Croatia · Primorje-Gorski Kotar
Stara Gavza - plaža
Cres — Primorje-Gorski Kotar, 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 | 26.9 | 0.2 |
| Thu 3 | 26.7 | 0.4 |
| Fri 4 | 27.2 | 0.0 |
| Sat 5 | 27.5 | 0.3 |
| Sun 6 | 27.2 | 0.5 |
| Mon 7 | 27.7 | 0.1 |
| Tue 8 | 27.8 | 0.2 |
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
- Uvala Gavza478 mCres, Primorje-Gorski Kotar
- Autokamp Kovačine - FKK dio741 mCres, Primorje-Gorski Kotar
- AK Kovačine946 mCres, Primorje-Gorski Kotar
- Rt Kovačine1.1 kmCres, Primorje-Gorski Kotar
Distances calculated as straight-line (haversine) from official coordinates.
Getting there & around
- Easy by car — there's parking close to the beach.
Food, stays & town
- Nearest town: Cres, about ~1.7 km away.
- 1 place to eat within 1 km Closest is Caffe Bar Tamaris, about ~100 m away.
- 1 shop nearby, about ~120 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).
- Families
- Water sports
Is the water clean at Stara Gavza - plaža?
Stara Gavza - plaža is a coastal bathing site with an official EU Bathing Water rating of Excellent for the 2025 season — the highest official classification under the EU bathing-water assessment. That annual classification comes from the EU Bathing Water Directive: national authorities test for two indicator bacteria, intestinal enterococci and E. coli, throughout the bathing season, then report the full-season results to the European Environment Agency (EEA) the following spring — the 2025 season's rating was published in spring 2026, and the 2026 season won't be rated 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. On site you'll find Showers, Beach bar, and Kids' area. There's parking about ~300 m from the beach.
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.
Worth remembering: “Excellent” isn't a live reading, it's an annual grade — Excellent, Good, Sufficient or Poor — set once a year from that season's water samples and describing the average, not this afternoon's conditions. For what the sea is doing right now, check the “Right now” panel and 7-day outlook above. It sits in Cres, Primorje-Gorski Kotar. There's 1 place to eat near the beach — Caffe Bar Tamaris, about ~100 m away.
Frequently asked questions
Should you swim at Stara Gavza - plaža?
Yes — Stara Gavza - plaža carries the top EU Bathing Water classification, Excellent, for 2025, and 11 of its 11 classified seasons have rated Excellent or Good. It's also held steady at Excellent for 11 straight years.
What's the current water temperature at Stara Gavza - plaža?
The most recent reading for Stara Gavza - plaža shows the sea at around 27°C. For live, up-to-the-hour conditions, see the “Right now” panel above. That's the reading right off Cres, Primorje-Gorski Kotar. On the modeled climatology here, August usually runs warmest.
When does Stara Gavza - plaža have the warmest water?
If you're planning around water temperature, July–September is the window to target — the modeled sea temperature is typically highest then. That applies to the water around Cres, Primorje-Gorski Kotar. Within that window, August is typically the single warmest month.
How is bathing water quality actually assessed?
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 Stara Gavza - plaža doesn't have one published yet.
What's the easiest way to reach Stara Gavza - plaža?
By car, it's easy — parking is right by the beach. The nearest town is Cres, about ~1.7 km away.