price and weather policy directly.