35 Wonderful Things To Do in Split, Croatia

After living in Split for two months, I’ve become a semi-local. I can’t sing the national anthem but I CAN tell you what to do in Split whether you’re visiting for a first, second or third time.

Split is the second-biggest city in Croatia but the centre feels teeny-tiny. Surrounding the famous Diocletian Palace, the atmospheric maze of alleyways is full of delights. The bustling Riva walkway along the waterfront is the place to be for people-watching and socialising, especially during the summer months.

Then, there are wonderful day trips from Split. The islands, mountains and hikes make it an unforgettable destination.

How to get to Split

By air: Split airport connects other European cities with frequent flights between April and October. From the UK, you can only fly directly between these months. During low season, fly into Zagreb and get a connecting flight or catch the Flixbus (5 hours / 2.5 hours away respectively).

I use Skyscanner to find the best-value flights, using the ‘search by month’ tool to find the cheapest dates. Search for flights to Split.

From the airport to the city, catch a bus, taxi or pre-book your airport transfer.

By bus: Split is well connected to other Croatian cities such as Dubrovnik (5 hours), Zagreb (5 hours) and Zadar (2.5 hours) as well as cities in Bosnia & Herzegovina like Mostar and Sarajevo. Search and book Flixbuses here.

By car: It’s easy to travel Croatia by car and you can easily cross borders to Slovenia, Hungary, Serbia and Bosnia. Find a rental with Rentalcars.com.

How to get to Split

The city centre is tiny; it’s easy to explore the main Split attractions on foot.

A car is useful for taking day trips from Split but beware there’s very little parking in the city. It’s best to just hire one when you need it.

When you need a taxi, there’s Uber and Bolt to choose from. There are local buses (although the routes don’t show on Google maps) and a free bus between the city and Split mall.

2. Marvel at the Diocletian’s Palace

If you love scenic views, this is easily one of the best things to do in Split. The Bell Tower climb was my favourite attraction in the palace complex, costing just 40 kuna to climb. I was blown away by the views over the city, Marjan Park and the coast. In a historical lowrise city, it’s the only vantage point of its kind.

• Golden Gate – the north gate built in 305 AD was only for use by the Emperor and his family. He’d be horrified to see tourists passing through in their thousands now!
• Republic Square – at the far end of the Riva, this impressive square is often likened to a small St. Mark’s (Venice). Join the locals sipping coffee in the shaded archways.
• People’s Square – this popular plaza in the heart of the palace quarters is a great place to dine surrounded by ancient architecture. As you’d expect, it gets busy.
• Nadalina Chocolate Shop – with every flavour of gourmet chocolate imaginable, including Croatian lavender, this is a fantastic place to buy gifts… including for yourself!

8. Sample local produce at the Green Market

This vibey morning market has two purposes: a farmers market selling fresh produce, and a tourist market selling traditional Croatian products. Browse local brandy, liqueur, cheese, honey, meats and lavender-scented products.

The vendors are generous when letting you try. I had at least four shots of very sweet alcohol without feeling pressure to buy, although I did buy some cheese (I can never resist cheese!).

Make sure to visit in the morning. By lunch, the vendors are packing up.

9. Visit Split Fish Market – early!

A trip to the morning fish market is an unusual thing to do in Split that I’d recommend as a sensory adventure and a rare chance to glimpse local life. From shrimp to sea bass, you can get it here. Better yet, it’s ridiculously affordable!

If your Airbnb has a barbeque, buy some fresh fish and sizzle up a feast. Just ask the vendors what’s grill-friendly and ensure it’s gutted (they’ll do this for a fee of approx. 20 kuna).

Opening times: early morning until 11am.

Reward yourself with coffee at Restoran Vidilica!

Retrace your steps and arrive back at your starting point. From this scenic viewpoint, you can grab a coffee at Restoran Vidilica and while away time on a sunny day.

The food here is expensive and not the best so I would advise eating elsewhere and just enjoying coffee (13-17 kuna depending what you order).

12. Sunset walks or drinks on the Riva

Alongside the Diocletian’s Palace is the Riva, an oceanfront walkway lined with palm trees. Cafes and restaurants with outdoor seating are open from morning to night, getting especially popular around 5pm when guests enjoy golden hour with a beverage.

If you’re short of things to do in Split in the late afternoon/early evening, grab a beer and people-watch!

For coffee and bakery goods, park yourself at Bobis. For a gourmet meal (without overly outrageous prices), Brasserie on 7 serves French/Croatian-inspired food with fresh seafood, brunch and patisserie goods.

14. Try the (many) Split restaurants

I’d be lying if I said Split was my favourite foodie city in the world. The restaurant prices in the city centre would be at home in London meaning it’s other tourists you’ll be rubbing shoulders with rather than the locals.

Still, there’s plenty of decent food around. Just be aware you’ll pay tourist prices unless you travel further out.

15. Take a food tour

What is Croatian food, you might ask? With many of the restaurants serving pasta and pizza, it can be tricky to immerse yourself in the local cuisine during a short trip.

