Copacabana Beach in Okrug Gornji: Trogir’s Big Beach (2026)

5 August 2026 · 6 min read

Clear turquoise Adriatic water near Trogir, Croatia

Okrug Gornji’s Big Beach — everyone calls it Copacabana — is the longest, liveliest beach near Trogir. Here is what to expect, who it suits and how to make the most of a day there.

Key takeaways

  • •Copacabana is the local nickname for Okrug Gornji’s Big Beach, just over the Čiovo bridge from Trogir.
  • •It is a roughly two-kilometre pebble strip lined with beach bars, sun loungers and watersports.
  • •The beach itself is free — you pay only for loungers, food and drinks.
  • •It is pebble, not sand: water shoes make it far more comfortable, especially for children.
  • •Boat tours pick up right in Okrug, so you can pair a beach day with a day on the islands.

Ask anyone in Trogir where to swim and the first answer is usually the same: Copacabana. Officially it is Okrug Gornji’s Big Beach (Velika plaža), a roughly two-kilometre pebble strip on the island of Čiovo, just over the bridge from Trogir’s old town — the longest and liveliest stretch of beach in the area.

What Copacabana is actually like

Think of it as a promenade that happens to be a beach. The pebble shore runs on and on, backed by a walkway of beach bars, cafés, sun loungers and watersports. In July and August it hums from morning to well after sunset; in June and September it is the same beach with half the people and the same warm sea.

The water is typically Adriatic — clear and clean, over pebbles rather than sand. That is the one thing to plan for: bring water shoes. With them, walking in and out is easy; without them, the pebbles test your patience, especially for kids.

Getting there from Trogir

Okrug Gornji sits on Čiovo, the island connected to Trogir’s old town by bridge. By car or taxi it is a short drive over the bridge and along the coast. In peak season the beach fills through the morning, so locals go early or drop by late afternoon when the day-trippers thin out and the light turns golden.

Costs: what is free and what is not

The beach itself costs nothing. Money enters the picture only if you want it to — sun loungers, drinks, ice cream, lunch at a beach bar. Bring some cash: bigger bars take cards, smaller beach spots do not always.

Is Copacabana good for families?

Yes, with the pebble caveat. The strip is long enough that you can always find a patch of your own, there are loungers and food within reach the whole way, and the water is clean. Put the kids in water shoes and they will be in and out of the sea all day.

Turn a beach day into an island day

Here is the part most visitors miss: the boats leave from Okrug too. The Three Island Tour — the full-day trip with a grilled lunch cooked on board — picks up in Okrug at 09:20, so there is no need to go into Trogir at all. Adults pay €60, children 5–12 pay €30 and under-fives sail free.

And if what you love about Copacabana is the water, the Blue Lagoon half-day tour takes it up a level: about half an hour by speedboat to a shallow turquoise lagoon you cannot reach on foot, with a swim stop at Maslinica and Brančač Bay on the way. €60 per adult, €50 for children 0–12, morning or afternoon departure.

Groups who want the day to themselves can take a private boat tour from Trogir — the whole boat and a local skipper, from €600.

Copacabana or somewhere quieter?

Copacabana is the social beach. If you want calm, the same island hides quieter spots — Okrug Donji next door, or the pine-shaded coves around Slatine on the far side of Čiovo. We cover them all in our guide to Čiovo’s beaches, and the wider area — Medena, Pantan and more — in the best beaches near Trogir.

Frequently asked questions

Is Copacabana beach in Okrug sandy?
No — like almost every beach around Trogir it is pebble. The water is clear and clean, but bring water shoes; they make getting in and out far more comfortable, especially for children.
How far is Copacabana beach from Trogir?
It is on Okrug Gornji on the island of Čiovo, just over the bridge from Trogir’s old town — a short drive or taxi ride along the coast.
Does Copacabana beach cost anything?
The beach is free. You pay only for extras — sun loungers, drinks and food at the beach bars. Carry some cash for the smaller spots.
When is the best time to go?
Early morning or late afternoon in July and August, when parking is easier and the crowds thinner. In June and September the beach is quiet all day and the sea is still warm.
Can I join a boat tour from Okrug without going to Trogir?
Yes. The Three Island Tour picks up in Okrug at 09:20, and the Krka Waterfalls day trip also collects guests in Okrug Gornji and Okrug Donji. You can be on a tour without crossing the bridge.
Which is better — Copacabana or the Blue Lagoon?
They are different days out. Copacabana is a beach with bars and loungers you can walk onto any time; the Blue Lagoon is a shallow turquoise bay half an hour away by boat, with clearer water than any beach on the coast. Many guests do both.

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