Everything you want to know before your first trip to Zrce Beach, all on one page: where the beach is, which clubs there are, when the season is, what festivals and entry cost, how to get there and where to stay. As of 24 October 2026.
What is Zrce Beach?
Zrce Beach is a pebble beach about 500 metres long on Pag Island in Croatia, around three kilometres from the centre of Novalja, and has been the country’s best-known party beach since the 2000s. The special thing is the mix: during the day it’s a bay for swimming with crystal-clear water and a Blue Flag, in the afternoon there are after-beach parties at the club pools, and at night open-air club nights and festivals right by the water.
Every season from May to September, tens of thousands of guests from all over Europe come here, many from Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The parties are in a handful of big open-air clubs right on the beach, plus festivals with international DJs. If you’re looking for a party holiday in Croatia, you’ll almost always end up here. You stay in Novalja, as there’s no accommodation directly on the beach.
- LocationPag Island, Croatia, about 3 km from Novalja
- BeachPebble beach, about 500 m, Blue Flag
- ClubsPapaya, Aquarius, Kalypso, Nomad, Lift Beach Club
- SeasonEarly May to early September
- AirportZadar, about 90 km
- StayIn Novalja, not on the beach
Where is Zrce Beach and how do you get there?
Zrce Beach is on the southwest coast of Pag Island in a bay open to the west, about three kilometres from the centre of Novalja (GPS 44.5424 N, 14.9088 E). The nearest airport is Zadar, about 90 kilometres and around one and a half to two hours’ drive via the Pag Bridge. From Novalja, shuttle buses and taxis run to the beach 24/7 during the season.
Getting to Novalja
- Flight: to Zadar (ZAD), or alternatively Split, Zagreb or Rijeka. You can book the airport transfer from all four airports with us, with fixed prices. More about getting there by plane.
- Car: via the Pag Bridge in the south of the island or by ferry from Prizna to Žigljen (about 15 minutes, very frequent in summer, no reservation needed, expect queues on Fridays and Saturdays in high season). You’ll need vignettes for Austria and Slovenia, and in Croatia you pay motorway tolls by distance. Details: by car and by ferry.
- Bus: Bus trips to Novalja from 22 cities in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
From town to the beach
The shuttle bus leaves from the roundabout in Novalja three to seven times an hour, from other stops two to four times and via Gajac one to four times per hour. Taxis are available 24/7, with the Bolt app you can see the fare in advance. Walking takes about 30 to 40 minutes. The exact location with map is at Zrce Beach coordinates, all routes in the FAQ on getting there.
Which clubs are there at Zrce Beach?
At Zrce Beach you party in big open-air clubs right on the beach. In the 2026 season, Papaya, Aquarius, Kalypso, Nomad and Lift Beach Club were open. Noa Beach Club, long the icon over the water, was closed in February 2026 after a demolition order and is no longer part of the line-up.
- Papaya: the classic with pool area, open daily from about mid-May to early September, home to many big festivals.
- Aquarius: after-beach parties in the afternoon, night events from 10 pm.
- Kalypso: completely rebuilt for 2026, with a new pool area, home of the Spring Break festivals.
- Nomad: beach club right on the sand.
- Lift Beach Club: new since 2026 on the former Cable Pag site, wakeboarding by day, lounge in the evening.
What happened to Noa Beach Club and what the demolition means for the bay is in the article Noa Beach Club demolished: the new era at Zrce Beach. We introduce all bars and lounges on the Clubs at Zrce Beach page.
When is the season at Zrce Beach and what’s a party day like?
The season at Zrce Beach runs from early May to early September, with July and August as peak season. In 2027 it starts on 6 May with Vatertag Spring Break at Kalypso. A typical day: beach in the morning, after-beach parties at the pools from about 4 pm, club nights from about 10 pm until 5 am and later.
In July and August, something is open almost every night, in the low season before and after mainly at weekends and for festivals. The after-beach parties in the afternoon are often free. The beach itself is open all year, even outside the season. If you want it cheaper, come in June or late August, when accommodation is much less expensive than in peak season.
Club opening times in detail: When do the clubs at Zrce Beach open and close? and Opening times in Zrce A–Z. All dates for the season are in the festival calendar.
Which festivals are on at Zrce Beach in 2027?
In 2027, the line-up at Zrce Beach includes Father's Day Spring Break (6 to 10 May 2027), Summer Kickoff Spring Break (17 to 21 June 2027), Hideout (29 June to 2 July 2027), Dropzone (3 to 8 July 2027), Austria goes Zrce AGZ (17 to 24 July 2027), Barrakud (9 to 12 August 2027) and Endless Summer Spring Break (12 to 16 August 2027). Most big festivals are between late June and mid-August, with the Spring Break festivals at Kalypso opening and closing the season.
