The Best Free Nude Beaches in Istria, Croatia

If you’ve been reading up on naturist vacation destinations, the name Istria must have passed by at one point or another. If you haven’t passed by Istria yet, that is. A few decades ago, it was the epicentre of clothes‑free vacations in Europe, and although this Croatian peninsula may have lost some of its popularity over the years, many thousands of visitors from all over the world still flock to Istria every summer without packing a bathing suit.

Istria is home to five naturist resorts, all with their own designated nude beach(es). We’ll tell you a bit about those at the end of this blog post. First, we’ll walk you through the nude beach options in Istria that don’t require you to book a stay at a campground or buy a day pass. The free nude beaches of Istria, so to speak.

About 10 minutes north of Peroj town, in the village of Barbariga, finding a shady parking spot along the gravel road might be a bit of an adventure in itself. Arriving before noon seriously increases your chances. Once you get lucky, follow the dusty track toward the sea. The path softens, and FKK (FreiKörperKultur) graffiti starts appearing here and there. We know, it’s a rather unceremonious marker, but as a tourist in Croatia, it has turned out very helpful many times.

The nude beach consists of flat rocks that warm up like a natural lounger, and the soundtrack is cicadas with a light breeze in the pines.

Entry to the sea is stony. Water shoes, which should be a top packing list item for everyone visiting Croatia, make the first steps simple. Once you slide off the last shelf, the water turns still and clear. The rhythm here is slow. Taking long swims, drying off on a flat rock, and then slipping back in. There is little shade, so a small umbrella or a sarong rigged between bushes prevents your even tan that you’ve been working on so hard from turning bright red.

A bit further to the north, Colone beach sits just outside the Mon Perin resort. You can leave the car in the visitor parking and walk towards the coast. Facing the sea, turn right, and keep walking. No FKK graffiti here, but a big sign saying “No FKK”. No worries, this sign actually means that you’re almost there. Just keep walking past the boundary of the resort and the dog beach, and a long, relaxed line of rocky coves begins.

Usually, the other naked sunbathers should indicate that you’re in the right place. If you do happen to be the first, just pick the best spot. That’s actually quite possible, as this is not a famous nude beach. It is under the radar, quiet, and self‑sufficient, which is exactly why certain people like it a lot. Some refreshing solitude, away from the summer crowds. There are no services once you step outside the campground, so plan as if you are going to be here all day. You never know that you actually will.

If you’re a light packer like ourselves… No, let’s rephrase that. If you’re a light packer or someone too lazy to drag around beach chairs and umbrellas like ourselves, you’re going to LOVE Cape Eva beach. Instead of a stretch of rocky shore, it’s a huge grassy lawn, and shade comes naturally from the many olive trees.

For a skinny dip, just walk to the edge, step across a thin strip of stones, and you’re waist-deep before you know it. No awkward shuffle. Then again, also no show of other people doing the awkward shuffle. You win some, you lose some. Thanks to the grass, the shade, and the facilities on the clothed side of the resort nearby, this is one of those places where you can really arrive with nothing but a towel and a smile and still be set for the day.

Even getting here is easy. Just park in the visitor parking of the resort, follow the signs towards the Babaloo beach bar, and once you reach the coast, you’ll see a huge sign indicating the naturist area.

If Punta Križ beach is on your wish list, we highly recommend that you read this whole paragraph. Unless you already know what’s going on here. Punta Križ is by far one of the most popular free nude beaches on Istria’s western coast, but that’s because it attracts different kinds of nude beach visitors. We’ll just break the news to you immediately: This is a sex beach. But not the whole stretch.

When you’ve found a parking spot and walk towards the first beach bar, the area in front of the bar is pretty relaxed and decent for sunbathing. Well, if you can find a spot where no sharp rock is attacking your butt. The further you walk north, the more action you’re about to encounter, with the epicentre near beach bar number three. This is the only beach bar that allows nudity, by the way. But having a drink is like having one in Amsterdam’s red light district. Except that the show here is free. If this is not your thing, we suggest picking one of the other beaches instead.

