Banje beach is one of the most popular beaches on the southern Dalmatia coast in Croatia and definitely the most popular in Dubrovnik. As you can see in the image above, it has the perfect location.
I remember this beach since when it wasn’t such a fancy and lavish place, like today, but I am happy to see how much it has grown in popularity and quality over the years. But here is what it means: it is crowded, it is expensive, and it is absolutely worth visiting anyway!
The main reason why Dubrovnik’s Banje beach is so popular despite the fact that it’s pretty small is the fact that it allows you to take amazing photos with the old city walls and the Lokrum island in the background.
Things like what you can see in the photo below make it a must-visit spot, so definitely visit this beach for some memorable photos from your vacation.
All in all, if you want to take a break from visiting the main attractions in Dubrovnik, Banje beach is the place to go. It’s the most popular around and it’s really easy to get to it.
Make sure to also look at the best Dubrovnik tours, including the famous Game of Thrones ones.
How to get to Banje Beach from the Old Town
It is located right in front of the eastern entrance (Ploče Gate) of the Dubrovnik Old Town and offers amazing views over the city and the sea, while the water is not bad at all either.
Since Banje Beach is centrally located, it’s easy to reach it on foot. It only takes 5 minutes to walk to it from Ploce Gate in the Old Town area. You will have to climb down some steep stone stairs to get to the beach, though.
You can also take a bus to the beach, depending on your location. I recommend either walking or taking a bus, because it’s virtually impossible to find a parking spot in the area. For buses, you want to take Bus #8, which drops you right at Ploce Gate.
Facilities & Accessibility
Because of those steep stairs I just mentioned, I have to point out that this beach is not wheelchair or stroller-friendly.
As for facilities, you will find public showers and toilets available. Make sure to bring some spare change, because they usually require coins to operate.
The beach has its own reception, restaurant and beach & lounge bar on the water front, as well as a club for party-lovers, but expect prices here to be higher than usual.
Basically, Banje is split into two halves: one half is taken over by the Banje Beach Restaurant Lounge & Club, which is the paid area with music, expensive loungers, and an à la carte service.
The other half is the public beach. You can bring your towel and enjoy the public side for free, but expect it to get packed quickly during peak season.
Is Banje a sandy beach?
No, Banje Beach is mostly a pebble beach with rocks of various shapes and sizes, so make sure to bring proper footwear (ideally, water shoes).
The sandier part is taken over by the beach bar with the loungers from the EastWest Beach Club, but no part of this beach is what I would call sandy.
So expect a pebbly beach instead – which is still really nice. And since I mentioned clubbing, if you are in party mode (or mood), make sure to read my article about Ultra Europe, the largest music festival in Croatia.
When to Visit to Beat the Crowds
Dubrovnik gets heavy traffic from cruise ships – not to mention the regular tourists which are aplenty during the season – and Banje Beach is right in the crosshairs.
I always advise going early in the morning if you want a quiet swim and some peaceful space on the pebbles, but even then it can feel a bit crowded.
By mid-day, the space is full, though. If you prefer a lively atmosphere and don’t mind the crowds, the late afternoon is great for catching that party vibe as the beach club turns up the music.
And if you’re already in party mode, make sure to also check out my guide for Dubrovnik’s Nightlife.
Do You Have to Pay for Banje Beach?
Admission to the beach is free of charge, which is another of the benefits of this place.
But if you want the premium setup, expect to pay the premium prices. Renting sunbeds and umbrellas here is very expensive. You can expect to pay upwards of €40 to €50 for a pair of sunbeds and an umbrella for the entire day!
You can bring your towel and enjoy the for free, but the paid area with a restaurant, loungers, and even a la carte service is the better part of the beach.
For fans of adventure activities, the beach offers all kind of water activities, like kayaking from around 15 Euros per hour, paragliding, parachute flights with the help of a speedboat.
For kids, there is banana riding for around 10 Euros per person or the crazy-shark – 15 Euros.
As a new addition to the Dubrovnik Water Sports adrenaline activities, you can try fly-boarding for around 70 Euros for 20 minutes or parasailing starting from 60 Euros for one person to 80 Euros for two.
I also mentioned the Banje Beach restaurant. I want to share some of the prices I saw there – sometimes even lower than those in the Old Town of Dubrovnik – and the food is delicious.
There is a beach bar with the same prices but fewer options, and the regular restaurant. Here are some of the prices for food and drinks, to have a better idea:
- Octopus salad: 24 Euros
- Pasta with clams, prams of truffles: €28
- Saint Jacques: €18
- Local fish soup: €10
- Sirloin Steak: €35
- Dessert (like Cheesecake or Creme Brule): €10
- Mojito: €15
- Coke: €6
- Cappuccino: €5
I would say that the prices are more than decent, especially since the restaurant offers breathtaking views over the sea and old city. You can check out its official website here.
If you want even more options within the city itself, I recommend looking at my previous article sharing the best restaurants in Dubrovnik.
I am also marking the map on Google maps here, as Google usually shows you a similarly named beach in Korcula when search it.
IMPORTANT: Make sure to double check all the prices mentioned above, as they can vary greatly from month to month and especially season to season!
Banje Beach Video
I know that the photos you’ve seen above have convinced you that Banje Beach is worth visiting, but an extra video won’t do any harm – on the contrary: it puts you in the right mood to visit this amazing place!
It’s not my personal video, but shows you exactly what the beach is all about.
Wrapping up
This is all that I had to share about Banje Beach in Dubrovnik. I hope you found this article useful, but if you still have questions, don’t hesitate to let me know and I will answer them ASAP.
Either way, I am sure that your stay will be extremely fun and you will have lots of things to do apart from soaking in the sun if you choose to visit Banje Beach in Dubrovnik.