Split Travel guide
Located in the middle of the Dalmatian Coast, Split makes a great base on your tour of Croatia. It is also an important transport hub and a port city.
In this Split Travel Guide, you’ll learn where is Split, what’s the best time to visit Split, and the reasons to visit. We also share the best things to see and do in Split, places to stay, eat and drink as well as provide all necessary travel information to help you plan your stay in Split, Croatia.
Recommended stay: 2-3 days
Day trips: Plitvice Lakes, Krka National Park, Hvar, Zadar
Brief Overview
The ancient Roman port of Split is one of the most historic and aesthetic holiday destinations on the Croatian coast. Split Croatia is in a beautiful location on the Adriatic, overlooking offshore islands and clear water that’s perfect for swimming and snorkelling.
The city itself is built around the remains of a Roman palace, and within the centre, you can find UNESCO World Heritage listed ruins and historic fortifications. You can spend the morning indulging in the many historic sites around Split, before hitting the beaches for lazy afternoons in the sunshine.
Being a small country, you can also use Split as a great base for exploring more of Croatia, with cities such as Zadar within easy reach and natural spectacles like Plitvice Lakes just a day trip away.
Best time to visit
Although Split is great to visit year-round, the best time to visit Split is anytime from May through October. However, June and September are better times than July and August, because the weather in July and August is really hot and the crowds of tourists are everywhere.
June and September are both good months to visit Split, but we prefer September a little bit more because the sea is warmer in September than in June.
So, for us, the absolute best time to visit Split is the second half of September when the weather is still warm, dry, and sunny, but not burning hot. And, the sea temperatures are still high enough for swimming. By mid-September, school holidays are over, and there are fewer tourists in Split and elsewhere in Croatia.
Getting around Split
Split is a small and very walkable city, and to see as much of the city as possible, I recommend walking as much as you can. However, it’s always useful to have a quick overview of the public transport system.
SPLIT PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Split public transport is well-organized. The bus network is extensive. City buses run between different Split neighborhoods but they also connect Split with the nearby towns. They run all the way to Trogir to the north, and south to Omis.
Split Metropolitan area is divided into three zones. Zone 1 covers the wider city center. Buses within Zone 1 run from 5 am-12 pm, every half an hour. Lines 23, 39, and 40 are night lines, and they run on the full hour every hour.
Buses in Zone 2 and 3 run less frequently. If you stay out of the town center, make sure to check the bus schedule, and plan around it, as buses on some lines leave every hour, and on others even less frequently.
A one-ride ticket in Zone 1 costs 11 Kn; for Zone II 13 Kn and a one-ride ticket for Zone III (Trogir, Omis) costs 17 Kn. Tickets can be purchased at any kiosk, or on a bus.
Download the Split bus schedule, and bus lines map.
Taxis in Split are expensive but can be a good option if you travel as a group and share the cost.
The start is anywhere from 6 Kn (UberX) or 7 Kn (Cammeo), and as much as 20 Kn (Radio Taxi Split). Additionally, every kilometer costs anywhere from 5 Kn (UberX), 7 Kn (Cammeo) to 10 Kn (Radio Taxi Split). The minimum fare is around 20 Kn.
Basically, taking a taxi within town limits should cost you anywhere between 20 Kn and 60 Kn (3$-9$, 2.7€-8€, 2.3£-6.8£).
You can also move around the town easily on foot. Split is not too big, and wherever you stay, you are never more than a 30-40 minute walk from the old town.
PARKING IN SPLIT
The historical part of Split, the Diocletian Palace, a seafront promenade, and most of the Varos, are all car-free zones. This means that if you visit Split by car, you’ll need to find parking out of the old town. Bear this in mind when you book your accommodation (check if a hotel or a private apartment offers a parking space).
Parking is possible on streets, parking lots, and garages. Fees apply.
CAR RENTAL IN SPLIT
Those who plan to rent a car while in Split will be happy to know that all major national and international car rental companies have their branch offices in Split. You’ll find them all at Split airport, but also many keep a second office in Split downtown. Whatever works better for you!
In Croatia, the car rental business is very seasonal, and rates increase dramatically from June through September.
We always use Rentalcars.com for car hire. They have good prices, work as consolidators with all major car rental companies, and generally are reliable.
On their site, you can easily compare the prices and availability of many car rental companies. Their filter options give you a chance to narrow your search down in accordance with your preferences: automatic or manual transmission, supplier, number of seats, etc.
Things to see and do
The Old Town
Every visit to Split, short or long, inevitably focuses on wandering Split’s narrow, cobbled streets, discovering hidden alleyways, and enjoying the beautiful architecture, and popular Split landmarks.
