What the Istrian shore is like
If you expect long sandy beaches, adjust your plans. Most of the beaches on this list have pebble, rock or paved platforms. Some have sand in places. Water shoes make the stones easier on your feet.
The twelve entries below are an editorial selection, not a ranking. They are grouped by area, so you can pick a base and see what is near. Kamenjak counts as one entry, but it is a stretch of coast with many bays, not a single beach.
The beaches by area
A quick overview before the details.
| Area | Beaches | Shore |
|---|---|---|
| Kamenjak | 1 Kamenjak | Many bays, protected landscape |
| Rovinj | 2 Mulini, 3 Lone, 4 Cuvi, 5 Monte | Rock and pebble |
| Rabac | 6 Girandella, 7 Maslinica, 8 St. Andrea, 9 Lanterna | Pebble, rock, some sand |
| Umag and Novigrad | 10 Kanegra, 11 Laguna (Stella Maris), 12 Laguna (Novigrad) | Pebble, rock, concrete |
Pick the area by what else you want to do. Rovinj combines the beaches with the old town, Rabac with the hill town of Labin, and Umag with the tennis stadium and Novigrad.
Our picks: time on the water
A kayak tour with snorkeling and a boat tour with a lunch stop.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Red Island and Lim Bay boat tour with lunch
Five hours with an appetizer, canapés, lunch, white wine, soft drinks and water. The pirate cave costs €1 per person extra.
Check availability →
Cave kayak tour with snorkeling near Pula
Kayak, paddle, life jacket, snorkeling gear and a dry bag, with a briefing and local guides.
Check availability →Boat trips and day trips on the Istrian coast
Coastal boat trips, island visits and day trips across Istria, with live prices and availability.
Kamenjak and the Rovinj beaches
The first five entries.
1. Kamenjak: a coastal area with many bays
Kamenjak is a protected landscape, not a national park, and it is a whole stretch of coast rather than one beach. Walkers and cyclists enter free. Fees apply to motor vehicles. The price list, rules and safety notes are in the Kamenjak section below.
2. Mulini, Rovinj
A rock and pebble beach south of the center.
3. Lone, Rovinj
A bay in the protected forest park of Zlatni rt. Do not mix it up with Kamenjak, which is a separate area.
4. Cuvi, Rovinj
A bay about 3 km south of the town.
5. Monte, Rovinj
On the west side of the old town, about 150 m long. The shore is rocky and there is no natural shade, so bring a sunshade. Motor vehicles are banned in the old town, so you walk or cycle in.
Rabac, Umag and Novigrad
Entries six to twelve.
6. Girandella, Rabac
Pebble with rock, concrete and stone sections, a dive center and a promenade. A good place to snorkel, with stairs down below the dive center.
7. Maslinica, Rabac
A pebble beach about 500 m long. One section is accessible for people with disabilities.
8. St. Andrea, Rabac
Sand and rock areas, reached through a small wood. Facilities and lifeguards depend on the season.
9. Lanterna, Rabac
A pebble beach in the hotel zone, with loungers and umbrellas for rent. This is not the Lanterna near Tar and Poreč.
10. Kanegra, near Umag
A pebble and rock beach beside a holiday complex, about 10 km from Umag. A naturist area is close by.
11. Laguna at Stella Maris, Umag
Next to the tennis stadium, about 3 km from the town center, with pebble and paved areas. Do not expect a uniform sand beach.
12. Laguna, Novigrad
A bay beside the Aminess Laguna hotel with pebble and concrete. It is a different place from the Laguna in Umag, in spite of the name.
Kamenjak: fees, rules and safety
Prices are the 2026 day tickets published for motor vehicles. Pedestrians and cyclists pay nothing. Prices include VAT, and buying online gives a 10 percent discount.
| Vehicle | High season, June 15 to September 15 | Shoulder season, May 2 to June 14 and September 16 to 30 |
|---|---|---|
| Moped or motorcycle | €8 | €5 |
| Car | €20 | €10 |
| Camper van | €50 | €40 |
| Bus | €90 | €60 |
| Car, 3 days | €35 | €25 |
| Car, one week | €80 | €55 |
| Motorcycle, 3 days | €18 | €12 |
| Motorcycle, one week | €40 | €30 |
Rules on site
Use the marked paths and parking zones and keep off the green areas. Leave by 22:00. Dogs must be on a leash. Camping is allowed only with a special permit.
Swimming
Currents can be strong, especially between Kršine and Fenoliga. Stay within 100 m of the shore. Boats must keep at least 50 m from diving buoys, and planing starts at 300 m from the shore.
Dolphins
Do not chase them or steer straight at them. Move slowly and parallel, and avoid sudden changes of direction or noise. The park's code allows at most one boat within 100 m and three boats within 200 m.
Fire
A notice from June 2026 bans open fire at all fireplaces, including grilling. Do not light a fire unless the park has announced that it is allowed again.
Water quality in September 2026
Istria's public health institute tested 222 measuring points in the ninth round, from September 8 to 16, 2026. The result, published on September 21, was 219 points rated excellent (98.6 percent), 2 good (0.9 percent) and 1 satisfactory (0.5 percent).
The two good results were at Kolone-Uvala Sv. Jakov near Bale and at Plominski zaljev-Dražine istok near Kršan. The satisfactory one was at Plava Laguna below the Hotel Galiot in Poreč. All other points in the round were excellent. These are samples from one round, not a verdict on a whole season, and short-term pollution can occur. Read local notices at the beach. Our Poreč page covers the town.
More to explore
Combine the beaches with a town or a day trip.
Istria beaches: frequently asked questions
Are the beaches in Istria sandy?
Mostly not. The beaches in this guide are pebble, rock or concrete platforms. Sand appears only in places, for example in parts of St. Andrea in Rabac.
Do I pay to enter Kamenjak?
Not on foot or by bike. Motor vehicles pay a day ticket, which in 2026 is €20 for a car in the high season and €10 in the shoulder season. Buying online gives a 10 percent discount.
Is Kamenjak a national park?
No. It is a protected landscape. There is no entry fee per person.
Can I light a barbecue at Kamenjak?
A June 2026 notice banned open fire including grilling at all fireplaces. Do not grill unless the park says the ban is over.
Is the water clean?
In the ninth testing round, September 8 to 16, 2026, 219 of 222 points were rated excellent. Results change with each round, so look for current notices at the beach.
Which beach is best near the Rovinj old town?
Monte, on the west side of the old town. It is rocky and has no natural shade.