Croatia's most photographed and popular beach is Zlatni Rat  [Golden Horn], near Bol town on Brac Island, with its small, smooth white pebbles, azur sea and strangely exciting crescent shape. It does, of course, get busy in the summer, with windsurfers as well as swimmers.

Baska Voda beach is sizeable, comfortably layered with shingle and perfectly framed by pink Biokovo mountain. It's adjacent to the attractive, lively old fishing town, well-known for romantic strolling. Brela Beach near Makarska, south of Split, is a spacious 6 km [ 3.75 miles] long stretch of crytal water and slightly stony beige sand.

One of the Adriatic sea's most outstanding beaches is Lopar [Paradise] on Rab Island, a gorgeous greenery-backed white crescent of unusually fine sand, with shallow turquoise waters. Trstenica Beach, a 1km length of shallow water and pebbles or sand - depending on where you choose to park your butt - is fantastic for families; it's a 10 minute walk from the town of Orebic on the Peljesac peninsula. Banje Beach outside Dubrovnik [picture below] has location, location, location, with easy access and a great view of the old city.

Elegant Hvar Island has a few sandy beaches and Mlaska is the best. Pag island sports several sandy beaches such as Sveti Duh or long, stony Zrce beach [near Novalja] with its three 24/7 beach clubs that turn the place into a mini Ibiza during the summer. Kukljica on Ugljan island has a few pretty, sandy beaches including Sabusa and Kostanj. One of Croatia's best hidden beaches can be found on Kolocep Island [the Elafiti group] across from Dubrovnik.