So, whether you are in Split for a day or five, exploring the old town is the first thing you’ll want to do.
Set within an ancient Roman palace dating back to the early 4th century, Split old town is easy to visit!
Split historic town’s main landmarks include:
- the Peristyle, a court turned town square that is home to the town’s Cathedral, the Bell Tower, the entrance into the palace’s basements, prothyron, vestibule, and sphinx statues among other things
- the Cathedral, dating back to the 7th century
- the Bell Tower, offering great views over the town
- the town’s gates: Golden, Silver, Bronze, and Iron Gate
- the Temple of Jupiter, that has been transformed into today’s Baptistery in the 6th century
- the cellars of the Diocletian Palace, where you can perceive the actual size of the palace
- Gregory of Nin (Grgur Ninski) statue (Rub Gregory’s tow for the plenitude of good luck)
- many squares and palaces, including Narodni Trg (People’s Square), Vocni Trg (Fruits’ Square), and Let me pass Street, Split’s narrowest street
It can take as little as a couple of hours to visit the main sites or as long as a few days. It really depends on the time you have. So worry not if you only have a couple of hours. You should still be fine!
You can explore Split old town on your own, although a guided tour has its advantages. It can give you a good historical overview of the Diocletian Palace and make you understand better the town and its people.
Diocletian Palace
Dating back to the early years of the 4th century, Diocletian’s Palace was constructed as the emperor’s summer residence but evolved to become what we know today as old town Split.
The Palace consisted of the emperor’s private quarters and a large military complex covering an area of 3 hectares. It is one of the largest well-preserved examples of Roman architecture. Since 1979, the Diocletian Palace is one of Croatia’s Unesco heritage sites.
Don’t think of Diocletian’s Palace as a house or a building. It is one enormous historical site with numerous streets, houses, palaces, town squares, churches, and underground cellars. It’s literally the entire town.
But, the Palace is also the centre of Split’s everyday life. This is where you will spend the majority of your time in Split, and where most of the attractions, restaurants, bars, shops, and people are.
Grgur Ninski Statue
Grgur Ninski was the first bishop who started using Croatian language and glagolitic script in the liturgical services in the 10th century, directly opposing Pope on this matter.
In 1929, Ivan Mestrovic, the most famous Croatian sculptor, made a 8.5 m (28 ft) tall bronze statue of Grgur Ninski (Gregory of Nin). The statue stands near the Golden Gate in Split old town, and it is one of the most visited attractions in Split.
For good luck, you rubbed the toe of the Grgur Ninski statue.
Enjoy Views from Marjan Hill
A 178 m high hill, set on a small peninsula, northwest of the old town, Marjan Hill is locals’ favourite recreational spot close to the city centre.
The hill offers numerous footpaths and jogging trails, and it is a popular place for walking, jogging, rock-climbing, and mountain-biking (more about some of these activities below).
But, another reason, tourists and locals alike climb the hill is to get wonderful views of the town. And the best part for those who don’t like to climb – you don’t even need to climb all the way to the summit for the best views. The best panoramic views you get from the café bar Vidilica, way beneath the summit.
Stroll along the Riva Promenade
Split’s waterfront, Riva, is the heart of the town, and the pride of every person from Split.
The seafront promenade is lined with cafes, bars, eateries, and souvenir shops. On the east side, there is a green market, and on the west side, there is a Republic square, the church of St. Francis, and a nice fountain.
Enjoy a morning or evening stroll, have a drink in one of many bars, and feel the vibe of this magnificent city. A people-watching is the local sport here!
Take a day trip
If you stay in Split for more than a day or two, we highly recommend that you take some of the day tours from Split. Actually, Split makes a great base to explore the entire Dalmatia, central Dalmatian islands like Hvar, Brac, or Vis, but also neighbouring Bosnia & Herzegovina.
On a day tour from Split, you can easily reach as far north as Plitvice lakes, or as south as Dubrovnik.
The most popular tours from Split
Some of the most popular day tours include island hopping, where you can visit as many as 5 islands in a day. These islands include Hvar, Vis, Bisevo, Ravnik, and Budikovac. On this tour, you also get to visit the Blue Cave, a must-see natural attraction on the island of Bisevo.
Two Croatian national parks, Plitvice Lakes and Krka Waterfalls are both easily reachable from Split, and not to be missed Croatian natural sights. You can book this tour to Plitvice Lakes as well as this small-group tour to Krka Waterfalls.
Dubrovnik is the most popular destination in Croatia and a must-visit for everybody visiting the country. If you are short on time and you don’t plan to visit Dubrovnik on its own, then check this day tour to Dubrovnik from Split.
