I swam to a sandy beach in Croatia. It is away from the crowds and noise

Croatia is known for its rocky beaches. The most popular ones in large cities are completely different from the Polish ones located on the Baltic Sea. Sometimes, tourists only have concrete slabs at their disposal on which they can put deckchairs. You have to be very careful when entering the sea, because the bottom is sharp and sometimes full of sea urchins. Nevertheless, it has its charm, and these difficulties are compensated by warm and crystal clear water and magical views.

It turns out that in the mentioned country you can also find sandy coasts, but you have to try hard to find them. When I was there, I was looking for such places and I wanted to go to a place with soft and clean sand at all costs. The reality turned out to be much better than I imagined. I particularly liked one of the places.

I found sandy beaches in Croatia

I managed to find a sandy beach more than once. While in Croatia, I mainly traveled by sailing yacht, so it was easy to reach less popular places. I discovered one of the interesting points while on the island of Murter – speech about Slanica beach.

It is quite small and not completely devoid of stones, but after entering the water we almost immediately feel soft sand under our feet. You must remember that this translates into the purity of the water – it is not as transparent as usual.

Slanica was the first such discovery and is definitely worth recommending to families with children. In its vicinity you will find, among others: a bouncy castle with a slide, souvenir shops, a restaurant with gardens – right next to the sea, a small promenade and toilets with changing rooms. Despite everything, the place does not look as touristy as, for example, the beaches in the center of Zadar. It’s more intimate and peaceful here. There is a caravanning field nearby, where you can stay with your own van or pitch a tent.

The disadvantage of this place is its relatively small area, which can make it crowded at some times of the day. If you are looking for a sandy beach, but quieter and more pristine, you need to change the island. It quickly turned out that the next one could be even better, definitely better.

Orange sand on the island of Vrgada

The island of Vrgada, as we are talking about it, is definitely the magical discovery of my trip. Some even call it the “Golden Island”. She appeared on the horizon unexpectedly and immediately charmed everyone present on the yacht. Initially, no one wanted to believe that what we saw from a distance was orange-red sand. It was hard to imagine that such a small paradise could be right at your fingertips in what is known as “rocky” Croatia.

We went to this place because someone we knew had recommended it. It was a good choice. Getting to Vrgada is not obvious. There is no marina or city port for mooring there. You can anchor the yacht in the water a dozen or so meters from the shore, then throw the pontoon available on board into the sea and use it to go to the beach. So we did.

What did I learn about this place? It turns out that about 200 people live in Vrgad. The island itself, located in the Adriatic Sea, belongs to the Šibenik Archipelago and lies northwest of the island of Murter. Its area is 2,315 square kilometers and the length of the coastline is 9,118 km. The beach there is called Podbrizi and is located on the north-eastern tip of the island.

Is it a completely wild place? Absolutely not. You don’t have to be afraid of dangerous animals or lush nature that makes walking difficult. Despite everything, it is extremely mysterious and quiet there. Interestingly, when we see the island from a distance, we do not even realize how many interesting attractions it hides – the orange and red Podbrizi beach is just the beginning.

When I first set foot there, I realized that in front of me was really clean and soft sand. I could forget about the stones and it was definitely special.

Podbrizi, a beach without crowds and dirt

The beach quickly turned out to be an ideal place to relax for people looking for peace and quiet. When I got there around noon, almost no one had spread the blanket apart from me. The sand looked absolutely magical. Podbrizi was devoid of garbage or dirt, and above it there was a huge cliff with a viewpoint and green pine trees. I quickly discovered that there are special stairs leading to the very top.

Interestingly, although Podbrizi beach is so quiet, on its slope you will also find a small minibar with a variety of drinks. There are several loungers for guests next to it. There were only a few people resting there, and everyone was quiet. The turquoise water of the nearby, shallow bay added to the charm of this area.

In my opinion, this place can definitely be considered one of the most unique in Croatia. Tourists will definitely notice the fact that there are no cars on the island – they are banned. Bicycles may be an alternative. There is also a shop and several catering facilities. It is also worth adding that it is the only populated island of the Košta Riviera.

Island attractions

What about the other attractions of the island of Vrgada? Of course, it’s not just the beach that is worth your attention. While there, you can spend part of the day relaxing and another part exploring the surrounding area. First of all, it is worth taking a look at the unusual tree, which miraculously still has its roots on the top of the cliff. Things get particularly interesting when we climb the steep stairs to the very top of the hill. There we will see a glass viewing point from which we can admire the sea and neighboring islands. There are also places to pitch a tent in the area.

While there, we are almost constantly surrounded by greenery and trees. Specially marked paths lead deep into the island and I couldn’t resist following them. It quickly turned out that there were many houses with gardens there. There is also an old fishing bay, and you can also see the remains of defensive walls from the Middle Ages and the atmospheric church of St. Andrzej.

While walking, I almost constantly listen to the sound of loud cicadas. This only adds to the charm of the entire scenery. I was almost the only person walking through these areas at that moment. Colorful flowers appeared near the houses. The sea could be admired from above, and in the distance there was lush nature and yachts moored in Artina Bay.

To sum up, I definitely assess my short stay on the island of Vrgada as successful and revealing. Thanks to places like this, you can get to know Croatia from a completely different side than the one commonly known. It doesn’t have to be expensive, crowded, partyy or noisy. Sometimes you just need to look for something that goes beyond the list of the most popular resorts and schemes.