10 best things to do in Split, Croatia

Wondering about the best things to do in Split?  Well, you’re in luck, as there’s so much choice.

Split is the second largest city in Croatia and offers a fantastic mix of modern and old.  This ancient city boasts a wonderful blend of history, culture, and geography, as well as a vibrant nightlife.  It’s also an ideal family holiday destination, as there are so many things to do in Split for kids.

Located on a small peninsular on the shores of the Adriatic Sea, Split is the gateway to the Dalmation Coast.  With regular ferries, it’s a great base for travellers heading to the Dalmation Islands, Hvar, Brac and Korcula.

Alternatively, you could spend a whole week in Split and do day trips to the local islands and attractions.

So, whether you’re looking to explore ancient palaces, enjoy a stroll by the sea, or head out to Krka National Park, you’ll find something to do.

In this guide we share the top attractions, day trips and best things to do in Split.

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Top of our list of the best things to do in Split is visit Diocletian’s Palace.

Diocletian’s Palace is an ancient palace built for the Roman emperor at the turn of the 4th Century. This impressive monument is part of an ancient complex, which includes over 200 historical buildings.  The Palace is a UNESCO building and a fine example of some of the best- preserved architecture in the world.

Unsurprisingly, Diocletian’s Palace is one of the best attractions in Split.  Game of Thrones fans may recognise some scenery from the popular HBO drama.  You’d be correct in thinking that Diocletian’s Palace is where Daenerys Targaryen kept her dragons!

Admission to Diocletian’s Palace is free.  Alternatively, you can buy a ticket which will permit you to explore the excavated remains of the basements.  Avid Game of Thrones fans will note that this is the actual setting for Daenerys’ throne room.

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After a visit to Diocletian’s Palace, take a walking tour of the rest of Split’s Old Town.  Split is relatively small compared to some cities and very compact, which makes it easy to navigate on foot.  This is ideal if it’s your first time in Split, as there’s something new at every corner.  It is easy to do a self-guided tour, but if you want a local guide you can book a walking tour of Split.

Split is a beautiful city.  It has a maze of winding alleys and backstreets, where you can see its Romanesque churches and baroque architecture.  Look out for the Cathedral of St Domnius, the world’s oldest Catholic cathedral.

Afterwards, stop for a drink at Pjaca Square (People’s Square), where you can watch the world go by.  Opposite is the Old Town Hall, which is one of the many museums in Split and will often host visiting art exhibitions.

Alternatively, head to Fruit Square, which hosted the city’s fruit market for many years.

Click here to book:  Split Old Town and Diocletian Palace Walking Tour

In front of the Golden Gate, you’ll find the enormous Gregory of Nin Statue.  Don’t forget to rub his golden toe and make a wish!

Gregory was a medieval Croatian bishop, who strongly opposed the Pope.  Nowadays, we can remember him, as his statue stands proudly in front of the Golden Gate of Diocletian’s Palace.

Now, once you’ve had your fill of Split’s wonderful  historic buildings, head across to The Riva on the waterfront.  It is directly in front of the old town.

The French style promenade has palm trees, cafés and restaurants overlooking the Adriatic water.  It’s perfect for a stroll.

Afterwards, follow this pedestrian heaven along the waterfront, you will come to Split’s Marina.  With its panoramic sea views, it is the ideal spot to admire the yachts and boats.

One of the most popular attractions in Split is the nearby islands.  Regular ferries run to Hvar, especially in the high season.  Journey time takes about 50 minutes to 2.5 hours, depending on the route.

Alternatively, you could do a day trip which takes you to explore five islands (Hvar, Biševo, Vis, Budikovac, and Pakleni) and the stunning Blue Cave.  Click to book the Hvar Boat Tour.

From Split harbour you can climb the 170 shady steps up the hill into Marjan Park.  Lush with pine and Cyprus trees, Marjan Park offers hiking trails, a small playground and a botanical garden.

You’ll also find two churches on the hill, as well as the ancient Jewish cemetry.

Marjan Park also has one of the best viewpoints in Split.  You can get sweeping views over the city of Split.  Plus, it’s a perfect picnic spot!

Bacvice Beach is a sandy beach, with clear waters, only 10 minutes’ walk from Split’s city centre.  Alternatively,  you could head to the pebble beach of Kasjuni near Marjan.

One of the most unique things to do in Split is a visit to Froggyland, Croatia’s only Frog museum.

Froggyland is a rather exceptional museum exhibiting over 500 stuffed frogs!  You’ll find it hidden in the back alleys of the city centre.

The artist preserved his extraordinary collection of amphibians using a complex method of taxidermy through the mouth.  He then positioned the frogs in scenes representing real-life situations – a school, circus, carpenter shop etc.

It’s not a big museum, but it’s worth a visit to Froggyland just for the sheer uniqueness of the exhibits.

No visit to Split would be complete without a visit to Krka National Park.

Krka National Park is one of Croatia’s most beautiful natural beauty spots and needs to be high on your list of things to do in Split.  The National Park is about 1 hour’s drive from Split.  The easiest way to get there is with a guided tour or by taxi.  However, you can also take public transport to get there.

There are 5 official entrances to Krka National Park, but we entered via Skradin.

From Skradin we took a river cruise to Skradinski Buk.  The boat ride takes 25 minutes and is included in the admission price.  Once inside, follow the trails around lakes and woods and admire the grandeur of the 7 waterfalls.  The scenery is stunning and this day trip makes a great excursion from Split.

The walking trails are reasonably short and very accessible.  There are boardwalks around the lakes, so would be fine for children of all ages.

The most popular attraction in Krka National Park is the impressive Skradinski Buk Waterfall.  It’s a large natural pool, fed by a network of cascades and waterfalls.  It’s a popular spot for swimming, though the water is very cold.

Top Tip:  Take some water shoes, as it is quite rocky underfoot.

We travelled from London to Split with EasyJet, which took 2 h 25 mins.  Split airport is 25km west of Split city centre.  There are regular bus services or you could take an integrated bus and train service.  It takes about 30 minutes.

We stayed at the Luxury Villa Luminosa in Split.  It is an extremely contemporary 2-bedroom villa with plenty of outdoor space and a swimming pool. The kids loved it, especially the pool.  It is about 15 minutes from the city centre, but the host will arrange transport.

If you want self-catering accommodation in Split City Centre, you could try Luxury Residence Mareta or Old Town Luxury House.  Both are very central and walking distance from the beach.

If you prefer a hotel, have a look at the Hotel Vestibul Palace in the heart of Diocletian’s Palace.  Alternatively try the Murum Heritage Hotel, which has amazing reviews.

See below for more accommodation choices on Booking. com.

The official currency of Croatia is the Croatian Kuna (HRK).

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