Split Croatia Travel Guide

The Riva, Split's waterfront promenade, runs beside the walls of Diocletian's Palace, a Roman complex inscribed by UNESCO in 1979.

Neighbourhoods With Kids In The Rain At Night Right Now When To Go

Split Croatia Travel Guide: Things To Do In Split, The Short List

Diocletian's Palace forms the core of the Old Town, with the Peristyle, the Cathedral of St Domnius with its 57 m bell tower, and the Marjan hill park close by.

Diocletian's Palace in Split, Croatia Diocletian's PalacePalace built for Emperor Diocletian around 295 to 305 AD, now the core of a UNESCO site inscribed in 1979. Peristyle in Split, Croatia PeristyleOpen square inside the palace where the Roman guard change takes place at noon in summer, free to enter. Cathedral Of St Domnius in Split, Croatia Cathedral Of St DomniusCathedral with a 57 m bell tower begun in the 13th century; tickets from about 5 EUR, combined tickets up to about 15 EUR. Temple Of Jupiter in Split, Croatia Temple Of JupiterRoman temple later made the Baptistery of St John, covered by the cathedral ticket scheme for about 3 EUR. Golden Gate in Split, Croatia Golden GateFree palace entrance, outside which stands the Grgur Ninski statue. Marjan Hill in Split, Croatia Marjan HillWooded peninsula 3.5 km long with the 178 m Telegrin peak, reached by 819 steps from Trumbićeva obala. Split Riva in Split, Croatia Split RivaWaterfront promenade beside the ferry port; its central section faces partial closures during renovation works planned from November 2026. Bačvice Beach in Split, Croatia Bačvice BeachCity beach where picigin, a ball game protected as intangible heritage of Croatia, was born.

Split Croatia Travel Guide To The Neighbourhoods

Four stops cover Split well in a day: the Old Town inside Diocletian's Palace, the beach neighbourhood of Bačvice, the old quarter of Varoš and the Marjan hill park.

1Morning
Old Town in Split, Croatia

Old Town

The Old Town is the heart of Split, the historic centre inside and around Diocletian's Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1979.

2Midday
Bačvice in Split, Croatia

Bačvice

Bačvice is a beach neighbourhood east of the Old Town, about 0.9 km away, and the birthplace of the ball game picigin.

3Afternoon
Varoš in Split, Croatia

Varoš

Varoš is an old quarter of narrow stone lanes 0.5 km straight line from the Old Town, sitting under the Marjan hill on the west side of the centre.

4Evening
Marjan in Split, Croatia

Marjan

Marjan is a wooded park peninsula 2.5 km straight line from the Old Town, 3.5 km long and 1.5 km wide, with its highest peak Telegrin at 178 m.

A guided small group walking tour through Split Old Town and Diocletian's Palace, lasting 1.5 to 6 hours.
Small-Group Palace Walking Tour 4.9 from 5,769 reviews · from $17
Check availability
126,284 traveller reviewsacross 50 checked tours
From $17cheapest paid tour today
Prices checkedagainst the booking page, refreshed monthly

Split Tours Worth Booking

Answer three quick questions and get a shortlist from Fifty tours matched to what you want from Split.

1. What kind of day are you after?
2. Busy and best-known, or something quieter?
3. What would you spend per person?

Showing six of the best-reviewed tours as a starting point. Answer any question below to rebuild the list around you.

