Zarace Beach
Hvar, Croatia 🇭🇷
A beautifully quiet cove on Hvar's rugged south coast with pine shade, sea grass meadow snorkeling, and a local konoba serving Hvar wine and fresh fish.
Hvar, Croatia 🇭🇷
A beautifully quiet cove on Hvar's rugged south coast with pine shade, sea grass meadow snorkeling, and a local konoba serving Hvar wine and fresh fish.
Location
South Coast of Hvar, near Sveta Nedjelja
Best For
Snorkeling & Quiet Dining
Water Clarity
Excellent
Crowds
Light (remote location)
Access
By road (winding) or boat
Facilities
Konoba Restaurant, Basic Bar
Zarace Beach is tucked into a quiet bay on Hvar's southern coast, reached by winding mountain road from the north of the island or by boat charter from Hvar Town. The remote position earns it a genuinely unhurried pace — the beach attracts visitors who seek a full day of swimming or snorkeling in calm, clean water rather than a quick tourist stop. The surrounding pine forest provides generous natural shade throughout the afternoon hours, making the beach comfortable even during peak summer heat.
The underwater landscape at Zarace is characterised by extensive sea grass meadows extending from the shore into deeper water — a habitat that supports many species of fish, sea horse, and sea urchin. Snorkelers swimming slowly over these meadows in clear conditions can observe rich marine life in water that remains transparent to considerable depth. The sea grass beds also indicate excellent water quality — Posidonia oceanica meadows only survive in unpolluted Adriatic waters.
A traditional konoba operates on the beach in summer, offering fresh grilled fish from local fishing boats, salads featuring local produce, and wines from nearby Sveta Nedjelja — a village on the island's interior slope famous for producing some of Hvar's finest Plavac Mali wines in vineyards planted so steeply they can only be harvested by hand. Combining a beach day at Zarace with a visit to the wine village above creates one of the most satisfying experiences available on the island.
By car via the winding coastal road from Hvar Town (about 20 minutes) or via Stari Grad with a mountain crossing. Boat charter or organised excursion boats from Hvar Town also stop here. Split Airport (SPU) is reached by ferry to Stari Grad then bus.
June–September for swimming and snorkeling. The konoba restaurant is seasonal (June–Sept). September is ideal — warm Adriatic temperatures (25°C+) and significantly fewer visitors than peak summer months.
Combine with a visit to Sveta Nedjelja wine village above. Reserve the konoba for lunch or dinner — it's popular with sailors and fills up. Bring snorkeling equipment. Water shoes are useful for the pebble entry. The pine shade means afternoons are pleasantly cool.