By air
Split (SPU), ~25 km
Europe · Croatia
Split, Croatia
A city inside a Roman palace
Getting there
Best time to visit
May to June and September — warm, calmer
Don't miss
Diocletian's Palace
The Cathedral of St Domnius
The Riva
Bačvice beach
Things to do
Diocletian's Palace
Island ferries to Hvar and Brač
The Riva promenade
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Bernard Gagnon · CC BY-SA 4.0
What to pack
Swimwear
A quieter corner
Marjan hill's forest trails
Questions travellers ask
What's the best season for Split?
May to June and September, when it is warm but calmer.
What makes Split special?
It is a city inside a Roman palace. Explore Diocletian's Palace and the Cathedral of St Domnius, stroll the Riva promenade, and swim at Bačvice beach.
Can I hop to the islands from Split?
Yes — island ferries go to Hvar and Brač, so pack swimwear. If you are flying in, Split's airport (SPU) is about 25 km away.
Where can I find some green space in Split?
On Marjan hill's forest trails. Afterwards, try pašticada or some seafood.
About Split
- Coastal
Where it is
Split is Croatia's second-largest city, on a peninsula on the central Dalmatian coast of the Adriatic, with the wooded Marjan hill to the west and ferries to the islands of Brač, Hvar and Šolta.
History
Split grew inside the palace that the Roman emperor Diocletian built for his retirement around AD 300. In the 7th century people fleeing nearby Salona settled within its walls, and the city was later ruled by Venice for nearly four centuries and then by Austria. The palace and the medieval town within it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.
People
Split's people speak Croatian with a Dalmatian accent, and the city is known for klapa, unaccompanied harmony singing listed by UNESCO, and picigin, a ball game played in the shallows of Bačvice beach. The feast of St Domnius, the city's patron saint, is celebrated every May.
Known for
- Diocletian's Palace
- The Cathedral of St Domnius
- The Riva waterfront promenade
- Marjan hill's forest park
- Ferries to Hvar, Brač and Vis
Did you know?
Split's cathedral was built as the mausoleum of Diocletian, an emperor who persecuted Christians, and it is now dedicated to St Domnius, a bishop martyred during his reign.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.