Beaches by boat
Split beaches: Bačvice, Kašjuni and the coves beyond
An honest guide to the beaches in Split itself: sandy Bačvice in the centre, Kašjuni and the pine-shaded coves under Marjan, when each one is at its best, and when it is worth taking a boat further out.
Split is a city with beaches, not a beach town, and that is worth knowing before you pack. The swimming in town is genuinely good for a city, and a couple of spots are lovely. But if you arrive picturing empty turquoise coves, those are out among the islands. Here is what Split itself offers, and when it is worth going further.
Bačvice, the city beach
Bačvice is the beach every visitor finds first. It sits in a small bay about ten to fifteen minutes' walk east of Diocletian's Palace, and it is one of the rare sandy beaches on this part of the coast. The water stays shallow a long way out, which makes it easy for children and perfect for picigin, the local game of keeping a small ball in the air in the shallows. Picigin was born here, and on a summer afternoon you will see it played in earnest.
What Bačvice is not is quiet. In July and August it is busy from mid-morning, with bars and cafés behind the sand and a lively atmosphere well into the night. Come early for a swim, or come late for the scene.
Kašjuni and the Marjan coves
West of the old town, the Marjan peninsula rises in a forested hill. Its south side is lined with pebble coves and pine trees, and this is where locals go when they want cleaner water and a bit of shade.
Kašjuni is the best known of them, around 3.5 kilometres from the centre. The water is clear, the backdrop is the green slope of Marjan, and the view looks out over the channel towards the islands. You can walk there along the promenade in about 45 minutes, take a local bus, or drive and park at the end of the road. On hot weekends the car park and the beach fill up by late morning.
Along the same coast are smaller coves such as Kaštelet and the rocks below the Marjan paths. They are less organised and less crowded, and some are easier to reach from the water than from the land.
Other beaches in town
East of Bačvice, a string of beaches runs along the coast at Firule, Trstenik and Žnjan. They are longer, more open and popular with families, with cafés, showers and sun loungers. They are practical rather than beautiful, and fine for a swim between sights.
When to go further
Split's beaches are good for an hour. For a full day in the water, the islands are in a different league. The sea around Šolta, Brač and the Pakleni islands is noticeably clearer, the coves are emptier, and the colour is that pale, glowing turquoise over white pebble that the city beaches rarely match.
The easiest step up is to see Marjan's coast from the water. A short boat run from the harbour lets you anchor off the quieter stretches below the hill, swim in deep water away from the crowds, and look back at the city from the sea.
From there the islands are close. The Blue Lagoon and the bays of Šolta are under an hour away. Milna on Brač is about half an hour. Zlatni Rat is around an hour.
A few practical notes
Most beaches around Split are pebble, so water shoes help. Arrive before 10:00 in high summer if you want space. The sea is warm enough for most people from June to September and often into October.
For the island beaches worth the trip, read the best beaches near Split you can only reach by boat. If you would rather spend a day swimming where the city crowds do not reach, send us your dates.
Common questions
- What is the best beach in Split?
- For convenience and atmosphere, Bačvice, a shallow sandy beach a short walk from the old town. For clear water and pine shade, Kašjuni on the south side of Marjan hill. For the turquoise water people picture when they think of Croatia, you need to go out to the islands.
- Is there a sandy beach in Split?
- Yes. Bačvice is one of the few sandy beaches on this stretch of coast, with a very shallow entrance to the sea. It is where picigin, the local game of keeping a small ball in the air in shallow water, was born. Most other beaches around Split are pebble.
- How do you get to Kašjuni beach?
- Kašjuni is on the south side of Marjan, around 3.5 kilometres west of the centre. You can walk along the Marjan promenade in about 45 minutes, take a local bus, or drive and park at the end of the access road. By boat it is a short run along the coast from the harbour.
- Are Split's beaches crowded?
- In July and August, yes, especially Bačvice. Kašjuni is quieter but fills up by late morning on hot weekends. Going early helps. So does going by boat, which lets you swim off the quieter stretches of Marjan's coast or cross to the islands.