01Are there beaches in Kornati?

Yes, but they are few and small. Kornati National Park covers 89 islands, islets and reefs, and most of the coast is bare rock and cliff. Swimming happens mostly from rocky shelves and from boats anchored in sheltered bays. The real sand and fine pebble beaches are a handful of coves, and the best of them take a boat to reach.

The islands are uninhabited apart from seasonal farmers' cottages. There are no hotels, no roads to speak of and no scheduled ferry. Anyone looking for a beachfront apartment ends up on the mainland coast or on Murter island, the usual gateway.

02Best beaches in Kornati National Park

Lojena beach, Kornat island

Lojena is the best-known beach in the archipelago. It is a sandy bay on the largest island, Kornat, and a standard stop for sailing boats and tour boats. The water is shallow and clear, and the sand is rare in this part of the Adriatic. It gets crowded between late morning and mid-afternoon in July and August, so arrive early or late in the day.

Levrnaka island

Levrnaka is a common swimming and lunch stop on Murter excursions. The coves have pebbles and rock platforms with very clear water. Some tours include free time here, which makes it one of the easiest places to swim without chartering a boat.

Mana island

Mana is usually the first stop on the route. It suits a short swim and a break before the boat continues deeper into the park. Expect rock entry, not sand, so water shoes help.

Rock swimming and anchorages

Swimming from the boat in a quiet bay often beats landing at a named beach. The water around the islands is deep, blue and clean, and many bays are empty by late afternoon. This is why sailors and private boat renters get more out of the park than tour passengers.

03Beachfront apartments: where to actually stay

Beachfront apartments inside the national park do not exist in the normal sense. The only buildings are a few simple stone cottages and konobas, mostly open in summer and reachable by boat. They suit one night of quiet, not a standard holiday. The practical base is Murter island, on the mainland side of the archipelago.

Kosirina, Murter

Kosirina is a bay with a pebble beach on the Murter coast, with apartments close to the water. It is a good base for families and for people who want a swim before and after a boat trip. In July and August, apartments with sea views run about €70-140 per night, depending on size and distance from the beach.

Slanica, Murter

Slanica is the best-known beach on Murter, with a long pebble and gravel shore and shallow water. Apartments here cost more because the beach has restaurants, a promenade and more services. Expect about €80-160 per night in high season.

Betina and Tisno

Betina is a quieter fishing village on the east side of Murter, with small swim spots and cheaper apartments, about €60-120 per night in summer. It lacks a big beach, but the harbour setting is charming and the boat departures are close. Tisno, across the bridge, adds a lively evening scene.

A rental with a balcony facing the sea is not the same as a beachfront apartment. Check the walking distance on the map before booking, because listings often stretch the term to 300-500 m.

04How to get to Kornati from Murter

Full-day tours leave Murter port at about 09:00 and return at about 17:30. The adult price is typically €65, and children 5-12 pay about €35. Under-fives go free. The price includes the park ticket, lunch and swim stops. Private boats for up to 6 people cost around €450 per day with a skipper, and the park ticket is included on some offers.

If you rent your own boat, check how the park ticket is charged and buy it in advance, online or in Murter, instead of at the park.

05Best time to visit

May, June and September give the best balance of warm sea and fewer boats. July and August are the busiest and hottest, and Lojena fills up. The park is open year round, but most konobas and tours run roughly from April to October.

06Local tips

  • Book a Murter apartment for at least 4 nights, so one weather-cancelled boat day does not ruin the trip.
  • Bring water shoes. Most entries are rock or sharp pebbles.
  • Bring your own shade and water. Most islands have no shops and little natural shelter.
  • Choose a small-group or private boat over a large tour boat if budget allows. A smaller boat reaches quiet coves and spends more time at each stop.
  • Skip the rushed three-stop tours that cram in too many sights. Two good swim stops beat five short ones.

07Is it worth staying on the islands?

For most visitors, no. Staying overnight in a basic island cottage sounds romantic until you deal with no shops, limited power and a boat transfer to every meal. Murter gives better beaches for day-to-day swimming, easy parking and shops, and the Kornati trip becomes a day out, not a logistics project.