Croatia · Lika-Senj
Braničevica
Novalja — Lika-Senj, Croatia
Right now
Live conditions from Open-Meteo, refreshed hourly.
7-day outlook
7-day marine forecast from Open-Meteo.
Sea temperature
Next 7 days, °C
Wave height
Next 7 days, metres
View as table
| Day | Sea temp (°C) | Wave height (m) |
|---|---|---|
| Tue 1 | 27.9 | 0.2 |
| Wed 2 | 28.1 | 0.2 |
| Thu 3 | 27.8 | 0.2 |
| Fri 4 | 27.9 | 0.1 |
| Sat 5 | 27.9 | 0.1 |
| Sun 6 | 28.1 | 0.0 |
| Mon 7 | 27.9 | 0.0 |
Water quality history
Official EEA classification, one rating per bathing season, 2015–2025 — real data reported by national authorities.
- 2015: Excellent2015
- 2016: Excellent2016
- 2017: Excellent2017
- 2018: Excellent2018
- 2019: Excellent2019
- 2020: Excellent2020
- 2021: Excellent2021
- 2022: Excellent2022
- 2023: Excellent2023
- 2024: Excellent2024
- 2025: Excellent2025
Excellent in the most recent season, and 11 of 11 classified years rated Excellent or Good.
- Excellent
- Good
- Sufficient
- Poor
- Not classified
View as table
| Year | Classification |
|---|---|
| 2015 | Excellent |
| 2016 | Excellent |
| 2017 | Excellent |
| 2018 | Excellent |
| 2019 | Excellent |
| 2020 | Excellent |
| 2021 | Excellent |
| 2022 | Excellent |
| 2023 | Excellent |
| 2024 | Excellent |
| 2025 | Excellent |
Typical sea temperature by month
Modeled estimatePlausible seasonal climatology derived from latitude, for illustration — not a measured average.
Monthly sea temperature
Typical range across the year, °C
View as table
| Month | Typical sea temp (°C) |
|---|---|
| Jan | 15 |
| Feb | 14 |
| Mar | 15 |
| Apr | 17 |
| May | 20 |
| Jun | 23 |
| Jul | 25 |
| Aug | 26 |
| Sep | 25 |
| Oct | 23 |
| Nov | 20 |
| Dec | 17 |
Location & nearby beaches
Nearby beaches
- Straško898 mNovalja, Lika-Senj
- Kolanjski Gajac1.0 kmKolanjski Gajac, Zadar
- Straško autokamp1.1 kmNovalja, Lika-Senj
- Straško1.6 kmNovalja, Lika-Senj
Distances calculated as straight-line (haversine) from official coordinates.
Getting there & around
- No parking is mapped within 1.5 km of the beach — expect a walk, or arrive early once the season gets busy.
Food, stays & town
- Nearest village: Gajac, about ~500 m away.
- 3 places to eat within 1 km Closest is Oaza, about ~350 m away.
- 2 shops nearby, the closest about ~460 m away
What kind of beach is this?
This beach belongs to a small coastal village. It's usually calmer than a resort or town beach, though a popular village spot can still fill up on the best summer days.
Estimated from OpenStreetMap surroundings data (ODbL).
Is the water clean at Braničevica?
Thinking of swimming at Braničevica? The short answer: its official EU Bathing Water rating for 2025 is Excellent — the cleanest official rating; safe to swim based on official monitoring. That rating is set once a year under the EU Bathing Water Directive, from a full season of testing for intestinal enterococci and E. coli reported to the European Environment Agency the following spring, so the 2025 season's grade appeared in spring 2026 and the 2026 season won't be graded until spring 2027. In addition to that yearly rating, IZOR (Croatia's Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries) also publishes individual water sample results during the season itself — see “Latest official sample” above for the most recent reading at Braničevica. It's been a consistently reliable spot too — the rating has held at Excellent for 11 straight years. The most recent official water sample was taken on 12 Aug 2026.
Looking to avoid the busiest weeks? The water is typically warmest around August, with the most reliable swimming window running July–September; outside that stretch you'll find a cooler sea but a quieter beach. That rating has been consistent: every one of the 11 classified seasons on record has come back Excellent or Good. The most recent official water sample was taken on 12 Aug 2026. Gajac — the closest town — sits about ~500 m from here.
“Excellent” is one point on a four-step scale — Excellent, Good, Sufficient or Poor — assigned once per year from that season's water samples, not a live reading. It describes how the site performs on average across the season, not the exact water quality this afternoon; for day-to-day sea conditions, see the “Right now” and 7-day outlook panels above. The most recent official water sample was taken on 12 Aug 2026. There are 3 places to eat within a kilometre — Oaza is the closest, about ~350 m away.
Frequently asked questions
Is Braničevica a safe beach for swimming?
Yes. Its official 2025 EU Bathing Water rating is Excellent, the top classification, and 11 of the 11 classified seasons on record have rated Excellent or Good. It's also held steady at Excellent for 11 straight years.
How warm is the sea at Braničevica right now?
As of the latest update, the sea temperature at Braničevica is around 28°C — see the “Right now” panel above for live conditions. That's the reading right off Novalja, Lika-Senj.
What's the ideal time of year to swim at Braničevica?
The most reliable stretch for warm water runs through July–September, based on the modeled climatology. That applies to the water around Novalja, Lika-Senj.
What's behind the water quality rating shown above?
The annual grade — Excellent, Good, Sufficient or Poor — comes from a full season of official testing for intestinal enterococci and E. coli, reported to the European Environment Agency each spring under the EU Bathing Water Directive. IZOR (Croatia's Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries) also publishes each in-season sample for Braničevica as soon as it's taken, well ahead of that annual figure — see “Latest official sample” above.
How do I get to Braničevica without a car?
There's no parking mapped within 1.5 km of Braničevica, so plan on a walk, or arrive early once it gets busy. The nearest town is Gajac, about ~500 m away.