Split is a city which is rich in history and culture. Although it has become a popular destination with holidaymakers, it still retains its laid-back charm and stunning architectural sights. Split is located in the Croatian region of Dalmatia on the Eastern shores of the Adriatic Sea.
Here's a selection of 10 top things to do in Split in Croatia, or if you prefer, here's a video summary:
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10 fun things to do in Split, Croatia – From Split boat parties to culture
1. Wander through Diocletian’s Palace
Diocletian’s Palace is one of the main attractions of Split and, in fact, the whole city centers around it. This sprawling network of cobbled streets and beautiful buildings is contained within the high palace walls. The palace was originally built by the Roman emperor Diocletian in the 4th century AD.
If you’re a history buff, taking a guided tour of the palace is a great way to learn more about its history.
The palace is also packed with boutique shops, restaurants, and bars and really is the hub of the city. You could spend all day just getting lost in the narrow streets and taking in the bustling atmosphere. Don’t forget to check out Gregory of Nin, an enormous statue (which looks very much like a wizard!). Rub the statue’s giant toe and it will bring you good luck!
You can find some more fun facts about the Diocletian Palace in this list of fun facts about Croatia.
2. Visit Krka National Park
Krka National Park is a stunning area of natural beauty known for its 7 waterfalls, swimming pools, and historic sites such as the Krka Monastery and a series of authentic windmills.
Following the trail around the park takes about 45 minutes and allows you to take in the wonderful views and crystal blue waterfalls. The most striking waterfalls come at the end, as they cascade into a bright blue pool which is perfect for swimming.
You can book an excursion to Krka National Park from any of the main booking offices in the city or in advance online. It’s definitely worth booking your trip as an excursion to save you the hassle of getting there by yourself. And if you really want to be at ease, consider booking a private group tour. The latter includes a boat tour and ample free time.
Make sure you take some sturdy shoes and your swimming costume!
3. Experience a Split party boat
Boat parties in Split, Croatia are a big deal. There are several ways to go on a Split Boat Party and how much you'll love it depends on how much of a party-goer you are. However, if you take the daytime boat, it really isn’t as wild as you might expect and it's quite relaxing to just chill out with a drink or two as you take in the views.
4. Go on the famous pub crawl in Split
One of the things to do in Split, Croatia at night, is to join the nightly pub crawl in Split. If you’re staying in a hostel then it’s likely they will recommend it to you.
The Split bar crawl leaves from the main courtyard of Diocletian’s Palace and sees a massive turnout, especially on a Friday and Saturday night. It can be a great way to meet new people and truly experience the nightlife in Split.
The Tower Pub Crawl Split and the Ziggy Star Pub Crawl Split both get great reviews on TripAdvisor. Read about them here and here.
5. Head to the beach
Bačvice is Split’s most popular beach. Although the sand is slightly more pebbly than the typical beach there are lots of sun loungers for you to relax on. The water is very shallow on this beach so occasionally you might see people playing a game called “pincigin” which involves a few people in a circle trying to keep a small ball in the air for as long as possible!
6. Visit the market
Source: Flickr – TeppoTK
If you love fresh produce the head to Split’s market where you’ll be spoiled for choice with all the colorful fruit and vegetables. There are also a few souvenir stalls and some great Croatian food stands.
If you want to know more about Croatian cuisine, check out this a food tour which includes market visits and lunch. Taste Split also offers a range of food experiences in the city.
7. Meštrović Art Gallery
Source: Flickr – Monika Kostera (urbanlegend)
Ivan Meštrović is Croatia’s most famous modern sculptor who built the gallery as his private home from 1931 to 1939. Nowadays the gallery is home to his creations and the permanent collection displays everything from sculpture and drawings to furniture and architecture. It's one of the things to see in Split if you're into art. Check out the latest reviews here.
8. Try the ice cream
Source: Flickr – illustir
Split is renowned for its delicious ice cream and you’ll find plenty of places to buy it – give it a try!
9. Take a boat trip to Hvar
There is a regular ferry boat that will take you across to nearby Hvar (which is generally considered to be a bit of a party island). The ferry takes about 90 minutes and from Hvar, you can take boats out to various other islands, many of which hold beach parties.
Even if you are just into history and culture, Hvar is worth a visit, but if you enjoy good food, drink, nightlife and sunbathing then this is really one of the things to do in Split.
Check out this list of excursions on and from Hvar.
