Town of Split, Croatia. The best things to do in Split, it is one of Croatia's most beautiful places.

Amazing Things to Do in Split, Croatia

Split is the second-largest city in Croatia. It’s often dismissively mentioned in the same sentence as Dubrovnik. Even though Split seems to be coming in second place, you should move it to the top of your travel list. With its Roman history and a nice compact old town, Split is worth a visit to soak up some Croatian sun.

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Planning Your Trip to Split lAST mINUTE?

Planning your trip to Split? Below are some places to stay, things to do, and more.

Best Tours and Experiences in Split
  1. 5 Islands Day Trip with Blue Cave (Most popular Split tour!)
  2. Old Town and Diocletian Palace Walking Tour (Explore the Roman Palace)
  3. Cetina River Rafting with Cliff Jump & Swimming (Popular adventure activity!)
  4. Krka, Roški Falls Swim & Šibenik Day Tour (Great day tour)
  5. Zipline Canopy Excursion (Zipline 492 ft above a river!!)
Top Hotels in Split
  1. Antea Apartments (I stayed here, gorgeous traditional style apartment)
  2. Aspalathos Residence (Breakfast included!)

Traveling around Split independently? Click here to check out rental car rates in Croatia!

I’m going to admit something. I didn’t like Split at first. I was coming off of my Dubrovnik high and was feeling a little fatigued by shiny marble and old towns. It’s one of those travel truths that can be hard to admit. But Split really grew on me. It feels more lived-in than Dubrovnik and has less of that check-list feeling that comes with being somewhere with lots of tourists. Rather than fighting crowds, you can relax in Split and wander around the city at your own pace. I was very happy to have included Split in my two-week road trip to Croatia.

The view of Split from the bell tower in the old town. Climbing up the tower is worth it for this spectacular view over the city.
View over Split from the Bell Tower

Split or Dubrovnik? Which is Better?

Okay, so these two cities don’t need to be waged against each other. But given that they are both major tourist destinations in Dalmatia and both are coastal cities, the comparison is inevitable. With most people having a very limited travel time, often it comes down to choosing between Split and Dubrovnik.

Some of the wall in Diocletian's Palace in Split, Croatia. This Roman Palace is worth the visit to Split alone.
The Roman ruins of Diocletian’s Palace in Split, Croatia

As with most travel decisions, it comes down to what you like. Split is a more lived in working town with tons of day trips. Dubrovnik is more touristy and while it has day trips, the major ones tend to be longer distances away. Both have great food, sightseeing, and, beaches.

For me, choosing Split or Dubrovnik, I would pick the one that fits the rest of the itinerary best or has the cheapest flight or transit options. Both Split and Dubrovnik make for wonderful travel destinations and you can see both in a week. See my blog post on things to do in Dubrovnik after reading what to do in Split to help you decide. And now, the must-see sights of Split.

What can you do in one day in Split?

You can easily see the main sights of Split in a single day but give yourself some more time and you can explore Marjan Hill, Klis Fortress, or use Split as a jumping-off point for day trips. It would be a shame to only see Split as a day trip because it is really lovely to stroll around as the sun is setting.

I would recommend staying at least 2-3 full days in Split because of the city itself and the possibilities for day trips and adventure activities, which I have outlined at the bottom of the article.

In addition to Split’s Roman history, a new chapter of its story holds a lot of interest for visitors, its use as a setting in Game of Thrones. While there are many locations in Croatia and Europe used for the show, wandering around Split and visiting nearby locations will bring you to recognizable scenery from the first few seasons of Game of Thrones.

Things to Do in Split

Diocletian’s Palace

Inside Split's Diocletian Palace at night. This is easily Split's top sight in the city that is a must see. Even if you aren't interested in Roman history, the palace is really beautiful to see.
Diocletian’s Palace at Nighttime

This is what drew me to Split. A UNESCO heritage site, Diocletian’s Palace is the Roman ruins you’ve never heard of but need to see. The cool thing about these historic ruins is that they are still in use by the residents of Split. Within the walls of the palace, about 3000 people still live here. It’s easily the must-see of Split. Make sure to visit at nighttime as well when everything is lit up.

