The North Dalmatia region, stretching across the Zadar and Sibenik counties, offers a different flavor of naturism compared to the highly manicured resorts of Istria.
Here, the coastline is more rugged, the islands are more plentiful, and the “textile-free” experience often feels closer to nature.
While the number of dedicated, exclusive naturist resorts has decreased over the last decade, the options for “wild” naturism have exploded. You just need to know where to look. And that is what I will help you with today – a complete guide to the Northern Dalmatia nudist beaches, so that you can find the best ones.
North Dalmatia Naturist Beaches: An Overview
Most of the naturist camping sites are located along the mainland, while on the numerous islands of the Sibenik and Zadar archipelagos, many other clothing-optional beaches are not officially designated for naturists, but where are generally tolerated by local communities.
A quick rule of thumb for this region: If a beach is marked FKK, you must be nude. If it is a “wild” beach, look for the unwritten rule – if there are already textile tourists there, keep looking! If not, it is considered acceptable. Of course, you shouldn’t do that on family beaches or those generally aimed at clothed sunbathing.
Lately, renting a yacht or boat charters in Croatia has become the best way to practice swimming and sunbathing in Adam and Eve’s costume, visiting secluded bays and coves that otherwise would be impossible to visit.
You get privacy and freedom – and that’s a perfect thing in most cases, but it’s also a lot more expensive. But definitely consider this if you haven’t done so already!
Best Nudist Beaches in Zadar County
Zadar County is a mix of official campsites and some of the best wild sandy beaches in the country. Below are the specific spots you need to know, including the “hidden” ones that most guides miss.
On the map below I have listed only some of the better known and more frequently visited spots by naturists.
Now let’s get a bit more in-depth with the main options!
FKK Camping Sovinje – the only 100% North Dalmatia Nudist campsite
This is the only camping site in North Dalmatia exclusively dedicated to naturists. It is a three-star camp located 2 km from the small fishermen’s village of Tkon on the island of Pasman.
Getting there: Tkon is easily accessible via a regular ferry boat connection from Biograd na Moru (roughly a 15-minute ride). Do not confuse this with Belgrade (Beograd); Biograd is the coastal town you want!
The campsite accommodates 200 guests and sits within a pine forest right next to the sea. And the beaches are sandy and beautiful too, even though narrow in most cases.
There are actually two sandy beaches available to naturists. The camp also offers sailing boat excursions to the Kornati National Park and National parks of Krka and Plitvice Lakes.
In the camp, there are available various recreational activities like table tennis, beach volleyball, basketball, boat and bicycle hire. This is an amazing spot for sure and you can check it out here – and book your stay today!
Camping Strasko – near Novalja, Pag island
Strasko is located on the island of Pag and 1 Km from the Novalja town, not far from famous party beach of Zrce. It is distinct because it is a “textile” camp with a dedicated, separated zone for naturists.
The FKK section has its own entrance and sanitary facilities, providing a sense of separation from the thousands of textile campers nearby.
The beach is a wide, 2 km stretch of pebbles. About a third of the accommodation is reserved for naturists, with plots ranging between 100 and 140 square meters and highly rated by ADAC (German Automobile Club).
If you want to stay in the area, you can check out some offers in Novalja on Booking.com. As you will see, you will have lots of fairly priced places to choose from!
Camping Oaza Mira (Peace Oasis)
Oaza Mira in Drage (10 km from Biograd) is primarily a textile camp, but it is too high-quality to ignore. It features a specific, secluded beach area reserved for naturists.
This 5-star location (recently upgraded from 3 stars) sits in a natural bay with views of the Vrgada islands.
The FKK beach is pebbly with crystal clear water. It feels disconnected from the main camp, offering decent privacy, though you will need to be clothed to use the camp’s supermarket or main restaurant.
The camp is located in natural surroundings with a view of the nearby islands and offers beautiful views of the sea.
So if you like what you see, click here to find out more – and book your stay in this beautiful place right away!
