Croatia · Split-Dalmatia
Gornja Vala
Drvenik — Split-Dalmatia, Croatia
On the beach
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) |
|---|---|---|
| Wed 2 | 29.1 | 0.1 |
| Thu 3 | 29.2 | 0.1 |
| Fri 4 | 28.8 | 0.1 |
| Sat 5 | 28.9 | 0.1 |
| Sun 6 | 29.0 | 0.0 |
| Mon 7 | 29.1 | 0.0 |
| Tue 8 | 29.3 | 0.1 |
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
- D. Vala - Kod trajekta1.0 kmDrvenik, Split-Dalmatia
- Zaostrog - Plaža2.4 kmZaostrog, Split-Dalmatia
- Viskovića vala4.3 kmPodaca, Split-Dalmatia
- Ak. Dole5.4 kmŽivogošće, Split-Dalmatia
Distances calculated as straight-line (haversine) from official coordinates.
Getting there & around
- Easy by car — there's parking close to the beach.
- Nearest bus stop is about ~190 m away.
Food, stays & town
- Nearest village: Drvenik, about ~1.0 km away.
- 2 places to eat within 1 km Closest is Pansion Adria, about ~230 m away.
- 3 places to stay mapped nearby Closest is Hotel Palace, about ~100 m away.
- 1 shop nearby, about ~220 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).
- Water sports
Is the water clean at Gornja Vala?
Thinking of swimming at Gornja Vala? The short answer: its official EU Bathing Water rating for 2025 is Excellent — the highest official classification under the EU bathing-water assessment. 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, some national authorities — for Croatia, IZOR (Croatia's Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries) — publish individual water sample results during the season itself, ahead of the annual report. It's been a consistently reliable spot too — the rating has held at Excellent for 11 straight years. There's parking about ~140 m from the beach.
That rating has been consistent: every one of the 11 classified seasons on record has come back Excellent or Good. If you're timing a visit around water temperature rather than crowds, July–September is the safest bet, with August typically the peak — expect a cooler, calmer sea either side of that stretch.
“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. There are 2 places to eat within a kilometre — Pansion Adria is the closest, about ~230 m away.
Frequently asked questions
Is Gornja Vala safe to swim in?
Yes, without much reservation. Gornja Vala holds the top EU Bathing Water classification, Excellent, for 2025, and 11 of 11 classified seasons here have rated Excellent or Good. It's also held steady at Excellent for 11 straight years.
What temperature is the sea at Gornja Vala right now?
The latest reading puts the sea at Gornja Vala at around 29°C — the “Right now” panel above has the full live picture. That's the reading right off Drvenik, Split-Dalmatia. On the modeled climatology here, August usually runs warmest.
When is the best time to swim at Gornja Vala?
For the warmest water, aim for July–September — that's when the modeled sea temperature is typically at its best. That applies to the water around Drvenik, Split-Dalmatia. Within that window, August is typically the single warmest month.
Where does the water quality rating come from?
Behind the annual grade: a season of testing for intestinal enterococci and E. coli, reported to the European Environment Agency each spring under the EU Bathing Water Directive. A few countries, Croatia via IZOR included, also publish individual in-season samples ahead of that report, but Gornja Vala doesn't have one published yet.
What's the easiest way to reach Gornja Vala?
By car, it's easy — parking is right by the beach. There's a bus stop about ~190 m from the beach. The nearest town is Drvenik, about ~1.0 km away.