7 Best Beaches and Bays on Šolta
A local guide for your first visit to the island
Author: Damir VidanLocal author and member of the Casa Vidan family · Published: · Last updated:
The most beautiful beach on Šolta is not the same for everyone.
Families with small children usually look for fine pebbles, a safe entry into the sea and easy access.
Some want shade, a bar and a cold drink, while others are happy to drive along a gravel track or walk a little longer if a nearly empty bay with crystal-clear water waits at the end.
Šolta offers everything from well-equipped family beaches to completely wild bays with no bars, shops or any other infrastructure. That is exactly why it pays to know what to expect before you set off.
In this guide we present the seven beaches and bays we most often recommend to guests visiting Šolta for the first time.
We have deliberately left out the beaches in Stomorska itself, as we have dedicated a separate guide to them:
Read: The best beaches in Stomorska
Before you head to the beach
For the more remote bays, bring enough water, some food, sun protection and suitable footwear. Wild bays generally have no shops, bars, toilets or rubbish bins.
Conditions on the rougher gravel roads are not the same every year. Heavy rain, winter weather or a large vehicle can quickly damage the track. If you are not sure your car is up to it, leave it earlier and walk the final stretch.
Always respect private property and park so that you do not block the road or other vehicles. Before visiting seasonal venues, check the current opening hours and whether you can reserve a table.
1. Gornja Krušica – the best choice for families with children
Gornja Krušica is one of the most popular family beaches on the eastern side of Šolta. It is just a few minutes by car from Stomorska, and when it is not too hot some guests walk there. The walk from Stomorska usually takes 20 to 30 minutes and the road is fairly hilly.
It is a long beach with fine pebbles and plenty of room for children to play, run around and enter the sea without sharp rocky steps. The swimming area is separated from boats, so vessels do not come close to the shore.
The sea is clean and calm, and there are a few small piers along the shore that children love to jump from.
One of the beach's most recognisable features is a large tamarisk tree that provides pleasant natural shade. Since many swimmers gather beneath it during the hottest part of the day, there is a good chance you will make new friends right there.
What you should know: the biggest drawback of Gornja Krušica is limited parking. There is space for about ten cars, so in high season the spots fill up quickly. That same limitation means the beach is usually far less crowded in midsummer than some other, more easily accessible beaches.
There is no shop, bar or restaurant in Gornja Krušica. Bring enough water, food and everything else you will need for the day.
Best for: families, younger children and guests looking for a quiet pebble beach.
Our tip: arrive in the morning, before the parking spaces fill up.
2. Stračinska bay – the most beautiful sea colours on Šolta
If the beaches of Šolta were judged only by the colour of the sea, Stračinska would probably top the list.
Shades of blue, green and turquoise blend together in this small bay. Thanks to the light seabed and clear water, Stračinska is especially striking on sunny days, when the whole bay looks almost tropical.
The pebble beach is small and there are only a few houses in the bay. There are no shops, bars or other tourist facilities, so the atmosphere stays calm and quite intimate.
Getting to Stračinska: you reach the bay through Gornje Selo. The last part of the road descends steeply towards the sea and the surface is not good everywhere.
We recommend the drive to confident drivers and cars that handle steep slopes and rough roads without trouble (4x4 is not required, but it is very welcome). On the way back, remember that a steep climb awaits you.
At the end of the road, be especially careful where you park. Some of the parking areas belong to the surrounding houses and are private. Look for a space clearly marked as public parking. Parking there is free.
From the car park it is a few minutes' walk downhill to the beach, so we suggest you do not overdo the amount of gear and leave the large inflatable flamingos and other unnecessary equipment at home.
Best for: couples, photographers and anyone chasing the most beautiful sea colours.
Our tip: visit on a clear, sunny day, when the turquoise tones are at their most vivid.
3. Senjska bay – a wild bay for more adventurous visitors
Senjska is for guests willing to put in a little more effort in exchange for peace and an almost empty beach.
The road to the bay is very poor and its condition can change from year to year, or even from week to week. Heavy rain or the passage of a large vehicle can quickly create deep ruts, loose stones and hard-to-pass sections on the gravel.
Do not attempt to drive all the way down to the beach in a low car or any vehicle unsuited to rough gravel tracks.
With a suitable vehicle you can drive almost to the bay, and from the end of the road it is only a few minutes' walk to the beach. With an ordinary car it is safer to park at the first suitable and permitted spot and continue on foot – in that case expect roughly 15 to 20 minutes of walking.
Completely wild Šolta: Senjska has no bars, shops or organised tourist infrastructure. There are only three local houses in the bay, so respect their privacy, do not park on their land and keep the noise down.
The beach is made of slightly larger pebbles. Next to it there is a pier that quickly becomes a favourite jumping spot. A few minutes of swimming takes you to the outer part of the bay, where the view opens towards the open sea and the island of Vis.
Because of the difficult access, Senjska is one of the least visited beaches on Šolta. In the late afternoon you may well have the bay almost entirely to yourself.
Best for: adventurers, strong swimmers and guests looking for peace and quiet.
Our tip: bring a snorkelling mask, plenty to drink and as little heavy gear as possible.
4. Tatinja bay – a trip for a walk and dinner by the sea
You would not choose Tatinja for the beach alone, as the swimming area is very small. The reason to go is the whole experience: a pleasant walk, a beautiful bay, calm sea and the chance of lunch or dinner right by the shore.
You can leave the car near the bend at Grohote and set off towards the bay on foot. The walk usually takes 30–60 minutes (depending on your pace) and is especially enjoyable on cooler days or outside the midday heat.
Tatinja is therefore a good choice for a day when you want to move a bit more and lying on the beach is not your only goal.
