Beaches in Pula: Guide for the perfect beach vacation
Are you visiting Istria and want to know where the best beaches in Pula are? Then you’ve come to the right place. In summer the largest region of Istria comes to life, when the beaches in Pula are visited by vacationers from all over the world. But you can also find quiet bays and great excursion destinations.
Pula is the largest and oldest city in the Croatian region of Istria. The enchanting coastal city welcomes you with numerous charming alleys, several historical sights and of course beautiful swimming spots and great beaches. Whether picturesque bay, small natural pebble beaches or turquoise blue water – beaches in and around Pula offers you the whole package. Some of them are even awarded with the blue flag, which stands for extra good water and beach quality.
So you can easily find these places, I have compiled a list of Pula’s most beautiful beaches in this article, which you shouldn’t skip when planning your trip!
But first the question needs to be asked: are there any beaches in Pula itself?
The good news beforehand: Yes, there are plenty of options for a great beach day in Pula, but none of the beaches are located in the city center. You have to walk at least 30 minutes to reach one of the beaches or use public transport. You can find the timetable of the local bus company PulaPromet here.
What you should know in advance at this point: There are no sandy beaches here! The only sandy beach in the region is located 10km outside of Pula in Medulin.
What are the beaches in Pula like when there are no sandy beaches?
The beaches in Pula are located on long rocky coasts. Mostly they are surrounded by pine trees and have a shallow entrance into the water and pebble beaches. Some are a bit stonier than others, but one thing I can say is that in Pula every beach has its own charm. The crystal clear sea of the Adriatic is simply unbeatable!
Table of contents – Beaches in Pula Overview
Galebove stijene, (Pula Cave), Stoja
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Gortanova uvala, Lungomare
Gortanova uvala or Gortan Beach is a white pebble beach and is located directly on the promenade of Lungomare. Surrounded by pines and pine trees, the bay is very popular especially among locals. The entrance into the water here is shallow and clear, so Gortan Beach is also well suited for families with children or non-swimmers. At high times, however, it might be difficult to find a nice spot on the beach, but around the shore there are plenty of places to spread out your towel on the rocky plateaus.
By the way, Gortanova uvala is one of the beaches in Pula that has showers and changing rooms during the high season. There is also a small beach bar that provides ice cream and snacks, so you can spend a beach day here carefree with everything your heart desires.
Nearby is the Laveruda Apartment, which is in a great location, especially if you are traveling without a car. It is only 900m away from the center of Pula and at least 3 beaches on this list are within walking distance!
Valkane, Lungomare
Valkane Beach is one of the easiest beaches to reach in Pula. It is the closest to the city center, so it is very easy to visit it on a walk if you are staying in a hotel or accommodation directly in Pula.
The beach itself is well equipped. There are showers, changing room, lifeguards, even a playground and a wheelchair ramp can be found here. There are enough shade places under the green pine trees behind the beach. There are also some beach bars.
However, you should not expect a great white sandy beach here, because in fact Valkane is mainly a concrete beach. You have to like this charm. For us, unfortunately, it was not the right thing. Don’t worry, it is usually not as wavy as in my photo.
Ambrela, Verudela
Ambrela beach is one of the most popular beaches in Pula and is located just a few kilometers outside of Pula on the Verudela peninsula. If you are traveling without a car, you can get here easily with public transportation. From the city center you can take the bus to the terminal station Verudela. If you turn right at the E&D restaurant and walk to the end of the street, you will reach Ambrela beach.
Beach umbrellas and deck chairs can be rented on the beach. Various sports and water activities are also offered. Shade can be found in the nearby pine forest. With its crystal clear water, this Pula beach earns the blue flag year after year and impresses with a beautiful bay and great views. By the way, the rocks on the sides also make a great photo backdrop. However, Ambrela Beach is also really well visited in the summer and especially popular with families.
Histria, Verudela
Histria beach is another pebble beach on the Verudela peninsula. It is a small rocky beach, but it is really beautiful. There are a couple of sunbeds that you can rent here. You can also find changing rooms and a water bouncy castle for the kids. Again, take the PulaPromet to Verudela, but then follow the signs that lead you to the Plaza Hotel, because the Park Plaza Histria is located just behind the bay.
