Croatia is famous for crystal-clear water — but most of its beaches are pebble or rock. Real sand is rare here, which makes the handful of white-sand bays around Pula feel like a genuine discovery. The best of them aren’t reachable by car at all; you get there by sea. That is exactly why a boat turns an ordinary beach day into something you’ll remember. From our base at Marina Veruda in Pula, every bay below is within comfortable cruising range for a day trip or an overnight island-hop aboard one of our Leidi boats.
Here are five sandy bays we love most — starting right on our doorstep in Medulin Bay and working south into the Kvarner islands.
1. Levan Island — a sandy beach right in Medulin Bay
Levan is the closest sandy escape to Pula. This tiny islet sits in the middle of Medulin Bay, ringed by a rare natural sand beach with shallow, generally calm water — unusual for this stretch of Istria. You can stroll a full loop of the island in 10–15 minutes, past low dunes and rocky edges with wide views back to the mainland. There are a couple of beach bars and simple restaurants right on the sand for a long, lazy lunch and a sunset aperitif.
Levan is lively and social — think music, sunbeds and cocktails rather than untouched wilderness — so it’s perfect for a fun half-day. Come early or towards evening to enjoy the sand before the excursion crowds arrive. By boat it’s a short, easy hop from Pula, and anchoring offshore lets you swim away from the busiest patch of sand.
- Good for: families, a social beach-bar vibe, an easy first stop
- Watch out for: the sand doesn’t extend far into the sea — mind the rocks underfoot
2. Susak — the sand island with two famous bays
Susak is unlike anywhere else in the Adriatic: the whole island is built from a thick layer of fine sand laid over a limestone base, so its beaches are genuinely sandy through and through. Car-free, green and wonderfully quiet, it rewards the slightly longer sail south from Pula. Two bays make it famous.
Spiaza — the big, shallow family bay
Spiaza is a wide arc of soft sand beside the main village, stretching over a kilometre. The water stays shallow and warm a long way out — ideal for children and lazy floating — and you can rent loungers and umbrellas. It’s the island’s most popular beach, so expect company in peak season.
Bok — the quieter, sheltered sister
Bok lies on the eastern side near the harbour: smaller, still sandy and shallow, with fewer facilities and a calmer feel. It’s a well-protected spot to anchor — though because the sand reaches far offshore, drop your anchor with plenty of distance from the shore so you don’t run aground.
- Good for: the only truly sandy island in the region, families, a barefoot escape
3. Ilovik — Paržine bay on the south side
Known as the “Flower Island” for its oleander, pines and olive groves, Ilovik sits at the southern tip of the Lošinj archipelago. Its largest and best-loved beach is Paržine, on the south-eastern side — a sandy bay backed by pine trees with a shallow, sandy seabed perfect for swimming. It’s a popular, uninhabited anchorage sheltered from northerly winds, so it’s a favourite overnight stop for boaters. There are no facilities on the beach itself, so bring water and take your litter home — part of what keeps it so unspoiled.
- Good for: a peaceful sandy anchorage, snorkelling, an overnight under the stars
4. Mali Lošinj — Krivica bay
Krivica is a sheltered, curved cove on the south-west coast of Mali Lošinj, so well protected by its shape that boaters call it a natural harbour. Often compared to the “Croatian Maldives,” it’s loved for emerald, crystal-clear water over a pale sandy seabed and a backdrop of dense pine forest. Reachable by boat (or a scenic 30-minute hike from the road), it’s a magical place to anchor, swim and snorkel in calm, glassy water. It can fill with yachts in high summer — arrive earlier in the day for the quietest, clearest conditions.
Good for: a sheltered swim stop, photographers, that postcard turquoise colour
5. Unije — Maracol bay
Unije is the most westerly of Croatia’s islands — car-free, scented with rosemary and lavender, and ringed with quiet coves. The large, sheltered bay of Maracol is its best-known anchorage: clear, shallow, swimmable water with a sandy bottom that holds an anchor well, plus mooring buoys and leafy shade ashore. The village is a short walk away. It makes a perfect lunch-and-swim stop on a longer island-hopping route between Pula, Susak and Lošinj.
- Good for: solitude, a secure anchorage, a relaxed swim with a village nearby
Plan your sandy-bay day by boat from Pula
The beauty of these bays is the freedom to chase the calmest water and the softest sand on the day. With a boat from Higanas Boats in Pula, you can start in Medulin Bay at Levan, then point south for the Kvarner islands — Unije, Susak, Lošinj and Ilovik — at your own pace. Our award-winning Leidi 660 and Leidi 800R are built for the Adriatic and easy to handle, and we offer a local skipper if you’d prefer to simply relax and swim.
Ready to find your own patch of white sand? Rent a boat in Pula with Higanas Boats and we’ll help you plan the perfect route.
FAQ
Are there real sandy beaches near Pula? Yes, though they’re rare. Levan island in Medulin Bay is the closest; the island of Susak, plus bays on Ilovik, Mali Lošinj and Unije, offer the best sand within a boat trip.
Do I need a licence to rent a boat? For our motor boats a valid boating licence is required, or you can book with our local skipper.
When is the best time to go? Late spring to early autumn (roughly May–October), with the calmest, clearest water often in the morning.