If you like partying by the sea until the early hours of the morning, Zrce Beach on Pag Island is the place you want to be if you’re visiting Croatia. This beach is Croatia’s open-air club strip: four headline venues, a packed festival calendar, and day-to-night shuttles linking everything together.
Read on to find out everything you should know about this amazing Croatian party haven – including schedules, events, and the best clubs to visit.
Why Choose Zrce?
Zrce sits about 4 km from Novalja, and it offers a long, white-pebble shore, clear water, and open-air clubs that run hard all summer. If you’ve heard people talking about the “Croatian Ibiza,” this is the beach they’re talking about.
Festival season runs late spring through early September. Big names and resident DJs rotate through weekly takeovers, after-beach parties, and boat parties.
For an overview of confirmed weeks and lineups, always check the live event calendars before you book – or just hop in blindly, like we usually do. It’s impossible not to find some amazing party/artist lineup during your stay.
And it’s even more exciting, too, like opening a fresh Labubu box or any gacha-style draw. And since we’re here, just in case, read about Croatian women and men in Croatia.
Anyway, getting back to our guide…
The Clubs
There are five main open-air clubs on the beach, all competing for supremacy. Ideally, you should spend at least a few nights trying them all, as it’s difficult to choose a “best” one.
I will give my thoughts on each below, with links to their official websites so you can check more details and, most importantly, party and/or festival schedules!
Papaya – Flagship mega-club with pool platforms and big festival nights. It ranks high on DJ Mag lists and anchors several weeklong events. Not a huge place, but memorable. Check out their official website here.
Noa Beach Club – Wood-decked “island” platforms on the Adriatic sea linked by bridges; full summer program and closings into September. It has its own large beach, an impressive retreat, and probably one of the few beach clubs that’s built on water. A must-try experience. Check the official website here.
Aquarius – House and techno staples, strong after-beach sessions, and a busy mainstage. Their season usually opens in June and has some funky features, like the main platform being a shallow pool. Official website here.
Kalypso – Zrće’s original beach club, with day and night stages and a loyal crowd. Located at the other side of the beach, opposite the first three. Official website here.
Euphoria Club (sometimes referred to as “Zrce Beach” only) – right on the beach, relatively small, can be a hit or miss: some nights it’s amazing, with great DJ sets and flawless vibes, other times – just meh. Official website here.
If you are to ask me – if you’re only spending a night or two in Zrce – I would choose either Noa or Papaya, as there are bigger chances of something unforgettable happening. But always check the schedules for your dates, as any of these great beach clubs can offer super-pleasant surprises.
IMPORTANT: Most Zrće clubs and the big festivals are 18+. Bring photo ID, otherwise you risk not being allowed entry.
Now that you know who’s hosting you at night, let’s look at where to stay!
Where to Stay
If you want to be right on Zrce Beach, you only have one (but solid) option: the aforementioned Noa Island Retreat that gives you access to the Noa Beach and the club there. Get your villa in the middle section or towards the back rows, as these are the quietest ones.
Another (better) option is to stay in Novalja (it has most options and food) – check all options here, go for the budget-friendly Hostel Casa La Cha, or get your private room at the Resort Trcol, which also has an outdoor pool.
As an alternative, you can go to Gajac (closer to the beach) – check all options here or choose my favorite, Sidro.
I usually set up base in Novalja for the extra services and options, then ride shuttles to the clubs at night. These buses run day and night during the season, usually a few times per hour – so you shouldn’t have any trouble getting back home, no matter when the party’s over!
Festival shuttles also run during major weeks and festivals, so you have plenty of options. And if you’re into major festivals, don’t forget to check out my article about Ultra Europe in Croatia.
Boat Parties (and Where to Book)
Boat parties run about 3 hours, usually with a 30-minute swim stop and all-inclusive drinks (aka unlimited drinks for the duration of the party).
Departures are either from the Novalja port or directly from Zrce. These are not for people under 18 and usually include VIP areas and foam parties, live DJ sets and offer an unforgettable experience.
Book these in advance, as spots are limited and run out quickly! Here are the best ones:
- Zrce Beach Party Boat FESTINI (starts in Zrce, double check when booking)
- Zrce: Novalja Boat Party Booze Cruise (starts in Novalja, double check when booking)
I recommend trying one of these boat parties if you can – it beats even a party night on some occasions, and it’s definitely one of those things you must try at least once in your lifetime.
How a day looks like at Zrce
This is, as you can probably imagine, not your regular beach stay. With partying being the main focus here, days (and nights) at Zrce beach go like this:
Mornings, up to the afternoon, are usually for resting. You will have just a few activities during the day (and especially in the morning). However, this means that the beaches are mostly empty, so if you have the energy to visit, it will feel like having the entire area for yourself.
That’s a bonus, because Zrce is a Blue Flag beach for water quality and services. The bungee tower (≈55 m) runs day and night in season, between Papaya and Noa. Expect water sports, daybeds, and plenty of casual food spots along the back of the beach.
Afternoons kick off with after-beach parties. I usually head over around 15:00, when Noa starts its daily session and the beach fills fast. These run into the early evening and often roll straight into the night programs. Check the club schedules for exact start times and artists.
Headliners take over late evening through the night. If you plan two or three big nights in a row, pace yourself with one lighter day in between.
Do you want to learn more about other unique and amazing beaches in Croatia? Check out my previous articles below:
Final Words
As you can see, Zrce is a truly unique beach, not just in Croatia, but I would dare say – the world. It’s the ultimate party beach with amazing beach clubs, amazing DJs and sets (including top festivals) and truly memorable boat parties.
If you come here, expect a rhythm that runs from mid-afternoon until sunrise, with barely a pause in between.
Plan your trip around the dates and the music you love, book early in Novalja or Gajac, and make the most of the shuttle network to move stress-free. Do that, and Zrce will give you the party week (or two) you’ll always remember and cherish.
Do you have any stories to share, or maybe questions to ask? Let us all know in the comments down below.