Location
Croatia
Status
Officially Designated
Suitable for
Families and adults
Terrain
Rock
Best season
June to September
About FKK Kandarola Beach
Kandarola is a bay on the Frkanj peninsula, the wooded headland that closes off the harbour of Rab town on its western side, near the suburb of Palit. It is the beach most associated with the island's naturist history: the Rab tourist board recounts that in August 1936 King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson were permitted to swim nude here, and locals still call it the 'English beach'. Rab presents itself as a pioneer of Adriatic naturism and describes Kandarola as one of the oldest naturist beaches in the world. Today it is a developed naturist beach run under concession, with a restaurant, sunbed and parasol rental, showers and toilets, and there is also a dog area. The shore is the typical Rab mix of flat rock and small coves backed by woodland, with clear, fairly deep water. Reports in recent years mention uncertainty over the beach's future because of planned development on Frkanj, so check the current situation before you go.
Getting there
From Rab town harbour, taxi boats run across to Kandarola in season, which is the easiest way to get there. You can also reach it from Palit by road and then on foot through the Frkanj woods, and the tourist board says you can drive there. Parking details are not published; expect limited space near the forest tracks. Paths are unpaved and the shore is rocky, so wheelchair access is not realistic.
What visitors say
Visitors value Kandarola for its history and its relaxed, mixed crowd of couples and families, and for the easy taxi-boat link from Rab town. Pine shade behind the rocks and the restaurant make it comfortable for a full day. Some reports note that the naturist area has shrunk and that development on Frkanj threatens its character, and opinions differ on how strictly the nude-only character is kept today.
Summarised in our own words from public reviews and guides listed under Sources.
Amenities
Legal context
The Rab tourist board promotes Kandarola as one of the island's (and the world's) oldest naturist beaches, tracing it to 1936. Nudity is legal on designated naturist beaches in Croatia; the beach operates under a municipal concession (reported 10-year concession from 2015), and development plans for Frkanj have raised questions about its future.
Naturism at FKK Kandarola Beach sits under Croatia's rules for officially designated nude beaches — explicit protection inside the marked area.
Full country law: Croatia public nudity guide.
Naturist status confirmed against an official source on 24 October 2026.
Location
View on interactive map
Approx. 44.7602, 14.7339
Visitor tips
- 1 Official designation: nudity is protected inside the marked area.
- 2 Towel, water, sunscreen. Sit on your own towel.
- 3 No photos without clear consent.
- 4 Check access, tides, and parking before you go.
- 5 House rules and local custom can be stricter than the law.
More in Croatia
Frequently asked questions
Is Kandarola really where Edward VIII swam nude?
That is the local story, repeated by the Rab tourist board: in August 1936 the king and Wallis Simpson were allowed to bathe nude in Kandarola bay.
How do I get to Kandarola?
Most people take a taxi boat from Rab town harbour; you can also go via Palit and the Frkanj peninsula by road and on foot.
Are there facilities?
Yes: a restaurant, sunbed and parasol rental, showers and toilets, according to the tourist board.
Is it an official naturist beach?
Yes. Rab's tourist board describes it as one of the oldest naturist beaches in the world.
Sources
Important
Beach status changes. Verify current conditions before you go. This is guidance, not legal advice.
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