For those seeking the ultimate party destination, we present Zrce Beach near Novalja—a world-renowned location celebrated for its music festivals, 24-hour parties, and stunning open-air nightclubs overlooking the sea.
Our comprehensive guide to Zrce Beach covers everything you need to know to party your way through the Croatian Ibiza that is Zrce Beach, including nightlife, festivals, where to stay and how to get to the island of Pag.
Nightlife
Located on the island of Pag in the north of Croatia is one of the best party destinations in Europe – Zrce Beach!
The waterfront is packed with bars and clubs, luring you in with their impressive venues, attractive hosts and glistening pools!
Here are our top 4 clubs that you simply can’t leave Zrce Beach without checking out!
Aquarius Club
Aquarius Club has been voted as one of the top 100 clubs in the world time and time again! Awesome pool parties, amazing DJ sets and non-stop parties are just your average day at Aquarius Club!
Club Kalypso
Kalypso, established in 1987, is the pioneer and cornerstone of the region's nightlife scene.
The club is built into a cove at the end of the beach and is complete with cabanas, day beds, pools and deep house vibes, making it the perfect place to relax during the day and dance under the stars at night.
Papaya Club
This open-air club has been rated as one of the ‘Best Clubs in the World’ by Lonely Planet- and it sure isn’t difficult to see why!
Think palm trees, pools, beachfront views, cabanas, foam, fireworks and dancing platforms, as well as a capacity of almost 5,000 people, and you might have a slight idea of what to expect from Papaya!
Noa Beach Club
The world-famous Noa Beach Club stretches out over the Adriatic Sea, providing one of the coolest venues to party at on Zrce Beach!
World class DJ’s, performers and dancers grace the stage night after night, giving you an experience like no other! With 11 bars, scattered pools, a huge dance floor and chill-out areas that rival some of the best super clubs in Europe, we’re certain you’ll love Noa Beach Club!
Festivals
You’ll find some of the BEST music festivals on Zrce Beach! If party after party is what you’re after, we’re certain that Zrce Beach will live up to it’s ‘party boy’ reputation!
Check out the below festivals and plan your trip around seeing your favourite artists in some of the most unique venues in Europe!
Where to Stay
When the hangover kicks in and all you want to do is lie by the water, we guarantee you won’t want to be staying on the never sleeping, all partying, Zrce Beach!
A short ten minute drive from all of the action is the town of Novalja, where most of the island’s visitors retreat to as the sun starts to rise.
The town has a range of accommodation options including hotels, hostels and Airbnb’s (we recommend booking in advance as accommodation sells out well in advance!).
Getting There
Zrce Beach is located on the island of Pag, Croatia and has grown in popularity over the last 10 years, establishing itself as one of the most popular beaches in Europe!
That being said, we would recommend pre-planning your transport to the party destination from central points in Croatia such as Zagreb and Split.
Novalja is connected by bus services from most major cities in Croatia, however they can be quite expensive- particularly during the high season where the demand for transport sky rockets.
The easiest and most cost-effective way to experience the craziness of Zrce Beach is to jump on Sail Croatia’s Hideout Festival Cruise – taking in the very best of Krka National Park in Croatia and all of the epic nightlife on the island of Pag!
Best Time to Visit
Zrce Beach Spring Break kicks off the start of the season on the 2nd of June and the party doesn’t slow down until the end of July. The warm weather means that it’s the perfect time for pool parties, balmy evenings spent partying in open-air clubs and days spent relaxing in the Sea!
You can still visit Zrce Beach in May and August, however you can expect less crowds and clubs shutting well before their 24 hour reputation!
If you’re looking for the craziest parties in Europe without the Ibiza price tag, Zrce Beach is a must-visit destination!
Zrce Novalja FAQ's
Prices vary quite a bit depending on when you visit and what you're after, but here's a rough idea:
Accommodation: Budget hostels start around €20-30 per night, mid-range apartments €50-80, and luxury hotels can be €100+ during peak season. Prices double or even triple during major festival weekends.
Food & Drink: Expect to pay more than mainland Croatia. A meal at a decent restaurant is around €15-25, beach club cocktails €8-12, and beers €3-5. Supermarket shopping is your cheapest option for basics.
Festivals: Day tickets typically range from €30-60, while multi-day passes can be €80-150+ depending on the event and lineup.
Transport: Shuttle buses to the beach are usually a few euros, taxis around €10-15 from Novalja, and car rental about €25-40 per day.
Clubs: Entry fees vary but expect €10-20 for beach clubs, sometimes more for special events.
The key is booking accommodation early - leaving it late during festival season will cost you seriously. Budget around €50-70 per day minimum, more if you're planning to party hard.
Novalja town is compact and walkable, and Zrce Beach venues are all clustered together along the same stretch. It's only about 2km from Novalja centre to Zrce Beach - a 20-minute walk that many people do, especially when the shuttle buses are packed. Between the actual beach clubs, you're talking just a few minutes' walk.
While Zrce Beach is all about the party scene, there's other stuff to do on Pag island when you need a breather. There are loads of quieter beaches like Caska Beach and Simuni Beach that are perfect for recovering from the night before without the club music, plus you can try water sports like jet skiing when the sea's calm. Pag town itself has a proper old Croatian vibe with medieval streets if you fancy a change of pace, and there are day trips available to nearby islands or Krka National Park for waterfalls and nature walks. Honestly though, most people come here specifically for the nightlife - everything else is just bonus recovery time!
You should book accommodation as early as possible - ideally 3-6 months ahead for peak season. Places sell out well in advance, especially during major festival weekends when demand absolutely skyrockets.
If you're coming for specific festivals like Hideout or Sonus, book right after tickets go on sale because accommodation around those dates disappears fast.
Pack light summer clothes, swimwear, comfortable shoes for walking, and something warm for late nights as it can get breezy by the sea. Don't forget sunscreen, sunglasses, and a portable phone charger. Wi-Fi is widely available at hotels, clubs, and many restaurants. Croatia uses the Euro, and cards are accepted at most places, including clubs and restaurants, though it's worth having some cash for smaller venues, tips, and late-night food stalls. There are several ATMs in Novalja town centre if you need to withdraw cash.
