Split has become a popular vacation destination in Croatia. Young people in particular love to party the night away here and during the day break out on the beach of the Adriatic Sea. Fortunately, there is much more to do around Split than just partying. From Split, visit the beautiful Plitvice Lakes and Krka National Park. In Split itself, wander the narrow streets where you will find the coziest restaurants and cafes. Discover all things to do in Split by reading this article.
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During our backpacking trip through Eastern Europe, we spent 3 days in Split. This was perfect to be able to see the beautiful places of Split and then travel on again. Because Split itself does not have a lot of sights, you can also relax at the beach. This makes Split a very nice city for a city trip.
Tip: On your first day in Split, book this fun bike tour in the city!
Diocletian’s palace
Located in the middle of Split, this magnificent palace is built entirely in Roman style. Since 1979, Diocletian’s palace has already been on the UNESCO World Heritage List. You can wander the beautiful streets of the palace for a long time. Also be sure to go underground in the palace. Here lies a whole system of corridors and cellars. In one of the cellars a market has been made where you can buy souvenirs. The palace is free to visit and is officially open 24 hours a day. The square in front of the palace often has some sort of a performance going on. As in many places in Croatia, several scenes of Game of Thrones were shot in Diocletian’s palace. Highly recommended for true fans to add this to your list of things to do in Split. Discover more Game of Thrones filmlocations in Split.
The Bell Tower of Split
The Bell Tower is officially part of Diocletian’s palace. The special thing about this ancient tower is that you can climb it. If you are very afraid of heights, this climb is not recommended. In fact, from the top of the tower you have a sweeping view of downtown Split, the Adriatic Sea and in the distance you can even see the islands. Climbing the Bell Tower costs 20 Kuna (€2.85) per person. If you also want to visit the cathedral located next to the Bell Tower you will pay 42 Kuna (€6) for a combo ticket.
The Riva Boulevard in Split
Riva Boulevard is a cozy place in Split. It is full of cafes, restaurants and stores. You can have a sumptuous lunch here, have a drink on the terrace or a delicious dinner. The prices for food and drinks on the promenade are a lot higher than in the old town of Split, though. Save this location on Google maps for your things to do in Split.
Marjan hill from Split
The Marjan city park is a lovely place in Split to relax in the shade. On the contrary, when you want to do something active, this is also the place to be. You can walk all the way to the end of the park. Here you come out at Marjan Hill, also called Telegrin. From this hill you have a panoramic view of Split and the sea. It is a tough climb, so it is recommended to start early in the morning so that the sun is not yet high. You don’t have to pay an entrance fee to the park.
From Split you can do many trips in the beautiful surroundings. Visit these beautiful places in Croatia from Split. Tip: You can easily book bus tickets to the cities through 12GO.
Visit Trogir from Split
This is not a thing to do in Split itself, but you can easily go here. Trogir is a delightful town which is also on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Behind its medieval walls you will find a maze of narrow streets and many old buildings. Trogir’s highlights are its beautiful cathedrals, palaces and bell towers. From Split catch a direct bus to Trogir that takes only 30 minutes. Book your tickets for this bus ride here from €3.
Day tour to the islands off Split
Off the coast of Split, in the Adriatic Sea, there are many islands. You can visit these islands via day trip or even stay overnight on the islands. Hvar is the most popular island. Hvar is well attuned to tourists. This is evident because there are many accommodations, restaurants and clubs. It is a fine island to stay on if you are looking for something more luxurious. It is one of the best things to do in Split.
One of the most beautiful experiences in Split is taking a luxury cruise along the Dalmatian coast. You can start your journey right from Split and sail along the stunning Adriatic, visiting islands, charming coastal towns, and other Croatian cities along the way. It’s an unforgettable way to discover the region while enjoying comfort and breathtaking views.
If you want a little more activity, Brač is the perfect island. In Brač you will find the most beautiful beach in Croatia: Zlatni Rat. Zlatni Rat is so famous because it is shaped like a horn. You can also do some very nice kitesurfing here in the summer! Furthermore, in Brač you can take a wonderful road trip by scooter or car all over the island. Are you up for a real challenge? Vidova Mountain is 800 meters high and you can climb it via an 11-kilometer (one-way) trek from the town of Bol. To do this hike you will be there and back for a total of about 5 hours but then you will have great views from the top. Don’t feel like hiking? Then you can also get here by car or scooter.
The island of Solta is another beautiful island off the coast of Split. Via ferry you can get here in the morning and back in the evening. Be sure to bring bikes or a scooter from Split already. After all, you can’t find these in Solta and you can’t really walk around here yourself. The beautiful beaches are exactly on the opposite side from where you arrive by ferry.
Visit the Krka waterfalls from Split
From Split, after just an hour’s drive you’ll be in Skradin for Krka National Park. This beautiful park with its famous waterfalls is a popular destination for many tourists. Therefore, many day trips are organized from Split. Very convenient if you don’t have your own transportation and don’t want to stay in Skradin. We ourselves did stay in Skradin for 2 days, which is also recommended because you can get into the park early in the morning before all the day tourists arrive.
You can walk around the park for an hour to see the beautiful nature. After this, you can enjoy the sun on your towel or walk a little further to avoid the crowds. To do this, follow a path leading along the forest. After a 20-minute walk, you come out to a large spot on a lake. Here you can’t swim but you can laze around without the hundreds of other tourists around you.
Visit the Plitvice Lakes
Besides Krka National Park, there is an even more beautiful park in Croatia: the Plitvice Lakes. This park is not for lazing and swimming but rather for active hiking. There are 8 different trails that take you through the park, each with its own level of difficulty. Several day trips depart daily from Split to the Plitvice Lakes but we would not recommend this.
In fact, it is a 2.5-hour drive from Split to the Plitvice Lakes. This comes at the expense of your time in the park. You leave very early in the morning and return late at night. Also, you are then stuck with the times you can be in the park. Much more fun is to stay near the Plitvice Lakes and go into the park yourself. Also read our article with all the tips about your visit to the Plitvice Lakes.
How to get to Split?
You can fly to Split pretty easily. When you are on a trip in Eastern Europe, you can travel to Split from many cities. Most people travel to Split from Dubrovnik, Zagreb or from Kotor in Montenegro. You can easily view all times, bus tickets and connections through 12GO. Through 12GO, you can also immediately reserve a ticket for the bus you want to take. That way, you know exactly where to board and you can also be sure that you can take the bus because you have already purchased your ticket online.
