People with disabilities are the largest minority group of tourists in the world, and their number represents a great tourist potential for every country. Accessible tourism enables everyone, without exception, to use tourist services in a dignified manner.
Croatia is classified as a well-known tourist destination, but from the perspective of people with disabilities, the area of adaptation to tourist attractions is still one of the most unorganized. Beach facilities for people with disabilities in Croatia are not as developed as in some other countries, but there are a certain number of beaches that are adapted to the special needs of people with disabilities.
Beaches with the Blue Flag should be fully equipped with such facilities, but unfortunately many of them have only partially built facilities for the disabled. Access to the sea is often without ramps, adapted toilets and changing rooms are often locked, and there are no lifeguards or assistants to help the disabled.
In 2019, the Croatian Association of Associations of Persons with Physical Disabilities issued a Guide to Accessible Beaches for Persons with Disabilities, which you can view HERE.
Other than that, great app Beach - Beach finder it works by showing you the nearest beaches, beach-related news and weather forecast based on your current location, and allows you to search for beach categories in a way that shows beaches that are accessible to people with disabilities and with appropriate facilities.
There are also several portals that offer an overview of accessible beaches through interactive beach maps, for example a multilingual portal Best of Croatia, CroatiaExpert in English and Croats.de in German which are useful for foreign guests.
And a news portal for people with disabilities inPortal regularly reports on new and improved beaches accessible to people with disabilities. The same portal recommended several beaches suitable for people with disabilities, and we pass on the recommendation:
Beaches for people with disabilities on the Adriatic
1. Beach Kovačine autocamp na Cres has a sundeck, toilet, shower, even a lifeguard who is in charge of people with disabilities.
2. Beach in to the Straško camp in Novalja, has several accessible toilets, shower is affordable, there is a crane to go down to the sea. It is recommended for camping fans because the toilets are also adapted.
3. City beach Punta in Omis is another positive example. By car, you can reach the marked parking lot only 60 meters from the beach itself. The access to the sea itself is well done, and the sea is entered using a crane. There is also a designated toilet within a radius of 60 meters. The shower is inaccessible due to gravel. There is also a hotel nearby that is accessible to people in wheelchairs if they are not wider than 70 centimeters.
4. Blue beach in Vodice it also has access by car to the beach itself. The ramp for entering the sea is designed according to regulations, and there are two adapted toilets nearby.
5. Valkane beach in Pula it was recently renovated and access to the sea for people in wheelchairs is enabled by means of a ramp. Here too, you can get very close to the beach by car.
6. Kostanj beach on Kantrida it has an elevator, a ramp and a custom toilet, and the help of a lifeguard is possible.
7. In Žnjan beach in Split there is a double ramp as well as an elevator for entering the sea. Ten spaces are reserved for people with disabilities in the parking lot, and the parking lot is connected to the beach by an access path. The beach is also equipped with umbrellas, special wheelchairs for entering the sea, adapted sanitary facilities, showers and changing rooms. There is also a lifeguard service on the beach.
8. Bačvice beach in Split it is also equipped with a ramp that is long enough and descends all the way into the sea, but the disadvantage is that it has a handrail on one side only.
9. city Beach in Crikvenica There is an elevator on the beach, the help of a lifeguard on duty is available, and there is also an adapted toilet. Movement in the level is without obstacles, connected by ramps.
10. Copacabana Beach in Dubrovnik has a lift for the disabled that allows unobstructed access to the sea. There is also a car park, and people who rent deck chairs are there to help.
Cover photo: Pixabay
