Split is the second-largest city in Croatia, located on the coast of the Dalmatia region of Croatia. It is packed full of history, beautiful coastline, great nightlife and several great options for day-trips to explore surrounding islands in the Dalmatia region. Here are some things to do in Split that you won’t want to skip!
1. Take a walking Tour
I’ve said this before, but I will always recommend taking a walking tour when you arrive in your city. Walking tours:
- Provide the history of the city and the sights
- If you know the history you appreciate your destination just a little more 😉
- It also helps orient to the city faster and allows for quicker exploration of the city!
Stock photo showing the cities proximity to the ocean front
2. Visit Diocletian's Palace and the Old Town
The Palace of Diocletian will be one of the first things you notice along the waterfront promenade when you arrive in downtown Split. The palace was built as a place of retirement for the emperor Diocletian, completed in 305. It resembles more of a fortress than a palace, however, due to part of it being a personal residence and part of it housing military personnel. It exudes a well-preserved example of Roman architecture. The palace boundaries are wide; now the old town surrounds the palace and is home to around 220 buildings housing bustling restaurants, shops and bars.
For Game of Thrones fans, the basement rooms were used for filming the scenes of Daenery’s dragons while she was in Meereen.
3. take a Boat Tour to the Blue Lagoon
This half-day Blue Lagoon tour was one of our favorite parts of our visit to Split. If you are in Croatia, you need to experience the beautiful waters and some of the surrounding islands. We were able to do both during this tour. The tour makes stops in Solta and Trogir on the way to the Blue Lagoon. Honestly, there wasn’t a lot to do in either town, and I personally don’t believe either would justify an overnight stay. However, both towns were cute and it was nice to see a few island towns off the mainland.
The Blue Lagoon itself was beautiful with crystal clear waters. However, be aware that a large portion of the beaches were formed by rock, so have the appropriate shoes to wear when wading out! Lunch is not provided, so we packed a lunch to eat while sitting on the beach.
We booked our tour through getyourguide.com. When we booked in 2018 we payed 57 euros per person, but it looks like the price has climbed a little since then.
Solta, Trogir, Blue Lagoon, respectively
4. Klis Fortress
If you are coming into Split on highway 1, you’ll notice Klis Fortress to your right. You will also notice the beautiful views looking down on Split. You can easilly make a pitstop at the fortress before making the 25 minute drive down into Split. The fortress is actually not visited by many, so there aren’t many lines and you can explore the grounds without a guide. It is open 10:00 to 17:00 daily.
If you are a Game of Thrones fan, you’ll recognize Klis Fortress as Meereen where Danaerys freed the slaves. If you aren’t a fan, you still need to go for the amazing views that overlook Split!
Stock photo capturing Klis Fortress
5. Climb Marjan for views of the City
For another great view of the city (and a more close-up view of the city), climb to the top of Marjan Hill. The starting point to the climb is a 15 minute walk from the main oceanfront promenade. If you plan to climb up to the viewpoint, be prepared for quite a steep elevation and prepare for about 2 to 2.5 hours to complete the trail. However, once you get to the top you will have great views of the city below!
If you want some views, but aren’t feeling the climb uphill, stop at the Teraca Vidilica bar and restaurant and have a drink with a panoramic view at a lower altitude. Honestly, it is a great option as well!
Stock photo of the view of Split from above
Bonus Activity
Krka National Park
- If you’ve spent anytime looking up Split or Croatia, you’ve probably seen pictures of the multiple waterfalls and swimming area at Krka National Park.
- We didn’t have time to make it here, but it is a well-rated activity to do around Split! It is located an hour and a half from Split and multiple bus tours go daily. If you have extra time in Split, this is a great option to spend your time!
- Visit the Krka National Park website for more information!
Things to do in Split Recap!
I hope you enjoy your time in Split! It is a beautiful city with beautiful water. I found that two days in Split was enough to explore the downtown, take in the views and see the beautiful waters. If you are looking for more to do in Croatia, visit Dubrovnik and use this guide on what to do, where to stay and what to expect on your trip to Dubrovnik!