Alternatively, you can make a quick boat trip to the Blue Cave.
10. Sample Split’s seafood
Being right on the coast means that Split’s fresh seafood is definitely worth a try. For authentic seafood, head to Noštromo restaurant which is located right by the fish market.
And that's it! I hope this helped answer the question of what to do in Split, Croatia and made you excited about your trip there.
Travel guides for Split, Croatia
Looking for more information on Split? Check out these handy guides:
Or check out these 5 books about Croatia to learn more about the history and culture of the country.
Hotels in Split, Croatia
Accommodation in Split is relatively cheap, especially in comparison to Western European prices. You can get quite the luxury hotel room or a beautiful apartment for less than €100/night.
Luxury: Palace Judita Heritage Hotel
The four-star Palace Judita Heritage Hotel is housed in a 16th-century palace on Split's main square, right next to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Diocletian's Palace. All rooms have parquet flooring, air conditioning and luxurious bathrooms. Slippers and bathrobes are provided. The hotel has its own bar as well as a courtyard. A delicious breakfast is included in the room price.
Book a room / Read reviews on TripAdvisor
Boutique: Heritage Hotel Antique Split
The four-star Heritage Hotel Antique Split is located inside the walls of UNESCO World Heritage Site the Palace of Diocletian. All rooms have air conditioning, a flatscreen tv, and a minibar. WiFi is free throughout the property and a sweet breakfast is included in the room price.
Book a room / Read reviews on TripAdvisor
Budget: Contarini Luxury Rooms
This four-star pension lies walking distance from various historical sights. It offers rooms with a seating corner, desk, flatscreen tv, and free WiFi. A continental breakfast is served every morning and tea, coffee and treats are free throughout the day.
Book a room / Read reviews on TripAdvisor
Apartment: Luxury Apartment Dvor
This three-star apartment in a quiet street in the center of Split sleeps five in two bedrooms and the living room which has a sleeper sofa. Previous guests have raved about how clean and beautifully decorated it is. WiFi is free, the kitchen is fully-equipped and stocked with much more than just the necessities.
Book this apartment
For even more specific Split accommodation options, check out this post by Chasing the Donkey.
Getting to Split, Croatia
By plane
Split has its own international airport, making it very easy to get there.
Check Skyscanner for the best flight options.
From the airport, you can take an airport bus from the terminal or a local bus from the main road outside the airport to the city center. Taking a taxi is another option but if you want to make things as easy as possible, consider booking a transfer ahead of your arrival.
With a prepaid transfer, you don't have to worry about getting scammed and you know someone will be waiting for you to take you straight to your accommodation.
Welcome Pickups is great for booking airport transfers. Their site is super userfriendly and you can cancel up to 24 hours beforehand if needed.
By train or bus
If you're already in Croatia, you can take the train or a long-distance bus to get to Split from another city. To find the best connection, check Omio. This platform automatically searches the best routes and prices from more than 800 official transportation providers.
Find your bus or train to Split here
Don't forget travel insurance
No matter how well you plan your trip to Split, there's always something that can happen that's beyond your control. Your luggage never arrives, you get sick, or you drop and break your camera. In all of these cases, good travel insurance has you covered.
I've had ongoing travel insurance ever since I started traveling to make sure I'm covered for every trip I go on but if you travel just a few times a year, you can get insured for each trip separately too.
Don't have travel insurance yet? Check out SafetyWing. They offer super flexible plans that you can even sign up for while you're already on your trip. On top of that, they were the first travel insurance to cover COVID, and when I got COVID, they reimbursed all of my expenses without making a fuss. Their customer support team is great and I can personally recommend them.
And that's it! I hope this post answered your question of “What is there to do in Split, Croatia” and will help you plan your own trip there.
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Emma is a travel blogger at Inspiring Travel where she shares her travel tips and experiences. She hopes to inspire people to get out there and see the world and show that anyone can travel no matter what their budget, age, or work commitments! You can also follow her on Twitter.
Marsha says
You had me at Diocletian’s Palace! :) I’ve always wanted to visit Croatia and in particularly, Split. I love reading posts like this; someday soon I will visit. Great list of things to do!
Steve says
Split was one of the highlights of my travels in 2013. Especially enjoyed the ice cream.
Lauren Meshkin says
I will definitely bookmark this! Croatia is at the top of my travel list. I’ll be in Europe this summer visiting friends and I’m hoping to squeeze it in. Fingers crossed! Thanks for sharing.
