This active coastal town on the Dalmatian coast has a 16th-century tower, pebbly beaches, and a modern marina. Summer brings outdoor markets and live music to its seaside promenade.
Vodice sits along Croatia's central Dalmatian coast, where 4 kilometers of beaches line the Adriatic Sea. In the old center, you'll find the 18th-century Church of St Cross with its stone bell tower and the restored Čorić Tower, built in 1646 to defend against Ottoman attacks. You can take a 15-minute boat ride to swim at Tijat and Prvić islands, walk to the 45-meter Skradinski Buk waterfall at Krka National Park, or spend evenings at Hacienda club's open-air dance floor overlooking the sea.
Swimming at Vodice Beaches
The main Blue Beach (Plava plaža) extends westward from the Punta peninsula to Tribunj, with water depths under 1 meter for the first 20 meters from shore. The beach maintains Blue Flag status with clean water testing, lifeguards, and accessible restrooms. Hangar Beach (Male Vrulje) runs for 400 meters near Hotel Olympia, drawing younger crowds with its five beach bars and equipment rentals for jet skiing and parasailing. Srima Beach stretches for 2 kilometers with small pebbles and gradually deepening water, typically with half the crowds of the main beaches.
Visiting Krka and Kornati National Parks
Two national parks lie within an hour of Vodice. At Krka National Park, 10 kilometers inland, wooden walkways lead to seven waterfalls. The largest, Skradinski Buk, drops 45 meters into a swimming area (open May-October). Boat tours (150-300 HRK) depart daily from Vodice harbor to the Kornati archipelago, where 89 islands rise from the sea with white limestone cliffs. Most tours stop at 3-4 swimming spots and include lunch.
Food and Local Restaurants
Restaurants line the waterfront promenade, with tables set up along the sea wall. Restaurant Sky, on the 10th floor of Hotel Olympic, serves fresh fish caught daily - try the grilled sea bass with Swiss chard (180 HRK). Konoba Tri Piruna, operating since 1975 in a stone house, prepares traditional pašticada beef stew and locally-produced maraština white wine. The morning market (open 6 AM-noon) sells seasonal produce, bottles of olive oil, and bags of dried figs from nearby farms.
Summer Events and Festivals
The CMC Festival brings 20+ Croatian musicians to perform at the waterfront stage each June. During Vodička Fešta (August 4th), food vendors set up along the harbor selling grilled sardines and local wines, leading up to fireworks at 11 PM. From June through September, art exhibitions rotate through the Church of St Cross, while klapa groups perform traditional a cappella songs in the main square on Wednesday evenings.
Getting Around and Day Trips
Buses run every 2 hours from Split Airport (60 km, 80 HRK) and Zadar Airport (48 km, 65 HRK) to Vodice. The town lies 11 kilometers from Šibenik via the coastal road or A1 highway. Ferries depart four times daily to car-free Prvić and Zlarin islands (25 HRK one-way). Both islands have networks of walking paths connecting their stone villages, with round-island walks taking 2-3 hours.