You can see much of Diocletian’s Palace for free. It is worth paying to explore the substructure of the palace though. You can see the part with shops for free but on either side of this are sections that are admission only. Parts of the basement of this palace were just kind of used as a dumping ground for trash but they have been cleaned up and you can explore this massive, vaulted substructure.

Game of Thrones Connection: The substructure of the Palace was used both as where dragons were kept as well as Daenerys’ throne room.

The basement of Diocletian's Palace in Split, Croatia
Substructure of Diocletian’s Palace

Cathedral of St Dominus and Bell Tower

The Cathedral and the museums were certainly something to see and enjoy, but the real reason to visit the Cathedral is the bell tower. From the top of the tower, you get a fantastic view all around Split’s old town and Diocletian’s Palace. It’s quite high up and easily the tallest building in the area so you get an unimpeded view.
Cost: 45 kuna for Cathedral treasury, crypt, and bell tower

The bell tower of Cathedral of St Dominus. It's worth paying the admission to the tower to be able to get a great view over the old town of Split.
Bell tower of St Dominus Cathedral in Split, Croatia

Split’s Old Town

Split’s old town is compact and fun to explore. With its winding streets and small alleys, it can be a bit of a maze. I got lost a couple of times down some of the smaller streets. The good news is that you quickly get to somewhere that is recognizable. There are lots of restaurants with patios that are easy to settle into when you get tired.

Game of Thrones Connection: Papalićeva Street is one of the streets seen in the slave rebellion

Wander around the old town outside of Diocletian's Palace and you will see adorable streets like this one in Split, Croatia
Split offers up great street scenery, like this street outside of Diocletian’s Palace

Riva Promenade of Split

This huge promenade makes it so easy to access all of Split’s old town. Spanning the length of the old town and palace, it is easy to navigate from. There is lots of seating here both as benches and on the edge of the harbour so it’s a good location for a bit of a break. Whether you are sitting down for a break or strolling, the promenade is a beautiful walkway through Split.

Strolling along the Riva Promenade in Split, Croatia at sunset is the perfect way to end a day in Split. It's one of the top things to do in the city.
The Riva Promenade of Split at sunset

Golden Gate and Gregorius of Nin statue

Outside of the Golden Gate was my favourite place to get a photo of the walls of Diocletian’s Palace. Inside the walls, it can be a bit compact and difficult to get a good idea of what the walls look like.  Because of the Roman history, there were a couple of gladiators hanging around these gates to take photos with tourists.

The Golden Gate of Diocletian's Palace in Split, Croatia. The walls of this Roman Palace are one of the top things to do in Split when you visit. It still is in use as a modern city and people live within this palace.
Diocletian’s Palace’s Golden Gate

You can also see the statue of Gregorius of Nin just outside of the Golden Gate. There is something that is so endearing about a city having a giant wizard statue. The statue is in a small park that would make for a nice location if you are having a picnic lunch or if you just need a break and some shade. You will notice that his big toe is shiny, as in most places if you see something like this, rubbing it is supposed to guarantee you will return to Split as well as good luck.

This huge Gregorious of Nin statue can be found just outside the Golden Gate of Split, Croatia. Rubbing the toe is said to be good luck.
The St. Gregorius of Nin statue that sits outside of Diocletian’s Palace

The Best Park in Split, Marjan Park

Just to the west of the old town, you can walk up Marjan Hill. It is easily in walking distance from the old town with steps leading up to it. I loved that such a large park was right next to the city. You walk through pine forests to get to scenic lookouts. It’s a fantastic place to watch the sunset or get a view over the city at night. I only wish I had more time to explore this park and walk to some of the beaches at the base of Marjan Hill.

Klis Fortress

Klis Fortress is set up on a limestone bluff and looks out over Split. This fortress might look familiar to you if you are a Game of Thrones fan. It was used as Meereen, where Daenerys freed all of the slaves. If you’re a Below Deck Sailing Yacht fan, Klis Fortress is where they had their final dinner in Season 2.

