Let's face it, we all love to visit the beach during the holidays, even if we can enjoy the luxury of a private pool in our holiday villa, and our four-legged friends are no exception! :
The question is,
where are dogs allowed to go? Well there's plenty of good news as
Istria is actually a very dog-friendly region and out of season almost all beaches allow dogs. The
seasonal dog ban on all the Blue Flag, as well as main resort beaches is generally from Easter day through to the 1st October (1st June to the 15th September in Pula and Medulin area).
It does include some of the best tourist beaches in Istria, however
all the “wild“ beaches, that many people actually find even more beautiful,
are free for you and your dog to explore and have fun on. They are more secluded and lack facilities but for this reason they are also less popular for crowds of tourists, so you’ll find plenty of space for your dog to run around. Make sure you check the signs though, as some beaches are only off-leash in certain areas and at specific times.
Another useful thing to note is that
Medulin and Pula (unofficially other towns as well)
allow pets on all beaches from 8 pm till 8 am, regardless the season.
To make your holiday planning easier, we've sorted a list of the official pet-friendly beaches in Istria divided into regions from east to west coast. For everyone listed below there are nearly ten other fantastic wild beaches where you can take your dog. So, get out there and soak up that fresh sea air - your friend will be forever grateful for all the fun :)
Labin and Rabac
No official dog beaches here, however pets are welcome all year round, without restrictions on all the beaches along this beautiful stretch of coastline, except for the main resort beaches, as well as the beaches awarded with the Blue Flag certificate.
To visit them all, without having to drive long, be sure to check out our fantastic range of
dog friendly villas in Labin and Rabac.
Medulin
Camp Kazela
This 2 km long
shingle and rocky beach has a restricted pet-friendly area equipped with dog waste bins. So just make sure you don't let your dog go into areas where pets are not allowed and you both will have a wonderful time:) Plenty of facilities are available nearby including a beach bar, coffeehouse and a restaurant, ice cream and fast food parlour, grocery shop and newspaper stand. Sports activities include beach volleyball, windsurfing, table tennis, tennis, trampoline, playground and swimming pools for children, as well as a diving centre and boat rental.
The camp is within a walking or a short driving distance from our
pet-friendly villas in Medulin.
Pula
Lighthouse beach (Svjetionik) on the Verudela peninsula is a lovely
rocky beach with an amazing view out to the open sea and your pooch will love sniffing around here and plunging into the water with you. Due to the rocky coast it is more suitable for adventurers, but there is a restaurant, toilets and a parking lot just above the beach.
Saccorgiana is located in a small sheltered cove fringed by a fragrant Mediterranean forest offering plenty of natural shade. This lovely family beach
with both pebbles and rocky areas is very popular among the locals and features various facilities including a beach bar, massages, sunbeds for rent, water playground for kids and a mini-football field. A natural playground for all including the family dog!
Beach section next to the
Splendid Resort on the
rocky coastline of Golden Rocks (Zlatne stijene) welcomes our furry friends and has even doggy waste bins at disposal. The long promenade just above is perfect for relaxing walks with beautiful sea views.
Galebove stijene (Seagull's Rocks) is an amazing
rocky beach on the Stoja peninsula with high cliffs suitable for the more adventurous and active, agile dogs who can't wait to leap into the turquoise blue sea.
There is one more official dog beach on the opposite side of Pula (Stinjan) within the very modern beach complex of
Hidrobaza. The complex has several distinct components: beach, sport, recreation and natural areas with elements like pebbly coves, natural and build coastal structures, skate & BMX park, climbing area and basketball and beach volleyball court, playground with custom-made equipment, picnic area and lawns.
In Peroj there are
two dog beaches, of which the newly opened beach in Portic is fully equipped to host your four-legged friend. The beach is equipped with shaded tents, a special pet shower and additional garbage cans.
After a fun day at a beach, head back in a jiff to the comforts of your
pet-friendly villa in Pula.
