Comparison · Split vs Zagreb · Croatia
Split vs Zagreb
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Tatyana Peshkova, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Choose Split for Diocletian's Palace, Riva promenade, beaches and a milder winter; choose Zagreb for Upper Town, St Mark's Church and lower day-to-day costs. Zagreb is generally less expensive, and the two are about 259 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 259 km
- Less expensive
- Zagreb
- Best time for Split
- May–June and September
- Best time for Zagreb
- May–June, September–October and December
Side by side
| Split | Zagreb | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Croatia | Croatia |
| Known for | Diocletian's Palace, Riva promenade and Island ferries | Upper Town, St Mark's Church and Dolac market |
| Best time to visit | May–June and September | May–June, September–October and December |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 3 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $140–$250 | $110–$190 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Affordable |
| Warmest month | July, 31°C (88°F) | July, 28°C (82°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 11°C (52°F) | January, 4°C (39°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 10 | 12 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 6 |
| Beaches | Bačvice | — |
| Airports | SPU | ZAG |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Split for…
Diocletian's Palace, Riva promenade, beaches and a milder winter. 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…
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Choose Zagreb for…
Upper Town, St Mark's Church and lower day-to-day costs. Croatia's capital splits into the medieval Upper Town (Gornji Grad and Kaptol) on its hill and the grid of 19th-century squares, parks and boulevards of the Lower Town below, joined by one of the world's shortest funiculars. Ban Jelačić Square, the Dolac…
Top sights compared
| # | Split | Zagreb |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Diocletian's Palace | Ban Jelačić Square |
| 2 | Peristyle and Vestibule | Dolac Market |
| 3 | Cathedral of Saint Domnius and bell tower | Zagreb Cathedral |
| 4 | Temple of Jupiter | St Mark's Church |
| 5 | Palace substructures (cellars) | Stone Gate |
Food compared
| Split | Zagreb |
|---|---|
| Pašticada | Štrukli |
| Black risotto | Zagreb schnitzel |
| Brudet | Turkey with mlinci |
| Peka | Fresh cheese and cream |
Which is cheaper?
Zagreb is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $110–$190 per person there, against $140–$250 in Split (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Zagreb on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Split and Zagreb are about 259 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 4 days in Split and 3 in Zagreb.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Split or Zagreb cheaper?
Zagreb is usually less expensive: about $110–$190 a day mid-range against $140–$250 (estimates).
+Is Split or Zagreb better for a first trip?
Pick Split for Diocletian's Palace, Riva promenade, beaches and a milder winter, or Zagreb for Upper Town, St Mark's Church and lower day-to-day costs.
+How far is Split from Zagreb?
About 259 km in a straight line.