Where to stay · Split · Croatia
Where to stay in Split
7 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Old Town (Diocletian's Palace). Roman walls, marble lanes and bars inside a 1,700-year-old palace. Best alternatives — families: Meje; budget: Bačvice.
Key facts
- First visit
- Old Town (Diocletian's Palace)
- Families
- Meje
- Budget
- Bačvice
- Nightlife
- Old Town (Diocletian's Palace)
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Old Town (Diocletian's Palace) | Roman walls, marble lanes and bars inside a 1,700-year-old palace |
| Families | Meje | Upmarket residential slope of villas on the southern side of Marjan |
| Couples | Old Town (Diocletian's Palace) | Roman walls, marble lanes and bars inside a 1,700-year-old palace |
| Budget | Bačvice | City beach, clubs and the ferry and bus stations close by |
| Luxury | Old Town (Diocletian's Palace) | Roman walls, marble lanes and bars inside a 1,700-year-old palace |
| Nightlife | Old Town (Diocletian's Palace) | Roman walls, marble lanes and bars inside a 1,700-year-old palace |
| Food lovers | Varoš | Old fishermen's and farmers' quarter climbing towards Marjan |
| Solo travellers | Bačvice | City beach, clubs and the ferry and bus stations close by |
| Quiet stays | Varoš | Old fishermen's and farmers' quarter climbing towards Marjan |
| Beach | Bačvice | City beach, clubs and the ferry and bus stations close by |
Split neighbourhoods in detail
$$$$ · Best for first-timers, couples, nightlife and luxury
Old Town (Diocletian's Palace)
Staying inside or just beside the palace walls puts you among the Peristyle, the cathedral and the cellars, with the Riva and the ferry port a few minutes away. Apartments and small hotels occupy old stone houses on narrow lanes, which fill with bars and restaurants until late at night in summer.
- Good
- History on your doorstep; Walk to the ferries and the bus station; Restaurants and bars everywhere
- Watch out
- Noise from bars and late-night crowds; Car-free, so luggage is carried over stone lanes; Expensive in July and August
- Nearby
- Peristyle, Cathedral of Saint Domnius, Riva, Pjaca
$$$ · Best for couples, food lovers and quiet stays
Varoš
Just west of the palace, Varoš is a hillside quarter of low stone houses, steep alleys and small konobas that once housed the city's farmers and fishermen. It is quieter than the palace but only a few minutes from the Riva, with steps leading up to Marjan and the Vidilica viewpoint.
- Good
- Authentic, residential feel; Excellent konobas; Close to the Marjan trails
- Watch out
- Steep steps everywhere; Very limited parking
- Nearby
- Marjan steps, Vidilica, Riva, Matejuška harbour
$$$ · Best for nightlife, beach, budget and solo travellers
Bačvice
Bačvice, about a 10-minute walk east of the palace beyond the ferry port and bus station, centres on the sandy, shallow Bačvice beach, where locals play the splash-and-catch ball game picigin. The waterfront above it has bars and clubs that stay busy until late in summer, and the streets behind hold apartments and guesthouses.
- Good
- Beach on the doorstep; Lively bars and clubs; Close to ferries and buses
- Watch out
- Night-time noise in summer; Busy, crowded beach
- Nearby
- Bačvice beach, Split ferry port, Split bus station, Firule
$$$$ · Best for luxury, quiet stays and families
Meje
Meje runs along Marjan's southern slope towards Kašjuni beach, with villas, quiet streets and sea views. It is home to the Meštrović Gallery and its Kaštelet chapel, and lies about 20–30 minutes' walk from the palace along the waterfront.
- Good
- Peaceful and green; Sea views and nearby beaches; Close to the Marjan trails
- Watch out
- A walk or bus ride to the old town; Few restaurants
- Nearby
- Meštrović Gallery, Kaštelet, Kašjuni beach, Marjan
$$$ · Best for families, beach and quiet stays
Firule and Zenta
East of Bačvice, Firule and Zenta are residential districts along a string of small beaches, promenades and the Zenta marina. Apartments here are more spacious and better value than in the old town, with a 20–30-minute coastal walk to the palace.
- Good
- Family-friendly beaches; More space for the money; Calmer evenings
- Watch out
- 20–30 minutes' walk to the old town; Little historic character
- Nearby
- Firule beach, Bačvice, Zenta marina, Žnjan
$$ · Best for budget, solo travellers and quiet stays
Lučac and Manuš
North and northeast of the palace, Lučac and Manuš are older residential quarters of stone houses, small squares and neighbourhood bakeries, five to ten minutes' walk from the Golden Gate. They offer a local feel and better-value rooms while staying close to the sights.
- Good
- Close to the old town; Better-value rooms; Local cafés and bakeries
- Watch out
- Few sea views; Some streets are busy with traffic
- Nearby
- Golden Gate, Gregory of Nin statue, Pazar green market, Strossmayer park
$$$ · Best for families, beach and quiet stays
Podstrana
Podstrana, about 10 km southeast of the centre, is a long strip of pebble beaches, promenades and resort hotels between the sea and the Mosor mountains. It suits beach-focused holidays and families with a car or using local buses, with Split's old town 20–30 minutes away.
- Good
- Long beaches and resort facilities; Quieter than the city; Handy for Omiš and the Cetina valley
- Watch out
- Bus or car needed for Split; Little character away from the seafront
- Nearby
- Podstrana beaches, Omiš, Split
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Old Town (Diocletian's Palace) | $$$$ | Peristyle, Cathedral of Saint Domnius, Riva, Pjaca |
| Varoš | $$$ | Marjan steps, Vidilica, Riva, Matejuška harbour |
| Bačvice | $$$ | Bačvice beach, Split ferry port, Split bus station, Firule |
| Meje | $$$$ | Meštrović Gallery, Kaštelet, Kašjuni beach, Marjan |
| Firule and Zenta | $$$ | Firule beach, Bačvice, Zenta marina, Žnjan |
| Lučac and Manuš | $$ | Golden Gate, Gregory of Nin statue, Pazar green market, Strossmayer park |
| Podstrana | $$$ | Podstrana beaches, Omiš, Split |
Getting to your hotel
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.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Split for first-time visitors?
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.
+Where should families stay in Split?
Meje: Peaceful and green.
+Which area of Split is best for a budget stay?
Bačvice ($$$): City beach, clubs and the ferry and bus stations close by.