For a change of scenery, take a day tour to the neighbouring Bosnia and Herzegovina. UNESCO-protected Old Bridge, turrets, mosques, oriental shops, restaurants, and ottoman architecture make Mostar one of the most popular places to visit in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This day tour from Split takes you not only to Mostar but also to the Kravica Waterfalls.
Adventure seekers can zipline across the Cetina River Canyon, go white-water rafting, or canoeing on the Cetina River. If that’s not enough adrenaline rush for you, try your hand at canyoning through the Cetina River.
Visit Split Museums
Since the entire old town of Split is like a large open-air museum, one might feel less tempted to visit actual museums. Museums in Split aren’t of the size, or importance of famed European museums, like Florence’s Uffizi, or Naples’ Archaeological Museum. However, if you are in a town for a couple of days or more, visit some of the museums in Split.
Split Town Museum, located in the 15th-century Gothic palace, is small and you’ll get through it quickly. It gives a good overview of the town’s history and its development through the times.
Archaeological Museum of Split is the oldest museum in Croatia and it displays artifacts from Greek, Roman, early-Christian, medieval, and prehistoric times. It is located 15 min walk from the old town.
Ethnographic Museum of Split displays pottery, traditional clothing, furniture, jewelry, and other artifacts from the life of Split inhabitants throughout history. It is located in the old town and the entrance fee is very affordable.
Mestrovic Gallery
Ivan Mestrovic, the most renowned 20th-century Croatian sculptor of international reputation, lived and worked in Split at his younger age. He spent many summers in his holiday home in Split. He designed the house himself, and it was built between 1931 and 1939. In 1952, Mestrovic donated his property, along with over 100 of his artworks to the state. Today, it houses Ivan Mestrovic Gallery
The Mestrovic Gallery has many works of the sculptor on permanent display. His works are displayed on two floors of the building, as well as in the front garden. Besides sculptures, the house itself is interesting to see.
Taste local food in Villa Spiza
If you can only visit one restaurant in Split, choose Villa Spiza. This small hole-in-the-wall restaurant serves simple, traditional, yet tasty and affordable Dalmatian food.
The menu is short, and it changes daily.
Where to stay
If you plan to spend more than a day in Split, the town is full of historic boutique hotels, charming vacation rentals, hip hostels, and villas in Split Croatia. On the other hand, except Lav Meridien Split and Radisson Blu, you won’t find here big full-service hotels and international hotel chains.
The average price of a double room with breakfast in Split, in the low season (April, May, November) will set you back 60€ a day. The same room in the shoulder season (June, September, October) will cost 100€, and in the high season (July, August), you will pay on average 200€ per day. You can find cheaper prices than this if you are willing to go further out of the town, if you stay in a guest house as opposed to hotels, and if you are lucky to get some special deal because of the low occupancy. However, you can also end up paying much more if you choose to stay in an upscale boutique hotel in the old town of Split. In the high season, a double room with breakfast can cost as much as 350€ a day.
Vacation rentals are a bit cheaper, but in high season the prices are still anywhere between 80€ and 150€ a day for a 2 to 4-person apartment.
For us, Diocletian’s Palace and Varos are the best neighbourhoods to stay in Split. In both neighbourhoods, you’ll be within walking distance from all historical sites, and amidst the city’s hustle and bustle. The only downside is parking, as both neighbourhoods are (mostly) car-free.
Our favourite hotels, all located within the old Palace, include Palace Judita Heritage Hotel, Piazza Heritage Hotel, and Cornaro Hotel.
Split offers lots of private apartments and rooms to rent. We particularly like Divota Apartments, located in various houses across the Veli Varos neighbourhood.
For a budget stay in the heart of the city, check hostels Downtown, Ciri Biri Bela, and Dvor.
The best sites to look for accommodation in Split are Booking.com, Airbnb, and VRBO.
Where to Eat
You can’t go hungry in Split with so many great places to eat. It is a foodie’s dream destination. From small, family-run taverns showcasing delicious Dalmatian cuisine, and yummy street-food joints serving a quick fix like hearty burek, or cevapi for late-night food cravings, to harbor-side elaborate fine dining restaurants, Split restaurants offer something for everyone’s budget and style.
What is a typical food in Split? Typical meals in Split include grilled meat, fish, or seafood with sides like Swiss chard, french fries, or grilled veggies, various stews like cuttlefish or beef stew, pasta dishes, and risottos, especially black risotto with squids and squid ink. Cheap local fast food includes savory phyllo-dough pies (burek or pita) with various fillings like cheese, spinach, potatoes, or minced meat, as well as cevapi, finger-shaped minced meat grilled and served with pepper spread (ajvar), onions, and pita bread.
