The sand here feels improbable—fine and pale, it squeaks softly as you walk toward water that warms in the protected bay all summer. Unlike the pebble beaches dominating these islands, Sotorišće offers the pleasure of towels laid directly on soft ground, of wading without watching each footfall. Pine trees edge the beach's landward side, their needle-carpeted shade dotted with picnic tables and hammock trees.
“The combination of genuine sand, shallow swimming, and immediate village access makes this singular in the North Dalmatian islands.”
Sea-foam edge on volcanic black sand
You enter water so gradual in its deepening that children paddle confidently thirty feet from shore, their splashing audible across the quiet bay. The sandy bottom remains visible throughout your swim, occasional patches of seagrass waving in gentle currents. Small damselfish investigate your ankles while you stand waist-deep, the water temperature approaching bathwater by August afternoons.
The village proximity shapes the rhythm here—locals return home for lunch, then reappear by four when the day's heat begins easing. You hear Croatian and Italian in equal measure, the latter from regular visitors who've been coming to Silba for decades. No cars interrupt the peace; the island banned them, leaving only footpaths and the occasional service cart. By evening, families gather near the waterline, children constructing elaborate sand fortifications while parents watch the light soften across the bay.
