Split's best beaches split neatly into three rings: the city beaches you can walk to (sandy Bačvice, the newly rebuilt Žnjan), the pine-shaded coves of Marjan hill (Kašjuni, Bene), and the quieter pebble bays a short drive or boat ride away. I've lived and worked in Split for over a decade, so this is a local's rundown of all three rings: what each beach is like, who it suits and exactly how to reach it, as part of our bigger guide to things to do in Split.
The city beaches: walkable from the old town
Bačvice: the sandy classic and home of picigin
Ten minutes' walk east of Diocletian's Palace, Bačvice is the rarest thing on this rocky coast: a genuinely sandy beach in the middle of a city. The water stays shallow for up to a hundred metres, it holds a Blue Flag for water quality and facilities, and on a summer day it absorbs thousands of bathers without ever quite losing its neighbourhood feel. It's also where I swim after work; by 18:30 the day crowd has thinned and the water is at its warmest.
Bačvice is also the birthplace of picigin, Split's beloved shallow-water game, played here since the early 20th century: five players, one small ball, and a single rule, which is to keep the ball off the water with acrobatic one-handed saves. The beach has hosted a picigin world championship since 2005, and locals play year-round, including a famous New Year's Day session in winter sea. Watch before you join; it's harder than it looks. By night the bay's café-bars turn Bačvice into Split's after-dark social hub.
Ovčice and Firule: the locals' next bays along
Keep walking east along the coastal path and you hit Ovčice, a tidy pebble beach with showers, a playground and a calmer crowd than Bačvice, then Firule, the family bay below the tennis club where generations of Splićani learned to swim. Neither is a destination beach, and that's exactly the point. They're where the city actually swims on a Tuesday.
Žnjan: Split's brand-new flagship
Žnjan, the long beach plateau at the city's eastern edge, reopened on 21 June 2025 after an 18-month, €45.77 million rebuild, and it has changed Split's beach map. The works delivered a promenade of over two kilometres stretching towards Trstenik, 11 service pavilions, an amphitheatre, around 48,000 m² of new green space with hundreds of trees, a 530-space underground garage plus outdoor parking, and full accessibility including a hydraulic sea-access lift. It's now the city's biggest and best-equipped beach: pebbly, spacious and modern, with room to breathe even in August. Reach it by bus, a 40-minute coastal walk from Bačvice, or car (parking is finally a solved problem here).
Marjan's coves: pines, clear water, fewer crowds
Marjan, the forested hill west of the old town, hides Split's prettiest swimming, covered in full in our Marjan hill guide.
Kašjuni, on Marjan's south flank, has arguably the clearest water of any beach within the city limits: a pebble crescent facing the open sea below pine slopes, with a beach bar, sunbeds, showers and a toilet. Getting there: bus 12 from Sv. Frane at the end of the Riva (then a five-minute walk downhill), a €5–10 Uber/Bolt ride, or a scenic 50–60 minute walk. In July and August the small car park fills early.
Bene, on Marjan's north shore, is the family pick: rocky-and-pebble swimming spots shaded by pines that come right down to the water, a recreation centre, and easy access by bus 12 or bicycle along the seafront path. On scorching afternoons, that natural shade is worth more than any beach bar.
A short drive away: Kaštela, Omiš and Čiovo
- Kaštela bay (15–25 min northwest): seven small historic towns strung along a sheltered bay, each with its own modest pebble-and-concrete beaches beneath castles and church towers. Almost no foreign tourists; very cheap coffee.
- Omiš riviera (30–40 min southeast): where the Cetina river canyon meets the sea. Omiš town beach is large and sandy-pebbly, and the string of coves towards Lokva Rogoznica is one of Dalmatia's most underrated stretches.
- Čiovo island (35–45 min, connected by bridge at Trogir): pebble bays like Okrug Gornji ("Copacabana") with shallow, family-friendly water and a proper resort buzz in summer.
No car? We run private van transfers anywhere on this coast with local drivers who know which cove is quiet that week.
Beach day by boat: the lagoon and the islands
Here's the local secret: the best "beach near Split" isn't on the mainland at all. The Blue Lagoon at Krknjaši, a shallow, white-sand-bottomed bay near Drvenik Veli, out-turquoises anything reachable by road, and our Blue Lagoon & Trogir speedboat tour (€75) gets you there for a swim plus an hour in UNESCO Trogir in a five-hour half day. Further out, the island beaches of Šolta, Brač and Hvar reward a full day; a private speedboat for up to 12 can drop your group on Supetar (€260, 20 min) or Hvar (€450, 55 min) and pick you up at sunset.
Practical tips for swimming in Split
- Pebbles rule. Apart from Bačvice's sand, expect pebbles and rock everywhere. Pack water shoes, especially for kids, and watch for sea urchins near rocks (a sign of clean water, as we like to say here).
- Sea temperature: swimmable June through October, peaking around 24–27 °C in July and August; June and September are the comfort sweet spot. See our guide to the best time to visit Split.
- Families: Bačvice and Firule for sand-shallow paddling; Bene for shade; Žnjan for facilities and parking.
- Crowds: everything within walking distance is busy 11:00–17:00 in July–August. Go before 10 or after 17, or get on a boat.
- Sun: shade is scarce outside Bene and the bar zones, so bring an umbrella or rent a lounger.
Split beaches compared
| Beach | Type | Crowd level | Best for | How to reach |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bačvice | Sand | High | Picigin, nightlife, shallow paddling | 10-min walk from old town |
| Ovčice / Firule | Pebble | Medium | Local vibe, families | 15–25-min walk along the coast |
| Žnjan | Pebble | Medium-high | Facilities, accessibility, space | Bus, car (underground garage) or coastal walk |
| Kašjuni | Pebble | Medium | Clearest city water, beach bar | Bus 12, Uber/Bolt ~€5–10, or 50-min walk |
| Bene | Rock/pebble | Low-medium | Shade, families, cycling | Bus 12 or seafront bike path |
| Kaštela bays | Pebble/concrete | Low | Quiet swims, local cafés | 15–25 min by car/van |
| Omiš riviera | Sand/pebble | Medium | Big beach day + canyon scenery | 30–40 min by car/van |
| Blue Lagoon (Krknjaši) | Sandy-bottom bay | Medium (boats) | Snorkelling, turquoise water | Boat only: tour or private speedboat |
Want the lagoon, an island cove or just a lift to Kašjuni with cold water waiting? Flarent has been family-run in Split since 2005 (two waterfront offices, open daily 08:00–20:00), and we run both the boats and the vans. Message us on WhatsApp at +385 95 336 2332 and ask for Vesna, or browse tours from Split.