The best beaches to visit in Split, Croatia

It’s no surprise that you’ll be spoiled for choice. Croatia has over 1,100 miles of coastline, not forgetting its islands, so whether you’re looking for a sandy cove, a peaceful spot by a forest park, or sea and sun loungers which are only a pebble’s throw from cafes and bars, we’ve picked out the best Split beaches to enjoy.

Easily one of the best beaches in Split for location alone, Bačvice Beach is walking distance from Diocletian’s Palace, so you can get your fill of the city’s sights then be at the beach around 10 minutes later.

It’s one of the few sandy beaches in the area too, compared to the mainly pebbly and shingle coves along the Dalmatian coast, with shallow waters which are perfect for a quick swim in the Adriatic. You can rent loungers and parasols, while there are plenty of restaurants and beach bars for a drink or some food too.

Bacvice Beach

It’s also famous as the birthplace of ‘picigin’, a Croatian ball game played in the water – the goal is to keep the little ball in the air without it falling into the water, using only your hands (or body) rather than any bats or paddles. As fun to watch as it is to play, the beach hosts the picigin World Cup every year too.

Unsurprisingly, given its facilities and how easy it is to reach, this is also one of the busier Split beaches unless you’re visiting outside peak season.

Five minutes further along the coast from Bacvice, Ovčice is quieter than its famous neighbour, so it’s ideal if you’re looking for beaches in Split which are easy to reach but not too busy.

The beach here is pebbly rather than sandy but you can rent loungers, so it’s ideal for a refreshing dip and a more tranquil place to relax in the sun. There are beach bars so you’re not without facilities entirely and if you bring snorkels, there’s a chance of spotting sea urchins and starfish in the clear water.

The name means ‘Little Sheep Beach’, although no-one is quite clear why – something to ponder as you like back and listen to the sound of the waves.

Continuing along the coast from Ovcice, Firule Beach is another of the sandy Split beaches, backed by pine trees if you’re looking for some natural shade from the hot Croatian sun. Less busy than Bacvice, it’s still a popular spot for swimming and sunbathing with calm, glass-clear water and a sheltered bay that’s a particular hit with families.

Firule Beach

There’s a beach bar here as well, plus several enticing restaurants within a few minutes of the sand if you’re looking to treat yourself.

As an unexpected bonus, you can spot some of Croatia’s top tennis players using the courts next to the beach.

Set just beyond the marina east of Firule Bay, this lovely pebble beach curves around the water, set just off the promenade which leads along the seafront.

Quieter than neighbouring Znjan Bay, a little way further down the coast, it’s a perfect option if you simply want to relax by the water and enjoy the sound of the waves. One of the quietest Split Croatia beaches, it’s a great place for snorkelling as well as swimming in the clear waters.

Trstenik is managed by the Radisson Blu hotel and also joins up with the resort’s beach if you’re looking for slightly more facilities – it’s a public beach, despite being attached to the hotel, or you can pay for a day pass to use the hotel’s facilities.

If you keep going along the coast east of Split, you’ll find the neighbourhood of Znjan and Znjan Beach – a little further from the city, there are plenty of buses running here, and it’s well worth a trip, easily claiming a place among the best Split Croatia beaches.

Znjan Beach

The beach is mostly white pebble with some sand, so it’s a good plan to bring water shoes, although the sea itself is a glorious clear turquoise for swimming. You can usually rent loungers or there’s some shade under the trees at the back of the wide beach.

There’s also a supermarket, bars and restaurants nearby plus some activities on offer including yoga classes. It’s also known as one of the more accessible beaches in Split, as well as having activity areas for kids, so there’s something for everyone.

Outside the summer months, it’s also a favourite spot for kitesurfing and windsurfing, thanks to the breezes here.

On the opposite side of the city, there are a string of coves around the foot of beautiful Marjan Hill Forest Park and Ježinac Beach is the closest of these to Diocletian’s Palace.

Ježinac Beach

This small pebble cove is popular with locals and families, thanks to the clear, calm waters in the bay, and while it isn’t huge, it’s often one of the quieter beaches around Split too. Do bring water shoes here too.

There’s a café overlooking the water, but otherwise facilities are more limited unless you walk back towards the city. Perfect for combining with a wander through the shady trails in Marjan Hill Forest Park, or a climb to the peak, it’s also a great place to watch the sunset.

Just around the corner from Jezinac Beach, Kaštelet is another of the pebbly coves in the shadow of Marjan Hill Forest Park – as an added bonus, it’s close to one of the area’s more unusual attractions, the Ivan Mestrovic Gallery.

Kaštelet Beach

There’s limited shade here, so it’s worth bringing your own umbrella if you’re planning to stay, with some of the clearest water to enjoy, translucent enough that you can spot fish swimming here without needing to bring a snorkel.

There are also limited facilities, although there’s a small beach bar to get some drinks. A lovely spot to escape the city.

Further along the coast from Jezinac and Kastelet beaches, Kašjuni Beach is easily one of the best beaches in Split. Bigger than its two neighbours, the long pebble beach is shaded by pine trees at the back, and there are sun loungers to hire, although they’re pricy in the summer.

The turquoise blue water is clear enough to spot the tiny silver fish swimming here too, and so tempting that it’s almost impossible to resist a dip yourself.

Kasjuni Beach

Quieter in the morning than the afternoon, it’s also popular for the cocktails from one of the beach’s two bars, Joe’s Beach Bar, and it’s just a short journey by bus from Split itself.

Set on the northern coast of Marjan Hill Forest Park, you have to put in a bit more effort to reach Bene Beach, but it’s well worth it once you arrive, with a more of those idyllic turquoise waters to swim in by the rocky coastline.

Because it’s harder to reach, it also tends to be quieter, but also has fewer facilities than some of Split’s other beaches – there is a beach bar and some loungers, but these can be pricy.

If you’re planning to bike through the forest, it’s a lovely addition to a day cycling under the shady pines. Look out for the ruins of the church of St Benedict which gives the beach its name.

If you’re happy to travel a little way, you can find one of the best beaches in Split just outside the city itself, around a 20-minute drive or just over 30 minutes by bus, at Stobrec Jug Beach.

While the beach is pebbly, there’s also soft sand at the shallows, so it’s more pleasant to walk into the waves here, with more of the coast’s crystal clear water sparkling in a hundred shades of turquoise.

In peak season, there are often lifeguards on duty, as well as plenty of facilities including toilets and showers and some water sports – you can try paddleboarding, or simply make the most of the clear water for snorkelling.

The little village of Stobrec itself dates back to the third century, with some of the ruins of the ancient Greek settlement still visible if you take the chance to explore after sunbathing.

Discover the beaches of Split for yourself on one of our holidays to Croatia