Thing to do
Dubrovnik Cable Car and Mount Srđ
A four-minute cable car ride from just above the Old Town to the 412-metre summit of Mount Srđ, with panoramic terraces, a restaurant and a war…
Banje Beach
Dubrovnik's best-known city beach, a pebbly bay in Ploče just east of the Old Town, with a public stretch and a beach club renting loungers by day.
At a glance
- Type
- City beach and beach club
- Area
- Ploče, Dubrovnik, Croatia
- Official site
- banjebeach.com
Good to know
- Sunbed rental
- Bar
- Restaurant
Why we recommend it
Banje is the beach most visitors find first, because it lies just a few minutes' walk east of the Ploče Gate in the Ploče district. From the water you look straight back at the eastern walls of the Old Town and the old harbour, with Lokrum off to the side, which makes it a memorable place for a swim.
The beach is a curve of pebbles and small stones shelving into clear water. Part of it is occupied by Banje Beach, a beach club, restaurant and lounge that rents sunbeds, loungers and privacy screens by the day and runs a bar with cocktails; in the evening it turns into a nightclub, with the venue open from 10:00 until 02:00. The rest of the beach is public, so you can simply lay a towel on the stones and swim for free. In summer the public section gets crowded by late morning, and space is limited.
Practical tips make a big difference here. Bring water shoes, as the pebbles are hard on bare feet and can be hot by midday. There is little natural shade, so take a hat, sun cream and water, or hire a lounger with a parasol from the club. Swimmers should keep within the marked area and look out for boats and kayaks passing between the city and Lokrum. The loose pebbles make the beach unsuitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs.
Early morning, before 09:00, is the calmest time for a swim, and late afternoon is good for watching the light change on the walls. Outside summer the club's hours and services may be reduced, and in winter the beach is mainly used by local swimmers, so check before planning a day around the club facilities.
To get there, walk out of the Ploče Gate past the Revelin Fortress and follow Frana Supila east for a few minutes. The cable car lower station is a short uphill walk away. Allow anything from an hour for a quick swim to a full afternoon. If you would rather avoid the club scene, come in the morning, swim, and move on to the walls or the Old Town before the afternoon music starts. In the evening the same spot is a place to watch the light fade on the walls with a drink, before the club gets busy later on.
Banje Beach FAQs
Is Banje Beach free?
The public part of the beach is free; the beach club charges for sunbeds and loungers.
Is it sand or pebbles?
It is a pebble beach, so water shoes are a good idea.
How far is it from the Old Town?
A few minutes' walk east of the Ploče Gate.
What are the beach club's hours?
Banje Beach is listed as open from 10:00 to 02:00, but hours can change outside summer.
Is there food and drink?
Yes. The beach club runs a restaurant and a cocktail bar, and becomes a nightclub after dark.
When is it least crowded?
Early morning before 09:00, and late afternoon outside the peak summer weeks.
Is it suitable for wheelchairs?
Not really, as the surface is loose pebbles.
What is the view like?
The beach faces the eastern walls of the Old Town and the old harbour, with Lokrum offshore.