In that case, a food tour is a fantastic thing to do in Split. When I don’t have long in a city, I love to take these to learn from the local guides. For solo travellers in Croatia, they double up as a way to sample various delicacies without getting too full.

Take a 3-hour Historical & Gastro Treasures Tour including a market visit.

16. Wine tasting

Wine tasting is a fantastic Split activity for gastronomy lovers (and people who just like getting drunk on holiday, you know I’m right!). The closest and most popular place to visit in Split is Putalj. Tours cost €100 including pick-up and tastings with olive oil, bread, cheese and prosciutto.

For a cheaper option close to the city centre, Zinfandel Food and Wine Bar do tastings for 220 kuna or 120 for a 3-glass tasting with snacks. MoNIKa’s Wine Bar is another highly-rated place to drink Croatian wine, while Vinoteka Terra is an excellent wine shop near Bacvice Beach.

Keep in mind there are wine tasting opportunities that you can tie in with other Split attractions, for example trips to the islands, many of which are renowned for wine production. The wineries in Lumbarda on Korčula are spectacular!

17. Experience the nightlife

With the sun rising in the east and setting in the west, Split is a better place for watching sunrise than sunset. If 6am isn’t your favourite time of day, you need to escape the city and head around the coast.

After a day of sightseeing in Split, walk from Sustipan park along the walkway beside the ocean. It’s paved with plenty of benches. Find the jutting peninsular beside Plaža Kaštelet: this is my favourite place to watch sunset.

Bring some wine and a dinner picnic – sorted!

If you’re visiting Kasjuni and Ježinac beaches, combine this into the same day. This sunset point is right beside Ježinac.

20. More Split beaches

Split may not have the best beaches in the world but there are a few options. I mentioned the largest beach, Bacvice, already so here are a few more…

21. Visit Split museums and galleries

Despite its reputation as a summer holiday destination, there’s culture should you want it. The Split museums and galleries double up as a rare rainy day activity should you be cursed with bad weather.

A few options include:

• Split Ethnographic Museum – this museum uses costumes and crafts to tell stories about people who have lived in Dalmatia for millennia. Entry is 20 kuna; closed Sundays.
• Split City Museum – this small museum explains the city’s history through artefacts, weaponry, painting and sculptures. Entry is 20 kuna.
• Museum of Fine Art – located inside a former hospital, this highly-regarded gallery in the city centre displays Croatian and European art dating from the 14th century to the present day. Entry is 40-60 kuna; closed Mondays.
• Archaeological Museum in Split – learn about Dalmatia inside a spectacular building with equally stunning grounds, 10 minutes from the city centre. Entry is 20 kuna; closed Sundays.

Built in 1893, the Croatian National Theatre is one of the oldest theatres in Dalmatia. The sunny yellow building has been restored to look as good as new, perched on Trg Gaje Bulata Square.

Tickets cost around 50 kuna so, for an unusual thing to do in Split, browse upcoming performances. The summer festival (Splitsko ljeto) is a great time to catch cultural shows.

Earlier I mentioned speciality coffee shops. In my experience, these are located in smaller, city centre buildings. For relaxing, open-air cafes with fantastic views, leave the flat whites behind and rub shoulders with the locals.

One of my favourite outdoor cafes with sunset views and a huge selection of cakes is Kavana Procaffe. On the other side of the peninsula, Kavana Zona has lovely harbour views with inside and outside seating, while Jadran Beach Bar is right beside the ocean (but best avoided when it’s windy because it’s totally exposed).

If you’re done with Split sightseeing, order a coffee, beer or cocktail and while away the hours. The locals are too ‘pomalo’ to rush you.

24. Visit Game Of Thrones locations

The Game of Thrones Museum in the Diocletian’s Palace is the main attraction in Split for super fans, full of props and outfits used during filming. Still, Dubrovnik steals the show when it comes to GOT tourism.

Buy your ticket for €11.

25. Try sea kayaking

A popular summer activity in Split is sea kayaking on the west of the peninsular towards Marjan Park. What could be more memorable than bobbing on the Adriatic Sea with a backdrop of the Diocletian’s Palace?

Browse kayaking tours including sunset tours and those combining snorkelling.

26. Rafting on the Cetina

This is one of the more adventurous things to do in Split, ideal for those craving adrenaline amidst stunning surroundings. Three-hour tours generally incorporate a mix of grades, meaning you’ll have a good mix of excitement and relaxation.

Rafting is suitable for beginners and you’ll be well cared for with a guide and all safety equipment provided. Browse river rafting tours here.

What to do around Split

This striking medieval fortress helped keep the Ottomans at bay. Although they captured parts of Croatia, Split was not one of them.

It’s also a major Split attraction for GOT fans: Klis Fortress was used as Meereen during filming!

Entry is 70 kuna and you need 1-2 hours looking around. Get there by…

Bus: This takes 20 minutes and costs 22 kuna return. The schedule is VERY difficult to figure out so your best bet is visiting the kiosk at HNK Bus Stop to ask when the next bus departs. Ask them to write down the return times, too.

By car: Set your satnav to Trg Mejdan 10, 21231, Klis, Croatia.

