This Balkan Beach Was Just Named the Most Underrated in Europe
When it comes to planning a summer escape, most of us dream of one thing: a blissful stretch of sand, a salty breeze, and nothing to do but let the waves do their thing. But finding a beach that isn’t already swarming with umbrellas, sunbeds and selfie sticks? That’s the real challenge.
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Luckily, Time Out has just unveiled its pick for Europe’s most underrated beach – and it’s nowhere near the usual sun-and-sangria suspects of Spain, Greece or Portugal. The honour instead goes to Zavala, a sleepy fishing village tucked away on Croatia’s island of Hvar.
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Zavala is the kind of place that feels like a secret whispered between friends. The beach here is as pristine as they come: glassy-blue water lapping against pebbled shores, framed by olive groves, vineyards, lavender fields and wild rosemary. Forget beach clubs or cocktail menus – this is barefoot simplicity at its finest.
Part of the reason Zavala has remained so under the radar is accessibility. For years, it was tricky to reach, hidden behind winding mountain roads. But the opening of the Pitve-Zavala tunnel has finally made the village (and its stunning shoreline) easier to get to.
Zavala is located just a short drive from Hvar town
And if you do find Zavala a touch too lively? Just hop over to neighbouring Šćedro, a tiny island with barely any residents, where you’ll have entire coves almost entirely to yourself.
In a continent overflowing with famous coastlines, Zavala’s charm lies in its unspoiled quiet – proof that sometimes the best beaches are the ones that haven’t yet made it onto every postcard.
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