  1. 9-Hour Krka With Swimming 9 hours from $29 ★ 4.8 13,636 Check availability
  2. Krka With Wine Tasting 10 hours from $44 ★ 4.9 11,066 Check availability
  3. Blue Cave Mamma Mia Speedboat 10 to 12 hours from $113 ★ 4.8 8,937 Check availability
  4. Blue Cave 5 Islands, Small Group 10 - 11 hours from $112 ★ 4.6 8,235 Check availability
  5. Blue Lagoon Cruise, Lunch and Wine 8 hours from $86 ★ 4.8 7,295 Check availability
  6. Small-Group Palace Walking Tour 1.5 - 6 hours from $17 ★ 4.9 5,769 Check availability
  7. 10-Hour Krka Boat Cruise 10 hours from $29 ★ 4.9 5,550 Check availability
  8. Blue Lagoon, Food and Drinks 8 hours from $72 ★ 4.7 4,353 Check availability
  9. Guided Plitvice Lakes Day Trip 11 hours from $74 ★ 4.9 3,843 Check availability
  10. Plitvice With Entry Tickets 12 hours from $100 ★ 4.9 3,532 Check availability
  11. Krka With Free Wine Tasting 7 hours 30 minutes from $29 ★ 4.9 3,123 Check availability
  12. Small-Group Blue Lagoon Speedboat 5 hours 30 minutes from $63 ★ 4.9 3,093 Check availability
  13. Palace Walk, 1 Hour 30 Minutes 1 hour 30 minutes from $17 ★ 4.9 2,721 Check availability
  14. Illuminated Evening Kayak Tour 2.5 hours from $51 ★ 4.8 2,437 Check availability
  15. Krka With Trogir Walking Tour 8 hours 30 minutes from $42 ★ 4.9 2,269 Check availability
  16. Rafting With Cliff Jump and Cave 3 - 6 hours from $50 ★ 4.8 2,096 Check availability
  17. Self-Guided Plitvice With Boat Ride 12 hours from $56 ★ 4.9 1,986 Check availability
  18. Hvar Cruise, Lunch and Drinks 10 hours from $90 ★ 4.7 1,978 Check availability
  19. Electric Tuk-Tuk City Ride 2 hours from $55 ★ 4.9 1,952 Check availability
  20. All-Inclusive Hvar and Brac Tour 9.5 hours from $94 ★ 4.8 1,741 Check availability
  21. Zip Line, Optional Transport 2 - 3 hours from $67 ★ 4.9 1,717 Check availability
  22. Half-Day 3-Island Speedboat 4.5 - 5 hours from $57 ★ 4.9 1,713 Check availability
  23. Walking Tour With History Professor 2 hours 20 minutes from $23 ★ 5 1,365 Check availability
  24. Mostar, Pocitelj and Kravice 12 hours from $91 ★ 4.8 1,328 Check availability
  25. Magister-Led Small-Group Walk 1 hour 40 minutes to 1 hour 50 minutes from $28 ★ 5 1,318 Check availability
  26. Zipline Croatia Cetina Canyon 3 hours from $91 ★ 4.9 1,306 Check availability
  27. Mostar and Kravice Day Trip 12 hours from $90 ★ 4.7 1,258 Check availability
  28. Half-Day Rafting, Cliff Jumping 4 hours from $51 ★ 5 1,036 Check availability
  29. Sunset Klis Fortress Tour 2.5 hours from $17 ★ 4.6 892 Check availability
  30. Mostar and Kravice, Split Departure 12 hours from $90 ★ 4.8 845 Check availability
  31. Dubrovnik Day Trip, Small Group 12 hours from $90 ★ 4.6 820 Check availability
  32. Quad Safari With Picnic Swim 4 hours from $97 ★ 4.9 785 Check availability
  33. Catamaran to Hvar, Free Drinks 9 hours 30 minutes from $96 ★ 4.8 729 Check availability
  34. Game of Thrones Tour, Tickets In 100 - 105 minutes from $44 ★ 4.9 658 Check availability
  35. 4-Hour Walking Food Tour 4 hours from $137 ★ 4.9 569 Check availability
  36. Extreme Cetina Canyoning 6 hours from $74 ★ 5 323 Check availability
  37. Trogir, Klis and Olive Museum 6 hours from $20 ★ 4.3 287 Check availability
  38. Half-Day Sea Kayak Trip 4 hours from $57 ★ 4.9 232 Check availability
  39. Gastro Tour With Green Market 3 hours from $134 ★ 4.9 172 Check availability
  40. 3-Hour Guided Kayak Trip 3 hours from $45 ★ 4.8 171 Check availability
  41. 4 Islands With Wine Tasting 10 hours from $160 ★ 4.9 147 Check availability
  42. Food Tour With Full Meal 3 hours from $88 ★ 4.8 110 Check availability
  43. Must Do Free Walking Tour 1 hour and 30 minutes Free, tip your guide ★ 4.79 6,462 See this free tour on GuruWalk
  44. Join the Number 1 Free Tour 1 hour and 30 minutes Free, tip your guide ★ 4.86 3,831 See this free tour on GuruWalk
  45. Free Tour With History Teacher 1 hour and 30 minutes Free, tip your guide ★ 4.96 740 See this free tour on GuruWalk
  46. Free Spirit, Art and Culture Walk 1 hour and 30 minutes Free, tip your guide ★ 4.84 411 See this free tour on GuruWalk
  47. Free Walk by Arts Restorer 1 hour and 30 minutes Free, tip your guide ★ 4.74 778 See this free tour on GuruWalk
  48. Diocletian's Times Free Walk 1 hour and 30 minutes Free, tip your guide ★ 4.95 446 See this free tour on GuruWalk
  49. Small-Group Free Walk, 2 Hours 2 hours Free, tip your guide ★ 4.86 118 See this free tour on GuruWalk
  50. Free Highlights Walk, Up to 12 1 hour and 30 minutes Free, tip your guide ★ 4.98 105 See this free tour on GuruWalk
Peristyle steps in Split, Croatia Marjan Hill in Split, Croatia