How much does it cost to eat out in Split Croatia? Eating out in Split is still affordable, although the prices are on the constant rise. You can eat for as cheap as 2€ to 5€ in local fast food joints. A handful of local taverns offer a choice of fresh, tasty, and well-cooked daily dishes for as little as 7 € to 20 € per dish. Dishes can include grilled tuna, tuna stew, pork, beef or veal chops with swiss chard, calamari stew, zucchini and prawns pasta, and alike. A meal in an upscale restaurant will set you at around 50€ per person.
Below we list our three favorite Split restaurants, all three of them showcase delicious Dalmatian cuisine.
Villa Spiza! Villa Spiza is a tiny little place serving traditional, fresh, and unpretentious food, using only locally sourced produce. There are just a couple of tables. The menu is simple, and it changes daily. Expect to pay 40 to 70 Kn per dish.
Contacts | Kružićeva 3 | t: +385 91 152 1249 | Facebook Page
Fetivi! Fetivi is a small, family-run tavern with a friendly atmosphere and excellent food. Located close to the Matejuska, a small fishing harbor west of Split’s seafront promenade, Fetivi serves traditional Dalmatian food, like fried small oily fish, octopus, and chickpeas stew, black risotto, various grilled dishes, etc. Expect to pay around 100 Kn per dish.
Contacts | a: Tomica Stine 4, Split | t: +385 21 355 152
Kadena! Locals favourite restaurant in Split, Kadena is an elegant place with a nice terrace, shaded and with fantastic views over the sea. The place is rather large, and it often accommodates large groups that can be noisy at times. However, the food is sublime, and the service is excellent. A bit pricey, expect to pay around 60€ per person for a 3-course meal with drinks.
Contacts | a: Ivana pl. Zajca 4, Split | m: +385 91 522 6685 | t: +385 21 389 400 | e: [email protected] | Website
Special mention: Toto’s Burger Bar! One of the best burgers we have ever had!
Getting to Split
Reaching Split is really easy. It is the second-largest travel hub in Croatia after Zagreb. You can reach Split by plane, car, train, bus, and ferry. Split bus and train station, as well as a ferry port, are located one next to another, and within a short walking distance from the Split old town. Split Airport Resnik (SPU), on the other hand, is located 20 km northwest of downtown Split, in the immediate vicinity of Trogir.
By plane! A shuttle service operates between Split Airport and downtown. Shuttle buses depart 20 minutes after landing. It takes 30 min to reach Split downtown, and it costs 45 Kn (6€, 6.4$, 5 £) per person. You can also reach downtown by taxi, and that will set you back 30€-45€. The cheapest way to reach Split from the airport (and vice versa) is to take a local bus no. 37 or no. 38. Both lines have a scheduled stop not far from the airport. A one-way ticket costs 17 Kn (2€).
Consider also flying into Zadar airport, as it’s only 150 km northwest of Split. Zadar Airport has some pretty cheap Ryanair flights and can be a viable option to reach Split.
By train! You can also reach Split by train from Zagreb. The one-way ticket costs approx. 15€ and the return ticket costs 30€. Trains run three times a day, from June, 15 until September, 15. The rest of the year, they run once a day. The train takes six hours. More info here.
By bus! Intercity buses connect Split with Zagreb and many coastal towns, and they run frequently throughout the day and a year around. It takes 5 hours to reach Split from Zagreb, and a one-way ticket costs around 20€. The best place to check bus timetables, and book your ticket online is GetByBus.
By ferry! Split is a major ferry port for the central Dalmatian islands. Besides local ferries, ferries also connect Split with Ancona in Italy. Jadrolinija is the largest ferry operator in Croatia. You can check ferry schedules and prices on their website, where you can also book your ferry ticket online. A ferry between Split and Ancona is also operated by Jadrolinija. Jadrolinija operates the line a year around. Prices start from 48€ (52$, 40£) per adult, and 63€ (67$, 53£) for a car.
By car! Traveling to Split by car is really easy. Split is centrally located, and easy to reach from many places in Croatia. If you are coming from the direction of Rijeka or Zagreb, you can take motorway A6/A1. It takes about four hours to reach Split from either Zagreb or Rijeka. This motorway has tolls, and a trip from Zagreb to Split will cost you around 181 Kn (25 €).
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Final thoughts
This Essential Split Travel Guide has taken you through all you need to start planning a trip to Split! You’ve got all the practical info sorted, and have started building a list of things to see and do, and another list of places to eat and drink.
Split is a great base for all your island hopping!
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