A Guide to The Very Best Beaches in Pula Croatia!
Pula is a city in Northern Croatia, found on the coast of the Istria Peninsula and mostly surround by the Adriatic Sea. It is a lively city with amazing food, history, music scene and of course beaches! So if you want to travel to Pula Croatia and find culture as well as the beaches, you’ve come to the right place.
There’s the colosseum and marina Pula Croatia side and then there’s the Croatia Pula beaches side to the Istrian city. This article will showcase the best beaches in Pula Croatia and best beaches near Pula Croatia to visit, directions on how to get there, tips on the beach layout and facilities as well as descriptions and images of Pula Croatia beaches.
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Contents
Contents (jump to)
Croatia Posts
- Zadar Food Tour Review
- Hiking in Split Guide
- 11 Best Islands Near Split
- Mamma Mia Filming Locations in Croatia
Best Beaches in Pula Croatia
If you’re visiting Pula Croatia, you must go to the coast to enjoy the sea, scenes and sunsets!
Most of the main beaches here have walkable paths and steps to reach. Along the route you’ll see various steps to reach small coves where you can enjoy the sunshine and views. I visited at the very end of April/beginning of May and found the water wasn’t freezing but definitely a shock at first. The beaches, sun and atmosphere was enough to even walk through let alone enjoy a day here.
Note: in Verudela, I seen a few bars and restaurants not far from beaches so you have options to get a drink or food. I didn’t see any beach bars as such, but this could be due to the time of year I travelled to Pula.
In Stoja, however, there were a handful of beaches with beach bars/hostels, etc. In any case, we took our own food, cutlery, reusable water bottles and some beers and had no problem taking them onto the beaches. But we ALWAYS take our rubbish with us because we want the beautiful beaches forever more.
Don’t forget to pack your Croatian flag beach towel! 😉
Where is Pula Croatia Located?
So exactly where is Pula in Croatia?
It’s the southern part of the Istrian island that is made up of Croatia, Slovenia and Italy so holds Istrian culture and history as well as Croatian. Pula is an ancient Roman city and very much resembles Rome in Italy with the ruins and arena, one of the best Croatian landmarks!
This is a map of Pula Croatia:
Pula Beaches map below with pins. This will take you to my Google Maps.
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=15GNgl-Ohvi29lPPWZGwiiaquCLJ5gRhT&usp=sharing
Use a Pula Guide for your trip to decide how long to spend and what to do in Pula as well as visit the lovely beaches!
There are a few main areas to visit in Pula for beaches: Verudela, Stoja, Stinjan, Banjole, and Fazana. This post will focus on the most popular beaches of Verudela and Stoja with information about the others at the end. Okay let’s get to Pula Croatia best beaches.
Beaches in Verudela Pula Croatia
How to Get to Verudela Beach Pula Croatia
Walk: It will take you about 1 hour, 15 minutes to get to the area of Verudela and if you want to go to a few beaches, save your energy for walking the coast and swimming.
Uber: Uber costs just 38 Kuna from Pula Bus Station to Verudela one way. You could get a taxi in Pula Croatia but it will cost more.
Driving: Parking in Pula Croatia is easy as there are lots of spaces and most areas are completely free.
Bus: I recommend taking the local bus. Read on for directions:
From the central bus station in Pula, take bus 2a. All local buses go the platforms to the left of the station ticket office (if you are looking at the office). Bus 2a usually departs from platform 9 but check the timetable on the wall. Note: you can take bus 3a from Verudela back to the centre of Pula.
Frequency: Bus 2a comes every 20 minutes.
Price: 11 Kuna per person, per way and you can pay the driver (take cash)!
Duration: It takes about 20 minutes each way.
Ambrela Beach Pula Croatia
As soon as you get off the bus at Verudela, take a right, walk a few minutes down the path and you arrive at the first beach. Ambrela is a small, pebbled beach with rocks on either side. There are toilet and shower facilities at this beach. This is known in English as Umbrella Beach Pula.
This is a great spot to watch the sunset!
Ribarska Koliba Resort is the closest accomodation to Ambrela Beach and the bus stop to access the Verudela beaches. Click here for the latest prices and availability at Ribarska Koliba Resort.
