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City in Croatia
Photo: Tatyana Peshkova, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Split is a city in Central Dalmatia, Croatia, and the seat of the Split-Dalmatia county. The city was built around the Diocletian palace (a palace/fort built for the retired Roman emperor Diocletian) where the locals sought refuge centuries ago. Wandering the historic centre of Split you can still clearly see the Roman walls, squares, and temples.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Peristil square
Main square of Diocletian's palace with well preserved Roman architecture.
St. Duje's cathedral
Built around 305 AD as a mausoleum of Roman emperor Diocletian's (the oldest cathedral building in the world). The cathedral is also a very beautiful mixture of Roman temple and Catholic church. It also has a beautiful belltower which provides you a great panoramic view of Split, nearby islands and Marjan hill.
Beautiful belltower which provides you a great panoramic view of Split, nearby islands and Marjan hill. The ascent is certainly not for those with vertigo, but the views from the top are marvelous. It costs €1.40 to go up the bell tower.
Cathedral's baptistry
Ancient Roman temple which became St. John's church.
It is the smallest park in Split, situated in the Diocletian's palace at the Dominisova street (Marko Antonio De Dominis street). In that park are beautiful traditional Dalmatian tiramolas. During the summer these are full of clothes drying in the sunshine. In every guidebook about Split you have pictures from the Getski vrtal. It is the location of a 500-year-old stone house which was destroyed during World War II.
Exceptionally well preserved substructure of Diocletian's Palace now open as a museum. One of the locations in Game of Thrones. It's strongly recommended to book a tour guide, otherwise visitors walk through mostly empty halls with barely further information.
The gallery contains works of Ivan Meštrović, famous Croatian sculptor.
The oldest museum in Croatia (1820), about 20 min walk north of the old town. Many artifacts and monuments from Roman colonies Salona and Narona. Most of the panel information is only in Croatian, so use a translator app or bring a Croatian friend.
Sustipan and old Jewish cemetery
A strange museum for 21 dioramas of taxidermy frogs in a variety of everyday human situations, crafted in the early 1900s.
If you have a longer stop-over in Split, 5 min south of the passenger terminal and the train and bus stations lies Split's city beach where you can take a plunge in the Adriatic.
Traditional beach game with a small ball (Bačvice beach). In summer every year there is a world championship in picigin.
It is said that if you touch the big toe of the statue and make a wish your wish will come true.
They play in Prva HNL, the top tier of football in Croatia; indeed they've never been out of it, and have won it several times. Their home ground of Poljud stadium (capacity 34,000) is 1 km north of the main bus station, harbour and old city. Don't go for the cheapest seats as these are in the north stand, the Torcida bastion of home fanatics.
This beach has beautiful fine-grained sand, and it is very shallow. There are many cafes and places to eat ice cream. It is certainly not the best beach in Croatia (it is packed solid most of summer), but it will give you a feeling of 'real' Croatia as the vast majority of people who go there are from Split. You can also play Picigin here. To reach this beach, walk South along the waterfront from the bus station and then follow the road that crosses the railway line.
A good offer for those who want to try several types of pizzas without buying them completely. Great pizza idea. Several flavours to choose from.
Delicious and fresh vegan food. The best veggies in Split. Good atmosphere and homemade food made live.
The best sandwiches in Split. Always fresh food and very helpful staff.
Balkan atmosphere. Ba!Cevapi is their flagship dish, which consists of minced meat, well spiced and grilled, served with typical bread and sauces
Freshly baked dough, crispy just as it should be, chicken and hearty side dishes. Great pizza
Great local spot for delicious seafood. Friendly staff. Not many tables so you may have to wait for an available table.
Theatrum Bar and Food
Reservation can be made via email, phone or social media. Dine in, curbside-pickup, delivery, seating, Wi-Fi, fresh ingredients, breakfast, dinner, lunch.
Because of its proximity to school, this bakery always has fresh and tasty food.
Lively and busy restaurant with lots of seating and deliciously large Croatian dishes.
The most popular fast food in Split with great pizzeta (small pizza, €2) and very big ham sandwich (€2.70).
The traditional family-run konoba serves tasty dishes in style. Prices very reasonable considering the quality and atmosphere.
Definitely one of the best pizza in town, baked on fireplace.
Good "European Chinese" cuisine. Not too popular among the locals, but the prices are fair and the service is friendly.
