Best Things to Do in Split (2026 Guide)

The best things to do in Split begin inside the walls of Diocletian’s Palace. The Roman Emperor Diocletian built his retirement palace here in AD 305 — it covers 30,000 square metres and was the largest structure ever built by a Roman emperor for private use. Today it’s a living city: people eat, sleep, and run businesses inside its walls. The Peristyle courtyard, the Cathedral of Saint Domnius (converted from Diocletian’s mausoleum), the underground substructure (Podrum), and the four original gates are all accessible. Marjan Hill — a forested headland west of the old town — provides the best panoramic views and walking trails. The Riva promenade (Split’s seafront boulevard) is the social heartbeat of the city.

Best time to visit

May-June and September-October are ideal: warm (25-30°C), the Adriatic is swimmable, and the palace is not gridlocked with summer crowds. July-August is peak season: Croatia fills with European and Australian visitors (many Croatians from the diaspora return in August), accommodation prices triple, and Split’s waterfront and ferry terminals are extremely busy. Boat trips to the islands and Krka National Park should be booked weeks in advance. April and November are quiet and cheap but some island accommodation closes. December-February is mild (10-15°C) — excellent for photography in the palace without crowds, but most island facilities are closed.

Getting around

Split Airport is 25km from the city (taxi €25-30, or bus €6). Within Split, the old town and Riva are easily walkable. Local buses cover the wider city including Trošir (Bus 37, 30 minutes). Ferries to Hvar Town (2 hours), Stari Grad Hvar (2 hours), Brač/Supetar (50 minutes), Vis (2 hours 15 minutes), and other islands depart from the main Split Ferry Terminal adjacent to the Riva. Jadrolinija runs the main ferry services; book in peak season. Krka National Park is 90km north of Split — reached by tourist day-trip bus, rental car, or organised tour ($25-35 USD including entry).

What to eat and drink

Dalmatian cuisine is among the finest in the Mediterranean. Freshly grilled fish and seafood (branzino, dorada, squid, octopus salad) dressed in local olive oil and lemon. Peka — lamb or octopus slow-cooked under an iron bell (pečenjara) with vegetables in the embers — requires advance ordering and is the definitive Dalmatian dish. Pljeskavica (Balkan grilled meat patty) and čufte (meatballs) from konoba restaurants in the Varos neighbourhood. Fakin konoba has the best peka in Split; Sperun is the old-town institution for fresh fish. Dalmatian wine: the red Prošek dessert wine, Plavac Mali (robust red from Hvar’s Stari Grad Plain), and Posip white from Koročula. Škorpía beer (local Split craft brewery) and Karlovacko are the ubiquitous lagers.

Neighborhoods to explore

Diocletian’s Palace (Grad) — The walled old town: the Peristyle, Cathedral of St. Domnius, Podrum underground chambers, and the maze of alleys lined with restaurants and craft galleries. Enter through the Golden Gate (north), Silver Gate (east), Iron Gate (west), or Bronze Gate (south/sea-facing).

Varos — The traditional Croatian fishing neighbourhood immediately west of the palace walls: stone houses, narrow streets, the best konoba restaurants in Split, and access to the Marjan Hill walking trails.

Manus (Meje) — The upscale residential neighbourhood southwest of the old town, along the sea. Villa Dalmacija, the Meje promenade, and the local beach at Jezinac are here.

Bacvice Beach — Split’s most famous beach, 10 minutes walk east of the palace. Sandy (unusual for Croatia), with a picigin water polo tradition played in the shallows by locals every morning.

Hvar Town (day trip) — The most fashionable island town in Croatia: Fortica fortress above the town, Hvar Cathedral on the main square (Trg Sv. Stjepana), and beach clubs at Carpe Diem. Two-hour ferry from Split.