Best Pebble Beaches & White Gravel Bays: Istria County (Istra) (62)
Curated guide to 62 natural pebble beaches and white gravel bays in Istria. Famous for crystal-clear turquoise waters and pristine swimming comfort (96.8% rated "Excellent" by official IZOR monitoring). View all 217 beaches in Istria →
Wind Patterns & Natural Shelter (Istria)
Istria’s western coast (from Umag to Pula) is naturally sheltered from strong north-easterly Bora winds by the Učka mountain range, ensuring calm waters even during breezy days. The eastern coast (Rabac) features deep, turquoise bays beneath steep slopes.
Map of All Beaches & Coves: Istria
Interactive map (62 beaches) loads as you scroll…
Quick jump to town or municipality in Istria
AC Valalta - Uvala prema marini
AC Veštar - Uvala sredina
Crveni otok - Uvala istočno od nasipa
Crveni otok - Uvala zapadno od nasipa
De Castelan
Hotel Eden - Ispod hotela
Otok Katarina - Uvala Lone
Punta Corrente - Rt Kurent
Punta Corrente - Uvala Lone
Škaraba - Uvala Velika Škaraba
Uvala Kuvi - Plaža
Uvala Porton Biondi
Uvala Valdibora - ronilački klub
AC Ulika - Uvala Bušuja
AC Ulika - Uvala Frnaže
Debeli rt - Plaža
Hotel Materada - Južni dio
Hotel Materada - Sjeverni dio
Rt Sv. Martin - Prema uvali Sv. Martin
Špadići - Uvala Srgulje (južni dio)
Špadići - Uvala Srgulje (sjeverni dio)
Špadići - Uvala Srgulje (sredina)
Uvala Brulo - Plaža
TN Alberi - Skiper
TN Punta - Hotel Adriatic
TN Punta - Hotel Sipar
TN Punta - Hotel Umag
TN Punta - Villa Rita
TN Stella Maris - Uvala Krapan
Uvala Slanik
Gortanova uvala - Sredina uvale
Lungomare - Punta prema Mornaru
Pješčana Uvala - Plaža
Punta Verudela - Kod aquagana
Uvala Sv. Ivan - Plaža Ambrela
Valsaline - Uvala F.S.
AC Bijela uvala - Južni dio
AC Bijela uvala - Sjeverni dio
AC Bijela uvala - Uvala Crljena zemlja
TN Funtana - Uvala Frnažine
AC Kanegra - Bullea
AC Kanegra - Ispod restorana
AC Kanegra - Market
Lanterna - Debeli rt
Lanterna - Uvala Valeta - sport
TN Solaris - Uvala pod Ravnice
Find accommodation in Istria
Search available hotels, apartments, luxury villas, and holiday rooms along the coast in Istria.
Boat trips & experiences in Istria
Book top sea excursions, national park day trips, skippered boat charters, scuba diving, and wine tours in Istria.
Find Car Rental in Istria
Explore remote beaches, scenic coastal roads, and hidden coves across Istria. Compare rental car deals at airports and hubs like Pula.
Frequently Asked Questions (Istria)
Key facts about sea water quality, bays, and wind conditions in Istria.
Which are the top "Pebble Beaches" beaches in Istria? ▾
There are 62 officially monitored swimming spots matching "Pebble Beaches" in Istria. Top verified locations include: Punta kod sidra (143°), De Castelan (249°), Uvala Valdibora - ronilački klub (267°), Uvala Porton Biondi (227°), Mala Kolumbarica (197°), with 60 rated "Excellent" under EU bathing water standards.
How does MareSpot verify "Pebble Beaches" in Istria? ▾
MareSpot cross-references official Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (IZOR) field inspection tags with coastal open-sea bearing vectors (0°–360°) and real-time marine weather models.
How many official beaches are in Istria and what is the water quality? ▾
Across Istria County (Istra), there are 62 officially monitored swimming spots spread across 16 towns and municipalities. According to IZOR laboratory tests, 60 beaches (96.8%) hold the highest "Excellent" bathing water grade.
Which towns in Istria have the most monitored beaches and coves? ▾
The destinations with the highest number of officially monitored beaches and bays in Istria include: Rovinj, Poreč, Umag, Pula, Funtana, Buje.
Explore Other Adriatic Regions & Nautical Guides
Compare sea water quality, bay distribution, marinas, and natural shelter along the Croatian coast.
Verified marinas, anchorages, mooring buoys, depth parameters, and 4-wind shelter index for Istria.
Open Nautical Pilot →Islands of Krk, Cres, Lošinj & Rab, historic Opatija Riviera & wild turquoise coves
Guide & coves →Zavratnica sea fjord, Pag moonscape bays, Zrće & Planjka in Novalja
Guide & coves →Sakarun white-sand beach, Queen’s Beach in Nin, Pag moonscapes & 300 islands
Guide & coves →Murter sandy coves (Slanica), Primošten peninsula, Rogoznica & Kornati gateway
Guide & coves →Zlatni Rat in Bol, Stiniva Cove on Vis, Punta Rata in Brela, Pakleni Islands & Makarska
Guide & coves →Pasjača cliff beach, Banje beach by Dubrovnik walls, Saplunara sand dunes & Pelješac coves
Guide & coves →Looking for a sheltered cove in Istria?
Try our interactive wind simulator calculating which of the 62 coves is currently in mirror-calm bonaca in real time.