View of Split and the Adriatic from Klis Fortress. This is a great easy day trip from Split, Croatia
View of Klis Fortress with Split in the background

The actual history is perhaps more interesting, with it being recounted in a small museum located on the grounds. Highlights include switching hands between Romans, Turks, Venetians, and of course, Croatians.  It can be reached using public transit, just check with the tourist office for schedules and where to meet the bus.
Cost: 40 kuna
Game of Thrones Connection: Used as the city of Meereen

Klis Fortress is easily reachable from Split as it is just outside the city and makes for a nice outing to see this old fortress
Klis Fortress, near Split

Bačvice Bay

A short walk from the historical area to the east will get you to a large beach and bay area. The walk there is pleasant although you quickly exit the tourist area. There is a large sand beach here as well as a promenade and rocky area. The rocks next to the water are fun to explore but you really need to keep an eye out for broken glass. From on top of the small cliffs, you can get a great view of some of the nearby islands and Split’s harbour.

Bacvice Bay at sunset. Bacvice Bay is a popular beach area in Split, Croatia that is just a short walk from the old town and Diocletian's Palace
Bacvice Bay at sunset

Adventure Sports in Split

While I didn’t end up trying any of the water sport activities in Split, there are some really fun looking options. If you want to get on the water, you can go sea-kayaking at sunset.

The cliffs that are at the bottom of Marjan Hill are used for rock climbing. You could attempt to climb yourself, it would likely be safer to use a guide so you know the safe spots to cliff jump and climb.

Day Trips from Split

Split is a fantastic location to stay as a jumping-off point for other sites in central Dalmatia. You will find yourself wishing you had more time here to explore all that Dalmatia has to offer. If I was doing a trip based in Split I definitely would visit a few. One day trip I wish I had done was to discover the best things to do in Trogir. In addition, Krka National Park, Omiš, Makarska, Hvar Town, and Salona are all on my travel list for the next time I’m in Split. Many of these made the list of top sights in Croatia.

This day trip from Split to Krka National Park and Šibenik would give you two great destinations in one.
If you’re just looking to see Krka National Park, this tour would give you enough time to fully explore Krka. You can still swim at Krka, however not in the iconic waterfall area that you will usually see in photos. Swimming is only permitted in designated areas near Roški slap at Krka.
For a shot of adrenaline, check out this river rafting tour on the Cetina River that leaves from Omiš.

Long Day Trips from Split

It is possible to do Plitvice Lakes National Park as a day trip, but it would be a long one. If this is going to be your closest location to Plitvice, I think it’s still worth the visit despite the long drive. It’s a different experience than being on Croatia’s coast and the waterfalls here are stunning.

Zadar is 1.5 hours away and could be done as a day trip, although Zadar’s best sights are at sunset.

If you want to visit another country, Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina is possible to do as a day trip. It is a bit of a longer drive than the other options mentioned but you do get to experience a different culture than what you experience in Croatia.

Split, Croatia at night with the bell tower and Diocletian's Palace visible
View of Split’s Old Town and Diocletian’s Palace at night from Marjan Hill

There you have it, the must-sees of Split. If you only have a day, you have time to visit all of the main attractions around Diocletian’s Palace area. With two days, add on Marjan’s Hill and Klis Fortress. If you are lucky enough to have more time in Split, take day trips to any of the amazing locations nearby. Split is one of those places that has a little something for everyone.

Where to Sleep in Split

There are very affordable options in the old town so there isn’t much of a reason to stay outside of this area. I stayed closer to Marjan Hill and I was very happy with the location. I rented a charming apartment with stone walls on a quiet side street. If you are going to be using the ferry for day trips, you may want to stay closer to the ferry area to save on time. I used booking.com to book my accommodations in Split.

Antea Apartments is where I stayed and is a great location with a cute apartment. It was one of my favourite places I stayed in Croatia as it had a great atmosphere with the exposed brick walls and was so convenient for exploring Split from. The host also helped with finding free parking, including helping to park in the narrow parallel parking spot.