In high season the Lonely Paradise restaurant by the sea is usually open in the bay. It is popular above all with boaters who sail in, so booking ahead is recommended. Check the current opening hours before you go.
Best for: couples, walkers and guests who want to combine swimming with a hike and/or lunch.
Our tip: avoid the hottest part of the day and reserve a table in advance.
5. Maslinica Punta – beach, beach bar and the finest sunset
The beach on the punta in Maslinica is an excellent choice for families where the children want to spend all day by the sea, while the parents are not great sea lovers and would rather spend part of the holiday with a cold drink in the shade.
Next to the pebble beach there is a beach bar with plenty of shade, so parents can sit nearby and keep an eye on the children playing in the sea. Children and teenagers also love taking photos by the I LOVE ŠOLTA sign.
You can combine the beach with a stroll through Maslinica which, alongside Stomorska, is one of the loveliest coastal villages on the island. Stone houses, the Martinis Marchi castle, the marina and the view towards the little islets create a completely different character from the eastern side of Šolta.
Stay for the sunset: we recommend Maslinica above all for a late-afternoon visit. The sun sets straight into the sea here, behind the group of small islets in front of Maslinica, which makes the sunsets here by far the most beautiful.
Come early enough for a swim, then stay for a drink or a walk until the sun disappears below the horizon.
Best for: families, bar lovers and sunset chasers.
Our tip: plan your visit for the second half of the day and combine it with dinner in Maslinica. Do not let children swim out to the islets, as the main channel for all boats heading into Maslinica runs there and swimming is forbidden. Keep them in the safe, marked swimming area.
6. Šipova beach – a sandy paradise for children
Many visitors do not know that Šolta also has a genuine sandy beach. That makes Šipova an almost obligatory stop for families with children. Building castles, digging holes, making channels and playing in the sand can keep children busy for hours. For them it is paradise. For parents, who will be shaking sand out of bags, towels and the car for days afterwards, perhaps slightly less so – but the children's excitement is usually worth the extra cleaning.
The bay is still completely wild, with no buildings, bars or other infrastructure. You can drive to within about 50 metres of the beach, so access is practical even with children's gear.
No natural shade: there is almost no shade at Šipova. Be sure to bring plenty of sunscreen, lots of water, hats and, if possible, a parasol or a small tent for babies.
Our favourite time to visit is on a cloudy or slightly cooler day. Children can then enjoy the sand for longer without constant exposure to the strong sun.
Best for: families, small children and lovers of sandy beaches.
Our tip: bring your own shade and avoid the hottest hours and days.
7. Nečujam – a day devoted to children's fun
Personally, we would not rank Nečujam among the most visually beautiful beaches on Šolta. But since so many families visit the island, it deserves a place in our guide.
For children, Nečujam is one of the most entertaining places on the island. There are swimming pools (free for café guests), and during the season an inflatable water park, pedal boats and other summer activities appear in the sea.
So here is our suggested family deal: first give the children a few hours of play in the bay while you "suffer" over a coffee or a cold beer, then move on to a part of the day more to your own taste.
Continue towards Laganini bar: you can drive along the right-hand side of the bay towards Laganini bar. This part hides several smaller coves with natural shade, and the atmosphere is calmer and far more relaxed.
Laganini is one of the island's most popular spots for cocktails, resting by the sea and taking photos. There are also several prestigious villas nearby, so it is not unusual to run into a familiar face.
Water activities and venue opening hours are seasonal, so check them before you go. Careful – at the time of writing they only accept cash, and there is no ATM in Nečujam!
Best for: families with children who want more activities and fun.
Our tip: combine the children's part of the day with an afternoon visit to the smaller coves and a drink at Laganini.
Video: Šolta from the sea
So which beach on Šolta should you choose?
- If you are travelling with small children, start with Gornja Krušica, Šipova or Maslinica.
- For the most beautiful sea colours, visit Stračinska.
- For peace, wild nature and a sense of discovery, choose Senjska or Tatinja.
- If you want to combine swimming with a longer walk and lunch, head to Tatinja.
- For children's activities and a livelier day, Nečujam is the best choice.
- And for the sunset, Maslinica is hard to beat.
And do not forget the beaches in Stomorska
In this article we have deliberately focused on beaches outside Stomorska.
If you stay at Casa Vidan, the beaches are right next to the apartment and you can walk there without driving or hunting for a parking space. Many more beaches are reachable by boat.
Detailed overview: The best beaches in Stomorska
Stomorska is also an excellent base for exploring the island. In the morning you can head to a wild bay, return to the apartment in the afternoon, and in the evening stroll to the waterfront, the restaurants and the sea.
If you are looking for the real Dalmatia – the scent of pines, the song of cicadas and the chance to have a beach entirely to yourself – check the available dates at Casa Vidan below and book your apartment today. We are already looking forward to meeting you and showing you our little slice of paradise!
Accommodation in Stomorska
Browse our sea view apartments in the heart of Stomorska.
About the author
Fourth generation of the Vidan family on Šolta · Author of the local guides · Olive grower
Damir Vidan is the fourth generation of the Vidan family connected to the island of Šolta, and his daughter is already the fifth. He is one of the family members who look after Casa Vidan and the author of the local guides, which are based on his own experience of Stomorska and Šolta.
He also runs the local family farm OPG Damir Vidan, where he grows olives and produces organic olive oil. When he is not among the olive trees or at Casa Vidan, he prefers to spend his time outdoors - on the boat, by the sea or on one of the quiet, secluded beaches in the shade of the pines.
More about the author - Damir VidanHow this content is made
The Casa Vidan local guides are based on first-hand experience of Stomorska and the island of Šolta. Information that can change - such as timetables, transport connections or local rules - is checked against official sources and updated when needed.
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