Beaches of Ližnjan

People arrive expecting long sandy beaches and are surprised — then, by day two, they’re glad. Our coast isn’t a resort strand. It’s nearly 28 km of indented, mostly wild shoreline: rock and pebble coves, pine trees leaning over the water, and a sea so clear you can count the pebbles under your feet. Some coves are busy and full of life, others you’ll have almost to yourself. Here’s where I send my guests.

Kuje Bay — Our Main Beaches

Kuje bay is the heart of the Ližnjan coast, a short drive or a lovely walk from the house. This is where you’ll find everything: bars, rentals and parking.

• Bura (Salbunić) — the main beach, fine gravel and pebbles, named for the bura wind that makes it a favourite with windsurfers and kitesurfers. There’s a diving centre, a floating aqua park for the kids, and you can rent paddleboards, kayaks, pedal boats, bikes and sun loungers. Parking and a seafront promenade that’s made for an evening stroll with an ice cream.
• Ližnjska plaža — a sheltered bathing spot tucked into the bay, out of the open sea. Calm, shallow, easy water — good for less confident swimmers and older guests.
• Matićev Pisak — rock and shingle with plenty of tree shade, calm shallow water and a beach bar. The liveliest of the Kuje beaches in summer, and the one families tend to settle into.

Wild Coves for a Quiet Day

Drive five or ten minutes past the busy beaches and you find the real magic — coves where it’s just you, the pines, and the Kvarner islands on the horizon.

• Punta Uljeva (Cape Uljeva) — a wild, natural pebble beach with big flat rocks to sunbathe on and wide-open views over the sea. Divers know it too: there are registered shipwrecks in these waters.
• Uvala Kala — a quiet cove of coarse shingle, warm and calm, and a favourite anchorage for boaters. It’s a little awkward to get to from land, which is exactly why it stays so peaceful.
• Mala Draga — small and secluded, reached by a forest path, car or boat. Serene, with almost no one around. Bring everything you need; there’s nothing here but the sea.
• Marlera — a quiet pebble beach out toward the old lighthouse, one of the prettiest in the village and a superb spot for snorkelling and diving. Worth its own trip — see below.

The Nearest Sandy Beach

If the little ones really want sand, Bijeca in Medulin is the answer — a long, shallow, genuinely sandy beach where children can wade out a long way in warm, calm water. It’s the biggest family beach in the area and only about 3 km away.

For something special, take a taxi boat from the Medulin seafront out to Levan island — a tiny island with a rare sandy beach and a couple of easygoing beach bars. The crossing is short; the day out feels much bigger than it is.

Kamenjak — The Wild Ones

About 25 minutes south, at Istria’s very tip, Cape Kamenjak is a protected stretch of wild coast with dozens of coves — cliffs to jump from, pine shade, snorkelling, and the famous Safari Bar hidden in the bush. Cars pay an entry fee in season; cyclists and pedestrians get in free all year. Check the current rate at kamenjak.hr.

Snorkelling, Wind & Water

Our rocky bottoms are wonderful for snorkelling — good visibility and plenty of life once you put your face in the water. When the bura blows, Kuje bay turns into a kite- and windsurf playground. And offshore lies the wreck of the Cesare Rossarol, an Italian scout cruiser that hit a mine and broke in two in 1918 — a memorial to her sailors stands out at Cape Munat, the very headland our street is named for. Local diving centres run trips to the wreck and the reefs off Marlera, where a rare seagrass meadow grows on the seabed.

A Few Honest Tips

• These are rocky and pebble beaches — a pair of water shoes makes everything easier, especially for children.
• The wild coves have no facilities — bring water, shade and snacks.
• Mornings and late afternoons are magic; midday sun in July and August is fierce.
• I’ll happily mark my own favourite hidden spots on a map when you arrive — some of the best coves have no name on any sign.

See Also

• Ližnjan Village — your home base, the village and its history
• Cape Marlera Lighthouse — a sunset walk to the 19th-century lighthouse
• Levan Island — a boat trip to a sandy island beach
• Cape Kamenjak — the wildest beaches in Istria