- Father's Day Spring Break6 to 10 May 2027
- Summer Kickoff Spring Break17 to 21 June 2027
- Hideout29 June to 2 July 2027
- Dropzone3 to 8 July 2027
- Austria goes Zrce AGZ17 to 24 July 2027
- Barrakud9 to 12 August 2027
- Endless Summer Spring Break12 to 16 August 2027
Tickets are available on our festival pages, all dates with monthly view in the 2027 festival calendar. If you want to combine a festival with accommodation, choose the complete package or build your own with accommodation, ticket and transfer in the basket.
How much is entry to the clubs at Zrce Beach?
Entry at Zrce Beach is free on many nights, especially in June and September. Regular club nights cost 0 to 20 euros, often free before midnight. Special events are 20 to 40 euros, big festivals with multi-day tickets start at about 100 euros, VIP tables from about 200 euros, usually with a bottle.
You pay in euros. Debit and credit cards work in clubs, bars and restaurants, but American Express often doesn’t. For small things it’s worth having some cash, there are ATMs in Novalja. More in the FAQs How much is entry to the clubs? and Do you need cash at Zrce Beach?
What’s the minimum age for the clubs at Zrce Beach?
You can get into the clubs at Zrce Beach from age 18, and you’ll need a valid photo ID at the door, either an ID card or passport. For selected events, entry may be possible from 16 if accompanied by a parent or guardian, but only if the organiser announces this in advance.
No entry without ID, not even with a photo on your phone. Tip: keep a copy of your ID separate from the original. For school leavers we organise school leavers’ trips to Zrce Beach with accommodation, travel and programme. Details on the age limit: What’s the minimum age for the clubs?
Where do you stay at Zrce Beach?
There’s no accommodation directly at Zrce Beach. All guests stay in Novalja or in the Gajac settlement between Novalja and the beach, in apartments, holiday homes, villas with pool or in a hotel. From town, shuttle buses and taxis run to the beach 24/7.
ZRCE.de offers 190 places to stay in 41 houses in Novalja, all personally checked: apartments for two to eight people, villas with pool for groups up to 24, and hotel rooms in the centre. You pay nothing when booking, a 30 percent deposit is due within 14 days, the balance seven weeks before arrival. For teams and clubs there are fixed sports team packages, for groups of friends the stag or hen party at Zrce Beach.
What’s the weather like at Zrce Beach?
In summer it’s hot and dry at Zrce Beach: in July and August, long-term highs at the Zadar weather station are 28 degrees, the sea is 22 to 23 degrees, and it only rains on a few days. In recent summers it’s often been much warmer, often over 30 degrees. In May and September it’s milder at 21 to 24 degrees.
| Month | High | Low | Water | Sun/day | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May | 21.3 °C | 13.5 °C | 16.8 °C | 8.9 h | 65 mm |
| June | 25.2 °C | 17.0 °C | 20.3 °C | 10.1 h | 54 mm |
| July | 28.2 °C | 19.3 °C | 22.6 °C | 11.3 h | 30 mm |
| August | 28.2 °C | 19.3 °C | 22.8 °C | 10.4 h | 50 mm |
| September | 24.3 °C | 16.0 °C | 21.1 °C | 8.2 h | 104 mm |
The Bora, a cold and gusty north wind, can also occur in summer but usually passes quickly. The clubs have covered areas. What to pack is in the Zrce Beach packing list, more on the climate at Weather Zrce.
What can you do at Zrce Beach besides party?
Besides clubs and festivals, Zrce Beach is a bay for swimming and watersports: jetski, banana boat, flyboard, wakeboard facility at Lift Beach Club and a bungee tower right on the beach. The most popular experience outside the clubs is the party boat tour, which starts at Novalja harbour.
The party boat tour sails with DJ, drinks and swim stops on the Adriatic, tickets are available directly from us. For something quieter, try the beach in Novalja. For trips, Pag Island and the mainland are worth it, find ideas at Novalja surroundings.
Is Zrce Beach dangerous and what rules apply?
Zrce Beach is a normal holiday spot with security at the clubs and police in Novalja, it’s not dangerous if you stick to the rules. Drugs are strictly forbidden in Croatia, possession and use are harshly punished, and there are regular checks on the beach, especially during festivals.
- Don’t drink alcohol on the street outside clubs, bars and your accommodation, keep quiet at night in residential areas.
- Keep valuables in your accommodation safe, only take your phone, card and some cash to the beach.
- Emergency number in Croatia: 112. Novalja police: Ul. Braće Radić 9, 53291 Novalja, phone +385 53 675 860.
More on this: Is Zrce Beach dangerous?, Drugs at Zrce and Novalja police.
What does Zrce mean and how do you pronounce it?
Zrce is the name of the bay and the beach near Novalja, written Zrće in Croatian. The ć at the end sounds like a soft ‘tch’. In everyday life, almost everyone just says Zrce or Zrce Beach, and that’s how it appears on tickets, in club names and on this page.
How the quiet bay became Croatia’s best-known party beach is told in the article The story of Zrce Beach: from fishing village to festival hotspot.
How do you plan and book your Zrce holiday?
Book accommodation, party boat, festival tickets and airport transfer with ZRCE.de in one basket and pay once. The team answers questions on WhatsApp, usually within a few hours.