Free Things To Do In Split

Much of Split costs nothing to see: the Peristyle, the Riva, Marjan Hill and a pay-what-you-want walking tour.

Peristyle Diocletian's Palace Marjan Hill The Riva
Free walking tour group with a local guide in Split Old Town
Must Do Free Walking Tour 4.79 from 6,462 reviews · free, pay what you want
See this free tour on GuruWalk

Food And Evening In Split

Split sits at the centre of Dalmatian cooking: grilled fish, olive oil, local wine, and markets inside the old town.

Split Food in Split, Croatia Split Food Grill is the local habit: fish, lamb and vegetables, with olive oil and herbs from the hills around the city. Wine And Drinks in Split, Croatia Wine And Drinks Dalmatia grows its own reds and whites; try a glass from nearby vineyards with dinner or on the Riva. Split Restaurants in Split, Croatia Split Restaurants Restaurants cluster in and around the palace walls; menus across the city lean on fresh fish and simple grills.

Split On The Map

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Click the map to zoom with the scroll wheel. Numbers match the list.

  1. Diocletian's PalaceDiocletian's Palace, where most walks start
  2. Peristyle (Peristil)Landmark · 30 m from the Diocletian's Palace
  3. Cathedral of St DomniusLandmark · 50 m from the Diocletian's Palace
  4. Temple of JupiterLandmark · 60 m from the Diocletian's Palace
  5. Golden Gate (Zlatna vrata)Landmark · 80 m from the Diocletian's Palace
  6. Diocletian's Palace Substructures (Podrumi)Landmark · 110 m from the Diocletian's Palace
  7. Grgur Ninski StatueLandmark · 110 m from the Diocletian's Palace
  8. Riva PromenadeNeighbourhood · 190 m from the Diocletian's Palace
  9. Prokurative (Republic Square)Neighbourhood · 320 m from the Diocletian's Palace
  10. Split Fish Market (Peskarija)Neighbourhood · 240 m from the Diocletian's Palace
  11. Green Market (Pazar)Neighbourhood · 160 m from the Diocletian's Palace
  12. VarošNeighbourhood · 540 m from the Diocletian's Palace
  13. Marjan Forest ParkPark · 2.5 km from the Diocletian's Palace
  14. Telegrin Peak (Marjan)Park · 1.7 km from the Diocletian's Palace
  15. Vidilica Viewpoint (Marjan)Park · 1.9 km from the Diocletian's Palace
  16. Bačvice BeachBeach · 860 m from the Diocletian's Palace
  17. Kašjuni BeachBeach · 3.2 km from the Diocletian's Palace
  18. Žnjan BeachBeach · 3.3 km from the Diocletian's Palace
  19. Meštrović GalleryMuseum · 1.8 km from the Diocletian's Palace
  20. Archaeological Museum SplitMuseum · 940 m from the Diocletian's Palace
  21. Split City MuseumMuseum · 50 m from the Diocletian's Palace
  22. Ethnographic Museum SplitMuseum · 100 m from the Diocletian's Palace
  23. Split Ferry PortTransport · 400 m from the Diocletian's Palace
  24. Split Main Bus StationTransport · 560 m from the Diocletian's Palace
  25. Split Railway StationTransport · 480 m from the Diocletian's Palace

