Things to Do in Split Croatia: The Guide for First Time Visitors 2026
- tailormadetravels
- 18 hours ago
- 8 min read
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We found Split completely by accident on our first Croatia trip.
We were trying to get from Plitvice Lakes National Park to Dubrovnik and needed a ferry. Split was just the place in between. Then we arrived and stood on that white marble promenade with the Adriatic right there and we're immediately blown away.
The second time we spent four days in Split was not entirely by choice. I ended up in the local hospital with an eye issue that started on Hvar but needed the hospital in Split. But here is the thing about Split. Even when your plans fall completely apart, Split finds a way to make it completely fine. Between hospital appointments we lounged on the promenade drinking something cold, ate gelato, wandered through the open air market with the locals and watched the evening come alive. Four unexpected days in Split and not one of them felt wasted.
That is Split. It gets under your skin whether you plan it or not.
Is Split Worth Visiting in Croatia?
Yes. Split is Croatia's second largest city and one of its most underrated. Most first time visitors treat it purely as a transit point on the way to the islands. That is a mistake. Give it two full days minimum and it will become one of the highlights of your entire Croatia trip.
Split has a compact and walkable old town built around and inside a Roman emperor's retirement palace. The waterfront promenade runs along the entire front of the city. The island ferry terminal sits right on that promenade. The local market runs every morning just steps from the palace walls. Everything you need is within walking distance of everything else, even the hospital. Split is genuinely one of the most liveable cities on the Adriatic and it shows.
How Many Days Do You Need in Split Croatia?
Two days is the sweet spot for most visitors. Enough time to explore Diocletian's Palace properly, walk the full length of the Riva promenade, visit Marjan Hill, find Gregory of Nin and have an evening on the waterfront before catching your ferry to the islands.
If you have three days you can add a day trip to Krka National Park which is just over an hour away and completely worth it. If your plans fall apart entirely and you end up with four days like we did, Split will fill every one of them without too much effort.
Getting to Split Croatia
Split has its own international airport with direct connections from several European cities making it one of the most straightforward entry points for a Croatia trip. If you are planning to island hop the Dalmatian coast starting in Split and ending in Dubrovnik is the natural route. The ferry terminal sits right on the Riva promenade so the transition from arrival to island hopping is as seamless as any ferry journey can be.
But, if you need to rent a car for any day trips you have planned, Search car rentals here.
What to Do in Split Croatia
Walk Diocletian's Palace
A Roman emperor built this as his private retirement home in 305 AD. Today an entire neighbourhood has grown up inside its ancient walls. Coffee shops, restaurants, residents going about their daily lives with Roman columns out their windows. The ancient and the everyday happening in the same postal code. It is completely surreal and completely normal all at the same time.
The palace is not a museum you visit and leave. It is a living breathing part of the city that people actually call home. Walk every alley. Look up at the columns. Find the small squares tucked behind the main thoroughfares where locals sit with their coffee away from the tourist flow. Get lost on purpose. That is the right way to do Diocletian's Palace.
Walk the Riva Promenade
The Riva is Split's waterfront promenade and it runs along the entire front of the old town. White marble under your feet, the Adriatic right there beside you, palm trees moving in the warm sea breeze, beautiful boats moored in the marina and coffee shops and restaurants all the way along.
The white marble is worn smooth by centuries of footsteps and it shines in the sun like it's been waiting for you to arrive without sunglasses. Pack them. You will need them more than you think.
In the evening the Riva comes fully alive. Locals out for their evening stroll, restaurants filling up, music drifting from somewhere, the whole city seeming to migrate to the waterfront. Stay for it. It is one of the best free evenings you will have anywhere in Croatia.
Find Gregory of Nin
Just outside the Golden Gate at the northern entrance to Diocletian's Palace stands Gregory of Nin. A larger than life bronze statue of a medieval bishop who fought for the right to hold church services in Croatian instead of Latin. Rub his big toe for good luck. It is shiny from decades of hopeful travellers doing exactly that.
Apparently it works. We rubbed it enthusiastically. Shortly after we headed to Hvar where my eye decided to stage a full rebellion. We ended up back on the fast cat ferry to Split, straight to the local hospital and unexpectedly extended our stay by four days. So the toe either needs significantly more rubbing or it has a very specific sense of humour. Either way rub it. The odds are probably still in your favour.
