Beach hotels in Split
Split's beaches split neatly in two, and your hotel should follow the beach you want. East of the harbour, Bačvice is a sand beach designated as the municipal beach in 1919 and able to take more than 10,000 people: shallow, crowded in July and August, and the home of picigin, the ball game played standing in the shallows. A little further along the eastern promenade, Firule is a small sheltered cove of fine sand that the tourist board describes as a favourite of parents with young children. West of the old town, the beaches under Marjan hill are pebble. Kašjuni, the westernmost, is a deep bay of small pebbles with a separate dog beach beside it, divided by rocks, and a marked naturist section. Bene, on the north side, is listed by the tourist board as closed to the public. Further east, Trstenik is a pebble beach with an easy entry into the sea, and Žnjan reopened in summer 2025 after its renovation. I would book near Bačvice for families: Hotel Park Split is about 200 m, a two-minute walk, from the sand. On every other beach, water shoes matter: sea urchins are common on the rocky stretches. Split is not for anyone who wants a quiet sandy beach in August. The sea is around 21 °C in June and 24 °C in July and August, and the airport shuttle reaches the main bus station by the harbour in 30 to 40 minutes.
For a beach stay in Split, the choice is between the east side, where sandy Bačvice and Firule sit a short walk from the harbour and Diocletian's Palace, and the Marjan side to the west, with pebble coves under the pines. Bačvice is the only big sand beach in the centre; almost everything else is pebble or rock, so water shoes earn their place in the bag. The 20 hotels we list in Split average 9.4 out of 10 across 13,099 guest reviews.
Split in numbers
Spa & WellnessA Heritage Split
Spa & WellnessHeritage Hotel Antique Split
BeachfrontSTELLA'S BEACHFRONT - Aparthotel - FREE PARKING
Spa & WellnessHotel Ambasador
Adults OnlyHeritage Hotel Cardo
Diving & SnorkelingVilla Nepos Hotel
Spa & WellnessMarmont Heritage Hotel
Spa & WellnessAkademis - Fit Split
Seafront PromenadeHotel Vestibul Palace & Villa - Small Luxury Hotels Of The World
Spa & WellnessCora Hotel
BeachfrontHotel Villa Harmony
Spa & WellnessAC Hotel by Marriott Split
BeachfrontHotel Park Split
Adults OnlyVilla Split Heritage Hotel
Diving & SnorkelingHeritage hotel Santa Lucia
BeachfrontHeritage Hotel 19
Beachfrontbriig boutique hotel
Spa & WellnessEllure Luxury Suites
Adults OnlyPalace Suites Heritage Hotel - Adults Only
Diving & SnorkelingSamstag ParkZone
What to expect
- Bačvice, a sand beach by the harbour, has been the municipal beach since 1919 and can take more than 10,000 people.
- Firule, along the eastern promenade, is a small sheltered cove of fine sand favoured by parents of young children.
- Kašjuni, the westernmost beach under Marjan, has small pebbles, a deep bay and a separate dog beach divided from it by rocks.
- Trstenik, on the east side, is a pebble beach with an easy entry into the sea, suited to families.
- The sea is around 21 °C in June, 24 °C in July and August and 22 °C in September.
Local tips
- ✓Pack water shoes: apart from Bačvice and Firule, Split's beaches are pebble or rock, and sea urchins are common on the rocky stretches.
- ✓Bene, on the north side of Marjan, is listed by the tourist board as closed to the public, so do not plan a day around it.
- ✓Kašjuni has only a small car park that often fills early in July and August: take bus 12 from the top of the Riva to the stop above the beach, or walk about 45 minutes along the western waterfront.
- ✓Travelling with a dog, Kašjuni is the city's answer: its dog beach sits right beside the main beach, separated by rocks.
- ✓From the airport in Kaštela, the shuttle runs to the main bus station by the harbour in 30 to 40 minutes, a short walk from Bačvice.
FAQ
Does Split have sandy beaches?
Yes, but only a few. Bačvice, by the harbour, is the main sand beach and has been the municipal beach since 1919. Firule, further along the eastern promenade, is a small cove of fine sand. Most other beaches, including Kašjuni and Trstenik, are pebble.
Which Split beach is best for small children?
Firule. It is a small sheltered cove of fine sand, and the tourist board notes that it is popular with parents of young children. Bačvice is also shallow and sandy, but in July and August it is packed, and the picigin players take over the shallows.
Where should I stay in Split for the beach?
Near Bačvice and the eastern promenade if you want sand and a short walk to the old town: Hotel Park Split is about 200 m, a two-minute walk, from Bačvice. Stay on the Marjan side, such as Hotel Ambasador, if you prefer pebble coves under the pines and deeper water.
Can you bring a dog to the beach in Split?
Yes, at Kašjuni, the westernmost beach under Marjan. Its dog beach sits next to the main beach, separated by rocks. Bus 12 runs from the top of the Riva to a stop above the beach, and the walk takes about 45 minutes.
When is the sea warm enough to swim in Split?
From June to September. The water is around 21 °C in June, about 24 °C in July and August and close to 22 °C in September, so early autumn keeps warm water with far fewer people on Bačvice and on the Marjan coves.
Which hotels are closest to the old town and the Riva?
Hotel Vestibul Palace (9.4/10) is inside Diocletian's Palace, beside the Vestibule, a few steps from the Riva. Heritage Hotel Cardo (9.6), Heritage Hotel Antique Split (9.7) and Villa Split Heritage Hotel (9.3, adults only) are also within the palace, and Palace Suites Heritage Hotel (9.2, adults only) is right next to it, on the main square. Villa Nepos (9.5) and Heritage Hotel Santa Lucia (9.3) are in the old town, and A Heritage Split (9.7) is a short walk from both the palace and Bačvice. From the palace, Bačvice is a walk east past the harbour.
Which hotels suit a family beach week in Split?
Hotel Park Split (9.3/10) is about 200 m, a two-minute walk, from Bačvice. Hotel Villa Harmony (9.3) is on the seafront near Bačvice, with an outdoor pool, and briig boutique hotel (9.2) is a few steps from Bačvice, with a rooftop pool. STELLA'S Beachfront aparthotel (9.6, on 83 reviews) has direct access to the beach and kitchenettes. Ellure Luxury Suites (9.2), with pool or sea views from the rooms, is within walking distance of Firule and Trstenik, the sheltered sand cove and the easy-entry pebble beach of the east side.
And the other hotels in Split?
AC Hotel by Marriott Split (9.3, the most reviewed of the list with 2,084 reviews) is about 2.5 km from Bačvice, near the Park Mladeži stadium, and Cora Hotel (9.3) about 2.6 km, a 20-minute walk from the old town. Hotel Ambasador (9.6) is on the Marjan side, about 1.6 km from Bačvice. Akademis - Fit Split (9.4) has rooms with sea views and Heritage Hotel 19 (9.3) is in the city centre. For Marmont Heritage Hotel (9.4) and Samstag ParkZone (9.2), the position is not confirmed.