Beaches, Dubrovnik

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Yes, they say there are beaches where you can swim, and not have to venture out to the suburbs. I found some "rustic" and hard to get to, but below are the locations. Few have sand, since the coast is mostly rock.

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Babin Kuk has the most popular beach in Dubrovnik. But it's not much space in front of the water, so make sure to be there before 11 AM to get closer to the water. All the beds and parasols are occupied after this time.

Babin Kuk is also a calm and well visited place for families with children and retired people. But wonder how it can be so popular for children when it's no sandy beaches there. I saw a lot of small children with problems when they walked on the rubble stones to get into the water. They were standing there, screaming for their dad to carry them into the water. All the beaches in Dubrovnik has rubble stones.

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All the beaches in Dubrovnik has rubble stones. No sandy beaches. Dubrava is on the other side of the headland north of Babin Kuk. The area is a popular recreation place, and the waterside is nice. But it's maybe too far away from the city.

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I loved the uncrowded rocky beaches!! There are tons to chose from and most have nearby accomodations. If this isn't your cup of tea, then there are plenty of little hidden wild beaches that will satisfy your needs.

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My hotel was situated on Lapad Bay which is about 4 km from the old town, it takes about 15 mins by bus. The area is a mixture of hotels & residential properties. The rocky bay has pebble beaches, which weren't too packed when I was there. A path goes round the bay giving views of the area, the bay is an ideal place to watch the sunset. Lapad has plenty of bars & cafes to sit at, it is a relaxing area within easy reach of the city.

Our favorite beach during a visit to Dubrovnik was Copacabana beach. No swathes of sand but enough space and a few activities that your sons will enjoy.
http://www.croatia-beaches.com/family/dubrovnik_copacabana_beach.htm

The Lapad beach is bigger but we found it too crowded to enjoy, still it is worth exploring. The weblink states that Lapad beach is sandy but we only found the sand in the water, good for paddling though.

I recommend a trip to Lopud island for a real treat, two beaches on the island, one in the main settlement is a mix of shale/sand and another-sunj bay- is a really good sandy beach. We did this as part of a three island tour which was a great day out. The three island tour will not give you the chance to explore all of Lopud and get on the beaches but you can decide which is best - a 3 island trip or stick to Lopud. Many operators offered this from the harbour where I guess you will dock but the one we took left from outside the Hotel Lapad and was great. This will be on the opposite side of the Graz harbour where I expect you will dock.

Make sure you take beach shoes with you or buy them there and snorkel&mask for the boys. The beaches without sand are crystal clear and great for exploring.

You can find just about every type of beach in and around Dubrovnik. Here were my favorites:

Rock Beaches: These beaches had large rocks, going directly into fairly deep water. Some had ladders as well. Watch out for sea urchins!! They can ruin a trip
LOKRUM: Closest island, cheapest to get to. Great rock beaches with peackocks and nice view of the coast. Ladders as well.
OLD TOWN: If you walk along the city walls and look down, you can see people swimming just off the rocks. Unbelievable setting and convenient!

Pebble Beaches: Large pebbles, can make for an uncomfortable walk to the water, so beach-friendly sandals are a great bet.
NORTH OF DUBROVNIK: We found some great pebble beaches on a drive up the coast, about 20 minutes north (?). One of them had a small bar and restaurant. All were visible from the road. Beautiful, clear water. Kid friendly, no urchins.
CITY BEACH: I'm not sure if this is the correct name, but the beach visible from the old town, just south(?) of the walls, is a very family-oriented, LOTS of kids. Too crowded for some but probably good for family's due to its close location.

Sandy Beaches: My personal favorite, and probably the typical image conjured by thoughts of a beach vacation. No urchins, no pebbles, just pure (hot!) sand.
LOPUD: My favorite beach of all, shallow water for 50m out, pure, clear water, a few fish, Green hills surrounding, chairs and umbrellas for rent as well as a bar with food. When you get to Lopud, go to the opposite side of the island. There are signs to guide you. Great bet for everyone.

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Kupari is a small bay just outside of Dubrovnik. The beach consists of a bit of sand, but largest part are small, round rocks (can't find the English word, Dutch word is 'kiezels'). The beach is quiet and small.

Most special about this beach is the surrounding. It looks like it was a very expensive resort place before the war. There are very large hotels, beachbars, etc. but they have all become deserted ruins. Walking around there is a very special experience. It gives a spooky, ghost-town like impression (the beach itself doesn't by the way, just a small, quiet beach with some tourists). We were too affraid about stepping on a mine to really go in the buildings, but we saw a local do it, and we heard some kids play around when walking around there, so probably it's safe, but with these things I think you can never be too safe :) One of the most impressive experiences i had this vacation.