Paradise Beach (Rajska Plaža)

Paradise Beach on the island of Rab is one of the finest genuine sandy beaches in Croatia — a 1.5-kilometer-long, gently sloping crescent of fine golden sand with exceptionally warm, shallow water that makes it heaven for families with small children. The sand — rare on Croatia's predominantly rocky coast — is soft and fine, and the water stays shallow for an impressive distance, warming to 27°C in summer.

Rab island's unique microclimate, sheltered from the cold bora wind by the mountains of neighboring Krk and the mainland, creates warmer conditions than anywhere else on the northern Adriatic coast. The medieval town of Rab, with its four bell towers creating a distinctive skyline, is one of the best-preserved medieval towns on the Adriatic — its narrow streets, ancient walls, and stone palaces are a joy to explore. Rab is also the birthplace of the modern nudist movement — the first organized naturist beach in Croatia was established here in 1936 with the blessing of King Edward VIII.