15 Unmissable Things To Do In Split, Croatia

Split, with its backdrop of rugged mountains and view of the Adriatic, is the place to see Dalmatian life in action. Split is the second largest city in Croatia and while its streets are slightly less teeming with tourists than Dubrovnik, the palaces and Romanesque churches packed into Split’s ancient walls make it worth visiting.

You can easily pack most of the top things to do in Split into one or two days in the city.

When I visited Croatia I spent one day in Split and used it as a landing pad for Hvar. We had started our Croatia trip with three days in Dubrovnik.

24 hours is an ideal amount of time to spend in Split if you just want to get an overall feel for the place and see its highlights.

Top Things To Do In Split Croatia

Tourists wondering what to do in Split should find this guide helpful. I’ve covered the main places to visit in Split and you’ll find helpful information for planning your trip at the bottom of this guide.

You can book a walking tour or buy hop-on-hop-off bus tickets to ensure you don’t miss any of Split’s tourist attractions, but it’s easy to explore the city by foot independently. Head straight for Split’s Old Town, which is where most of the tourist attractions and main things to see are located.

1. Walk along The Riva

Split’s palm-fringed seafront promenade, The Riva, is lined with busy bars and restaurants. Walking along The Riva’s wide esplanade is one of the best free things to do in Split and you’re bound to see something new, whatever time of day you go.

In the evening, we bought some beers from a  kiosk and drank them on a bench here, watching the world go by.

2. Wander around Split’s old town

Step through the Bronze Gate on The Riva and you’ll find yourself in another, darker world: the cavernous basements of the ancient palace. Once used for wine and oil-making, these shadowy halls are now filled with market vendors.

I’m not usually one for buying souvenirs and general tourist tat, but there are some unique pieces to be found here. It’s a great place in Split to shop for souvenirs.

3. Linger in the Peristyle

Up a steep staircase, you’ll find yourself in the sunlit colonnaded Peristyle. You’re now inside the old town of Split, which is contained inside Diocletian’s Palace! This is one of the peculiarities that makes Split such a unique city.

The Peristyle came into existence as the palace’s central courtyard. It’s easy to imagine the space filled with cavalry all those years ago.

The Peristyle was used for theatre performances in the past because of its acoustics. Now, it’s the perfect place to wile away a day in Split.

Sipping coffee on the steps circling the Peristyle is one of the best-loved things to do in Split. It’s also an expensive pasttime, so don’t bother with it if you’re visiting Split on a budget.

4. Take in the views from the cathedral

Split’s 5th century octagonal Cathedral of St. Duje (Dominius) is one of the best-preserved ancient Roman buildings standing today. Its tall bell tower was added between the 12th and 16th centuries and reconstructed in 1908 after it collapsed.

You can pay to climb to the top for an awe-inspiring view over Split.

5. Explore the rest of Diocletian’s Palace

Diocletian’s Palace is a Unesco World Heritage site is among the top things to see in Split. It’s one of the world’s most impressive Roman monuments, dating back to 300 AD. There are dozens of bars, restaurants and shops buzzing amid the white stone walls. It feels less like a palace and more like an atmospheric walled complex.

Diocletian’s Palace spreads over 1000 square meters with four gates named after metals: iron, silver, gold and bronze. It was built as a fortress and imperial residence using stone from nearby Brač island and marble from Italy and Greece. The general public started moving in during the 7th century.

Now, its 220 buildings house about 3000 people. Wandering the narrow streets here is like being transported to Rome.

Getting lost in this rabbits’ warren is the best thing to do in Split because you never know what you’ll find. One of my favourite streets is strung with old boots and bloomers!

6. Find the Vestibule

While you walk around Split, you’re going to stumble into the Vestibule at some point. It was once the entrance to the palace’s residential  area, and is a great place to take pictures thanks to the sunlight that spills in from the top.

7. People watch in People’s Square

The main square in Split isn’t actually in Diocletian’s Palace. It’s the white-marble-paved Narochi Trg (People’s Square), which has some serious Italian vibes.

This is a great place to grab dinner and watch the world go by in the evenings.

8. Sample Split’s nightlife

The best bars in Split are Bifora, Žbirac (a beach bar in Bačvice), and Vidilica, which has a beautiful terrace overlooking the sea. Gaga is the place to go for cheap cocktails.

Many travellers believe that the best place to be after dark in Split is on the water. You can book a sunset cruise for a blissful evening watching the day melt into night from the Adriatic. This cruise has live music and an open bar.

9. See Split’s Game of Thrones locations

Did you know that Split was a Game of Thrones filming location? You can take a themed tour to discover some of the same spots that star in the show. Visit the watermill at Žrnovnica where Daario Naharis’ battle took place and see the Klis fortress where Daenerys Targaryen overthrew Meereen from Split.

Within the city, Game of Thrones tours take in Diocletian’s Palace’s cellars, where many scenes were filmed.

You can book a GOT tour in Split using the boxes below.

