Beritnica appears on a list of ten hidden beaches put out by a car rental site, and Croatian media turned that into first place. No road reaches the bay: drive to Ručica, then walk 15 to 20 minutes along a section of the Life on Mars Trail.
Checked: 17 August 2026
Beritnica beach on the eastern side of Pag has been all over travel news since mid August, because it turns up on a list of Europe's hidden beaches. In Croatian media that became Europe's best hidden beach. The list is something else, and the bay itself makes demands that never fit in a headline: no road leads there, and there is no water and no shade.
What is behind the headline
The story comes from DiscoverCars.com, a car rental comparison site. It put together ten beaches in eight countries and quoted regional car hire prices next to each one, 116 pounds for a week in August in the case of Madeira. No criteria, no jury and no scoring were published. Reports have been running since 12 August 2026.
“Going to the beach is one of the most popular and enjoyable activities on a summer holiday, but finding one that isn't overrun with crowds can sometimes be tricky.”
None of that adds up to a ranking. The Croatian version puts Beritnica first, the English list of the same ten beaches has it further down. That takes nothing away from the bay, it only means the title of Europe's best hidden beach was added while the story travelled, it is not an award.
| Beach | Country and region |
|---|---|
| Beritnica | Croatia, island of Pag |
| Cala Banyalbufar | Spain, Mallorca |
| Cape Possidi | Greece, Halkidiki |
| Gjipe | Albania, Albanian Riviera |
| Golden Beach | Cyprus, Karpaz peninsula |
| Monti Russu | Italy, Sardinia |
| Playa de la Solapa | Spain, Fuerteventura |
| Praia da Mata | Portugal, Costa da Caparica |
| Praia do Garajau | Portugal, Madeira |
| Ramla Bay | Malta, Gozo |
Where the bay actually is
Beritnica sits on the east coast of Pag below the village of Metajna, which belongs to the town of Novalja in Lika-Senj county. It is a pebble bay in a landscape with no vegetation, and three large rocks stand in the shallow water a few metres off the shore. Right next to it rises Stogaj, one of the most striking stone towers on the Adriatic coast and a known climbing wall. The neighbouring bay is Ručica.
Getting there: drive to Ručica, then walk
No road reaches the bay itself, which is exactly what keeps it empty. From Metajna you drive down to Ručica beach, where there are two parking areas, and the rest is a walk of 15 to 20 minutes each way along a section of the Life on Mars Trail. The path runs over pebbles and rock, so flip flops are not enough. Anyone who does not want to walk arrives by boat.
| Point | What counts |
|---|---|
| Starting point | Ručica beach below Metajna, two parking areas |
| Walk | 15 to 20 minutes each way, part of the Life on Mars Trail |
| Ground | Pebbles and rock, proper shoes |
| Car | Only as far as Ručica, no road to the bay |
| Alternative | Arrival by boat |
| Facilities | No bar, no drinking water, no toilets, no shade |
What the bay does not have
- No bar and no kiosk. Water, food and the rubbish on the way back all go in the rucksack.
- No shade. The slopes are bare, and from late morning the sun stands full on the pebbles.
- No toilets and no showers.
- No lifeguard. The rocks in the water look inviting, the ground around them is smooth and slippery.
- No road and no help nearby. Anyone who gets hurt here has the same path back.
Bura, sun and the trail
The Life on Mars Trail is a loop starting in Metajna, 15 kilometres in the shorter version and 24 in the long one, without big climbs but constantly over pebbles and stone. Two sections are secured as via ferrata, 100 metres at Slana bay and 60 metres at Beritnica below Stogaj. The east side of Pag lies exactly in the path of the bura falling off the Velebit. When bura is forecast the walk stops being a stroll, and the boats do not run anyway.
The bay is at its best early in the morning and in the late afternoon, when the sun no longer bakes the pebbles and the way back sits in the shadow of the slopes. Since the news went round there is noticeably more going on in August, so anyone looking for quiet comes in June or September. And since nobody cleans up here, the bay stays exactly as clean as people leave it.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Beritnica really Europe's best hidden beach?
- The title comes from the retelling of a list by the car rental site DiscoverCars.com with ten beaches in eight countries. No criteria and no scoring were published, and in the English version Beritnica is not in first place.
- How do you get to Beritnica?
- By car to Ručica beach below Metajna, park there, then 15 to 20 minutes on foot along a section of the Life on Mars Trail. The alternative is a boat.
- Can you drive all the way to the beach?
- No. No road leads into the bay, the last stretch works only on foot or over water.
- Is there a bar or drinking water at the beach?
- No. No bar, no kiosk, no drinking water, no toilets and no shade. Everything comes in with you and the rubbish goes back out.
- When is the best time to go?
- Early morning or late afternoon, and in June or September rather than August. When bura is forecast, better not at all: the east coast of Pag lies in the fall wind axis of the Velebit.
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