Cape Kamenjak and Premantura
This entire spectacular nature reserve with
more than 20km of coastline boasting
large and small pebbled and sandy coves, alternating with imposing rocks is a perfect place for your dog to have an adventure. However, if you want to be close to tourist amenities there are two beaches with dog-friendly sections available:
Camping Arena Stupice situated 12 kilometres south of Pula in the direction of Premantura within a rich pine forest. It has a
stone and gravel beach with a splendid view of numerous small islands around the archipelago. The camp includes a restaurant and a sea-front bar as well as a grocery and souvenir shop, newspaper stand, Wi-Fi, accessible toilet facilities for disabled and a children’s playground. Various activities are also on offer, including five-a-side football, tennis, volleyball and minigolf, as well as a sports centre with windsurfing lessons, rental of small boats, bicycles and pedal boats.
The rocky
Beach Mala Kolumbarica in one of the numerous Kamenjak coves. It is perfect for snorkelling, underwater diving, windsurfing, and cliff jumping, but it also has an imaginatively crafted beach bar with snacks, light meals and refreshments of all kinds. Children’s playground and a public car park are located very close to the bar.
Rovinj
Rovinj is
definitely the most dog-friendly town in Istria with the
largest number of official dog beaches, including the additional facilities:
Within the idyllic
Zlatni rt (Golden Cape) Forest Park stretches the
300 m long rocky and pebbly beach of
Lone Bay, enjoying the breath-taking view of the impressive old town. It is home to two official dog beaches with extra facilities like dog washing station and doggy waste bins, as well as a designated dog bar so it has everything you need for a memorable day out with the pooch. Plenty of natural shade for both you and your furry friend as well. The sea is easily accessible making it ideal even for less mobile people and families with small children. Numerous facilities are available: ice cream and fast food parlour, café and beach bar, restaurant, grocery store, shop with beach items, beach chair and umbrella rental, showers, changing rooms, public toilets and lifeguard service. Activities include: beach volleyball, windsurfing and tubing, as well as bike, jet-ski, pedal and banana boat rental.
The dog beach at the
Cuvi Bay, about 3 kilometres from Rovinj, is also very popular among the dog owners. It is a
partly rocky, partly pebbly beach with fine gravel and slopes that fall gently into the crystal-clear sea making it a delightful and safe place for families and dogs alike. The rich, fragrant pine forest provides welcome natural shade and the numerous cafés and restaurants will be busy making sure your comforts are well catered for. Near the beach there are showers, changing rooms, toilets and public parking, as well as a water sports centre and beach chair and umbrella rental. Activities include also beach volleyball, snorkelling, children´s playground and trampoline all supervised by a professional lifeguard during the summer months.
There is a dog beach section with dog showers in the beautiful
Camp Polari. The beach has a
combination of rocks, stones and gravel and the rich tourist infrastructure includes: showers, toilets, public parking, ice cream parlour, beach bar, coffeehouse and restaurant, grocery store, as well as diving and water sports centre, boat, bike and beach chair rentals, first aid and lifeguard service. Plenty of activities are available: beach volleyball, snorkelling, windsurfing, tennis, inflatable floating island and children´s playground.
The southernmost part of the
sheltered rocky and pebbly Beach Borik is reserved for dogs. The surrounding pine forest offers a very inviting shade for a longer day at the beach with your furry friend and you don’t need to worry about bringing refreshments with you as there is a restaurant, beach bar and a café available, as well as showers, changing rooms and a public parking.
There are no restrictions for dogs on the gorgeous
Skaraba Beach. It is located
on the southern border of the Zlatni rt Forest Park within a beautiful pine forest and characterized by crystal clear waters and a
rocky shoreline, perfect for sunbathing and cliff jumping. Due to its many rocks it is more suitable for adult swimmers and active dogs, however there is a pebble inlet near the parking lot combined with a large paved area and a pier, offering a gently sloping access to the sea. Beside the restaurant at the nearby Cape Kurent and the restaurant at Konsun Bay there are no facilities nearby.
Dogs can use the beach in designated areas of the wonderful
Vestar Beach. This sheltered bay has
both sandy and fine pebble beaches and very calm waters making it suitable for families with small children as well. Being part of the Vestar campsite, the beach offers a wide range of facilities and services, including a small marina for boat owners. There is a daily entrance fee of 3 € per person.
These beautiful spots are not far from our
dog-friendly villas in Rovinj, so it's easy to choose the perfect base for your villa holiday.
