Labadusa is the pebble bay you end up at when Okrug Gornji's main Copacabana strip feels like too much. It sits a little further round the southern coast of Ciovo island, near Trogir, with pine trees coming down close to the stones and water that shifts from clear green to deep blue as the bottom drops away. People treat it as the quieter cousin to the party beach next door, and for most of the day that holds true.
Where Labadusa beach sits, and the Copacabana confusion
First, the naming, because it trips people up. The long, lively, 2km stretch at Okrug Gornji is the one locals and signs call Copacabana. It's the strip with the inflatable water park, the jet skis, the bars thumping music, and the families spread shoulder to shoulder in August. Labadusa is the separate bay just along from it, on the southern side of Ciovo near Okrug Gornji.
So if you came expecting Labadusa itself to be the Copacabana, adjust. They're neighbours, not the same beach. Labadusa is the calmer one, backed by a campsite and pine forest rather than a wall of beach bars. You can walk between the two in not much time, which is part of the appeal: quiet base, loud beach on tap when you want it.
The bay faces south, so it holds the sun late into the afternoon. The water is the headline here, genuinely clear, the kind where you can see your feet on the stones in chest-deep water. Reviewers and regulars both go on about the clarity, and it lives up to it.
What Labadusa beach is actually like
The surface is pebble, with concrete slabs in places for sunbathing and rockier sections toward the edges. The middle pebble stretch is the gentlest for getting in, which is where families and less confident swimmers gather. The rockier parts on either side are better for snorkelling, though watch for sea urchins around the larger stones, a standard Adriatic hazard worth a pair of water shoes.
Shade is the quiet advantage. Pine trees run right down toward the stones in spots, so you can claim a patch under cover instead of frying on an open slab. That matters in July when the afternoon sun is relentless and free shade is worth more than any sunbed.
The water enters gradually at the pebble end, then deepens for swimming once you're past the shoreline stones. It's calm on most days, sheltered by the bay, and the clarity holds even when the beach is busy because there's no sand to cloud up.
One honest note: "secluded" is the word every listing reaches for, and it's only half right. Early morning and evening, yes. Through the middle of a summer day, the parking lot funnels a steady stream of visitors in, and the bay fills. It's calmer than Copacabana, not deserted.
Eating and drinking at Labadusa
Two spots anchor the bay, and they pull in opposite directions. Laganini Beach Club is the polished one, with loungers, day beds, and a kitchen that does seared tuna and proper seafood rather than just chips and beer. It's the place for a long lunch with a view, priced accordingly.
Next to the campsite is Tavern Labadusa, the rustic counterpoint. This is grilled meat and fish, Dalmatian-tavern style, simpler and more relaxed. One recurring gripe from campers is that the beach bar shuts around 8pm and drinks aren't cheap, with beer landing near 4 to 5 euros, so this isn't a late-night party beach. The party is back over at Copacabana.
For a proper meal with more choice, Trogir's old town is 15 minutes away and packed with konobas. If you're basing yourself around Split, our guide to the best beaches in Split covers the wider stretch of coast this bay belongs to, including which beaches are worth the drive.
How to get to Labadusa beach from Trogir and Split
The simplest route from Trogir is bus 44, which runs regularly toward Okrug Gornji. Get off near the bay and it's roughly a 20-minute walk down to the water, partly along narrow lanes, so factor that in if you're carrying beach gear or have small kids in tow.
The nicer arrival is by taxi boat. In season, boats run from the Trogir waterfront across to the Okrug Gornji beaches, frequently through the day and into the evening. You pay a few euros per person, you skip the parking entirely, and you get a short coastal ride in instead. For a beach where parking is the main headache, this is often the smartest call.
Driving works too. It's about 15 minutes from Trogir old town across the movable Ciovo bridge, and roughly 30 to 40 minutes from Split depending on traffic and the bridge. The catch is the parking lot by the campsite: it's small for the crowd it draws, the approach road is narrow, and in July and August it fills by late morning. Get there before 11am or be ready to wait.
Water sports and what to do nearby
Labadusa itself is more about swimming, snorkelling, and lounging than organised water sports. For the full menu, jet skis, parasailing, paddleboards, kayaks, and the inflatable aqua park for kids, the Copacabana strip at Okrug Gornji is the place, and it's an easy walk from the bay. Many people split the day: quieter swims and shade at Labadusa, then wander over for the activity when the kids get restless.
This coast is also a launchpad for island day trips. Brac is within reach for a longer outing to Zlatni Rat, the famous shape-shifting pebble horn that changes direction with the wind, which makes a strong contrast to a low-key day at Labadusa. And if you want a softer, family bay closer to Split, Firule beach is the sandy one locals take their kids to.
The verdict on Labadusa beach
Labadusa earns its reputation as the calmer pick on this part of Ciovo, with clear water, real pine shade, and a beach club worth a long lunch. It's pebble, not sand, the rocks hide a few urchins, and the bar shuts early, so set expectations accordingly. The genuine catch is access: the parking fills fast and the bus leaves you a walk away, which is exactly why the taxi boat from Trogir is the move.
Come in June or September, or on a weekday morning in high summer, and you get the quiet, glassy version of this bay before the lot fills and the crowd arrives. Treat it as your shaded, low-key base with Copacabana's noise a short stroll away, and Labadusa makes a lot of sense.
