I loved our time in Split. We only had a day there, but honestly, I could’ve happily stayed a week.
There was just something about the place. The mix of ancient stone walls and seaside charm, Roman ruins sitting right alongside busy cafés, and the sparkling Adriatic coastline wrapping it all together.
Split is Croatia’s second-largest city (and the biggest along the Dalmatian coast), but it doesn’t feel overwhelming. It’s the kind of place where you can get lost down cobbled lanes, stumble across 1,700-year-old history, then grab a drink by the harbour as the sun dips behind the mountains.
Whether you’re into architecture, culture, nature or just soaking up a bit of laid-back coastal life, Split delivers.
Here are my top picks — a mix of what we managed to see, and what’s still on my list for next time — for the very best things to do in Split, Croatia.
Let’s dive in.
Top 20 Very Best Things to Do in Split, Croatia
1. Explore Diocletian’s Palace in the Old Town
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Diocletian’s Palace is an ancient palace that was built as a residence of the Roman emperor Diocletian in the fourth century AD.
Wandering through the palace is one of the top things to do in Split, Croatia. The palace makes up half of the Split Old Town. By the Middle Ages, the palace was colonized by shops and apartments.
The sprawling palace spread over 30,000 square meters that once housed emperor Diocletian and his posse along with a whole military garrison is now home to approximately 3,000 people and many cafes, shops, entertainers, and restaurants.
Two popular streets through the palace – Cardo and Decumanus – still retain the original paving stones.
Game of Thrones fans will immediately recognize the area because some of the scenes were shot at the Diocletian’s Palace, specifically its cellar where Daenerys housed her dragons when she visited Meereen.
The basement of the Diocletian’s Palace has historic stone sewer systems worth exploring. It’s a bit cold underground so you might need a sweater.
Pro Tip: Don’t miss the elaborately decorated historic Golden Gate that served as the main entrance to the palace complex.
2. Step Into the Peristil Square
I’ll be honest. The Peristil Square (or Peristyle Square) is a part of the Diocletian’s Palace in the Old Town, but it deserves a separate mention.
Sitting at the heart of Diocletian’s Palace, the Peristil Square was once an imperial square where emperor Diocletian used to address his people.
This is where you will find one of the oldest objects of the Old Town – the Egyptian Sphinx! Emperor Diocletian once squashed a rebellion in Egypt and brought back a few sphinxes, but only one of them survives today, adorning the imperial square flanked by two colonnades.
FYI, the Sphinx is 2,000 years old!
The Peristil Square offers a lot of photo opportunities, and it must be on your itinerary while visiting Split.
Pro Tip: Visit as early as possible to avoid the crowd and someone photobombing your shots!
3. Visit the Neoclassical Ivan Meštrović Gallery
Two kilometers away from the Diocletian’s Palace in Old town is the famous Ivan Meštrović Gallery. It is a neoclassical building designed by the famous Croatian sculptor & artist, Ivan Meštrović as his residence. Now, it serves as a museum. The building fell into despair during the Yugoslav Wars but reopened in 1998.
The museum houses a huge collection of Meštrović’s works including Psyche and Contemplation – the two mythology-inspired pieces.
Between 1898 and 1961, Meštrović created a total of 192 sculptures and 583 drawings, all of which reflect his philosophy and policies. Don’t forget to enjoy the short film of his life detailing the wars he lived through and his life in exile.
Outside the museum is a Mediterranean garden of bronze sculptures, some of which surround the museum building while others overlook the sea and the central Dalmatian islands.
Pro Tip: Across the street is a private chapel with impressive wood carvings and sweeping coastal views. Don’t miss that!
4. Marvel at the Cathedral of Saint Domnius
Back to the Old Town, the Cathedral of Saint Domnius or St. Duje’s Cathedral is another enchanting piece of history and architectural marvel that you shouldn’t miss while visiting Split.
The cathedral was once an Imperial Roman mausoleum and its central structure was built back in 350 CE. This makes the Cathedral of Saint Domnius the oldest catholic cathedral in use today.