In the far north of Istria’s western coast, near the town of Umag, Sol Polynesia also has a nude‑friendly tip of beach. But the rocks are pointy and the comfort is low, and there are better options across Istria. If you’re in the north and really need a skinny dip, this is an option. But we put it on our skip‑for‑now list.

On the east coast, the Istria peninsula opens toward the Kvarner islands. We start at the big Girandella Resort in Rabac. You can park on the resort premises or in the street (both are paid). Inside the resort, once you get to the coast, walk north. Keeping the sea on our right. After a few minutes, the shore folds into a string of small pebble coves marked with FKK signs.

The water is clear and gentle, and the pebbles underfoot are kinder than the sharp rocks you typically find on the west coast. But because these coves are literally right next to a very popular resort, they fill quickly in summer. Long story short, if you want to secure a spot, make sure to arrive when the resort’s guests are still at the breakfast table. Past the resort, there is also no shade and no services. Pack water and an umbrella if you’re planning to stay longer than 15 minutes.

Further to the north, near the end of the peninsula, Mošćenička Draga hides a tiny clothes-free corner at the far end of Sveti Ivan. The only place to leave the car is the paid parking lot at the beginning of town. From here, follow the seaside path for ten to fifteen minutes. Cafés fade on the left, hillside green rises on the right, and the bay curves open. At the end of the path, you’ll find a small bar, which has stairs with the familiar FKK graffiti.

This nude beach isn’t much more than a compact cluster of concrete plateaus, and because it’s small, it feels full quickly. But the water is a jewel, and the access ladders drop straight into deep blue. There is even a simple shower. Although some people do seem to spend full days here (given their tan), we’d rather recommend this spot for a late afternoon, pre‑dinner skinny dip.

Most of Istria’s coast is rocky. In fact, most of Croatia’s coast is, so water shoes should be in the second position of your packing list, right after your towel. Even if you think your feet can handle some stones, they won’t be able to handle the sea urchins. Trust us on this one.

For the comfort of your butt, something to sit or lie on is also a game-changer. We’ve seen lots of people drag sunbeds around, but even a basic camping chair can make a huge difference. Even a yoga mat is better than sitting on rocks.

Some of the nude beaches in this list have natural shade, but many don’t. And even on the ones that do have it, it will still depend on the time of day. Bringing your own shade is highly recommended. If you don’t want to travel with an umbrella, do take a hat and lots of sunscreen.

An advantage of rocky coasts and flat seas is that the water is usually crystal clear. If you’re not an all-day sunbather, we recommend bringing a snorkel to explore the underwater life. Paddle boards are also hugely popular here.

Many of the beaches in this list are inside or right next to a textile resort, and many of these resorts have grocery shops. So it’s usually possible to get some food or drinks on the spot. But then you’ll need to put clothes on. If you want to avoid this, pack accordingly.

One of the reasons why Istria is such a famous clothes-free vacation destination is that it’s home to five naturist resorts. Kanegra, Solaris, Ulika, Koversada Uncovered, and Valalta. If you want to spend more time naked than just on the beach, these should be your go-to places. Then again, all these resorts have their own nude beaches, so if you’re staying there, this blog post is only useful if you’re looking for a change in scenery.

For those who don’t feel much for staying at a naturist resort, there’s an abundance of hotels and rental accommodations near the nude beaches. As mentioned earlier, some of the beaches are inside or right next to a clothed resort. For the western beaches, we recommend picking accommodation near the towns of Peroj or Rovinj. For the ones in the east, Mošćenička Draga is a great base.

Croatia’s coast pivots with the months, and nude beaches sometimes shrink or even completely disappear during the high season in July and August. We visited all of the above beaches in July and found naturists on all of them, except for Sol Polynesia (which was just empty).

The best time to visit Istria is roughly from late May to late September if you want to have nude-friendly weather, and avoid the summer months if you want to stay away from the crowds. Prices also tend to be much more agreeable outside the summer too, by the way.