Brioni Beach Pula
To the left of Ambrela Beach you can find Brioni Beach which is small with a boardwalk to sit and mostly rocks. There are no facilities here and as it’s small there isn’t much space to enjoy in the sea itself (without swimming to another part altogether) although it is directly below Grand Hotel Brioni Pula Croatia so if you’re a guest you can use their facilities.
Also, on the path behind Brioni Beach there was an area full of like 8 cats hanging out. I’ve never seen cats all together like this before so definitely take a cautious look!
Hawaii Beach Pula Croatia
The most beautiful beach in Pula is Hawaii Beach. One glance it all it takes and you’ll be heading straight there and forgetting the others. Hawaii Beach is almost hidden within Principina Cove and the colours are breathtaking. Many people can enjoy cliff jumping Pula Croatia, sunbathing in the centre, swimming in crystal water or eye-bulging from above. Trust me, this is the best beach in Pula Croatia.
This is the beach photos of Pula Croatia you need to take and hang them up at home!
For a luxurious stay near the luxurious beach, look for availability at Park Plaza Arena Pula just a few minutes walk away.
Beach Svjetionik
This is the lighthouse beach because it has a lighthouse that overlooks it to the left. To the right there is a restaurant with spectacular sea views selling seafood and big steaks (for big prices). It is another stone beach backed by huge cliffs where you can watch the waves crashing.
Histria Beach Pula
Histria Beach was a sight to behold and an atmosphere to absorb. It is located next to Hotel Park Plaza Histria and has many sports facilities including the option to rent a paddle board which you can use around Verudela peninsula. For somewhere to relax there are rocks, concrete, stairs and pebbles to choose from. To the left of the beach is the high steps leading to the hotel.
While at Verudela, check out the Aquarium which is privately owned and home to lots of marine life including the Marine Turtle Rescue Centre and at night, catch a dolphin sunset cruise:
Beaches in Stoja
How to Get to Stoja
Walk: It will take you about 30 minutes to get to the area of Stoja but if you want to go to a few beaches, I advise to save your energy for walking the coast and swimming.
Uber: Uber costs just 32 Kuna from Pula Bus Station to Valsaline Beach (in Stoja) one way.
Bus: I recommend taking the local bus. Read on for directions:
From the Giardini bus station in Pula old town, take bus number 4.
Frequency: Bus 4 comes every 20 minutes.
Price: 11 Kuna per person, per way and you can pay the driver (take cash, and the correct if possible)!
Duration: It takes about 20 minutes each way.
Valkane Beach
The first beach in Stoja to visit is Valkane boasting concrete, stones, rocks, steps, and a tiny bit of sand to choose from for your beach spot (one of the only places for sandy beaches in Pula Croatia). There are toilet facilities, parking Pula Croatia is easy here, sports facilities, a pier, floating playground in the summer, a restaurant and bar at this beach.
Looking directly at Valkane Beach, take a left and walk the loop around either the path or the rocks. We chose to walk the rocks route where we were able to find things you can’t get from the path like graffiti art, metal steps to the sea, a lizard and crabs!
Click here to compare accommodation in the Pula region!
Gortanova Uvala / Gortan Cove
Note: On Google Maps this place also comes up as Strand Pula or Pula Beach in Pula.
If you walked the path/rocks around the loop, you’ll arrive at Gortan Cove which is a small inlet with dazzling ocean colours. This is a pebbled beach with large rocky steps leading to the top where you can find a restaurant/bar, car parking, bins and toilet facilities. Note: You must pay 20 Kuna to use the toilets (which were among some of the worst toilets I’ve ever used).
There are many other parts around this coast where you can discover and there are usually steps to help you but it’s not ideal to set up for the day as there are no facilities available.
Valsaline Beach Pula
For one of the best beaches Pula Croatia has to offer, this has to be it. It’s definitely the best beach in Stoja Pula Croatia to visit! It has pebbles, concrete walls and rocks to sit on. There are various access points from the road, path, rocks and gravel.
The best things to do at the beach are found at Valsaline. These include Snorkeling Pula Croatia and diving in Pula Croatia, one of the best small boardwalks, little fishing boats, where you can rent a boat in Pula Croatia, excursion options like kayaking Pula Croatia, woods on either side of the beach, clear and turquoise water, beach bars and restaurants, lots of space to sunbathe and read and a bit of a welcomed breeze. There is ample parking.