The Cathedral of Saint Domnius is a complex of a church dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The cathedral has three sections from three different ages.
The main part is Diocletian’s mausoleum. A choir was added in the 17th century on the eastern side of the mausoleum whose eastern wall was torn down for the unification of the two chambers. The final section is the Romanesque-style bell tower dedicated to Saint Domnius. It was built in 1100 CE.
Pro Tip: Take a moment to gaze at the Romanesque wooden door of the cathedral that was made around 1214 CE by Andrija Buvina who carved 14 scenes from Jesus’ life on the two wings of the door.
5. Scale The Bell Tower
The free-standing bell tower of the Saint Domnius Cathedral should be on your Split walking tour itinerary. It is a perfect example of how ancient structures have been repurposed in the Split Old Town.
It was originally a Romanesque-style campanile, but it went through radical rebuilding in 1908, during which many Romanesque sculptures were removed.
Still, at an impressive 187 feet, it adorns the Split skyline. As you keep climbing to the upper levels, the bell tower keeps tapering, and at the very top, you stand exposed to the elements.
Unless you are a person with acrophobia, I will recommend scaling all 200 steps to reach the top and peer through the paired arched windows. You will be greeted with sweeping panoramic views of the city, the Adriatic Sea, and the Diocletian’s Palace.
6. Explore the Centuries-Old Klis Fortress
Whether you are a fan of Game of Thrones or an ancient history buff, the centuries-old Klis Fortress must be on your list of things to do in Split, Croatia.
About 8 miles from the city center is a small village called Klis. This is where you will find the historic Klis Fortress balanced on a bluff atop a terraced hill and surrounded by more lofty cliffs.
Illyrians built the castles in the second century BCE and then the Romans took over in the 9th century CE. The fortress, however, was mostly built during medieval times, and it was once a stronghold for the Croatians defending the country from Mongol and Ottoman invaders.
As far as Game of Thrones is concerned, the Klis fortress is where most of the scenes for Meereen were filmed.
7. Get a Sweeping View of the Old Town from Marjan Hill
Located at the west end of the Split peninsula and close to the Split Old Town city center, Marjan Hill is a spectacular green oasis. Standing 584 feet high, the Marjan Hill gives a boundless view of the Old Town and the coastline from the top.
If you don’t want to reach all the way up to the top, you can stop halfway and enjoy some beer or coffee at Vidilica – a beautiful café bar that also offers panoramic views of Split’s Old Town.
The snaking trails through the pine forest will lead you up Marjan Hill and a set of stone steps will help you to walk up to the top with ease. It is a 4-hour hike to the top, so make sure that you carry water and snacks.
From there, you can descend to Bene Beach for a relaxing swim in the blue waters!
8. Visit Krka National Park
The Krka National Park is one of the most impressive national parks dotted with stunning waterfalls. It is a perfect day trip from Split.
The park is approximately a 1.5-hour drive from Split, but I will suggest you reach Skradin and hop on a boat trip to sail through the Krka River and soak in nature’s beauty as you pass one breathtaking waterfall after another.
Acres of lush greenery, serene lakes, and scenic boardwalks give you enough reasons to spend days exploring everything that nature has to offer.
The Krka National Park is one of the most popular tourist attractions for photographers, geologists, and nature lovers visiting Croatia.
If you are interested in more such day trips, consider a day trip to Plitvice Lakes National Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site housing 16 mesmerizing turquoise lakes and a whopping 90 waterfalls. It takes around 2.5 to 3 hours to drive to reach the Plitvice Lakes National Park and so, I will suggest you start in the early morning.
Another perfect day trip from Split, you cannot miss the awe-inspiring Blue Cave on Biševo Island along Croatia’s Dalmatian coast. Lit by a brilliant blue light, the brightly shining water and the shimmering silvery rocks make a perfect setup for a romantic tale.
9. Walk Across Centuries in Trogir
