Comparison · Dubrovnik vs Split · Croatia
Dubrovnik vs Split
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Zysko serhii, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Choose Dubrovnik for City walls and Stradun; choose Split for Diocletian's Palace, Riva promenade, lower day-to-day costs and free sights. Split is generally less expensive, and the two are about 165 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 165 km
- Less expensive
- Split
- Best time for Dubrovnik
- May–June and September–October
- Best time for Split
- May–June and September
Side by side
| Dubrovnik | Split | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Croatia | Croatia |
| Known for | City walls, Stradun and Republic of Ragusa | Diocletian's Palace, Riva promenade and Island ferries |
| Best time to visit | May–June and September–October | May–June and September |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $170–$300 | $140–$250 |
| Cost level | Expensive | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | July, 29°C (84°F) | July, 31°C (88°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 12°C (54°F) | January, 11°C (52°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 5 | 10 |
| Day trips in our guide | 7 | 6 |
| Beaches | Banje Beach | Bačvice |
| Airports | DBV | SPU |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Dubrovnik for…
City walls and Stradun. Dubrovnik's Old Town is a car-free, limestone-paved city inside almost 2 kilometres of medieval walls, jutting into the Adriatic at the southern tip of Croatia. Once the capital of the independent Republic of Ragusa, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site whose…
Choose Split for…
Diocletian's Palace, Riva promenade, lower day-to-day costs and free sights. Split, Croatia's second-largest city, grew inside and around the palace the Roman emperor Diocletian built on the Dalmatian coast around 300 AD. The palace walls still enclose a maze of lanes, cafés, homes and the cathedral, listed by UNESCO in 1979, while…
Top sights compared
| # | Dubrovnik | Split |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | City Walls of Dubrovnik | Diocletian's Palace |
| 2 | Stradun | Peristyle and Vestibule |
| 3 | Fort Lovrijenac | Cathedral of Saint Domnius and bell tower |
| 4 | Rector's Palace | Temple of Jupiter |
| 5 | Mount Srđ and the cable car | Palace substructures (cellars) |
Food compared
| Dubrovnik | Split |
|---|---|
| Black risotto | Pašticada |
| Peka | Black risotto |
| Grilled fish with blitva | Brudet |
| Ston oysters | Peka |
Which is cheaper?
Split is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $140–$250 per person there, against $170–$300 in Dubrovnik (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Split on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Dubrovnik and Split are about 165 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 4 days in Dubrovnik and 4 in Split.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Dubrovnik or Split cheaper?
Split is usually less expensive: about $140–$250 a day mid-range against $170–$300 (estimates).
+Is Dubrovnik or Split better for a first trip?
Pick Dubrovnik for City walls and Stradun, or Split for Diocletian's Palace, Riva promenade, lower day-to-day costs and free sights.
+How far is Dubrovnik from Split?
About 165 km in a straight line.