Sandy Beaches & Shallow-Water Bays: Istria County (Istra) (27)
Curated guide to 27 sandy beaches and shallow-water bays in Istria. Ideal for families with toddlers, warm lagoon swimming, and barefoot comfort, with 100.0% rated "Excellent" by official IZOR sea testing. 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 (27 beaches) loads as you scroll…
Quick jump to town or municipality in Istria
AC Kažela - FKK
AC Kažela - FKK III
AC Kažela - Textil Strand
AC Medulin - Mali poluotok (punta)
AC Medulin - Markovi brigi
AC Medulin - Restoran Financa
AC Medulin - Škrape
AC Medulin - Spoj mali poluotok
AC Medulin - Ulaz
AC Stupice - Južno od poluotoka
AC Stupice - Poluotok
AC Stupice - Rt Munat
Hotel Belvedere - Molo
Hotel Holiday - Ispod hotela
Mala Kolumbarica
Pinižule
Pomer - AC Pomer
Pomer - Plaža prema ACY Marini
Portić
Pošesi - Pošesi
Uvala Bijeca - Plaža
Find accommodation in Istria
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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 "Sandy & Shallow" beaches in Istria? ▾
There are 27 officially monitored swimming spots matching "Sandy & Shallow" in Istria. Top verified locations include: Pinižule (250°), Portić (60°), Mala Kolumbarica (197°), Sv. Duh - Bunker (274°), AC Kažela - FKK III (185°), with 27 rated "Excellent" under EU bathing water standards.
How does MareSpot verify "Sandy & Shallow" 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 27 officially monitored swimming spots spread across 6 towns and municipalities. According to IZOR laboratory tests, 27 beaches (100.0%) 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: Medulin, Poreč, Pula, Rovinj, Umag, Vrsar.
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 27 coves is currently in mirror-calm bonaca in real time.