Happy travels :)
Sofie says
Keeping my fingers crossed for you:)
Sand In My Suitcase says
We attended a classical music concert one evening in a lovely old church in Split. There’s an annual music festival held each summer – and we were able to buy tickets in the day for that evening’s performance. Memorable…
Sofie says
I love the acoustic in churches. Often gives me chills.
Emma says
They do love their music over there. Inside Diocletian’s Palace there’s always some sort of music going on – really nice atmosphere
Anna @ The Blonde Banana says
The national park looks amazing! And can never turn down a booze cruise :)
Sofie says
Haha Anna:-)
Jen says
Great tips Emma! I am really keen to get to Croatia in the next few years. It really looks like my kind of place. I will hanging onto these tips when I eventually plan my trip, thanks.
Emma says
Thanks! Croatia is a beautiful part of the world. If you have some time you should try and get to Pula and Dubrovnic as well.
Corinne says
Wow..great tips. The hubby and I are heading to Croatia next week with some friends and we’ll definitely be trying some of this out. Thanks.
Sofie says
Hope you have a great time! Feel free to come back and tell us all about it afterwards:)
Derek Freal says
I am kind of a lil bit obsessed with Croatia, to be honest. I’ve always wanted to visit there. Definitely not a fan of party boats or pub crawls — I was when I first started traveling but after a few years that got old and now I focus more on culture and of course food as well ;) Visiting Diocletian’s Palace and then wandering the nearby alleys afterward or visiting the market are definitely more of my thing.
Sofie says
I’m not into bar crawls either. Maybe that has something to do with the fact that I rarely drink:)
This list has moved Croatia up on my list of places to visit though. Everyone is so positive about it.
Janice Stringer says
Recently I’ve been thinking about Croatia and wondering what the scuba diving is like there. Did you try any?
Also the seafood looks delicious – was it?
Emma says
I didn’t get chance to try out scuba diving unfortunately – maybe next time. But the seafood is amazing!
frankaboutcroatia says
Just stumbled across your post on things to do in Split. Great tips! Split really changed a lot in the last years, and now it’s one of the most popular tourist spots. The old town is gorgeous and vibrant, There are loads of great restaurants, and lots of activities going on all day long. For us, the only draw back is that during the summer the town is overcrowded (not as bad as Dubrovnik, but catching up on the crowds). Thanks for sharing!
Surya Bhattacharya says
I recommend Diocletian’s Palace Hostel highly!!! As hostels go, it’s not the best one I’ve stayed at, but location wise, nothing can beat it!! It’s actually IN the palace!!
Marc says
This place looks very cool and the seafood seems very interesting. I have been several times to Croatia but never been to Split. Next time it would probably be on my mind.
Sofie says
Let us know how you like it!:)
Travel Croatia says
Great article! Picigin is such a fun game and I believe it started from there. Later the game spread all over Croatia. There are few tournaments during summer.
As well there are few tournaments in Meduliin (Istria)
Thank you for sharing!
Sofie says
Glad you liked the post!
Aussie Dan says
I’d add one two more definite things to the list . When visiting the Krka falls visit the Town of Sibenik which has one of Croatia’s UNESCO heritage sites. One of my favorite towns and locations in Croatia. Also half an hour from Split you have another UNESCO town called Trogir. One of the best preserved Gothic towns in Europe. Both these places are hidden gems. On the way to Trogir you can also stop and see Game of throne site the Klis fortress and also the archeological remains of the town of Solin. On the way to Sibenik if you travel by coastal road which is highly recommended is the coastal town of Primosten which has one of the biggest Virgin Mary shrines in the world in Mosaic.
Sofie says
Thanks so much for the tips Dan!
Sam says
Do you have any info on how to book a party boat? I’ve looked online and can’t seem to find anything like what you have described where it’s 4 hours and all drinks are included. Thanks!
Sofie says
Hey Sam,
Sorry, not really. This was a guest post so I haven’t done this myself. I’m guessing you might have to book them when you’re there.
Therese says
Hi, my husband and I will be in Split in early June for 3 days, we would like to do the Islands but they seem a long way out. What would you suggest?
Sofie says
Hey Therese,
This post on Split is an old guest post. For great information on Croatia, I’d recommend checking the blog Chasing the Donkey. The author lives there and knows “everything” :)