Marjan is a pine-covered peninsula just west of Split's old town. Locals call it "the lungs of Split." It’s a protected park with the 178-meter Telegrin peak at the top and some of the city’s best beaches around its edge. You can reach the first viewpoint in about fifteen minutes from the Riva. In this blog post, we’ll share the routes, beaches, and churches we recommend, along with the easiest ways to explore the park by bike or e-scooter.
What Marjan Is (and Why Locals Guard It)
Marjan stretches 3.5 kilometers along the western tip of Split’s peninsula. It’s covered in Aleppo pine, with footpaths, stairways, and a coastal road that’s closed to most cars. The park has been protected for over a hundred years. The Marjan Society started building paths and planting trees here in the early 1900s. For locals, Marjan is part of daily life. Morning runs, evening walks, and weekend swims. There are no tickets, gates, or closing hours. In July, the scent of warm pine resin fills the air.
To sum up the geography: the south side has cliffs, hermit churches, and Kašjuni beach. The north side is home to the gentler, family-friendly Bene beach. The ridge in the middle offers the best viewpoints.
View from Prva Vidilica
First Viewpoint & Telegrin Peak
Prva Vidilica (the first viewpoint)
The classic route begins in Veli Varoš, the old fishermen’s quarter just west of the Riva. From Šperun street, you’ll find the Marjan stairs (Marjanske skale) across from the Hotel Ambassador. The steps lead past chapels and old Varoš houses. After ten to fifteen relaxed minutes, you’ll arrive at Prva Vidilica, a terrace with a postcard-perfect view of the bell tower, palace rooftops, harbor, and the islands beyond. There’s a café at the top, and watching the sunset here is a local tradition. Just beyond stands the small 13th-century church of St Nicholas (Sv. Nikola), one of the oldest on Marjan.
Telegrin Peak (178 m)
From Prva Vidilica, the path heads west along the ridge to Telegrin, Marjan’s highest point at 178 meters. The name comes from a telegraph station built here during the Napoleonic era. A long stone staircase leads to a circular terrace with a full 360-degree view: Split below, the islands of Brač, Šolta, and Čiovo out at sea, and the Mosor and Kozjak mountains inland. Walking from the Riva at a relaxed pace takes about 45 to 60 minutes in total.
The Beaches: Kašjuni & Bene
Kašjuni is below Marjan’s southern cliffs. It’s a long, curved beach with pebbles and shingle, known for its clear water. There’s a stylish beach bar, sunbed rentals, and a great view down the coast. You can walk there from the old town in 40 to 50 minutes along the southern road, or get there quickly on a rented e-scooter. The beach gets the best afternoon sun and, since it faces west, it’s also a perfect spot for sunset.
Bene, on the shadier northern shore, is the family pick: small rocky coves backed directly by pine forest, natural shade all day, shallow entries, a seasonal café and sports courts. You reach it by the coastal path, by bike, or via the seasonal city bus that loops the park road.
Both Kašjuni and Bene have clearer water than the central city beaches.
Kaštelet - one of many beautiful beaches on Marjan
Hermitage Churches:
The southern side of Marjan is especially atmospheric, with a series of medieval churches built by hermits who settled on these cliffs starting in the Middle Ages onward.
- St Nicholas (Sv. Nikola), 13th century. The chapel just past the first viewpoint, Marjan's old sailor's church.
- St Jerome (Sv. Jere), from the 15th century, is the highlight. It sits at the base of a steep cliff along the southern path and features a Renaissance relief altar. Above the church, hermit caves are carved into the rock about halfway up the cliff. These were once cells for medieval ascetics. You can see them from the terrace below, but the caves themselves are usually closed to visitors.
- Our Lady of Bethlehem (Gospa od Betlema). A small Gothic church nearby on the same southern route, traditionally visited at Christmas.
This side of Marjan is also particularly popular among rock climbers. If you are a rock climbing lover, bring your equipment.
Southern side of Marjan is popular among rock climbers
Biking & E-Scooters on Marjan
Marjan’s ring road, which is closed to most cars, and its forest trails make the park feel like Split’s outdoor gym. There’s a 10 to 12 km loop for runners and cyclists, fitness trails, a rock-climbing spot above Kašjuni, and shaded paths that are comfortable even in July. For fitness enthusiasts, there is an open-air gym, too.
This is where having a bike or e-scooter really helps. Our rental office is next to the ferry port and just a ten-minute walk from the Riva. It’s the perfect place to start your loop around Marjan.
- Bike rental: City bikes start at €20 per day and include a helmet, D-lock, lights, and a bell, available in sizes S to XL. Riding the full peninsula loop with swim stops at Kašjuni and Bene makes for a great half-day trip.
- E-scooter rental: Insured e-scooters (25 km/h, 30 km range, for riders 16 and up) start at €30 for three hours. That’s just enough time for the Riva–Kašjuni–Bene circuit with a swim stop. You don’t need a motorcycle license.
If you prefer to relax, a scooter can take you along the coastal park road and the rest of the Split seafront in one trip.
The view from sea level might be even better than from Telegrin. Our two-hour sunset cruise (€60, with drinks and finger food included) sails right beneath Marjan’s green cliffs and along the city beaches during golden hour. You’ll see the hermitage cliffs from a perspective you can’t get on foot.
You can browse all our tours to find the best one for you.