The shallow beach has a gentle entrance into the water and is easily accessible for smaller children or older people. For me, it was one of the most beautiful beaches in Pula – however, as almost everywhere in this popular vacation region, it gets crowded quickly in the summer. Especially because of the hotel, which is located directly behind the beach. So you should be here early for a good spot or explore Pula in during the off-season.
Hawaii Beach, Verudela
This small, picturesque bay with pebble beach and a shallow entrance into the turquoise water, is what many consider as one of the most breathtaking beaches in Pula. The beach is surrounded by rock formations and with its turquoise water, true vacation feelings arise here directly. If you arrive here early in the morning and have the chance to experience the bay without crowds, you will get a picture like out of a travel catalog.
In total, the beach is only about 100m long and therefore fills up with people quickly – so it is worth to be here early. If you don’t mind a bit of climbing, you can certainly find a place to sunbathe on the surrounding rock formations.
By the way, there is no natural shade on the beach itself. However, just behind the bay is a pine forest, if the midday sun gets a little too strong.
Valsaline Beach, Verudela
The beach of Valsaline Beach is located between Verudela and Lungomare and is the base for many activities in Pula and offers opportunities for snorkeling, kayaking and swimming. Here you can expect a small fine beach promenade and picturesque fishing boats.
There are a few hostels nearby, so the crowd at the beach tends to be a bit younger. If you’re backpacking through Europe and want to stay close to the beach, Valsaline Beach accommodation could be a great option for you.
Galebove stijene, (Pula Cave), Stoja
This rocky beach is one of the most famous beaches in Pula. At first sight it seems to be rocks only, but what makes this beach so unique is the Galebijana cave or Pula cave.
The cave can be visited without any danger and is the destination of many kayak and paddleboard tours. With a flashlight in hand, this is a really cool vacation experience. If you dare, you can jump off the cliffs or simply go exploring with snorkel and fins!
Right next to the cave – just one bay away is the beach of Ciklonska – a small pebble beach with crystal clear blue water. So if you don’t dare to go into the grotto or dive down the cliffs, you can also spend a great day swimming here.
Port Punta Christo
This wild place offers tranquility, sea nature and hidden corners – however, it is located outside Pula and can be reached more or less only by car.
For those who love hiking and walking amidst nature and greenery this is the right place. The beaches are almost deserted, there is a bar in hippie style – but nothing more. The most famous photo spot here is the iconic suspension bridge, which you can see on many Instagram pictures – however, it was not in the best condition when we visited and according to current reviews on Tripadvisor, it is currently being restored.
Levan Island, Medulin
The island of Levan is a small island near Ližnjan. It is located in the Medulin archipelago and with its sandy beach it brings the Caribbean feeling to Istria. So if you want to experience one of the few sandy beaches around Pula, this is the right place. However, the sand does not reach into the water – therefore, bathing shoes are recommended here, because otherwise it is quite slippery on the rocks lying in the sea.
This beach is also a bit outside of Pula. But it is not a problem at all if you don’t have a car. If you can make it to Medulin by city bus, you can visit the island by boat tour or by taxi-boat. I recommend to avoid the times when the excursion boats are on the way and rather use a taxi-boat. The crossing costs in something like 30kn per person. Otherwise, the island is simply too crowded. If necessary, have your own beach shell or blankets with you, because sunbeds are rented here at a very high price. It is a tourist island. However, if you catch it at a right time, it really is beautiful here and worth a trip.
Conclusion: Beaches in Pula are great for a beach vacation, but the region has much more to offer!
Pula is super suitable for a beach vacation. The beaches are mostly shallow and you can go rather far into the water before it gets really deep. So even with kids you can spend the whole day at the sea, but a visit to the beach is only one of many things you should do in the area! That’s why I’ve also put together a list of my top sightseeing destinations and photo spots in Istria.
So if you expect more from your vacation than just lying on the beach, this is the place to be:
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Beaches in Pula: Guide for the perfect beach vacation
