Beach Clubs on the Dalmatian Coast

On the Dalmatian coast, a beach club is usually a terrace or deck set into a pebble beach or rocky cove, with rows of sunbeds and parasols, a bar, a kitchen and music. Some have a small jetty or buoys where tenders and water taxis can drop guests. You swim straight off the rocks or the beach, then come back for lunch or a drink in the shade.

The mood varies a great deal. Some places are quiet and food-led, built around grilled fish and a long lunch. Others are livelier, with DJs in the afternoon and a party atmosphere that builds towards sunset.

Around Split, beach clubs and beach bars line the city beaches and the coast either side of town. They are easy to reach on foot or by taxi and are useful on the day before departure or after your week ends.

Around Hvar, the best-known clubs sit in the coves of the Pakleni islands, a short water taxi ride from Hvar Town. These are among the busiest daytime spots in central Dalmatia in July and August. Our Hvar nightlife guide covers the town and its evenings.

On Brač, beach bars cluster around the larger beaches and harbour towns, with quieter cove restaurants elsewhere on the island. The Brač destination guide describes the island's main stops.

Smaller islands such as Šolta and Vis tend to have simpler beach bars and konobas by the water rather than large clubs.

If your yacht is anchored or on a buoy nearby, your skipper may take you ashore by tender. Some venues have a landing point; at others you step off onto rocks or a beach, so wear shoes you can get wet. Keep phones and cards in a dry bag.

Water taxis are the other option, especially from Hvar Town to the Pakleni islands. They run frequently in summer and are the simplest way back if the yacht has moved.

Agree a pickup time with your skipper before you go ashore, and stick to it. Tender trips after dark need more care, and your skipper may set a cut-off time. The yacht's position depends on the weather, so the plan can change during the day. See anchoring and mooring buoys for how overnight stops usually work.

Costs vary widely between venues and through the season. Common arrangements include:

• A charge for sunbeds and parasols, often higher in the front row
• Minimum spend for daybeds or reserved areas
• Paying for food and drink only, with free entry to the beach
• Booking ahead for lunch or sunbeds in peak weeks

Prices for food and drink are often higher than in town. Check current prices and booking rules directly with the venue, and budget for them separately. Beach club visits are not part of a sailing week unless your booking says so.

Midday sun on a pebble beach is intense, and the water reflects it back at you. Use high-factor sun cream, reapply after swimming and take breaks in the shade. Drink water between other drinks. Our guide to sun and heat at sea has more detail.

Rocky coves often have sea urchins, so water shoes help. Stay inside marked swimming areas where they exist, and watch for tenders and water taxis coming in to land. Do not swim after drinking, and do not swim back to the yacht from the shore unless your skipper has agreed it. Swimming safely from a yacht covers the basics.

Many of these coves sit inside protected areas, and some islands have only a small year-round population. Take your rubbish back with you, keep music to the venue and follow any local rules on dress and behaviour when you walk into nearby towns.