With small children, go to Dječji raj in the middle of Sukošan – shallow water over a sandy bottom, 300 m from the car park. If you want shade and fewer people, choose Makarska at the eastern end (tamarisks, pebbles, sports courts) or Zlatna luka by the marina. The coastline is roughly 5 km long and every beach is public and free.
| Beach | Surface | Shade | Facilities | Parking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zlatna luka | pebbles, grass lawn | tamarisks, pines | showers, cabins, toilets, volleyball | by the marina, about €1.50/h |
| D-Marin (Marina Dalmacija) | pebbles, sheltered bay | little | beach bar, toilets, court | marina car park, about €1.50/h |
| Dječji raj | sand + fine gravel, some concrete | partial | sunbeds, pedal boats, cafés, showers | centre, about €1.30/h, 300 m |
| Makarska (Mala Makarska) | pebbles + concrete slabs | plenty, tamarisks | volleyball, basketball, boules, bar | at the beach, about €1.30/h |
| Soline and campsite beaches | pebbles, small coves | pines | basic, showers in the camps | streets / campsite |
Parking prices are from summer 2025; expect similar figures in 2027. Outside July and August the side streets are usually free.
Dječji raj („children's paradise“) is a bay about 500 m long directly below the centre of Sukošan. The name comes from the sandy seabed and shallow water – a child can wade tens of metres from the shore. In summer there is an inflatable aqua park, a jumping platform for kids, pedal boat and dinghy rental and several cafés; sunbeds cost around €15–20 a day in 2025. The downside: it fills up by 10 am and shade is scarce, so bring a parasol. The car park is in the centre about 300 m away and the seafront promenade takes you there without crossing traffic.
Makarska (locals also say Mala Makarska) lies at the eastern exit of the village towards Biograd. Part is pebbles suitable for children, part concrete slabs with steps into the sea. Its biggest asset is the dense tamarisk grove – one of the few beaches around Zadar where you can sit in shade all day. There are volleyball, basketball and boules courts, a bar with restaurant and a car park right at the beach. From the centre it is a 10–15 minute walk.
Zlatna luka is a pebble bay at the entrance to Sukošan from Zadar, with grass lawns and shade under tamarisks and pines. It is calmer than Dječji raj and works for a long day with children or an evening swim. Right behind it begins Marina Dalmacija (D-Marin), Croatia's largest marina; inside the grounds there is a landscaped pebble beach in a bay sheltered from wind, with a beach club, toilets and a sports court. Entry is free, the marina car park is paid.
Beyond the marina the coast continues to Bibinje (2–4 km): Punta beach with beach volleyball courts, a café and a restaurant, then the main village beach Punta Rožica (pebbles, concrete, showers) and the sandy-bottomed cove of Lipauska. If you stay in Debeljak – the hillside village above the marina, 2–3 km from the sea – Zlatna luka and the marina are your nearest beaches: 25–35 minutes downhill on foot, 5 minutes by car.
The southern end of the coast belongs to the campsites. Camping Sukošan Beach has its own pebble-and-sand beach and accepts dogs free of charge; the small coves by the newer Soline area are the quietest spot in the village. Sukošan has no official dog beach – dog owners use the campsite stretches and the remote southern coves; more in Croatia with a Dog: Pet Passport, Dog Friendly Beaches, Ferries. The calm shallows are ideal for paddleboarding – routes and rentals are in SUP in Zadar and Sukošan: Where to Paddle, When and Prices (2026).
Hopping to Ugljan: there is no scheduled line from Sukošan itself, but the Jadrolinija ferry Zadar (Gaženica) – Preko takes 20–25 minutes, runs 25–29 times a day in summer, and costs about €3.50 per foot passenger and roughly €16 for a car under 5 m (2026 tariff). Gaženica is 8 km from Sukošan. The day-trip alternative is renting a licence-free boat and crossing to the coves near Kukljica or to Pašman – see Boats Sukošan or all boat rentals.
Accommodation within sight of the sea is listed under apartments in Sukošan – by Dječji raj you are in the middle of things, by Makarska and Soline in the quiet. Everything else the village offers is in Sukošan Travel Guide: Beaches, Marina, Zadar in 15 Min (2027).