Istria, Krk and Zadar: beach reality check
Short answer: 7 beaches checked. In mid-July the sun leaves first at Oprna (18:50), Podlokva (19:45), Sakarun (20:10); the latest sun is at Plaža Sabunike FKK, Zrće, Rajska plaža.
| Beach | Surface | Sun in July | Climb from parking | Water | Sea in Aug | Clubs mapped |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sakarun Verunić | ? | 06:10–20:10 | 110 m, ↑5 m | deep fast | 25 °C | — |
| Oprna Stara Baška | Pebbles | 07:00–18:50 | — | deep fast | 24 °C | — |
| Podlokva Premantura | ? | 05:50–19:45 | 140 m, ↑10 m | gradual | 25 °C | — |
| Rajska plaža Lopar | Sand | 05:45–20:25 | 300 m | shallow | 24 °C | — |
| Zrće Novalja | Gravel | 05:55–20:30 | 260 m | gradual | 24 °C | — |
| Kolovar Zadar | ? | 06:15–20:10 | 140 m, ↑9 m | deep fast | 25 °C | — |
| Plaža Sabunike FKK Privlaka | Gravel | 05:40–20:35 | — | shallow | 25 °C | — |
Plan it
Questions
Which beaches in Istria, Krk and Zadar lose the sun first?
7 beaches checked. In mid-July the sun leaves first at Oprna (18:50), Podlokva (19:45), Sakarun (20:10); the latest sun is at Plaža Sabunike FKK, Zrće, Rajska plaža.
Which beaches in Istria, Krk and Zadar are sand?
Rajska plaža.
Sun and shade come from the sun's position and the skyline around each beach, measured every 4° of compass direction from a 30 m elevation model out to 6 km. The climb back up is the height difference between the beach and the nearest mapped car park or bus stop (about 0.17 m per step). Water depth comes from the EMODnet seabed model; surface, beach clubs, toilets and showers from OpenStreetMap; sea temperature is the 1991–2020 average from NOAA OISST and waves the 2015–2024 average from ERA5. Prices are not shown: they change every season and differ between clubs. Map data checked 7 Nov 2026; next check 1 Dec 2026 (monthly). Sea averages are refreshed every January. Sun and shade are calculated for any date you pick.