Travel guide · Croatia
Split travel guide
A lived-in Roman palace, island ferries and Adriatic swimming
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Tatyana Peshkova, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
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 the palm-lined Riva promenade faces the harbour where ferries leave for Brač, Hvar, Vis and Šolta. Marjan forest park and town beaches such as Bačvice are within walking distance. Plan 4 days for a first visit; the best months are May–June and September.
Key facts
- Country
- Croatia
- Best time to visit
- May–June and September
- Ideal stay
- 4 days
- Main airports
- SPU
- Mid-range daily budget
- $140–$250 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Diocletian's Palace, Riva promenade, Island ferries and Marjan hill
Why visit Split
- Diocletian's Palace is not a ruin but a lived-in quarter where people still have homes, shops and bars inside Roman walls.
- Ferries and catamarans from the city harbour reach Brač, Hvar, Vis and Šolta, making Split the gateway to the central Dalmatian islands.
- Marjan's pine-covered hill and beaches such as Bačvice and Kašjuni are a short walk or bike ride from the old town.
- Trogir, Krka National Park and Omiš are easy day trips by bus, boat or car.
- Dalmatian cooking — grilled fish, black risotto, pašticada and local wines — is served in konobas tucked into the old town and Varoš.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 18 things to do.
.jpg){kind=link}
Historic site · Old Town (Diocletian's Palace)
Diocletian's Palace
Built around 295–305 AD as the retirement residence of the Roman emperor Diocletian, the palace was later settled by refugees from nearby Salona, who built homes, churches and shops into its walls.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- History
- Free
- Architecture
- After dark
- Photo spot
Landmark · Old Town (Diocletian's Palace)
Peristyle and Vestibule
The palace's ceremonial courtyard is lined with granite columns and arches and guarded by a black granite Egyptian sphinx about 3,500 years old, brought here by Diocletian.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- After dark
.jpg){kind=link}
Religious site · Old Town (Diocletian's Palace)
Cathedral of Saint Domnius and bell tower
Diocletian's octagonal mausoleum was turned into a church in the 7th century, making it one of the oldest cathedral buildings still in use.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Views
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Waterfront · Old Town (Diocletian's Palace)
Riva promenade
The wide, palm-lined seafront along the palace's southern wall is Split's living room, with café terraces, white-stone paving and views across the harbour towards the islands.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- After dark
- Couples
- Kids
Historic site · Old Town (Diocletian's Palace)
Temple of Jupiter
Down a narrow lane west of the Peristyle, Diocletian's small temple later became the baptistery of Saint John.
- Time needed
- 15 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Off the beaten path
Historic site · Old Town (Diocletian's Palace)
Palace substructures (cellars)
The vaulted basement halls beneath the emperor's former apartments survive almost intact because they were used for centuries as storage and a rubbish dump.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
- Architecture
Where to stay
Old Town (Diocletian's Palace) is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 7 areas.
$$$$ · Best for first-timers, couples, nightlife and luxury
Old Town (Diocletian's Palace)
Roman walls, marble lanes and bars inside a 1,700-year-old palace
$$$ · Best for couples, food lovers and quiet stays
Varoš
Old fishermen's and farmers' quarter climbing towards Marjan
$$$ · Best for nightlife, beach, budget and solo travellers
Bačvice
City beach, clubs and the ferry and bus stations close by
$$$$ · Best for luxury, quiet stays and families
Meje
Upmarket residential slope of villas on the southern side of Marjan
What to eat
- Pašticada — Dalmatia's festive beef stew: a joint marinated in vinegar, larded with bacon and garlic and slowly braised with prunes, wine and prošek, served with homemade gnocchi.
- Black risotto — Risotto coloured with cuttlefish or squid ink and cooked with the chopped cuttlefish, garlic, olive oil and wine.
- Brudet — A fish stew of several kinds of white fish and shellfish cooked slowly with tomato, wine, onion and olive oil, served with polenta.
- Peka — Lamb, veal or octopus slow-roasted with potatoes under an iron bell covered in embers; it takes hours, so most restaurants need it ordered a day ahead.
- Soparnik — A thin pie of Swiss chard, onion and parsley baked on an open hearth and brushed with garlic and olive oil, from the Poljica area near Omiš and protected by an EU geographical indication.
- Blitva — Swiss chard and potatoes boiled and dressed generously with olive oil and garlic, the standard side dish for grilled fish.
When to go
The best months for Split are May, June and September, when the weather is warm, the sea is swimmable and ferries run frequently without the peak crowds and prices of July and August. October is good for sightseeing at lower prices; winter is mild but quiet, with reduced island services.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | Mild days, Easter and the feast of Saint Domnius; ferries add sailings and the sea warms by late May. |
| Summer | June–August | Hot, sunny and packed, with the warmest sea, music festivals and the Summer Festival; book everything ahead. |
| Autumn | September–November | A warm sea in September, smaller crowds and lower prices, turning rainy by November. |
| Winter | December–February | Mild but windy and wet at times, with Advent on the Riva and Carnival; many island services are reduced. |
Getting there and around
Split Airport (SPU) is at Kaštela, about 25 km west of the city and 6 km from Trogir. An airport shuttle bus links it with the main bus station by the ferry port in about 30–40 minutes, Promet Split's local buses are slower but cheaper, and a taxi takes about 30 minutes in normal traffic.
Split's old town and the Riva are pedestrian, and the main bus station, train station and ferry port are clustered together just east of the palace. Promet Split buses cover the city, Solin, Klis and the coast towards Trogir and Podstrana, while Jadrolinija and other operators run ferries and catamarans to the islands.
Plan your days
Two days covers the palace, the cathedral, the Riva, Marjan and a beach. Four days adds day trips to Trogir, Krka or an island such as Hvar or Brač; many visitors use Split as a hub for a week of island-hopping.
Practical information
- Currency
- EUR
- Language
- Croatian
- Plugs
- Type C and F sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink and generally of good quality.
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
- Tipping
- Tipping is appreciated but not obligatory; rounding up or leaving about 10% for good service in restaurants is common.
Pickpocketing is the main concern in crowded summer lanes, on the Riva and at the ferry port. The sun is strong in July and August, and sea urchins live along many rocky shores, so water shoes help.
Flights to Split
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Split?
Two days covers the palace, the cathedral, the Riva, Marjan and a beach. Four days adds day trips to Trogir, Krka or an island such as Hvar or Brač; many visitors use Split as a hub for a week of island-hopping. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Split?
The best months for Split are May, June and September, when the weather is warm, the sea is swimmable and ferries run frequently without the peak crowds and prices of July and August. October is good for sightseeing at lower prices; winter is mild but quiet, with reduced island services.
+What is Split known for?
Diocletian's Palace, Riva promenade, Island ferries, Marjan hill, Bačvice and picigin, Game of Thrones locations and Dalmatian food. Diocletian's Palace is not a ruin but a lived-in quarter where people still have homes, shops and bars inside Roman walls.
+Is Split expensive?
Split is moderately priced for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $140–$250 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Split?
Not for Split itself, where the old town is pedestrian and parking is scarce and expensive. A car is useful for Krka, Plitvice and inland villages, but buses and boats cover Trogir, Omiš and the islands.