With kids · Split · Croatia
Split with kids
Family-tested sights, a calm base and the practical details that make travelling with children easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
Split works well for families: shallow, sandy Bačvice, the shady trails and seaside road of Marjan, a palace full of cellars and courtyards to explore and easy boat trips. Children usually enjoy Klis Fortress, and older ones like spotting Game of Thrones locations. Top picks: Bačvice beach, Marjan Forest Park and Palace substructures (cellars). Families usually base themselves in Firule and Zenta.
Key facts
- Family picks
- 6
- Best area for families
- Firule and Zenta
- Rainy-day options
- 1
- Busiest months
- July–August
Best things to do with kids
Beach · Bačvice
1.Bačvice beach
Split's best-known city beach is a shallow, sandy bay a short walk east of the old town. It is the home of picigin, a local game in which players standing in ankle-deep water keep a small ball in the air with acrobatic dives, and it stays busy from morning until late at night in summer.
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
Park · Marjan
2.Marjan Forest Park
The pine-covered hill at the western tip of the peninsula has been protected as a park for more than a century. Steps from Varoš climb to the Vidilica café and viewpoint in about 15 minutes, while trails and a seaside road lead past small medieval chapels and hermitages built into the cliffs to the Telegrin summit (178 m) and beaches such as Kašjuni and Bene.
Walk up to Vidilica for sunset, or rent a bike and ride the flat seaside road around the hill.
- Time needed
- 2–4 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Views
- Active
- Outdoors
- Kids
Historic site · Old Town (Diocletian's Palace)
3.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. They mirror the layout of the rooms above; the central passage holds a souvenir market, and side halls served as a filming location for Game of Thrones.
The central passage from the Riva is free to walk through; a ticket opens the quieter side halls.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
- Architecture
Castle · Klis
4.Klis Fortress
About 10 km northeast of Split, this medieval fortress sits on a rocky ridge guarding the pass into the hinterland, and it held out against the Ottomans until 1537. Its ramparts look down over Split, Salona and the islands, and it stood in for the city of Meereen in Game of Thrones.
Take a local bus or taxi up and visit late in the afternoon, when the light over the coast is softest.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- History
- Kids
- Photo spot
Waterfront · Old Town (Diocletian's Palace)
5.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. It hosts concerts and festivals, and in the evening much of the city strolls along it.
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
Landmark · Old Town (Diocletian's Palace)
6.Gregory of Nin statue
Ivan Meštrović's huge bronze of the 10th-century bishop who defended the use of the Croatian language in church services stands outside the Golden Gate. The big toe of his left foot has been rubbed shiny by visitors, as touching it is said to bring luck.
Pair it with the Golden Gate and Strossmayer park just beyond, a shady place to rest.
- Time needed
- 15 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- History
- Kids
- Photo spot
Rainy-day ideas
- Palace substructures (cellars) — The central passage from the Riva is free to walk through; a ticket opens the quieter side halls.
Where families should stay
$$$ · 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
Family travel tips
- Bačvice's shallow water suits small children; go in the morning before the beach fills up.
- Marjan's flat seaside road is ideal for family bike rides, with play areas and swimming stops at Bene.
- Most beaches are pebbly; pack water shoes for children.
- Book ferry or catamaran tickets ahead in summer to avoid long waits at the port with kids.
- Save shaded or indoor sights, such as the palace cellars, for the hottest part of the day.
Day trips for families
- Trogir (About 30–45 minutes by bus or boat) — A tiny UNESCO-listed island town joined to the mainland by a bridge, Trogir packs Romanesque and Renaissance churches, palaces and a waterfront promenade into a few streets.
- Krka National Park (About 1–1.5 hours by car or bus) — The Krka river tumbles over a series of travertine waterfalls, the best known being Skradinski buk, with wooden boardwalks winding through the falls and pools.
- Bol and Zlatni Rat, Brač (About 1.5–2 hours by ferry and bus) — Zlatni Rat, near Bol on Brač's south coast, is a pebble spit whose tip shifts with the wind and currents, backed by pine woods and popular with windsurfers.
- Omiš and the Cetina river (About 30–45 minutes by bus) — At the mouth of the Cetina river, Omiš is a former pirate stronghold below two hilltop fortresses, with a sandy beach and a dramatic gorge behind it used for rafting, canoeing and zip-lining.
- Plitvice Lakes National Park (About 3–3.5 hours each way by car or bus) — Croatia's best-known national park is a chain of 16 terraced lakes joined by waterfalls and wooden boardwalks in forested mountains inland.
When to go with children
The best months overall are May–June and September. July–August are the busiest, so book the big sights early. Weather by month.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Split good for kids?
Split works well for families: shallow, sandy Bačvice, the shady trails and seaside road of Marjan, a palace full of cellars and courtyards to explore and easy boat trips. Children usually enjoy Klis Fortress, and older ones like spotting Game of Thrones locations.
+What can kids do in Split?
Bačvice beach, Marjan Forest Park, Palace substructures (cellars), Klis Fortress and Riva promenade.
+Where should families stay in Split?
Firule and Zenta: Residential seafront east of Bačvice with small beaches and a marina.