Split Destination Guide

The Diocletian Palace occupies pride of place in Split. The cathedral stands tall in the centre of the city and within the palace walls and is surrounded by a confusing network of marble streets lined with businesses and shops of every kind. A huge forested park covers the western part of the city and offers adventure opportunities. The park has beaches below it and walking trails above it. The harbour area has been renovated into a lovely promenade that is bordered by cafés and is the perfect place for a delightful stroll.

The largest Croatian city on the Adriatic coast and also the regions main transport hub, most visitors to the Croatian coast spend some time in Split.

Use our Split Destination Guide below to choose what you wish to see and do during your stay in Split. You should also take a look at our Split tours, which offer insight into the impressive history of the city, as well as providing some more adventurous exploration options. If you would like general information for your holiday in Croatia, visit our Croatia Country Guide.

Things to See & Do in Split

Follow the links to the right or scroll further down the page for details on some of the many interesting tourist attractions in Split:

The historic centre is built around the remnants of the palace and it will give you a feel of the old town. One spot that is worth a visit is the excavated remains of the palace basement. The cardo or the north-south oriented street, and the decumanus or the east-west oriented street of the palace are well preserved even today. The cardo and decamanus were two features that were distinct symbols of Roman town planning. Some Renaissance as well as gothic buildings have been preserved too. The four majestic gates of the palace are Porta Aenea (Mjedena vrata or bronze gate) in the south, Porta Argentea (Srebrna vrata or silver gate) in the east, Porta Aurea (Zlatna vrata or golden gate) in the north and Porta Ferrea (Željezna vrata or iron gate) in the west. The Diocletian Palace is the best preserved Roman palace in the world.

Diocletian Palace Tour

The historic centre of Split along with Diocletian’s Palace was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979. It was one of the first urban complexes to be thus listed. It is believed that the palace was built between 298 AD and 305 AD. Diocletian’s Palace is one the most well preserved palaces of the time and is considered as the most notable original structure of the late ancient period.

The city of Split developed around the walls of the palace and each year, larger parts of this unique structure are opened to the public. The cellars or basement halls of the palace are a world by themselves. A number of interesting and fascinating artefacts are on display here and visitors can take guided tours of the basement halls.

Tour times: May to October – 10 am, 12 noon, 7 pm. November to April – 11 am.

Duration of tour: 90 minutes. Language: English. The tours start from outside the tourist information centre and visitors should report at least 15 minutes before the tour.

This fourth century cathedral was built around 305 AD and is one of the world’s oldest cathedrals. It was originally built as a mausoleum for Emperor Diocletian. The building is a beautiful mix of a catholic church and a Roman temple. The bell tower offers a stunning view of Marjan Hill, Split and the neighbouring islands.

Peristil Square is the most important square of the palace and is a fine example of Roman architecture. The well-preserved square is very popular among the locals. Every evening, you can listen to capella singers who use the well-designed acoustics of the square to their advantage. The 13th century St. Domnius Cathedral stands here at a location that was ironically the site of Diocletian’s mausoleum. Diocletian was infamous for his persecution of Christians. The bell tower offers some astounding views.

This ancient Roman temple later became St. John’s Church.

Emperor Diocletian brought two Egyptian sphinxes to Split. While one stands on Peristil Square, the other stands in front of St. John’s Church.

This is the principal waterfront promenade of the city. The still-unpopular modern look of Riva was donned in 2007. It is a great place for a stroll, with a number of cafes, bars and restaurants lining the waterfront.

Marjan Hill is located west of Split and is a haven for people looking to get away from urban chaos. People love to jog, walk and bike in Marjan. The 174-metre tall Telegrin Peak is the summit of Marjan’s Hill. The views from the peak are wonderful. Some of the churches in Marjan are St. Nicholas Church in the east, the Gospe od Betlema Church or Madonna of Bethlehem, and St. Jeronimus Church in the south. Known as the lungs of Split, Marjan is strictly off-limits for any kind of builder.

Fishermen and peasants once lived here. One of Split’s oldest sections, Varoš today is a charming neighbourhood with small, lovely houses lining the streets.

Some of the best works of well-known Croatian sculptor Ivan Meštrović are displayed in this gallery. It is one of the city’s finest galleries.

A 20-minute walk to the old town’s north side will take you to one of Croatia’s oldest museums. It was constructed around 1820 and it houses monuments and artefacts from the Roman colonies of Narona and Salona.

An ancient Roman colony and one of the largest towns of the Roman Empire, Salona was once the capital of the province of Dalmatia. Located near Solin, Salona is a short 10-minute bus ride away from Split. It has a population of about 60000 and its sights include an amphitheatre that has been very well preserved, a basilica, a cemetery, a theatre and a number of other buildings dating back to the Roman Empire.

The small and pretty town of Hvar has several large yachts stationed in its harbour. A day trip from Split is sufficient to explore the island, although many choose to stay overnight. During the peak season of July and August, boats for Hvar leave Split five times a week and at non-peak seasons, thrice a week. A one-way trip to Stari Grad on Hvar costs about 42 kunas. According to June 2006 data, left luggage is charged an exorbitant 40 kunas.

An alternative route to Hvar is to take the boat to Brac, the other side of Hvar. Boats to Brac leave ten times a day and the trip to Supetar in Brac takes about an hour. The last ferry to Split leaves Brac at 10:45 pm. Bikes or scooters can be rented to explore the island. Just remember that rental services close early so if you intend to return the bike or scooter late, inform the owners who are quite flexible like most of the locals.

Sailing

A number of charter agencies operate in Split and a motor or sailing yacht can be easily chartered. Most of the boats leave from ACI marina, Zenta marina or Spinut marina. Marina Kastela is near Split and many boats leave from Kastela too. Before the yacht trip, a yacht check-in must be done. It is best to carry some provisions for the charter vacation since any trip on the sea, however short, is unpredictable.

Gajeta Falkusa Comeza Lisboa

This is one of the very few still-surviving traditional boats seen at the Riva waterfront. A traditional wooden fishing boat, it can be hired for a day trip to the Brac Island. A sunset cruise is also offered. For those on a short trip to Split, the cruise is a great way to explore and discover the area.

Sunbathe on the Beach at Bačvice

Walk on the waterfront and cross the railway line to reach this beach. Although not one of the best beaches of Croatia, the Bačvice Beach has a very Croatian feel as most of the visitors are from Split. The beach is extremely crowded throughout summer. Cafés and ice cream shops are spread all across the beach.

Northern Split has less crowded beaches but the city’s industrial zone faces the beaches and that takes away some of the beauty. Beautiful pine trees surround these beaches. Marjan Hill is a 30-minute walk from the north side beaches.

Hiking/Climbing

The bell tower near the palace mausoleum is a popular climb. Entry costs just 10 kunas and the view from the top is stunning. The stairs are along the inside wall of the tower and at certain points, big open windows break the monotony of the climb. Not recommended for anyone with vertigo!