Best Beaches in Split, Croatia
Split sits right on the Adriatic, so a great swim is never more than a few minutes away. The city's coastline is wonderfully varied: rare sandy bays right by the centre, pine-backed pebble coves on Marjan, lively stretches lined with beach bars, and quiet local spots where you'll barely hear a word of English. Most of the water is famously clear and clean, that turquoise you see in the photos is real. Whether you want sand between your toes, a cocktail at a beach club, or a secluded cove all to yourself, here are the seven best beaches in Split, with honest notes on what each is like and how to reach it. For the warmest swimming, pair this with our guide to the best time to visit Split.
By Ante Elez
Bačvice Beach
Split's most famous beach is a rare sandy bay right beside the city centre, just a few minutes' walk from the Old Town. The water is shallow and warm, you can wade out a long way, which makes it perfect for families with young children and a reliable spot for a quick dip between sightseeing.
Bačvice is also the lively, social beach: backed by cafés, bars and a nightlife complex, it buzzes from morning until late. Above all, it's the birthplace of picigin, the local game of keeping a small ball out of the shallows with acrobatic dives. Come early in peak summer, as the central location means it fills up fast.
- Sandy & shallow
- Walking distance from the Old Town
- Beach bars, cafés & nightlife
- Great for families & picigin
Ovčice Beach
Just east of Bačvice, around the small headland, Ovčice is a quieter pebble-and-concrete bay that many visitors miss. It swaps Bačvice's sand and crowds for clearer water and a more relaxed, local feel, while keeping the same easy proximity to the centre.
There are beach bars and cafés here too, plus a lovely seaside promenade linking it back toward Bačvice, making it an easy choice if you want lively amenities without quite so many people on the sand.
Kašjuni Beach
On the southern slope of Marjan, Kašjuni is for many the most beautiful beach in Split, a long pebble cove backed by pine forest, with exceptionally clear water and a stylish beach bar (Joe's Beach Lounge) serving cocktails under the trees. It feels like a proper escape, yet it's only a short ride from the Old Town.
The pines provide natural shade, and the further along the cove you walk, the quieter it gets. It's a wonderful spot to spend a whole afternoon. Bring water shoes for the pebbles, as is true at most Split beaches.
Bene Beach
Tucked into the wooded northern tip of the Marjan peninsula, Bene is a tranquil, family-friendly spot surrounded by nature, with calm, shallow water, plenty of shade and walking and cycling paths winding through the pines. There are tennis courts and a café nearby, and the gentle entry makes it great for children.
Wonderfully peaceful compared with the central beaches, Bene is a favourite among locals escaping the summer bustle, though its location at the far end of Marjan means it's one of the harder beaches to reach on foot.
Žnjan Beach
A long, lively stretch east of the centre, Žnjan recently had a major makeover and is now one of the city's largest and best-equipped beaches, popular with locals for its beach bars, water sports, sports courts and summer events. There's loads of space to spread out, so it rarely feels as packed as Bačvice.
It's a great choice if you like a bit of buzz, facilities on hand, and room to breathe, and it's a short drive or bus ride east along the coast from the centre.
Trstenik Beach
A little further east again, Trstenik is a relaxed, mostly local beach with a mix of pebble and concrete sunbathing areas, calm clear water and good facilities including showers, cafés and parking. It's popular with Split families and far enough from the tourist core to feel authentically everyday.
If you want to swim where the locals actually go, away from the cruise-day crowds, Trstenik is an easy and pleasant choice, one of the city's quietly reliable under-the-radar spots.
Kaštelet & the Hidden Marjan Coves
Between the better-known beaches, the rocky coves strung along Marjan's southern coast offer some of the clearest water and quietest swimming anywhere in Split. There are no big facilities here, just pine shade, smooth rock and the sea, which is exactly the appeal for those happy to walk a little for seclusion.
These are the spots to seek out when the main beaches feel too busy. Bring everything you need (water, shade, snacks) and you can find a private slice of coastline that feels miles from the city, even though it isn't.
Getting to the Best Beaches
Bačvice and Ovčice are an easy walk from the centre, but the prettiest beaches (Kašjuni, Bene and the hidden Marjan coves) wrap around the peninsula and the coastline well beyond comfortable walking distance, especially in the summer heat. That's why so many visitors never get past the central sands.
A retro tuk tuk tour is one of the easiest ways to reach the prettier coves, dropping you at the clear water and linking your swim with the best viewpoints in Split along the way. See our guide to the spots you can't easily reach on foot for the full picture.