Split Right Now: Weather, Sea And Ferries

At the last check, on 12 October, the forecast for the Split waterfront was 16°C and overcast. Sunset was at 18:16, so the Riva glowed best from about 17:16.

Forecast, waterfront
16°C
overcast, cloud 99%
Sunrise and sunset
07:04 / 18:16
12 October, Split time
Golden hour
from 17:16
about an hour before sunset
Sea, Split station
20.4°C
DHMZ reading of 12 October, 08:00

Weather data from MET Norway (Locationforecast 2.0 and Sunrise 3.0, Norwegian Meteorological Institute), under NLOD 2.0 / CC BY 4.0. A forecast-model value for the grid point at the Riva by Diocletian's Palace, not a thermometer reading. Sea temperature: DHMZ (Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service), Split station, as last published.

Split Croatia Travel Guide To Day Trips: Krka, Hvar, Plitvice

Split makes a workable base for day trips: Krka and Plitvice inland, and islands such as Hvar, Brač and Šolta by ferry or catamaran.

Krka National Park in Split, CroatiaWaterfalls

Krka National Park

A nine hour tour covers Krka's waterfalls and a boat cruise; swimming is only allowed in clearly marked areas of the park.

9-hour tour · 4.8 from 13,636 reviews · from $29Check availability
Plitvice Lakes in Split, CroatiaLakes

Plitvice Lakes

Plitvice Lakes is a long day out, about 3 hours 15 minutes of driving each way, with timed entry booked online.

11-hour tour · 4.9 from 3,843 reviews · from $74Check availability
Hvar And The Islands in Split, CroatiaIslands

Hvar And The Islands

Hvar and the islands sit about 37 km offshore; catamarans and the Stari Grad car ferry connect them to Split year round.

4.8 from 8,937 reviews · from $113Check availability
Trogir in Split, CroatiaOld Stone Town

Trogir

Trogir, a UNESCO-listed historic city since 1997, is about 36 minutes by road from Split.

15.3 km, straight lineRead The Trogir Guide

All Split Day Trips

Split Croatia Travel Guide, Month By Month

Month by month temperature and rainfall for the DHMZ Split Marjan station, based on readings from 1948 to 2024.

Split's wet season is autumn, not winter. September to November brings 263.4 mm of rain at the DHMZ station, against 246.7 mm from December to February, and November is the wettest month at 115.5 mm, 4.3 times July's 26.6 mm.

Jan: 8℃Feb: 8.5℃Mar: 10.8℃Apr: 14.4℃May: 19.2℃Jun: 23.4℃Jul: 26.2℃Aug: 25.9℃Sep: 21.6℃Oct: 17.2℃Nov: 12.7℃Dec: 9.4℃ 065130 0°18°35° JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec Rain mm Temp ℃
  • Monthly rainfall (mm)
  • Mean temperature (°C)
DHMZ Split station, 1948-2024 monthly averages: July is warmest at 26.2°C average, January coldest at 8°C, November wettest at 115.5 mm and July driest at 26.6 mm, 809.7 mm across the year.
MonthMean tempRainfallRain daysSunshine
January8°C77.8 mm11132 h
February8.5°C65.2 mm10146 h
March10.8°C63.2 mm10189 h
April14.4°C62 mm10220 h
May19.2°C57.5 mm9271 h
June23.4°C49 mm8309 h
July26.2°C26.6 mm5353 h
August25.9°C41.3 mm5328 h
September21.6°C70.9 mm8247 h
October17.2°C77 mm9199 h
November12.7°C115.5 mm12131 h
December9.4°C103.7 mm12121 h

Data: DHMZ (Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service), Split Marjan station, monthly means 1948-2024, DHMZ, Split station table.

