On Croatia's beaches, tourists stake out spots in the shade even before dawn
In Croatia, vacationers have run into a problem with a shortage of shaded spots on popular beaches. Tourists report that even at 6:30 a.m., all the shaded areas are already taken, so many are forced to rent spots or spend their time under the scorching sun.
“Even though we get to the beach very early every morning, we usually end up finding only spots that are in direct sunlight or where the shade is partial and doesn’t last long,” said one tourist. According to him, his one-year-old child has already developed a heat rash from the intense heat.
The reason, according to Klein, is that early in the morning, the employee who rents out beach equipment sets up the lounge chairs in advance, places towels on them, and spreads them out around them—creating the appearance that the spots are already taken.
“It’s practically impossible to find a free spot in natural shade. For many vacationers, there are only two options: either pay to rent a lounge chair or stay in the sunny areas of the beach,” the tourist said. He emphasized that he is not opposed to renting out lounge chairs per se, but rather to the practice of reserving sections of the shore in advance that should be accessible to everyone.
Reserving Spots Is Prohibited
Back in 2024, the Tuchepi municipality banned reserving spots with towels—a violation can result in a fine of up to 130 euros (about 6,000 hryvnias). However, as Leon Šarić, the inspector for public spaces, told the press, the municipality currently does not have a maritime inspector, as required by law, who could monitor compliance with these rules along the coast.
Supetar Mayor Ivan Marković believes that beach chairs set up for commercial purposes are an even bigger problem than reserving spots with towels. “Sun loungers cannot be set up in advance all over the beach; they must be kept folded. It’s much easier to remove towels. People need to be warned and informed,” she noted.
In Croatia, the Law on Public Maritime Property and Ports stipulates that beaches are free for everyone to use, and no one has the right to occupy a portion of the shore without legal grounds. Mike Klein complained about the situation to the relevant authorities, who confirmed that they have launched an investigation into the activities of the tenants operating on Kamen Beach.
This was reported by NLC.hu.
The Center for Public Health has updated the list of beaches in Ukraine that are safe for swimming.
Experts also advise against swimming in bodies of water that do not have official beach status, as the water there is not subject to regular testing. This was reported by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine.
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