Best things to do & places to stay:
Split, Dalmatia, Croatia
Split is a dream destination for those looking to combine cultural sightseeing with outdoor pursuits, or culinary adventures with a seaside chill-out.
Split’s main attraction is its UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Town, centred on the ancient palace built by Roman Emperor Diocletian, and the Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque buildings that grew up inside and around it.
Beyond the city, the Marjan Peninsula offers mellow footpaths and stunning sea views, while nearby excursions include island-hopping along the coast, rafting and canyoning in the Cetina valley, hiking on Mount Biokovo and soaking up some rays on the Makarska riviera.
Split is Croatia’s principal port for ferries to the Dalmatian islands and Italy. Based around Diocletian’s Palace (295 AD), the old town is the main attraction, with several boutique hotels and plenty of bars, restaurants and cafés.
West of here lies the picturesque village of Varoš (home to the Meštrović Gallery) and the tip of the Marjan Peninsula, with Mount Biokovo to the south east.
The bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination
Split, Dalmatia, Croatia
A vast 3rd-century AD palace was Roman emperor Diocletian’s retirement home. It now forms the core of Split’s stunning, UNESCO-listed historic centre. In later centuries, medieval, Gothic, Renaissance and baroque buildings were erected within the citadel’s sturdy white-marble walls.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Split, Dalmatia, Croatia
A spectacular high-sided rocky gorge, where the Cetina River descends over a series of waterfalls and light-moderate rapids to the sea. A great day out for white-water rafting, canyoning and kayaking.
Best for ages: 8+ | £35 | 3-4 hours
Split, Dalmatia, Croatia
A glorious National Park, with steep wooded canyons, dramatic waterfalls (that you can swim in) and rare wildlife. It’s one of the most important natural habitats in Europe.
Best for ages: 6+ | Free
Other worthwhile experiences in this destination if you have the time or the interest
Split, Dalmatia, Croatia
A Blue-Flag, sandy beach in a sheltered bay just a ten-minute walk from Diocletian’s Palace. Locals come here to drink morning coffee at the seafront cafés and play picigin, a bizarre ball game unique to Split.
Best for ages: Any | Free
Brac, Dalmatia, Croatia
Perched on a remote mountain cleft on Brac island, the Hermitage dates back to the 15th century, when Ottoman Turks took shelter in a cave. They stayed, built outwards and by the 18th century it was a Hermitage serving three local villages.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Split, Dalmatia, Croatia
Hike the rugged heights and nature parks of Mount Biokovo for stunning views down across the Adriatic.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free | 5 hours
Split, Dalmatia, Croatia
A gorgeous peninsula of pines, cypresses and fragrant shrubs, offering fantastic walking and cycling. Just a 10-minute walk from Split’s centre.
Best for ages: 6+ | Free | 5 hours
Our selection of the best Viator tours of this destination, plus helpful tickets and transfers
Split
€45 | Rating 4.91 / 5 [204 ratings]
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Split
€79 | Rating 4.60 / 5 [164 ratings]
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Split
€14 | Rating 4.88 / 5 [51 ratings]
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Split
€30 | Rating 4.44 / 5 [116 ratings]
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Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay in this destination
Split, Dalmatia, Croatia
Cosy welcoming old-fashioned hotel and restaurant, located within Diocletian’s Palace, between the cathedral and open-air market.
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Split, Dalmatia, Croatia
Slick, comfortable hotel with a popular restaurant in the heart of Split’s glorious old town. The perfect base to explore the city. Adults only.
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Split, Dalmatia, Croatia
Hip aparthotel in a cluster of old stone cottages with minimalist interiors, plus a garden spa offering Oriental wellness activities
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Split, Dalmatia, Croatia
Small, luxurious boutique hotel with an elegant fine-dining restaurant, tucked away within the ancient walls of Diocletian’s Palace.
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High season (July-Aug) sees the old town hot and crowded, with many people passing through to take ferries to the islands; on the plus side, the Split Summer Festival creates a vibrant nightlife.
The shoulder season (May-June, September-October) is possibly the loveliest time to visit – the weather is dry and sunny, the sea warm enough to swim, and the old town busy but not packed.
During low season (November-April), Split is far quieter and the weather somewhat unreliable. However, this can also be a rewarding time to visit as the locals will have more time for you.
Split International Airport is located near Kastela, 25km west of the Old Town. The cheapest way into town is to catch the airport bus that meets all incoming flights, dropping passengers at the end of Split’s seafront promenade, directly in front of Diocletian’s Palace and just a five-minute walk from the ferry port.
Taxis are also readily available and several car-hire companies are based at the airport if you’re planning on exploring beyond Split.
If you’re staying in Split’s car-free Old Town you can explore everything on foot. The only city bus most visitors will need is the no.12, which runs west along the coast to Bene, on the tip of the Marjan peninsula, passing the Meštrović Gallery en-route.
Car rental is readily available for day trips; alternatively, frequent local and inter-regional buses run down the coast to Omis and Makarska.
Visitors coming to Split primarily to explore its cultural attractions should base themselves in the magnificent, car-free Old Town, which is home to several boutique hotels as well as plenty of bars and restaurants.
In Split’s car-free Old Town, there’s a plethora of eateries serving traditional Dalmatian cooking with an emphasis on seafood, as well as plenty of busy cafés and small romantic bars – most have outdoor tables.
Along the coast, you’ll find more modern restaurants with an international slant serving contemporary Mediterranean cuisine – some have impressive sea-view terraces. For noise reasons, Split’s half-dozen late-night clubs are also on the coast, outside the historic centre.
The Old Town is packed with small boutiques selling shoes and clothes (mainly imported from Italy, though Croatian designers are making their mark), plus foodie treats such as wine and olive oil.
For handmade jewellery and etchings of Split’s old town, head for the stalls in the podrum (underground chambers) between the Peristil and the seafront. The pazar (open-air market), selling fruit, cheese, cured meat and bread, is the place to stock up for picnics.
