The coastline north of Umag offers the best beaches in the immediate area — a succession of pebble and rock bays with clear, sheltered water. Several carry the EU Blue Flag for water quality. The beaches around Katoro and Stella Maris, a kilometre or two north of the old town, are clean and well-maintained; they get busy in August but are never as overcrowded as the more famous beaches further south in Istria.
The shoreline is mostly rock and rounded pebble rather than sand, which is typical of this part of the Adriatic. Water shoes are useful for entering and exiting the water. The sea is warm enough for comfortable swimming from late May to early October, with August temperatures typically reaching 25–27°C.
South of Umag, the coastline becomes more developed before reaching Novigrad 15 km away. North of town, past the marina, there are quieter stretches where you can find space even in midsummer.