Kandarola Beach
Frkanj Peninsula, Rab Island, Croatia
The world’s first official nude beach, with full day facilities and ninety years of clothes-free history.
snapshot
Kandarola Beach is a paid day-use clothes-free venue on the Frkanj peninsula, Rab Island, Croatia. It earned the title of the world’s first official nude beach in 1936, when King Edward VIII swam here with the city’s permission. Entry covers 300 metres of pebbled beach, pine forest shade, parking, showers, a children’s pool, a restaurant, and a beach bar. Trails at either end lead to further clothes-free coves.
resort type
Day Resort
dress code
Clothes-Free
budget
Budget
When to visit
May to September
THE DESTINATION
THE DESTINATION & where to find it
Kandarola lies on the southern coast of the Frkanj peninsula, the wooded arm that reaches into the Kvarner Bay on the western side of Rab Island. The peninsula forms part of the Rab Geopark, a protected area of holm oak and pine forest designated in 2004. Thick tree cover shades the beach and the paths leading to it. The coves on this side of the island are naturally sheltered from the Bura wind that can affect more exposed sections of the Kvarner coastline, and the water is clear throughout.
The clothes-free area covers approximately 300 metres of pebble and rock coastline. The managed section includes a bar and restaurant, sun loungers and umbrellas for hire, freshwater showers, toilets, a volleyball court, and a small pool filled with sea water. The pool has a slide and a sandpit, making it a practical option for young children who find the rocky sea access challenging.
Beyond the managed boundaries, trails at both ends of the beach connect to further pebbled coves and rocky access points. Clothes-free bathing continues informally throughout this wider area, with no entry charge.
THE EXPERIENCE
THE EXPERIENCE & what to expect
Kandarola’s setting does most of the work. The southern face of the Frkanj peninsula catches strong afternoon sun, and the pine trees that back the beach provide shade without cutting off the sea view. Across the channel, the Velebit mountain range is visible on clear days. The water is Adriatic clear, even by local standards, partly because the pebbled bottom leaves no sediment to disturb.
The beach functions as a managed day resort rather than a wild cove. Arriving here means paying at the entrance, having facilities maintained around you, and finding a bar and restaurant open from morning through the afternoon. The social atmosphere is relaxed and international, with experienced clothes-free travellers making up most of the crowd.
A typical day at Kandarola has a clear rhythm. Mornings are quieter, before arrivals from the ferry and from Rab town build up. By mid-morning the bar is busy, and the volleyball court sees use. Peak season afternoons are lively along the main 300 metres. Visitors who want more space tend to follow the trails at either end of the managed beach, where further coves offer the same clothes-free atmosphere without the density.
Because Kandarola is a day venue only, there is no accommodation or camping on the property. The visit begins and ends with a drive or a short walk from wherever you are based on the island. Rab town, about 20 minutes away by car, is the natural base: it has the widest range of apartments, guesthouses, and small hotels on the island, and it puts the beach within easy reach each morning. Villages closer to Kampor shorten the drive further for those who want to arrive early.
WHO THIS IS FOR
WHO SHOULD GO & who should not
Great for
- ✓ Day visitors who want organised facilities alongside a genuine clothes-free beach
- ✓ Families with children
- ✓ Couples or solo travellers interested in the historical context of the world's first official nude beach
- ✓ Those basing themselves in Rab town and looking for a clear, easily reached clothes-free destination
not ideal if
- ✕ You want to stay overnight or camp at the venue itself
- ✕ You are looking for a sandy beach
- ✕ You prefer a remote, uncommercialised setting
practical
GETTING THERE & what to know
getting there
Rab Island is reached by ferry. The shortest crossing is 15 minutes from Stinica on the mainland to Mišnjak, at the island’s southern tip. There is also a 1-hour connection from Krk Island, and a 2-hour service from Rijeka. From Mišnjak, the drive to Kandarola takes approximately 20 minutes, heading north toward Kampor and the Frkanj peninsula near the Valamar Suha Punta hotel complex. From Lopar, in the north of the island, allow approximately 30 minutes. A car is the most practical way to reach the beach. Public transport on Rab is limited.
