Betina, Croatia: Idyllic Coastal Town on Murter!
Betina is a beautiful fishing village on Murter Island and an excellent choice for a holiday in Croatia. Especially worth seeing is the small historic old town with the romantic fishing harbor, where the boats rocking in the sea, together with the stone town houses, conjure up an extremely idyllic ambience. The Dalmatian flair that surrounds this place is unique, and so it is hardly surprising that guests keep coming back again and again. Also the wonderful beaches in Betina, the wide range of activities, the direct proximity to the island capital Murter and the many excursion destinations in the surrounding area make Betina a highly recommendable destination.
In this travel guide, you will find all the important information and tips about Betina in Croatia. We show you amazing pictures, the best things to do, the most beautiful beaches and where to find really lovely accommodations.
Good to know!
In Betina there is a good choice of accommodations. Especially recommended are the Apartments Enid in proximity to the beach, and the Mobile Homes of Camping Matija.
Around the resort and along the promenade are some of the most beautiful beaches on Murter Island. Betina is therefore perfect for a beach holiday!
From Betina, the island’s capital Murter is easily accessible via a short walk. There you will find many restaurants and bars to go out and enjoy the nightlife.
The best time to visit Betina is from May to the end of October. During this time, you can look forward to mostly good weather, lots of sun and only a little rain!
General Information about Betina
Betina, a village with 700 inhabitants, is located on the north-eastern coast of the popular holiday island Murter and, together with the island resorts of Tisno, Jezera and Murter Town, it is a popular holiday destination in Croatia. The small fishing village is not only known for tourism, but also as a shipbuilding town. Wooden boats have been built here since the 18th century, and this tradition is still maintained today. This special cultural heritage can be admired during a visit to the harbor of the old town, in addition to the ship museum.
The historic center of Betina, which was first mentioned in 1423, is particularly beautiful. Stroll through the winding stone alleys of the old town and enjoy the magnificent ambience in one of the cafés and restaurants directly at the harbor. As a highlight, some really beautiful beaches and bathing bays await you on a holiday. Sports enthusiasts will also get their money’s worth with windsurfing, kayaking, stand-up paddling, diving, hiking and cycling.
Best Things to Do in Betina
On a holiday, there are some enchanting places to discover and many highlights to experience. The most important attractions in Betina definitely include the small old town with the harbor, the romantic waterfront promenade, the Roman excavation sites and, not to forget, the wonderful beaches in and around Betina. Here is a summary of the most beautiful things to do in Betina:
The Old Town of Betina
The historic old town of Betina is certainly one of the most worth visiting attractions in the resort. It is located directly at the small fishing harbor and stretches up the hill of Cape Artic. On a walk, you will discover many attractions worth seeing. The small harbor is especially beautiful, where the traditionally made wooden boats with the Dalmatian stone houses form a breathtakingly beautiful backdrop. This is best enjoyed on the square Trg. na Moru, where small restaurants and cafés spoil their guests with regional delicacies.
A labyrinth of small stone alleys leads from the harbor through the old town and to the church of St. Francis. The old alleys and houses are now listed buildings and give Betina an unmistakable medieval charm. With a bit of luck, you will also discover the fortified tower from 1514, which is hidden in Varos Street. Another interesting sight is the shipbuilding museum in the center, where you can learn more about the interesting wooden boat building of Betina.
Tip: If you want to spend your holiday inside the romantic old town, we can recommend the large, bright Apartman Martina with a garden.
The Church of St. Francis
The ultimate landmark of Betina is the Church of St. Francis, better known as the Church of Sveti Frane. Thanks to its location on the top of the town hill, this place of worship towers far above Betina and the onion-shaped steeple can be seen from afar. The church was built as early as the 15th century and has been extended again and again over the years. The imposing bell tower was built later, in 1736 by master builder Ivan Skoko. This attraction is not only interesting from the outside; the inside is also worth a visit! Here you will be amazed by the baroque altar and a multitude of valuable paintings.
Gradina Peninsula & Archaeological Sites
One of the most beautiful places to visit in Betina is the Gradina peninsula. It is located in the north of the town and is a true paradise for nature lovers. Several walking and cycling paths lead along the beautiful coastline up to the Betina Viewpoint“Vrh Gradine”. The many bathing bays are also truly idyllic, where picturesque beaches with turquoise-blue sea colors are just perfect to swim and snorkel. Particularly worth mentioning is Kolentum beach, where a sea swing invites you to take great photos.
On the peninsula, you will also be amazed by some archaeological sites, such as the Roman city of Colentum and the ancient Villa Rustica. Since the sea level used to be 2 meters lower, you can still marvel at the remains of these bygone times even while snorkeling. Another must-see is the church of St. Mary of Gradina, also known as Gospa od Gradine. The church dates back to as early as the 6th century and was later renovated in the 17th century in the Baroque style.