Aspalathos Residence is a beautiful hotel close to all the sights in Split. Breakfast is included and rooms include a sitting area.

There are plenty of fantastic places to stay in Split but it is a popular destination in Croatia so they do book up in advance.

The typical style of house you will see in Split, Croatia.
Typical style of houses and apartments in Split, Croatia

Where to Eat Vegetarian Food in Split

Split has delicious food. While it is mostly known for its seafood, I had some really great vegetarian meals here. For vegetarian food, Fabrique has a yummy (and green!) veggie burger. Fabrique also serves up other fantastic looking pub food and has a lot of beer options.

I randomly stumbled upon a vegetarian restaurant that served up lentil and chickpea dishes. I wish I could remember the name of it but just know that there are vegetarian restaurants in the old town here.

If you are looking for great Croatian food, I highly recommend Sperun. This place had amazing tortellini and mussels (for pescatarians or meat-eating travel partners!). It is quite a busy place but the service is quick and the patio has a great atmosphere.

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24 Comments

  1. I was just in Croatia but our time in Split got cut short because of a flight delay getting into the country. From the looks of this post, seems like we really missed out!

  2. It looks like there’s so many pretty view points in split! I agree you can’t just see it in a day and it looks like the perfect jumping off point for other things!

  3. I think Split may be more our style. We like to go at our own pace as well as be able to do day trips from one central location. It definitely looks like a beautiful relaxing city.

  4. Split is better!!! I just got very nostalgic reading your post. My mother if from a neighboring town, Trogir, so I have visited Split many times. I highly recommend anyone travelling to Croatia visits Split.

  5. I am currently planning a honeymoon to Split for some clients of mine. This has come in handy so much. They are Game of Thrones fans, as am I, so I loved the little nods you added. Can’t wait to share this with them.

  6. It sometimes become difficult to choose when both the places are quite similar. I am sure both Split and Dubrovnik are beautiful in their own ways. Glad to see that you finally fell in love with Split – the place looks amazing. And with the GOT connection it would be an interesting place to explore (Well, I admit I have not yet seen a single GOT episode, though have heard a lot about its fame).

  7. Split looks like a wonderful place to visit. The Diocletian’s Palace is such a fantastic heritage site to explore. Klis Fortress and the Marjan Garden too look great. I loved reading about this city and would be planning to make their a visit soon.

  8. Diocletian’s Palace looks so beautiful. I never heard much about Split before. Thank you for introducing me to this gem!

  9. Croatia is one of my favourite countries in Europe. It’s so beautiful there but I haven’t actually been to Split, only some of the islands. I would love to go back!

  10. This looks like such a fun area to explore!! I really love the look of Diocletian’s Palace as well as the Klis fortress. It’s very cool to see Roman ruins this far from Rome!!

    The weather looks fantastic too! <3

    1. We had great weather when we were in Croatia!

      I know I’ve heard before that Romans had territory all around the Mediterranean but it just didn’t really sink in to my brain until I saw that they built a massive palace in Split. It’s incredible that something built so long ago is still in use. Split is a great base, there is so much nearby to do.

  11. To be honest I loved Dubrovnik the most and actually I got engaged there so I guess it will always stay my number one. 🙂 However Split comes as a close second for me. It’s definitely the best place to do some day trips in Croatia! Loved reading your guide, makes me wanna go back!

    1. That is an excellent reason to love Dubrovnik, I actually do think it is the more romantic of the two cities! It really is a special feeling city. To me Dubrovnik and Split just have totally different vibes to the city. I agree about Split being the best place to do day trips from though.

  12. Loved this! We used all of your Croatia posts when planning a recent trip and loved every single thing, so thanks so much for the recs! One quick note, they no longer let you swim in Krka National Park waterfalls, so you might want to update that piece.

    1. I’m so happy to hear that these posts were useful to you and that you enjoyed Croatia! It’s such an easy country to fall in love with. Thanks for letting me know about the change to swimming at Krka, I will update it.

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