Camping Village Šimuni

This stretch of the Croatian coast is blessed with oodles of top-tier beaches. Want to get away from the site's seaside spots for the day? Zip down to Zrće beach (15 minutes' drive) if you fancy party vibes – this pebbly coastal spot hosts several music festivals throughout the summer months, with a clutch of all-hours clubs close by. The big beats here won't appeal to everyone, of course – wildlife watchers will likely do better on the silent shores of Veliko Blato bird reserve (25 minutes). Weather put paid to your tanning plans? It's unlikely in this sunny spot, but there are several indoor attractions like Pag lace gallery (15 minutes) and Novalja municipal museum (20 minutes) where you can stop off on cloudier days; the latter has Roman artefacts that are likely to catch the eye of history hunters. Sound like you? Drive off to Zadar (an hour), a sizeable city back on the mainland where there's a Roman forum to peruse. Kids clamouring for something a little less ancient? Take them to Buffalo Bill Western City (50 minutes), a US-themed adventure park, or to the classic fairground rides at Lunapark Novalja (20 minutes).