The best beaches near Pula run the full range, from easy city coves you can walk to in flip flops to wild, empty rocky bays that only open to the sea. The catch, and the thing most guides skip, is that the very best spots are the hardest to reach. The coves with nobody on them, the clearest water and the little sea caves are almost all on the boat only stretches of coast. Here is where to swim, sorted from easiest to wildest, plus how to reach the quiet ones.

A quick note on what to expect. This is the Adriatic, so most beaches here are pebble, rock or concrete bathing shelves rather than long sandy strands. What you trade in sand you gain many times over in water clarity. The sea around Pula and Cape Kamenjak is famously clean and clear, which is why snorkelling here is so good.

Beaches and coves near Pula
Beach	Type	Reachable by	Good for
Ambrela Beach (Verudela)	Blue Flag pebble beach with facilities	On foot, bus or car	Families, easy swimming, amenities
Hawaii Beach (Havajska)	Turquoise cove ringed by low cliffs	Stairs on foot	Cliff jumps and a scenic swim
Galebove stijene (Seagull Rocks)	Flat rocky sunbathing shelves	On foot	Sunbathing and deep water entry
Valkane and the Lungomare	Pebble and concrete along a seaside promenade	On foot or bike	A long coastal walk with many swim spots
Kamenjak coves (Njive, Pinizule)	Pebble and rock, wild and clear	Car, bike or boat	Wild swimming away from resorts
Hidden Kamenjak bays and caves	Empty coves and sea caves	Boat only	Total quiet and the clearest water

The easy city beaches

If you want a swim without a mission, the Verudela peninsula is your friend. Ambrela Beach carries a Blue Flag for water quality and safety, it is shallow and calm, and it has the cafes, loungers and shade that make a family day simple. Just around the headland, Hawaii Beach is the local favourite for its glowing turquoise water and low cliffs that older kids and adults love to jump from. Both are a short bus ride or drive from the centre.

For a slower afternoon, walk the Lungomare, the seaside promenade that threads south from the city past Valkane and a string of coves. You can walk, stop to swim, dry off and walk again, which is one of the most pleasant free things to do in Pula on a warm day.

The wild coves of Cape Kamenjak

Ten kilometres south of Pula, everything changes. Cape Kamenjak is a protected nature park with close to thirty kilometres of coastline and more than twenty coves and beaches, and there is not a resort in sight. The water is astonishing, the rock is dramatic, and the further you go, the emptier it gets. Some coves you can reach by car or bike along the gravel tracks. But the best of Kamenjak, the empty bays and the sea caves, open only to the sea.

That is where a boat earns its keep. On our Pula boat tours we anchor in the coves the crowds never find, swim in water you can see straight to the bottom of, and slip into the sea caves when conditions are calm. It is the difference between visiting a beach and having one to yourself.

What to bring

Water shoes. Pebble and rock entries are much kinder on bare feet with them.
A mask and snorkel, because the clarity here is wasted without one.
Shade and water. The wilder coves have no cafes or facilities, so pack what you need.
Reef safe sun cream to keep the clear water clean.

Ready to reach the quiet water? Browse our Pula boat tours, read our Cape Kamenjak guide for the wild south in detail, and see where the blue water sea caves near Pula hide. For the full picture, here is the local guide to things to do in Pula.

Frequently asked questions

What is the nicest beach near Pula?

Ambrela and Hawaii Beach on the Verudela peninsula are the best easy options, while the coves of Cape Kamenjak have the wildest, clearest water. For total quiet, the boat only bays at Kamenjak are unbeatable.

Are there sandy beaches near Pula?

Mostly the beaches here are pebble, rock or concrete shelves rather than sand. A few sandier patches exist around Kamenjak, but the real draw is how clean and clear the water is.

How do I reach the hidden coves near Pula?

By boat. Many of the best Kamenjak bays and the sea caves only open to the sea, so a boat trip from Pula is the way to reach them and swim without any crowds.

Which beach near Pula is best for families?

Ambrela Beach on Verudela is ideal, with a Blue Flag, shallow calm water and full facilities. Nearby Hawaii Beach suits families with older children who enjoy the low cliff jumps.

Is the water clean for swimming near Pula?

Yes. The Adriatic around Pula and Cape Kamenjak is known for exceptional clarity and clean water, and several local beaches hold Blue Flag status.