If you find yourself in Osijek or anywhere in Slavonia and Baranja during the hot summer months, refreshment is just a leap away into the water. This part of Croatia boasts numerous swimming pools, so all you need to do is get ready to dive in. The meanders of local rivers, immortalized by the great painter Julije Knifer, who was born a century ago, are a significant part of local history. According to writer and college professor Jasna Horvat, creativity itself can be seen as a kind of meander.

Experts on the Danube and Drava rivers would surely recommend boating to the sandbars, famed for their exclusivity and beauty. As a child, I remember family camping trips where we pitched tents on these banks, feeling more adventurous than Huckleberry Finn.

Drava and Danube beaches easily compete with sea beaches, and the local patriots would say that they are even more beautiful! Experts often recommend the sandy beach on the right bank of the Drava near Bistrinci, one of the largest sandbars on the Drava, which appears when water levels are favourable. Occasionally, high water levels prevent a summer swimming season, but when the sand reappears and dries, these sandbars turn into some of the most popular beaches in Croatia.

The more famous beaches are Copacabana Osijek (Drava River), Draž (Old Danube), Bistrinci Beach (Drava River), Zeleni Otok (Batina, Danube River), Jama (Dalj, Danube River), Labov (Nard, Drava River), and those close seconds are Želja (Osijek, Drava River), Podravlje (Osijek, Drava River), Topolje (Old Danube), Petrijevci (Drava River), Valpovo beach (Drava River), Iliman (Drava River) and Nova Drava (Donji Miholjac). Although the first-mentioned Osijek beach was named after the most famous beach in the world, the Brazilian Copacabana does not offer great games of “picigin” (Croatia’s traditional water sport). On the Draž beach, for example, you will start to believe that you are in a tropical region, even if you haven't had too much to drink in the local cafe.

For lake lovers, the region offers plenty of options. Lake Đola in Darda, the four lakes of Đakovo known as Bajer, the artificial Lake Lapovac near Našice, and the lake at Bizovac’s ciglana (Eng. Brickyard) provide excellent spots for swimming, sunbathing, and various sports, from ball games to fishing.

Osijek features open pools at the Copacabana beach complex and indoor pools at the City swimming pools (Cro. Gradski bazeni). The Aquapolis pool at Bizovačke toplice offers additional water activities, including a wave pool. Swimming pools are also available in Beli Manastir, Kneževi Vinogradi, Đakovo, and Belišće.

Finally, be aware that most of these swimming spots are not officially designated, so it’s best to swim near the shore.

Written by: Ivana Rab Guljaš

ADDRESSES, OPENING HOURS AND TICKET PRICES FOR SWIMMING POOLS IN OSIJEK-BARANJA COUNTY (summer 2026)

Copacabana Osijek (Kopika), outdoor pools and river beach

• Address: Tvrđavica bb (left bank of the Drava river), Osijek
• Opening hours: Sunday - Thursday 10 am to 7:30 pm, weekends and holidays 9 am to 7:30 pm
• Prices: children under 7 years old free, children 7 to 15 years old 1.50 euros, pensioners and disabled people 1.30 euros; adults 3 euros (weekends and holidays: 3.50 euros); deck chair rental 3.00 euros per day; locker 1.00 euros per day with a deposit of 5 euros; slide with 5 rides included 2.50 euros; river beach is free

Gradski bazeni Osijek (Gradski vrt), indoor pools

• Address: Ul. Martina Divalta 6A, Osijek
• Opening hours: currently closed due to renovation - expected opening in September 2026.

Aquapolis (Bizovačke toplice / Bizovac spa), outdoor and indoor swimming pools

• Address: Sunčana 39, Bizovac
• Opening hours: Monday - Sunday 10 am to 8 pm, Saturday until midnight (night swimming)
• Prices: children 3 to 15 years old on weekdays 7 euros, weekends and holidays 8 euros; pensioners on weekdays 9 euros, weekends and holidays 12 euros; high school students and students on weekdays 9 euros, weekends and holidays 10 euros; adults on weekdays 10 euros, weekends and holidays 12 euros; night swimming on Saturdays 8 euros; tickets for families and after 4 pm with a discount
• Web: www.bizovacke-toplice.hr

Sportsko rekreacijski centar Kneževi Vinogradi - Baranja, outdoor pools

• Address: Ul. Moše Pijade 11, Kneževi Vinogradi
• Opening hours: Monday - Sunday 10 am to 8 pm
• Prices: children 6 to 15 years old on weekdays 3 euros, weekends and holidays 4 euros; adults on weekdays 4 euros, weekends and holidays 5 euros; night swimming for adults only 4 euros; daily ticket for the slide 4 euros; daily rental of a deck chair 4 euros; daily rental of the wellness zone (deck chair and sauna) 10 euros; tickets for families and after 4 pm with a discount
• Web: www.knezevi-parkovi.hr

Gradski bazeni Beli Manastir - Baranja, outdoor pools

• Address: Karanačka 35, Beli Manastir
• Opening hours: Monday - Friday 10 am to 8 pm, weekends and holidays 9 am to 8 pm
• Prices: children on weekdays 2 euros, weekends and holidays 3 euros; adults on weekdays 3 euros, weekends and holidays 6 euros; night swimming for adults only 3 euros; deck chair on weekdays 3 euros, weekends 5 euros; locker 2 euros
• Web: www.facebook.com/gradskibazeni.belimanastir; www.beli-manastir.hr

Gradski bazen Belišće, outdoor pools

• Address: Ul. Eugena Kvaternika 14a, Belišće
• Opening hours: 10 am to 8 pm (15.6.-31.8.2026.)
• Prices: children, students, pensioners, disabled people 2 euros, after 5 pm 1 euro; adults 4 euros, after 5 pm 2 euros; deck chair 3 euros; sauna 5 euros; solarium 2 euros
• Web: www.kombel.hr/bazen

Gradski bazeni Đakovo, outdoor pools

• Address: Ul. Ante Starčevića 158, Đakovo
• Opening hours: 10 am to 7 pm
• Prices: daily ticket on weekdays 3 euros, weekends and holidays 5 euros; family ticket for 3 people on weekdays 8 euros (each additional person +1 euro), weekends and holidays 13 euros (each additional person +2 euros); slide daily bracelet 2 euros; deck chair 3 euros