The Beaches in Betina
The many beaches in Betina make this resort a popular holiday destination! Many pretty bathing spots stretch along the breathtakingly beautiful coastline, which allows for unforgettable summer days by the sea. Most of the bays are fine pebble or stone beaches, which score with idyllic ambience and almost kitschy turquoise-blue sea colors.
Betina Beach
Betina Beach, also known as Bilave Beach, is located south of Betina and stretches from the town center down to the holiday settlement. Here you can enjoy a fine, shallowly sloping pebble beach with beautiful turquoise sea colors. The view of the old town, which you can enjoy while swimming and splashing around, is also spectacular. A few trees provide cool shade, and a cozy beach bar and a restaurant provide refreshments in a romantic setting. Just behind the beach are many beautiful apartments that are just perfect for a holiday in Betina!
Tip: The modern Enida Apartments are highly recommended and only a few steps away from the beach. You can also reach the center in a few minutes on foot!
Zdrace Beach
Plaza Zdrace is another beautiful beach for a holiday in Betina. It is located in the west of the village, almost on the border with Murter, and offers a beautiful backdrop. Here you can expect a mix of concreted sunbathing areas and fine, small pebble bays. Natural shade is provided by the tall pine trees, and sunshades and sunbeds are available for rent as well. Behind the beach is a small holiday village with lovely apartments just close to the beach.
Tip: The friendly Apartments Marija are fabulous. Guests love the fantastic beach location and the view from the balcony is phenomenal.
Kosirina Beach
A real beach highlight is the picturesque Kosirina Bay. It is located a bit away from the old town, but can be reached in a few minutes by car. This romantic stone beach, lined with pine forests, even turns into a fine sandy beach in the sea. The water in this dream bay is turquoise blue and almost reminiscent of the Caribbean! Thanks to the natural environment, you can also snorkel and admire an interesting underwater world. Here, on Kosirina beach, visitors will experience a particularly idyllic atmosphere and even in the high season, everyone will find a quiet place to sunbathe.
Plitka Vala Beach
At the southern end of Betina is the beautiful Plitka Vala beach. It belongs to the Plitka Vala campsite of the same name, and non-campers can also visit this beach. This cozy bay is especially popular with families with children, and this shallow-sloping beach is also very suitable for non-swimmers and older people. Guests love the mix of stone and pebble beach, which sometimes even turns into a sandy beach in the water. The campsite’s good restaurant provides delicious food and cool drinks.
Excursions and day trips from Betina
On a holiday in Betina you can go on some fabulous excursions. Since Murter Island is connected to the mainland via a bridge, you can discover many very worthwhile Croatian highlights by car from here. The offshore island world is also breathtaking and invites taking amazing boat trips.
There are many other interesting places to discover on Murter Island. The neighboring village, Murter Town, Tisno and the harbor town of Jezera are worth seeing.
A boat trip to the Kornati Islands located just off the coast and to the Telascica Nature Park is beautiful and highly recommended. You can book these excursions on-site or online.
The most beautiful excursion destinations on the mainland are the UNESCO old town of Sibenik and the famous Krka Waterfalls, which are only about 40 kilometers away.
Where to Stay in Betina
For a holiday in Betina you will find a good range of nice accommodations. Most of these places are privately run holiday flats, guesthouses or idyllic campsites. If you are looking for a perfect accommodation in Betina, we can give you these recommendations…It’s worth a look!
- Holiday Flat in Best Location: The modern Enida Apartments not only impress with their furnishings, size and coziness, but the proximity to the beach is also fabulous!
- Mobile Homes: Small but nice is the family-run camping site Camping Matija with its lovely mobile homes and a pool. A really great choice for a holiday!
- Apartments with Style: The holiday flats of Villa Lantina are located in a restored stone house and score with tasteful furnishings and a fantastic location by the sea.
Find the best accommodation in Betina:
More about Croatia:
-
Zadar, Croatia: Top 15 Amazing Things to Do
-
Primosten, Croatia: Travel Guide & Things to Do
-
Top 20 Amazing Things to Do in Dubrovnik
-
15 Unique Things to do in Split, Croatia
-
Pakostane, Croatia: An Expert Travel Guide
-
Pirovac, Croatia: Travel Guide & Best Beaches
Keep Exploring
Read more about Croatia
Pula | Zagreb | Krk | Rovinj | Istria | Dalmatia | Hvar | Makarska | Brac | Porec | Trogir | Korcula | Crikvenica | Rijeka | Opatija | Rab | Umag | Medulin | Vodice | Vir | Nin | Biograd | Omis | Brela | Novigrad | Vrsar | Ugljan | Pasman | Senj | Rabac | Dugi Otok | Solta | Cavtat | Croatia
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. Meaning that if you click on certain links, and then subsequently purchase a product, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Comments are closed.