Nightlife · Split · Croatia
Split nightlife
Where the evenings happen in Split, from early drinks to late nights.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Općina Klis, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Split's nightlife peaks in summer, with bars squeezed into the palace's lanes and courtyards, clubs above Bačvice beach and big events such as Ultra Europe. Out of season it is quieter, but old-town bars stay busy at weekends. The main areas are Old town lanes, Bačvice and Riva.
Key facts
- Nightlife areas
- 3
- Stay near the action
- Old Town (Diocletian's Palace)
- Local drink
- Dalmatian wine
Where to go out
Old town lanes
Small bars and courtyard venues in the palace and the streets just north of it, busy until late in summer.
Bačvice
Beachfront bars and clubs above the sandy bay, with dancing into the early hours in season.
Riva
Café-bars along the waterfront for early-evening drinks and people-watching.
Nightlife tips
- Drinking and noise in the old town's public spaces are regulated; drink in bars rather than in the streets.
- Clubs at Bačvice get going after midnight; taxis wait on the road above.
- Ultra Europe weekends fill the city; book accommodation early or avoid those dates.
Evening sights
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Historic site · Old Town (Diocletian's Palace)
Diocletian's Palace
Walk the palace early in the morning, before cruise and tour groups arrive, and again after dark, when the white stone glows under the street lights.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- History
- Free
- Architecture
- After dark
- Photo spot
Landmark · Old Town (Diocletian's Palace)
Peristyle and Vestibule
Listen for klapa singers in the Vestibule during the day, and look out for open-air performances on the Peristyle during the summer festival.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- After dark
Waterfront · Old Town (Diocletian's Palace)
Riva promenade
Sit for a coffee in the morning, when locals read the papers here, or join the evening walk at sunset.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- After dark
- Couples
- Kids
Beach · Bačvice
Bačvice beach
Come early with children, while the water is calm and the beach is quiet; evenings bring a younger, livelier crowd.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Kids
- Free
- Outdoors
- After dark
Architecture · Old Town (Diocletian's Palace)
Prokurative (Republic Square)
Look out for summer concerts here; the square fills with locals on festival nights.
- Time needed
- 20 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- After dark
What to drink
- Dalmatian wine — Plavac Mali makes powerful reds on the islands and the Pelješac peninsula, Pošip from Korčula is a popular white, and Crljenak Kaštelanski, grown near Split, is the grape identified as Zinfandel's ancestor.
- Rakija — Strong fruit or herb brandy; travarica, flavoured with herbs, and lozovača, made from grapes, are offered to guests as a welcome or digestif.
Evenings through the year
Sunset and the overnight low decide how long the outdoor part of a night lasts. July has the warmest evenings, with lows around 22°C (72°F).
| Month | Sunset (15th) | Overnight low | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | About 16:43 | 5°C (41°F) | 9 |
| April | About 19:37 | 11°C (52°F) | 8 |
| July | About 20:33 | 22°C (72°F) | 3 |
| October | About 18:11 | 14°C (57°F) | 8 |
Getting home late
- Walking — The palace, the Riva, Varoš, Marjan's Vidilica viewpoint and Bačvice are all within about 20 minutes' walk of each other.
- Bus — Buy tickets from kiosks or the driver, and check which fare zone your destination is in.
- Ferry — Buy catamaran tickets ahead in July and August, when popular sailings sell out.
- Taxi — Taxis and ride-hailing apps operate in Split and are handy for the airport and late nights.
Late-night bites
- Soparnik — Bakeries and some konobas in Split and Omiš, sold by the slice.
- Ćevapi — Grill restaurants and fast-food counters across the city.
- Pršut and Pag cheese — Wine bars and konobas, often as a shared plate with local wine.
Staying safe at night
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.
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
Where to stay for nightlife
$$$$ · Best for first-timers, couples, nightlife and luxury
Old Town (Diocletian's Palace)
Staying inside or just beside the palace walls puts you among the Peristyle, the cathedral and the cellars, with the Riva and the ferry port a few minutes away. Apartments and small hotels occupy old stone houses on narrow lanes, which fill with bars and restaurants until late at night in summer.
- Good
- History on your doorstep; Walk to the ferries and the bus station; Restaurants and bars everywhere
- Watch out
- Noise from bars and late-night crowds; Car-free, so luggage is carried over stone lanes; Expensive in July and August
- Nearby
- Peristyle, Cathedral of Saint Domnius, Riva, Pjaca
Questions travellers ask
+Where is the best nightlife in Split?
Old town lanes, Bačvice and Riva. Small bars and courtyard venues in the palace and the streets just north of it, busy until late in summer.
+Which area of Split is best for nightlife?
Old Town (Diocletian's Palace): Roman walls, marble lanes and bars inside a 1,700-year-old palace.