Visit the Green Market, locally known as the Pazar
Just outside the eastern palace walls sits the Green Market, known locally as Pazar. It runs every day from 8am to 2pm. Fresh produce, local cheese, wine, flowers and if you are adventurous enough, live snails. Yes, snails. In a box. We saw them. The market is increasingly popular with tourists in summer so go early for the full local experience and the best selection. Pick up something for your ferry journey to the islands or your walk to Marjan Hill. The cheese is worth it. The snails are a personal decision.
Walk to Marjan Hill
The Riva promenade extends all the way to Marjan Hill at the western end of the city. Follow it past the marina, past the coffee shops and restaurants and into the quieter residential streets that lead up to the park. Marjanske Skale park sits on the hillside with beautiful views over the water and the city below. A genuinely lovely place to sit, have a picnic, catch the breeze and watch the sea. Take your hat and your sunglasses. The shade up there is similarly optimistic.
Visit Klis Fortress
About fifteen minutes from Split by car sits Klis Fortress, perched dramatically on a rocky outcrop above the city with sweeping views of the surrounding landscape. For Game of Thrones fans this is the filming location for the city of Meereen. For everyone else it is simply a spectacular medieval fortress with a genuinely interesting history and views that make the drive worth it. Book the Trogir Old Town and Klis Fortress tour from Split here.
Day Trips from Split Croatia
Krka National Park
Just over an hour from Split, Krka National Park is one of the most spectacular day trips you can do from anywhere in Croatia. Cascading waterfalls, turquoise pools, wooden boardwalks right at water level and in October the most extraordinary autumn colours you have ever seen beside a waterfall. Book tickets in advance. In summer it sells out.
This Krka Waterfalls tour including a boat cruise and swimming is the easiest way to get there and back without worrying about driving or parking.
Trogir
Just 27 kilometres west of Split, Trogir is a small medieval town on an island connected to the mainland by bridge. Highly regarded by travellers who have been and very easy to reach from Split. Worth considering if you have an extra half day. This Split and Trogir small group half day tour is a great option if you want to see both in one trip without worrying about transport.
Hvar as a Day Trip
The catamaran ferries from Split can get you to Hvar in under an hour. I can personally attest that these ferries are efficient and well positioned at both the Hvar and Split ends having taken them several times during an unexpected extended stay. My honest advice however is to stay at least three nights on Hvar rather than treating it as a day trip. The best of Hvar reveals itself slowly and the ferry crowds in summer mean a day trip can feel more exhausting than relaxing. But if your schedule only allows a day, Hvar is still worth it.
Where to Stay in Split Croatia
Stay as close to Diocletian's Palace as you can.
That is the honest answer. You are in the middle of everything you want and need. The ferry terminal, the Riva promenade, the market, the restaurants, the evening atmosphere. Everything radiates outward from the palace and staying inside or immediately adjacent to the old town means you walk to all of it. Staying further out means taxis or buses every time you want to be where the action is. Keep it simple. Stay central.
Practical Tips for Split Croatia
Wear sunglasses and bring a hat. The white marble promenade reflects the sun with considerable enthusiasm and the shade situation on both the Riva and Marjan Hill is optimistic at best.
Stay for the evening. Split during the day is beautiful. Split in the evening is something else entirely. The whole city comes alive after dinner and the Riva becomes the social centre of everything.
Buy your ferry tickets early. The ferry terminal is right on the Riva promenade and you can buy tickets from the booth where the ferries dock. In summer buy well in advance. The islands are popular and the ferries fill up. You can also book online at Jadrolinija.hr.
Visit Pazar early. The Green Market runs every day from 8am to 2pm just outside the eastern palace walls. Go early for the best selection and the most local experience before the tourist crowds arrive.
Plan for at least two days. One day in Split is not enough. Two days is the sweet spot. Three gives you room for a Krka day trip. Four means your plans fell apart in the best possible city for that to happen.
Planning to visit Europe this summer? The EU Entry Exit System is now fully operational at all Schengen borders since April 2026. No pre-registration needed but budget extra time at border control on your first entry. Watch our full EES breakdown here and our ETIAS explainer here so you know exactly what to expect before you land.
For everything else you need to know before your first Croatia trip read our complete Croatia tips guide here.
The Honest Bottom Line
Split is not just a ferry terminal. It is one of the most liveable and genuinely surprising cities on the Adriatic and it rewards travellers who give it more than a single rushed afternoon.
We found it by accident. We ended up spending four unplanned days there during a hospital visit. And both times it gave us something we weren't expecting.
That is Split. Plan for it. Or don't. It works either way.
From Split the islands are waiting. Here's the full Croatia island hopping itinerary when you're ready.
Have questions about visiting Split or planning your Croatia island hopping trip? Drop them in the comments below. I am happy to answer everything I know.
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