A guide to exploring Split, Croatia

Updated On 19th February, 2024

Split is without a doubt one of the best places to visit in Croatia, and a city break here is even a strong contender for one of the best places things to do in Europe. It’s also one of the cheapest places to visit in Europe, meaning that despite all the fun things to do in Split and beautiful places to visit in Split and the surrounding area, you can spend a weekend here without breaking the bank!

Split is Croatia‘s second-largest city and the largest city in the Dalmatia region. It’s located on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea, across a peninsula and the surrounding area. Split is one of the most popular holidays and tourist destinations in Europe. Famous for its stunning old town (which is a UNESCO world heritage site), crystal clear water, and as a Game of Thrones filming location and central transport hub in Croatia, it’s no wonder that so many people want to visit Split in 2021.

Exploring the Old Town and joining a Game of Thrones tour are just some of the best things to do in Split, but there are so many more! From sea kayaking around the peninsula to hiking Marjan Hill or climbing the Saint Domnius Bell Tower, in this blog post I’m going to share the best things to do in Split and the best places to visit in Split. All of these should be added to your Croatia bucket list!

A complete guide to travelling Split, Croatia

How to get to Split:

You can fly into Split from many international airports across Europe – check your flights here. Once you’ve arrived at the airport, there is an airport > city bus for 30 kuna per person, or if you’re in a group, arrive at a funky time, or want the quick and easy option, a taxi or Uber will set you back 250-300 kuna.

It is also possible to arrive by bus or train if you are travelling through Europe on a budget – check connections here.

Where to stay in Split:

Split has a variety of hostel, hotel and apartment options on offer for you to choose from – check all your options here on booking.com or on Airbnb. (Get £25 off your first Airbnb stay here).

With WMGT we stayed in Hostel Split Backpackers 1 and Hostel Split Backpackers 2 (there were so many of us!). It was clean and the staff were friendly, and the hostels are in a great location – just what we needed for our trip!

Before the WMGT adventure, I stayed in this beautiful Airbnb…

The best things to do and see in Split, Croatia:

See an extended guide to the best things to do in Split, Croatia here.

Hike Marjan Park – a relaxed hike that took an hour each way, and is perfect for views overlooking the Old Town and Harbour.
Walk around from the seafront to the right, and jump off the rocks into the sea – perfect if you need a little adrenaline rush!
Enjoy a picnic with friends on the front of the pier at sunset.
Watch the sunrise and grab an acai bowl at Maka Maka on the waterfront – my favourite acai bowl in the city.
Climb the Bell Tower of Saint Domnius for views across the whole city (20 kuna), and explore the cathedral while you’re there.
Head to the Bell Tower at 8/9pm in the evening for live music and dance the night away under the stars.
Explore the Old Town: be sure to look up at the beautiful architecture. You could even do a walking tour so you see everything and get an overview of the history.
Browse the daily markets. Located near the ferry wharf and the bus terminal, these sell everything from cute souvenirs (including Croatia’s famous lavender products!) to fresh produce.
Stand up paddleboarding: perfect for seeing the city from a different perspective while being active at the same time (about 300 kuna per person for a 4 hour tour).
Explore the Underground Market in the cellar of Diocletian Palace for more souvenirs to take home with you reminding you of your trip.
Head to Bavice Beach to relax for a little while by the water and under the sun (it can get busy here in the height of summer, though).

An ultimate 8-day itinerary for Croatia: Split, Hvar & Dubrovnik

Where to eat and drink in Split:

– Maka Maka – for Poke Bowls and Acai bowls, smoothies and juices to die for (they have two locations in the city, both are great!)

– Vege Fast Food – for some insane vegan burritos and tortillas

– Makrovega or Marta’s Veggie Infusion – for some vegan wok meals

– D16 – for a gorgeous chia pot or an amazing coffee

– Luka Ice Cream – for the best ice cream in Split, worth every calorie!

– Bobis – a bakery for lovely cakes and pastries

– Fife – for great value food (European, traditional, Croatian and seafood) with a great atmosphere

– Kokolo Juice Bar – another spot for a healthy breakfast bowl, juice or smoothie

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Top tip: Try to shop at supermarkets if you can (Tommy’s, Spar, Lidl), rather than tourist shops – it can be the difference between paying 6 kuna or 30 kuna for a large bottle of water!

Top tip: Lidl is outside the city centre and costs 20-40 kuna (depending on where you are in the city) to get to, if you need to do a more extensive shop on a budget

Trips from Split:

– Get a ferry from the port over to a nearby island: Hvar, Korticula and Brac are all close.

We did Brac: The ferry to Supetar (with Jadrolinija, 66 kuna return) took 50 minutes. We hired 50cc scooters from M&B Skeip, which cost 210 kuna for 6 hours and explored the island at our leisure.

Ferries to Hvar take one-two hours and are run throughout the day by Kapetan Luka (Krilo) and Jadrolinija, costing upwards of 40 kuna each way.

– Hire a car and head to Krka Waterfalls National Park or Plitvice Lakes National Park

– Book onto the Yacht Week