10. Visit Šolta Island

Just a stone’s throw from Split’s harbour, this island is famous for its produce: wine, Šoltanka olive oil from Olynthia Natura and fragrant rosemary honey.

The island is also a great destination for cyclists looking to get out of the city and into nature, with 20 km of off-road trails to explore.

Book your trip to Šolta island from Split using the boxes below.

11. Spend a morning on the Cetina River

For an adventurous morning outside the city, you can book a tour to Cetina River. You can go rafting on the rapids, cool off under the stunning Gubavica waterfall or do some zip lining through the cliffs. The water is crystal clear and the scenery is amazing.

If you don’t fancy quite so much adrenaline, try a canoe safari on the gentler part of the river instead.

Book your trip to the Cetina River below.

12. Try your hand at watersports

What better place to learn a new water sport? Whether you want to have a go at stand-up paddle boarding, fancy a relaxing afternoon on the Adriatic in a kayak or you’ve always dreamed of learning to scuba dive; Split is the perfect place to do it!

Check out the below activities which you can book ahead of your trip to Split.

13. Sample local produce

While you’re in Split, you have to try a traditional inland Dalmation brunch of prosciutto, pancetta, cheese, and “peka” bread. You can shop for local produce at the market.

Another foodie must-do in Split is a meal in a ”konoba”, one of Croatia’s tavern-stye restaurants. Some of the most popular dishes to order are seafood stews and and olive oil pies.

Wine lovers shouldn’t miss the south of the country’s red and whites.

There’s even a 300 year old pastry shop in Split’s Old Town!

14. Go hiking

Marjan Park Forest hides medieval churches and hermit settlements but it’s also a great spot for beautiful views of Split. Follow the walking trails and stop off at the numerous beaches dotted along the path.

At the top of Marjan Hill, you’ll see panoramic views of the city and its neighbouring islands.

For a more strenuous hike, head to Mosor Mountain.

15. Visit Split’s beaches

If you’re tired of sightseeing, why not pencil in some time during your 24 hours in Split for a trip to the beach? Some of the best beaches in Split are located just outside of the city centre, so you can easily squeeze in a quick swim!

More things to do in Split if you have more than one day

• Squeeze through’Let me pass street’, thought to be one of the narrowest in the world.
• Rub the shiny big toe of Gorger’s statue, which apparently guarantees you will return to Split.
• Visit one of the world’s smallest churches, the sixth-century St Martin’s.
• See commerce in action at the Fish Market.
• Shop at Pazar Market.
• Hit the beach. Split isn’t really a beach destination but if you’re in need of some Vitamin Sea, head to Bačvice or the smaller Ovčice beach.
• Catch a klapa show, a traditional form of a cappella singing in the area that is usually sung by men.

Day trips from Split

Where to stay in Split

The best area to stay in Split is anywhere near or inside the city centre or Old Town, so you’re close to the main sights. However, if you’re only in town to party, you might be better off in Bacvice, where there’s a popular beach that stays busy after dark.

We stayed at Apartment Rosse, which is ideally located a fifteen minute walk from the ferry port and adjacent to the Old Town. It was a good budget option for us.

For backpackers, you’ll find a few decent hostels in Split. Ćiri Biri Bela Boutique Hostel is one of the best in the Old Town. The cheapest accommodation in Split however, can be found in Manus, Dobri and Lucac.

If you’re visiting Split in a group, it might work out better to hire a villa – check out these options available via James Villas.

If you have more to spend, there are luxury accommodation options in Split. Some of the best hotels include the Radisson Blu Resort & Spa, Murum Boutique Rooms, Marvie Hotel and Dioklecijan Hotel & Residence, which has an incredible rooftop pool.

Find accommodation in Split that works with your budget using the booking.com map below.

Booking.com

How to get to Split

Split does have an airport but if you’re travelling from outside of Croatia, you’ll most likely find a flight to Dubrovnik. You should spend some time there before travelling on to Split.

To get to Split from Dubrovnik, you can copy our journey. We flew to Dubrovnik and took a bus from Dubrovnik to Split. It took a few hours but the scenery we passed was absolutely stunning. You can also get a ferry or catamaran.

Check out all of your options for getting from Dubrovnik to Split on Bookaway here. Bookaway is an online ground transportation booking service who work with local partners.

When it was time to head to Hvar from Split, we got the ferry. You can find information about ferries from Split here.

More Croatia travel tips

You can find great deals on your Croatia trip using my Travel Resources page.

Croatia is a fabulous destination for sailing holidays. Check out G Adventures, who run small group tours around Croatia and Montenegro.

If you’re planning to travel around Croatia, I recommend the Lonely Planet Guide.

You’ll need travel insurance for your Croatia trip. You can get a quote using the World Nomads box below.

More Europe travel guides

What to do in Dubrovnik Croatia

What to do in Hvar Croatia

What I wore in Croatia

My itinerary for 10 days in Europe

Best European city breaks

See all European destination guides

I hope you’ve found my Split travel guide helpful for planning your Croatia adventure! Is Split on your Croatia itinerary? Let me know in the comments!

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