Pula is unusually good to dogs. While much of the Adriatic bans them from beaches outright in summer, the city officially designates several beaches where dogs are welcome every day of the year. The trade-off: none of them are the groomed resort beaches. Your dog gets rocks, pines and clear water rather than sunbeds, which most dogs consider an upgrade.
One rule to know first: dogs are not allowed on Blue Flag beaches, which rules out Ambrela and the main resort strips. Stick to the designated spots below and nobody will bother you.
The Official Dog Beaches
| Beach | Where | Why go |
|---|---|---|
| Valovine | Verudela, next to Hawaii Beach | Easiest to reach, calm bay |
| Port by Stoja camp | Stoja peninsula | Combine with the campsite facilities |
| Saccorgiana | Verudela coast | Quieter cove |
| Verudela lighthouse beach | Verudela tip | Rock ledges, deep clear water |
| Hidrobaza | North of the city, Puntižela side | Wide pebble stretch, sunset side |
| Seagull Rocks (Galebove stijene) | Stoja/Valkane coast | Dramatic rocks, for confident swimmers |
Valovine: The Default Choice
For most visitors with a dog, Valovine settles it. It sits on Verudela next to Hawaii Beach, so you get the same pine shade and calm bay water as the main beaches, with free parking along the forest edge and short paths down to the sea. The entry is rocky in places; if your dog is small or elderly, aim for the pebble patches at the bay’s inner curve. Humans can grab a drink at the Hawaii Beach bars two minutes away, where terrace seating with a leashed dog is generally no problem.
Hidrobaza: The Local Favourite
North of the city towards Puntižela, Hidrobaza is a long pebble-and-concrete stretch left over from a seaplane base, now one of the most relaxed beaches in Pula for anyone with a dog. Plenty of space means nobody is on top of anyone, the water shelves gently, and the west orientation makes it the best evening swim on this list.
Cape Kamenjak: The Day Out
If you’re doing our Cape Kamenjak day trip with a dog, good news: the whole cape is dog-friendly, with a dedicated dog beach and the shaded Kašteja park nearby for walks out of the sun. The nearby campsite has dog showers for rinsing off salt. Car entry to Kamenjak is charged in high season, around €10 a day. Take water for the dog; the cape has almost no shade at midday and the rock gets hot enough to burn paws.
Practical Notes
- Shade and timing. July and August middays are brutal for dogs on pebble and rock. Swim before 10am or after 5pm, like the locals do with their own dogs.
- Swim shoes for you. Every beach on this list has rocky sections.
- Water. Only Valovine and Stoja have facilities close by. Carry your own everywhere else.
- Staying with a dog? Filter for pet-friendly places in our where to stay guide; the campsites at Stoja and Puntižela are the easiest option since the dog beaches are on their doorstep.
For everyone else in your group, the full beaches guide covers the human-first options, and the transport guide explains the bus lines if you’re car-free (dogs ride Pulapromet buses muzzled and leashed).