The “Wild” Gems of Zadar: Nin and Punta Bajlo
You don’t have to stay in a campsite to swim as you pelase in Zadar County. There are two more wild spots you should know about:
1. Ninska Laguna / Sabunike (Nin)
Just north of Zadar lies the town of Nin, famous for its long, sandy lagoons. If you head towards Sabunike beach or the area known as “Queen’s Beach” (Kraljičina plaža), and walk far past the main crowded zones towards the mouth of the lagoon, you will find extensive areas used by naturists.
It is one of the few places in Croatia with soft sand and medicinal mud, but there is no shade, so make sure to bring an umbrella and plenty of sunscreen!
2. Punta Bajlo (Zadar City)
If you are staying in Zadar city and don’t want to travel far, head to the Arbanasi district. At the very tip is Punta Bajlo.
While the main walkway is for textiles, the rocky sections on the far outer rim are a historic gathering spot for local naturists. It is rocky, raw, and convenient.
Best Nudist Beaches in Sibenik County
Sibenik County boasts two national parks, Krka NP – famous for its waterfalls, which is only 10 km away from the town, and the Kornati archipelago with more than a hundred islands.
Like in Zadar, most naturist beaches are located on nearby islands, particularly between Murter Island and Vodice on the south.
In terms of dedicated campsites, there is just one, located in the Betina village on Murter island.
However, there are tons of accommodation options available – all of them situated close to the beaches and spots where naturists are welcome.
But it’s best to visit the places specifically created for sunbathing in your birth-clothes, so let’s find out more about that camping site below!
Camping Kosirina – Murter Island
Located in Betina on the island of Murter, Camping Kosirina is legendary among nature lovers, but you need to manage your expectations – it is a textile campsite with a designated naturist peninsula.
However, Kosirina is known for being “wild.” The plots are not strictly marked, the facilities are older, and it can get very windy. But the location is unbeatable as you are camping right on the water’s edge under pine and olive trees.
The view toward the Kornati islands is spectacular as well. The beach is rocky and pebbly, and the vibe is bohemian and relaxed.
- Access: Murter is connected to the mainland by a drawbridge in Tisno, so no ferry is required.
- Nearby FKK: Close to the campsite is the Slanica beach. While Slanica is packed with textiles, the rocky coast leading away from it (Podvrske direction) often hosts naturists.
Island Hopping: Tijat, Prvic, and Smokvica
If you are in the Vodice or Sibenik area, the best swimming is found offshore.
- Tijat & Prvic: These islands are reachable by regular ferry from Sibenik or taxi boats from Vodice. The southern side of Tijat (uninhibited) is a favorite for naturist boaters.
- Smokvica (near Primosten): South of Sibenik lies the picturesque town of Primosten. Directly in front of it is the small island of Smokvica. A taxi boat runs several times a day during summer. The entire rocky coast on the sea-facing side is generally used by naturists.
Can you go topless on Croatian beaches?
Yes, you can go topless on most (if not all) beaches in Croatia without raising many – if any – eyebrows. It is very common to see topless sunbathers around Croatia, so if this is your thing, you will most likely have no problem with it and you don’t have to be in an FKK area to do it.
You should still pay close attention to other visitors, though. If you’re the only one who wants to remove the top on a really crowded beach, then it might not be the best place to do so.
However, chances are that even if you do, it won’t cause too much fuss.
Important! Have in mind that although one can go topless at the beach in Croatia, this doesn’t mean that those beaches are clothing optional.
So don’t consider that it’s OK to remove your swimsuit entirely if you see other women going topless! Only do it at the recommended beaches above or those specifically marked as FKK.
NOTE: Croatia has introduced stricter fines for walking through historic city centers (like Zadar or Sibenik Old Town) in swimwear or without a shirt. Cover up until you actually hit the beach.
Wrapping up
North Dalmatia offers a perfect middle ground for naturists: accessible enough to reach by car, but wild enough to find your own private cove. Whether you choose the full service of Straško, the exclusivity of Sovinje, or the sandy wilds of Nin, you have plenty of options.
And if you want to check out the options in other regions, make sure to take a look at the best nudist beaches in the Istria region or an overview of all options in Croatia.