Risottos, pasticada (marinaded veal cooked in sauce), and excellent fish. Prices are very reasonable and the staff very friendly. English spoken.
A Konoba/Trattoria. Good Dalmatian specialties: Pašticada, Paški sir, etc. Also proposes good seafood catch of the day, but sometimes unavailable. Seems to be operated by a single family: The waiters knows very well the menu!
Small side street restaurant run by a young married couple, incredible food at a very fair price.
Good seafood and salad in a rather smoky ambience with friendly service.
Has an upper story that overlooks the promenade.
The beachhead of craft cocktails in Split, with a selection of craft beers as well. Run by US expat, Tristan.
Cosy atmosphere, long list of cocktails, Latin music. Ask for a bill, because one round is €14, and then second one (the same one) may be €20. Atmosphere is nice, but the waiters are not. More tourists than locals.
Fancy place by the swimming pool with popular domestic and foreign music.
Lively hostel popular with solo travelers. Well located between the old town and the bus and train stations. Dorm from €15.
Chill hostel with only few guests around during low-season. Shared kitchen. Wifi.
Hostelsplit
Hostel open Easter to Oct run by British expat Al. The hostel is in an 800-year-old stone house inside the city walls, small and cozy with only 12 beds in 2 en suite rooms. There is also kitchen and common area, A/C, and laundry.
Has several units scattered across Old Town, lacks communal area for socialising. LCD televisions and computers with free internet access, some rooms dingy and noisy.
Free wifi, one shared computer, flat screen TV with a collection of movies.
formerly Pletkovic Hostel
Very central, between bus station and old town. With 8-bedded dorm and private rooms.
Newly renovated with chandeliers, hardwood floors, modern bathrooms with custom glass showers (hotel style), A/C and flatscreen TVs in every room, stainless steel appliances in gourmet kitchen, new bedding and towels, huge lounge where guests can rest and chat, laundry room, internet stations.
Small central place.
Clean comfy small hotel, very central, friendly helpful hosts.
Modern hotel in business district, with 124 rooms.
formerly Hotel Dalmina
Business hotel in an industrial part of town, free parking.
Workaday neighbourhood but hotel is clean & well-run, close to central sights.
Decent place in town centre, some street noise, some rooms are in Annex 500 m away.
Good central hotel, claims to be 5 star but it's more like 3 or 4, and the room rates are in line with that.
Friendly small place within the old palace.
Within the old palace, so some rooms are small and you'll regret trying to bring a car, but excellent service and a comfy modern place in the centre.
Central in old town, most rooms are small and dark, and parking is difficult. But it's clean and simple and has A/C.
Bland modern building, but a well-run resort hotel with beach club and good grill restaurant. With spa, but the indoor pool is closed indefinitely for repairs. One repeat visitor was impressed by the low staff turnover.
Self-catering apartments on Riva promenade looking out to Split Bay.
Suites overlooking the main square, locally known as the Pjaca.
All-suites, 5* hotel with an amazing sea view, infinity pool, and Vip service.
Right next to the Adriatic Sea.
54 rooms and 3 suites.
Farmers market with perfect fruit, vegetables and more. The best time to visit the market is Saturday or Sunday morning.
Fresh fish market.
Shopping street in the centre.
Opened in 2010. 3 floors (5 garage levels) and Cineplexx cinema.
Opened in 2016.
By bus
Most international services to Split involve a change of buses in Zagreb, but Flixbus have direct buses from Vienna (11 hr), Munich (13 hr) and Mostar (4 hr).
By boat
Cruise ships, long distance and short-run ferries all dock at the passenger port next to the bus & railway stations.
By rail
Trains run to Split from Zagreb once daily (with a second train mid-summer) taking six hours, and once overnight. Zagreb has trains from Vienna and Budapest, and connections across the rest of Europe.
By bus
Public transport is run by Promet. Most of the city buses in Split are new, but some are very old and dilapidated. You can find routes and schedules from Easyway journey planner.
By bike
Rent a bike and enjoy beautiful biking along Split's waterfront (Riva), continue to Marjan hill (approximately 7 km), climb to the top of the hill for great view on the Split town and surrounding…
By boat
Speed taxi boat is an excellent solution for fast transportation of passengers on whole Adriatic.
By train
A suburban train uses the main line from Split as far west as Kaštel Stari.
By ride hailing
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Split · International · SPU
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