Croatia’s second-largest city, Split, is ideally located on the beautiful Adriatic Sea. Its Old Town is bursting with history and charm, but if you venture just outside its walls, you’ll find a modern and lively Dalmatian city with the most beautiful coastline.
While Split is a destination in and of itself, it’s also a great jumping off point to explore other destinations in Croatia like the neighboring islands, Krka National Park and more. So I highly recommend that you take advantage of that!
I’ve had the opportunity to visit this historic city more than once and I find a new love for it each time I go. While this only scratches the surface of everything there is to do and see in this beautiful city, this is my round-up of the best things to do in Split, Croatia.
Roam the historic walls of Diocletian’s palace.
Built at the end of the third century AD as a residence for the Roman Emperor Diocletian, this palace is a unique one to roam through because it actually consists of half of Split’s Old Town. You won’t find yourself visiting a museum, but rather you’ll make your way through the palace and its accompanying buildings as you roam through its many streets. I would highly recommend booking a free, tips-based tour through GuruWalk to learn more about the palace and the city itself.
The palace’s basement halls are actually one of the world’s best-preserved complexes from the era of classical antiquity. Today, a large part of the basement can be accessed right from the Riva, while the rest of it can be accessed by paying a small fee. The basements were actually one of the key scenes from Game of Thrones where Daenerys was filmed taming her dragons so it’s a must-see!
Hike the Marjan Hill Stairs.
Located just a short walk outside of Split’s Old Town you’ll find the Marjan Hill Stairs. A set of over 300 stairs winding through a public park, leading to the most beautiful views of Split.
To get there you can simply search ‘Marjan Hill Stairs’ on Google Maps and it will take you right to the base. I would recommend heading there in the early morning or the late afternoon to avoid the heat (because it does get VERY hot in the summer months), and be sure to bring water along with you as there aren’t any vendors along the path. Luckily, there are a number of different viewpoints along the stairs so you don’t need to trek all of the way to the top to enjoy the views. The best part? It’s completely free, so it definitely makes my list of the best things to do in Split, Croatia!
Discover Split’s Best Beaches.
With its ideal location on the Adriatic Sea, Split is home to some pretty amazing beaches, most just a short distance from the Old Town. A few of my favorites are Plaža Ježina and Plaža Kaštelet, and each are just a short distance from each other.
In addition to the beach, you’ll find a number of places to post up on the rocks. Many areas have ladders conveniently leading into the sea, making it easy to jump in and out of the water throughout your stay. If you’re looking for a drink, there’s also a beach bar, Jadran Beach Bar, located nearby where you can sip on drinks and enjoy beautiful views of the surrounding area. They also have lounge chairs there, though you may have to pay for them.
Wander through the beautiful Riva Harbour.
A waterfront walkway lined with palm trees, restaurants and bars just outside of the Old Town walls, the Riva Harbour is a beautiful place to wander around and take in the sights of the city. You could easily walk for miles along the path, taking in the sea views.
Feast on Split’s local delicacies.
Croatian food may not be as well known as other types of cuisine, but when visiting the area it’s essential to indulge in some of the local delicacies. Influenced by Balkan ingredients and Mediterranean flavors, Croatian cuisine has a range of offerings but a few of its notable dishes include:
- Peka: Typically made with meat or seafood, this dish is cooked in an open fireplace under a lid or ‘bell’. At most restaurants, you typically need to order this dish at least 24 hours ahead of time as it takes all day to cook, but I promise you, it’s worth it!
- Burek: Phyllo pastries, which are stuffed with anything from meat to cheese and vegetables. You’ll find these being served for breakfast at a lot of the local bakeries.
- Ćevapi: Grilled meat sausages made from a blend of beef and lamb. These are really unique and absolutely worth trying!
- Priganice: Fried dough balls or fritters often served for breakfast with honey, jam or cheese. These are so delicious and remind me a lot of a funnel cake.
A few of my favorite spots to indulge in local Croatian food in Split are Kantun Paulina for Ćevapi and Villa Spiza for the fresh, local food and quaint ambiance (this is by far our favorite restaurant in Split!).
Take a day trip to Krka National Park.
Krka National Park is a beautiful place to see natural waterfalls and lush greenery. Located just an hour away from Split, it makes for a great day trip. Entrance to the park ranges from 20-40 euros and gives you access to roam through the entire park. I visited for the first time in 2015 and at that time you were able to swim in one of the waterfalls, but unfortunately you’re no longer able to do that.
If you don’t want to rent a car to get there, there are a number of companies in Split and online that offer tour packages. We chose this GetYourGuide tour which included access to the park, a river boat ride to the town of Skradin and a stop at a local winery for a wine and cheese tasting, all for about $70 per person. Overall, we thought it was a great value and would definitely recommend.
Discover the Medieval Klis Fortress.
Another half day trip option is Klis Fortress. A medieval fortress located above the small village of Klis near Split, Croatia, it has garnered a lot of attention in recent years having been the backdrop for one of the main scenes in the Game of Thrones series. The structure itself is beautiful and extremely impressive but the views it offers are what really stole the show for me. I would definitely recommend visiting with a tour guide to really get the full historical context.
Visit one of the many islands.
One of the great things about Split is its proximity to some of Croatia’s best islands like Hvar, Brac, Korcula and Vis, to name a few. You can easily hop on a ferry just a few minutes from the Old Town and venture to the islands for the day, or even for a longer stay. I’ve taken the local Jadrolinija ferry on more than one occasion and it was very easy and affordable.
I personally would recommend visiting the island of Vis, which is the farthest inhabited island from the Croatian mainland. In my onion it’s the most beautiful and least touristy of the islands. You can check out my complete guide to the island of Vis here and a YouTube video detailing my time there.
You can also get a better idea of some of the above Split activities by checking out my YouTube video on how we spent 48 Hours in Split, Croatia.
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