Valsaline is home to various log cabins and accommodation including the affordable Youth Hostel just five steps from the beach! I seen a group of young people who were staying at the hostel hanging out on the beach and were able to use the facilities in their hostel because their beach space was directly in front. Click here for latest prices and availability of the Pula Youth Hostel.
Head out to a place called ‘Mornar Beach’ for stunning views of Valsaline.
Saccorgiana Beach Pula
Saccorgiana Beach and Cove is the beach between Verudela and Stoja and holds the entertainment value, located in a resort with hotels such as the Splendid Hotel Pula Croatia.
This pebbled beach is large, has woodlands surrounding it, accessible ways to reach the stones/water, paths, beach umbrella shades, ropes surrounding a Pula sand beach area, sports courts and facilities, toilet facilities, beach bars and restaurants. This is also where Zeppelin, the beach club with chairs, tables and live music, is located.
If you continue on the path adjacent to the beach, you will eventually reach Ambrela Beach in Verudela and if you are walking the coastal path like I did, you can get that 3a bus back to Pula centre.
There are other parts of the coast to visit too including Stoja Beach Pula Croatia, Cyclone Beach, Seagull Rocks Pula and Valovine Beach.
Beaches in Stinjan, Banjole, and Fazana
Belonging to Pula is the suburb of Stinjan which is also the home of many beaches in Pula. Take bus number 5 from Pula for the best beach near Pula Croatia.
More best beaches in Croatia Pula to visit include Stinjan Cove, Valmaggiore Beach, Lost Beach and. If visiting in summer you’ll be lucky enough to go to Day of the Truffles (Truffle in Croatian is Tartufi which is a much better word I think)! Also check out the Punta Christo Lighthouse while in Stinjan.
From Stinjan you can reach Farzana and then travel onwards to the Brijuni Islands which is a great stop after you visit Pula Croatia.
In Fazana there are beaches such as Beach Valbandon and Batana Beach.
Further south than Pula, you can visit Banjole. Beaches in Banjole include Banjole Beach, Centinera Beach, and Pješčana Uvala (this is the best you will find for sandy beaches in Pula).
Kamenjak is the southern most point in Pula, Istria so you can also visit here for a beach near Pula Croatia.
All of the aforementioned beaches Pula Croatia have to offer are pinned on the map at the start of this Pula Croatia beaches blog.
Accomodation in Pula Croatia
My accommodation, Biba Apartments, was one of the best places to stay in Pula Croatia for backpackers. It was right next to the Pula bus station, just a short walk into town and of course close to the bus stops to easily access the best beaches Pula holds.
If you prefer to stay somewhere bigger or closer to the beaches like beach hotels in Pula Croatia mentioned previously, see maps Pula Croatia on booking below for your holidays in Pula Croatia.
Booking.comDay Tours from Pula Croatia
If you’re wondering what is Pula Croatia like, it has a laidback attitude, world-class cuisine, a town steeped in history, a marina full of life and of course beaches worth of postcard pictures of Pula Croatia. If moving on, try some excursions from Pula Croatia.
Now you know the best beaches around Pula, are you convinced to go here on holiday?
I Like To Pin it, Pin it!
We are literally just back from a holiday to Croatia and had an amazing time, but unfortunately we didn’t manage to get to Pula. The area is absolutely beautiful and it was great to get so much practical info about visiting the beaches and also the excursions available. We, too, noticed the large number of cats in Croatia! Thanks for this very useful guide.
Beautiful pictures of the beaches! Lots of good practical information here, too. Out of curiosity, is Hawaii beach named after the American state or is it something else?
Absolutely beautiful beaches! Croatia is incredible.
Totally agree!
Northern Croatia certainly seems a fantastic place for beaches I have always heard about Croatias lovely beaches I must visit one day.
What a magnificent post – lots of info on every beach with important info on bus routes, toilet facilities and eateries especially. I feel as if I’ve now visited them myself! Good that you have given all this info so people can make an informed decision about which one they would prefer, rather than taking pot-luck at one and finding out it is not what you were expecting.
I’ll certainly keep this post as I want to visit Pula for the amphitheatre and historic centre.