where to stay
Kandarola has no on-site accommodation or camping. Visitors base themselves in Rab town or the villages between Rab and Kampor, and come for the day. Rab town is approximately 20 minutes from the beach by car and has the widest choice of apartments, guesthouses, and small hotels on the island. Budget and mid-range options are available across the island, with the best availability and value found in June, September, and October outside the peak summer window.
when to go
The beach is open from May to October. July and August bring the warmest water and the busiest crowds, the managed 300-metre section can feel well occupied in high season. June and September are consistently strong alternatives, with comfortable swimming temperatures, shorter queues, and a more relaxed atmosphere. The Frkanj peninsula is naturally sheltered from the Bura wind that affects more exposed parts of Rab, making the beach usable on days when other spots on the island are not. May and October are quieter; facilities may run on reduced hours at either end of the season.
what to know
Entry is paid at the access point. The fee covers parking, beach access, showers, the volleyball court, and the other facilities. Sun loungers and umbrellas are available separately at an additional cost. Bring cash. Skinny dipping is the expected norm throughout the site, this is a fully designated clothes-free venue. The beach surface is pebble and rock throughout. Water entry involves stepping over stones and rocks, and sea urchins are present in the water, as they are on most Croatian island beaches. Water shoes are strongly recommended for both adults and children accessing the sea directly. Dogs are permitted on the beach.
plan your visit
Book at Kandarola Beach
Kandarola is a walk-up day venue with no advance booking required. Entry is paid on arrival at the gate.
virtual visit
HAVE A peek inside
Sometimes a two-minute watch tells you more than a page of text. Our video visit covers the setting, the facilities, and what the atmosphere actually feels like on the ground.
keeping you busy
FACILITIES & amenities
●Restaurant
Biser Kandarola, operated on site. Open to all day visitors. Hours vary by season; check on arrival.
●Bar
Beach bar serving alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Opens in the morning and runs through the afternoon.
●Showers
Freshwater showers on site. Included in entry fee.
beyond the resort
NEARBY VISITS
Mišnjak ferry port (mainland connection)20-minute drive
Rab Old Town (accommodation, dining, cultural sites)Approximately 20-minute drive
Lopar nude beaches (Ciganka, Sahara, Stolac)Approximately 30 minutes
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FAQ
most asked questions
Is Kandarola suitable for first-time clothes-free visitors?
Yes. The paid-entry format creates a clearly defined, managed clothes-free space, which tends to feel more accessible than informal wild beaches. The atmosphere is relaxed and mixed, with an international crowd of regulars and first-timers alongside local visitors. Staff are present throughout the day.
Is Kandarola family-friendly?
Yes. As it's located in a bay, the sea is calm and in many places just waist deep. The rocky and pebbled sea access is less straightforward for small children, so water shoes are recommended. Dogs are also permitted on the beach.
What is the best time of year to visit Kandarola?
June and September offer the best combination of warm, swimmable water and manageable crowd levels. The beach is at its busiest in July and August, when the managed 300-metre section sees significant day-visitor numbers. The season runs from May to October, with facilities at full capacity from mid-June onward.
How do I get to Kandarola from Rab town?
By car, the drive takes approximately 20 minutes, heading toward Kampor and the Frkanj peninsula in the direction of the Valamar Suha Punta hotel complex. Rab Island is reached by ferry from Stinica on the mainland (15-minute crossing), from Krk Island (approximately 1 hour), or from Rijeka (approximately 2 hours).
Is nudity mandatory at Kandarola?
Skinny dipping is the norm throughout the site. Kandarola is an officially designated clothes-free venue. Keeping clothing on the beach would be out of place with the established culture of the site.
Why is Kandarola called the world's first official nude beach?
In August 1936, King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson, during a cruise of the Adriatic, received formal permission from the city of Rab to swim naked at Kandarola Bay. That municipal approval is the basis for the beach's designation. The beach is sometimes called the English Beach in reference to this.
Is there accommodation at Kandarola?
No. Kandarola is a day venue only. There is no accommodation or camping on the property. Visitors base themselves in Rab town or nearby villages and travel to the beach for the day. Rab town is approximately 20 minutes away by car and has the widest range of accommodation on the island.