By Uber: This should cost 100 kuna each way. You may wait a while for a driver to commit to travel the distance, and you can’t guarantee there will be any cars waiting around in Klis. If you find yourself stuck after visiting the fortress, there’s always the bus home.

By tour: Visit by open top bus, take a tour including olive oil tasting or visit as part of a Game of Thrones excursion.

It’s little wonder Plitvice National Park is one of the most popular places to visit in Croatia. Crystal-clear water cascades down karst rocks, plunging into pools all shades of emerald green and brilliant blue. Although you can’t swim in the pools, you can spend a day meandering along boardwalks and admiring top-tier Croatian scenery.

Plitvice is beautiful but busy in summer so it’s best to go in shoulder season (spring or autumn) if possible. Winter can be snowy and enchanting but, depending on the conditions, large sections of the park may be closed at short notice.

Getting to Plitvice National Park: Although I took a Plitvice day trip from Zagreb as it’s closer, it’s easy to visit from Split providing you don’t mind a long day out. Buses take 3.5 hours (the first one at 7am in peak season), starting from €22 each way. The other option is a small group tour from €60.

For a closer national park that’s just as stunning…

Island excursions (full-day trips from Split)

Once you’re done with the Split tourist attractions, hop straight on a ferry! The islands were my favourite thing about living in Croatia. Hvar, Brač, Vis and Korčula are all between 1 hour and 2.5 hours from the harbour by ferry or fast boat.

31. Beach bask in Bol, Brač

If you can’t justify the cost of island-hopping day tours, Brač is the closest island to Split and one of the loveliest. It’s cheap to reach with several points of interest around the island.

Supetar (where the ferry arrives) is pleasant but a better option is to visit Bol, home to the spectacular Golden Horn Beach. Drive, take a taxi or a local bus from Supetar to Bol.

Getting there: the 1-hour ferry costs 28-33 kuna each way depending on the season, arriving in Supetar. Another option is the boat arriving in Milna which is a stunning part of Brač.

32. Climb the fortress on Hvar

The second-closest island to Split is Hvar. With a reputation for hosting celebrity guests, it has high-end accommodation as well as clubs that earn its status as a party hotspot in summer.

If none of this is your scene, fear not. Hvar Town is a stunning settlement, overlooked by Spanjola Fortress. For an affordable day, wander the town, eat local food at Grande Luna, soak up panoramic views from the fortress, and finally relax on the beach.

Getting there: the ferry takes 2 hours and tickets start from 40 kuna, arriving in Stari Gard where you can hop on a local bus to Hvar town. The fast boat takes around 1 hour and costs 110 kuna each way, arriving in Hvar town.

33. Spotting Mama Mia! filming locations on Vis

The petite island of Vis is easily explored during a day or across several. Visitors usually arrive in Vis Town and head over to the equally pretty town of Komiža from where several beautiful beaches can be reached on foot.

Spotting Mama Mia! filming locations is a popular activity on Vis. Apparently, it was cheaper than filming in Greece and you can see why the producers chose the island: it’s spectacular!

Getting there: Split to Vis ferries and fast boats start from 50 kuna.

Although Vis is worth a visit in its own right, many travellers visit simply to see the jaw-dropping Blue Grotto. On tiny Biševo island, it’s easily visited as part of a boat tour from Komiža, Vis. To come directly from Split, book a Blue Cave boat tour.

34. Wine tasting on Korčula

If you’re still reading, CONGRATS because Korčula is one of my favourite places in Croatia. The spectacular island boasts boat tours, diving, beaches and well-preserved architecture in charming Korčula Town. Yet nothing competes with the wine tasting in Lumbarda!

Just 15 minutes by car, taxi, bus or bicycle from Korčula Town, the region of Lumbarda is known for producing Grk wine, unique to the island. It’s one of a few female grapes in the world, pollinated by Plavac Mali grapes planted nearby.

Sipping delicious Grk wine with a platter of cheese at Popić Winery remains one of my favourite experiences in Croatia!

Visit independently or browse wine tours in Korcula.

Getting there: as it’s one of the further away islands, it’s best to take the fast boat which takes 2.5 hours and costs 150 kuna each way. There’s a cheaper Jadrolinija ferry but it takes closer to 4 hours.

Where to stay in Split

• Hostel: between the city and Bacvice Beach, En Route Hostel has bunks with curtains, power outlets and reading lights from €20. It’s a great place to meet other travellers with a clean, modern vibe. Another option is Backpackers Fairytale which has a cosy vibe that’ll make you feel at home.
• Budget hotel – stay at B&B Central Palace for comfy rooms in a central location. Check availability from €65.
• Hotel: Slavika is one of the oldest hotels in Split, right inside the Diocletian’s Palace with air-conditioned rooms, TV, Wi-Fi, terraces with sea views and tasty breakfasts. Check availability from €90.
• Apartments – for all your amenities in a private setting, stay at Apartment Linda, Best Location Apartments or Split Inn Apartments.
• Browse all Split accommodation on Booking.com and Hostelworld.