Most beaches in Dubrovnik are pebble, rock or concrete, so travellers looking for real sand need to look a little farther afield. The best true sandy beaches near Dubrovnik are Šunj on Lopud Island and the Saplunara and Blace beaches on Mljet, while several other nearby beaches combine pebbles with sandy shallows or sections of sand.
If sand is your priority, the nearby islands offer the best choices. For a wider selection of swimming spots closer to the city, see our guide to the beaches in Dubrovnik. Another option is to explore the coast independently; our guide to renting a boat in Dubrovnik covers the possibilities for reaching coves, beaches and islands by sea.
Best choices for real sand:
- Šunj Beach, Lopud – the easiest well-known sandy beach to combine with a day trip from Dubrovnik.
- Velika and Mala Saplunara, Mljet – natural sandy beaches backed by pine forest.
- Blace, Mljet – a protected sandy bay near Saplunara with a more natural setting.
Best true sandy beaches near Dubrovnik
Šunj Beach on Lopud Island
The most obvious choice for anyone searching for a proper sandy beach near Dubrovnik is Šunj Beach on Lopud Island. The broad bay has a sandy shore and a gently sloping sandy seabed, with shallow water extending well out from the beach. This makes Šunj particularly popular with families and less confident swimmers.
Lopud is one of the Elaphiti Islands and can be reached from Dubrovnik's Gruž port using the ferry to the Elaphiti Islands. From Lopud village, Šunj lies on the opposite side of the island and is reached by a walking path. Golf-cart transfers are also commonly available during the visitor season for anyone who would rather skip the walk.
The beach is well known and can become busy in summer, so arriving earlier in the day is worthwhile if you prefer a quieter swim. Lopud itself is car-free and makes an easy day trip, with waterfront cafes, restaurants and pleasant coastal walks around the village.
If you would rather combine several islands and swimming stops in one day, a boat tour is another option. See our guide to day trips from Dubrovnik for more ideas.
Half-Day Best Beaches & Bays Private Speed Boat Tour
Visit several beaches and bays around Dubrovnik on a private half-day speedboat trip.
The itinerary typically combines swimming and snorkelling around the Elaphiti Islands, with stops that can include Koločep and the sandy bay of Šunj on Lopud. A private boat is particularly useful if you want to spend more time swimming and less time following ferry schedules.
Saplunara and Blace on Mljet Island
For some of the finest natural sand in the wider Dubrovnik region, head to the southeastern end of Mljet Island. Saplunara Bay contains two sandy beaches, Velika Saplunara and Mala Saplunara, while nearby Blace, also known as Blaca Bay or Limuni, has another natural sandy beach.
Saplunara takes its name from the Latin word sabulum, meaning sand. The bay is surrounded by Mediterranean vegetation and pine forest, giving the beaches a much less urban setting than those around Dubrovnik itself. Velika Saplunara is the more developed of the beaches and has seasonal visitor services, while Mala Saplunara has a quieter feel.
Blace lies close to Saplunara and is the more natural option. The bay is known for deep deposits of sand and protected sand-dune vegetation. If you plan to walk between Saplunara and Blace, take water and sun protection, particularly during the hottest part of the summer.
Mljet is considerably farther from Dubrovnik than Lopud, so these beaches make most sense as part of a full-day trip or an overnight stay. If you arrive at Sobra by ferry, continue to Saplunara by road. Useful connections include the car ferry to Mljet and seasonal passenger services covered in our Dubrovnik to Mljet ferry guide.
If you have enough time, combine the sandy beaches in southeastern Mljet with a separate visit to Mljet National Park in the northwest of the island. They are in different parts of Mljet, so allow enough travel time rather than treating them as neighbouring attractions.
For a slower trip, you can also look for accommodation on Mljet Island and stay overnight.
8 hours Mljet Island Private Tour
Visit Mljet from Dubrovnik on a private full-day boat trip with time for swimming, snorkelling and exploring the island's bays.
Depending on the current itinerary, stops can include Saplunara, Prožurska Luka and the Mljet National Park area. Check the tour listing before booking for the latest route, inclusions and any entrance fees that are payable separately.
Other beaches with sand or mixed surfaces
Not every beach commonly described as sandy around Dubrovnik has a completely sandy shoreline. Koločep combines sandy and pebbly beaches, while Lapad Bay and Srebreno are better choices for convenience than for travellers specifically looking for a classic all-sand beach.
Beaches on Koločep Island
Koločep is the closest inhabited Elaphiti island to Dubrovnik and a good alternative if you want an island beach without travelling as far as Lopud or Mljet. The island has two main settlements, Donje Čelo and Gornje Čelo, with a mixture of sandy and pebbly swimming spots.
Koločep is green, quiet and car-free, with pine forest, olive and citrus trees and walking paths between the settlements. It is easily reached using the same Elaphiti Islands ferry services used for Lopud.
If having a long stretch of genuine sand is the main priority, Šunj remains the stronger choice. Koločep works better for travellers who want a quieter island atmosphere, swimming and walking combined in the same day.
Half-Day Elafiti Islands Private Speed Boat Tour
Explore the Elaphiti Islands from Dubrovnik on a private speedboat and choose how to divide your time between swimming, snorkelling and sightseeing.
A private trip makes it possible to combine bays around Koločep with Lopud and Šunj Beach without relying entirely on the public ferry timetable. Check the current tour description for the exact route and inclusions.
Lapad Bay, Dubrovnik
Lapad Bay is one of the easiest beach areas to reach if you are staying in Dubrovnik, but it should not be confused with the true sandy beaches on Lopud and Mljet. The main shoreline is predominantly pebbly, although parts of the seabed are sandy and the sheltered bay generally offers a gradual entry into the water.
The long pedestrian promenade behind the bay is lined with bars and cafes and restaurants, making Lapad particularly convenient for families and anyone who wants facilities close to the water. Beach services and individual concessions can change from season to season.
There are also numerous hotels and hostels in the surrounding Lapad area.
Srebreno Beach, Župa Dubrovačka
Srebreno, around 10 kilometres southeast of Dubrovnik in Župa Dubrovačka, is another convenient coastal option but not a true sandy beach. The area is known mainly for pebble beaches, with a landscaped waterfront connecting Srebreno with neighbouring Mlini and Kupari.
Srebreno is a good choice if you want a relaxed beach day outside Dubrovnik without taking a ferry. The waterfront has cafes, restaurants, parks and accommodation nearby, and the shallow approach at parts of the bay makes the area popular with families.
Suburban buses connect Dubrovnik with Srebreno and the rest of Župa Dubrovačka. Check the current routes and timetable in our guide to Dubrovnik suburban buses before travelling, as schedules and fares can change.
A seaside path links Srebreno with nearby Kupari and Mlini, making it easy to explore more than one swimming spot in the same outing.
Which sandy beach near Dubrovnik should you choose?
For the easiest true-sand day trip from Dubrovnik, Šunj Beach on Lopud is the best all-round choice. It combines a genuine sandy beach and shallow water with straightforward ferry access from Dubrovnik.
For the most natural sandy-beach experience, choose Saplunara and Blace on Mljet, but allow considerably more time for the journey. Koločep is better if you value a quiet island atmosphere over guaranteed sand, while Lapad and Srebreno are the practical choices when staying on the mainland and convenience matters more than beach surface.