Split Croatia Travel Guide To Where To Stay

Most visitors stay in the Old Town for the palace, or near the beaches; a third option is Marjan for quiet and hill paths.

Old Town in Split, Croatia

Old Town

Best For A First Visit

Sleep inside the walls of Diocletian's Palace, about 0 km from the Old Town core.

Where To Stay In Split
Varoš in Split, Croatia

Varoš

Best For Quiet Lanes

Veli Varoš is an old quarter of stone houses and winding streets, about 0.5 km from the Old Town.

Where To Stay In Split
Bačvice And Firule in Split, Croatia

Bačvice And Firule

Best For Beach Time

Bačvice and Firule sit by the beach about 0.5 km from the Old Town, near the ferry port.

Where To Stay In Split

Split Croatia Travel Guide From The Airport

1

20 Km From Split

Split Airport's own pages put it in Kaštela, 20 km from Split and 6 km from Trogir.

2

Platanus Airport Shuttle

10 EUR one way and 15 EUR return, run by Platanus.

3

The Route

Airport, then Split main bus station beside the ferry port, about 500 to 600 m from Diocletian's Palace.

4

City Buses 37 And 38

Promet Split lines 37 and 38 stop at the airport. Check the current fare on the Promet Split price list.

5

By Car

About 25 km from the palace by road, roughly 31 minutes without traffic.

6

A Busy Airport

3,881,186 passengers passed through Split Airport in 2025, so summer arrivals queue.

Split Planning Guides

Split Airport To City Centre Best Time To Visit Split How Many Days In Split Split Day Trips Krka Vs Plitvice Split Ferry

What Visitors Say

“The 2 Lovre were fantastic. Very polite, they waited for me when I was running late, and very helpful. Boat ride was great.”

Lynette, Verified traveller review of Blue Cave 5 Islands, Small Group

“Ela was a wonderful tour guide. So knowledgeable and funny too! Enjoyed our day at Krka national park and wine tour. Would highly recommend!”

Nicole_D, Verified traveller review of Krka With Wine Tasting

“We had a great time on the boat and we loved being able to hop off the boat to explore the islands. Absolutely wonderful experience.”

Camille, Verified traveller review of Blue Lagoon, Food and Drinks

“Excellent tour. Perfectly executed. Timings were flawless. Crew were fun and lively. Zero complains. Would 100% recommend this tour.”

Michael_L, Verified traveller review of Blue Cave Mamma Mia Speedboat

“It was amazing! Frankie and team were absolutely great! I highly recommend this to anyone coming to visit split it’s a MUST DO!”

Jessica, Verified traveller review of Illuminated Evening Kayak Tour

“Nana was great. very lovely and informative! highly recommend this activity for everyone, good food and activists during swimming provided”

Harjot_B, Verified traveller review of Blue Lagoon Cruise, Lunch and Wine

“It was a lot of fun! The guide (Christian I think was his name) was a lot of fun and knowledgeable. The driver was great as well. All around very fun and organized.”

Jacob, Verified traveller review of Rafting With Cliff Jump and Cave

“Great trip. Very well organised. Amount of time at each place was perfect. Walk through the park was serene and the waterfall was spectacular.”

William_F, Verified traveller review of 10-Hour Krka Boat Cruise

“Marko was a fantastic guide. Informative, passionate about his City and good to share time with. Viewpoints over the city were fantastic.”

David, Verified traveller review of Electric Tuk-Tuk City Ride

“Boat ride was great. Gave enough time at each place. The blue lagoon was in a harbor? It was not what we imagined by any means.”

James_I, Verified traveller review of Small-Group Blue Lagoon Speedboat

“It was a great experience! Wish we could’ve stayed longer at the swimming spots but other than that it was great!!”

Shaina, Verified traveller review of All-Inclusive Hvar and Brac Tour

“The experience was great and Mate was a really good guide. Even though it rained while we were at the park, we enjoyed the day a lot”

Amit_C, Verified traveller review of Krka With Trogir Walking Tour

Verified traveller reviews, reproduced word for word including the reviewer's own wording.

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