Split travel guide
The Deep-Dive Split Beach Guide: Bačvice, Kašjuni, Bene & Žnjan
Split is one of the few cities where you can swim between sights. This page compares the five city beaches side by side, surface, shade, crowds and facilities, then tells you which one suits your day, whether you have small children, want pine shade or just a quick swim near the palace.
While figuring out your beach days is a critical piece of the puzzle, you will need to plan the rest of your itinerary, dining slots and sightseeing routes. Before you set out, make sure to read our definitive Split travel guide to map out your entire stay.
Best beaches in Split compared
| Beach | Surface | Getting in | Shade | Facilities | Crowds | With children |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bačvice | Sand | Very shallow and gentle | Little | Showers, changing cabins, cafés and bars | Very busy on summer afternoons | Good: shallow water, but go early |
| Firule | Sand and fine shingle | Gentle | Little | Cafés nearby | Calmer than Bačvice | Good for small children |
| Kašjuni | Small pebbles | Pebbles, deeper water further out | Pines behind the beach | Café, changing cabins, loungers to rent | Quieter than the city beaches | Better for older children; bring water shoes |
| Bene | Pebbles with some sand and rocks | Mixed: easy in places, rocky at the sides | The most in Split, under the Marjan pines | Showers, changing cabins, playgrounds | Fairly quiet, even in summer | Good: shade and play areas; bus 12 or a walk through Marjan |
| Žnjan | Pebbles | Gradual | Little, so bring an umbrella | Bars, play areas, parking | Big, so there is room to spread out | Good: space and facilities; a bus or taxi from the centre |
Split's beaches one by one
Bačvice: sand, shallows and picigin
A sandy, shallow bay 10 minutes' walk east of the palace, and the beach locals grew up on. It is where they play picigin, splashing to keep a small ball in the air without letting it touch the water. Showers, changing cabins, cafés and bars line the bay. It gets very busy on summer afternoons, so go early, or come in the evening when the bars open.
Read our full Bačvice beach guide.
Firule: the calmer neighbour
Just past Bačvice, Firule has sand and fine shingle with a gentle entry and cafés nearby. It is calmer than Bačvice and good for small children, though there is little shade.
Kašjuni: pine cliffs and clear water
A pebble beach on Marjan's south side, with clear water and pines behind it. There is a café, changing cabins and loungers to rent, and it is quieter than the city beaches. The water gets deeper further out, so it suits older children better; bring water shoes. Along the shore path you will find smaller rocky platforms where locals swim.
Read our full Kašjuni beach guide.
Bene: shade and space for families
On Marjan's north side, Bene has the most shade in Split under the pines, plus showers, changing cabins and playgrounds. It stays fairly quiet even in summer. The entry is mixed: easy in places, rocky at the sides. Take bus 12 or walk through Marjan.
Read our full Bene beach guide.
Žnjan: Split's biggest pebble promenade
A long, wide pebble beach east of the centre, about 4 km from the palace, with a gradual entry, bars, play areas and parking. There is room to spread out even in summer, but little shade, so bring an umbrella. Take a bus or a taxi from the centre.
Read our full Žnjan beach guide.
Which Split beach is right for you
- Small children: Bačvice or Firule for shallow, gentle water; Bene for shade and playgrounds; Žnjan for space.
- Shade: Bene, under the Marjan pines, or Kašjuni with pines behind the beach.
- Quiet: Kašjuni and Bene, or the rocky platforms along the Marjan shore path.
- A swim between sights: Bačvice, 10 minutes on foot from the palace.
- Evenings: Bačvice, when the bars open after the day crowd leaves.
- With a car: Žnjan, which has parking.
Tips for a beach day in Split
- Plan around the sun: shade is scarce at most city beaches at midday, so see the palace in the morning and head for Marjan's pines or Bene in the afternoon.
- Pack water shoes: most beaches apart from Bačvice and Firule are pebbles or rock.
- Out of season: many beach bars close outside summer, though you can still swim.
- Back in town: put a shirt on away from the beach. Locals dislike swimwear and bare chests in the old town.
What to plan next for your trip
Once you have sorted out your beach days, it's time to explore the rest of Dalmatia - Split. If you are staying on the mainland, check out our guide to Biokovo Nature Park. If you are ready to hit the water, Zlatni Rat is a catamaran ride away: read our Brač travel guide.