Porec
The excellent
Camp Bijela Uvala (White Bay) has a designated dog-friendly area with the extra benefit of a dog washing station. The camp boasts modern sanitary facilities, shops, restaurants, sport and entertainment centres, as well as a small harbour. Additional entertainment and fun can be found in the Zelena Laguna Resort, which is superbly equipped with sports centres, shops, restaurants and cafés, as well as summer terraces with dance music.
On the attractive
1500 m long coast of the naturist
Istra Sunny Camping, you'll find
pebbly and rocky naturist beaches with rocky sunbathing areas, a special area for children, and a beach for your pet. However, only guests without swimsuits or clothes are allowed to stay on the beach. You can admire the fantastic panoramic views stretching from the hilly coastal town of Vrsar in the south to the northernmost island of the Vrsar archipelago and relax in the shade of mature holm oaks. Active guests can rent a pedal boat or beach canoe from the sports centre.
The dog-friendly beach
Blue Moon by the Hotel 'Laguna Materada' is
paved and full of walking paths. It is a fantastic place for all our four-legged friends to enjoy, as it is backed by a spacious lawn area where they can roam free after a refreshing dip in the emerald blue sea. There are plenty of facilities nearby including two terraced dog friendly cafes, ice cream and fast food parlours, showers, changing rooms, public parking, water sports centre, beach chair and umbrella rental and lifeguard service. Beach volleyball, tubing, jet-ski, banana boats, fly board, pedal boats and children´s playground are also at disposal.
Beach Ulika is a magnificent,
predominantly rocky beach with concrete plateaus near Cervar. It has a designated dog-friendly section and is surrounded by a beautiful pine forest, as well as spacious lawn areas ideal for a fun-filled family day out which your four-legged family member can enjoy too. It is equipped with a vast range of facilities and a very rich offer of interesting sports activities.
Why not visit them all as they are at an easy distance from our
dog friendly villas in Porec.
Umag
The long stretch of
Sol Polynesia Beach is ideal for an enjoyable day out with the entire family. Since it has a
designated dog-friendly area with a dog washing station your tail-wagger won’t have to miss out the fun too:) The beach is divided into paved, pebbled and rocky areas and fringed by a fragrant pine forest providing natural shade. It offers a superb range of sports activities, as well as showers, changing cabins and several bars and restaurants. Just above the beach you will find the Umag Tennis Academy, as well as a volleyball court, a small children's playground and a water sports centre. Beach volleyball tournaments are organised frequently and near the beach are also two outdoor pools and spacious lawn areas perfect for playing soccer or badminton.
Dogs are very welcome in one area of the excellent
Stella Maris Beach. This
fine gravel beach is located cca. 5 km from the city centre of Umag, just below the ATP Stadium. The gentle sea access and the rich pine forest make it particularly inviting for families with small children. A very wide range of amenities, as well as plentiful sports activities are available and between June and September professional lifeguards ensure the safety of all the guests. There are numerous bars and restaurants nearby, the main attraction however is the pool with a pirate ship.
Pets are allowed in the
designated areas of the beach of
CampingIN Park Umag, with a dog washing station available as well. This eco-friendly campsite features a beautiful green park with indigenous plants, as well as countless family and sports activities and excellent facilities.
There is another dog beach
on the shores of Savudrija, just north of the nineteenth century lighthouse, within the beautiful
Bay of Ravno. The surrounding pine forest provides plenty of shade and the benefit of dog showers make it particularly popular with dog owners. The beach is interspersed with natural rocks and stones, however due to its sandy seabed it is suitable also for families with children and older people. Various tourist facilities and sports activities are also available nearby. You will have a great time searching for shells on the beach with your best friend.
One of the most attractive beaches in Istria – the fabulous
Kanegra Beach – has an
area assigned for our four-legged friends as well. It is surrounded by a lush green forest creating a unique atmosphere, perfect for relaxation and real pleasure for the entire family. The beach is covered with fine pebbles sloping gently into the sea and is ideal for families with small children. The nearby resort offers many bars and restaurants as well as plentiful sports, recreation and tourist facilities.
If these beautiful beaches have enticed you to visit the Istrian coast, then make sure you check out our fantastic selection of
pet friendly villas in Umag.
Martina Cacic
29.03.2019
MY ISTRIA GUIDE
