What are the top things to do in Split?

Diocletian Palace, Peristyle, Cathedral of St. Domnius, Temple of Jupiter, and more. Paste your own list into Tripsapien and it checks each place's hours, closures, and booking pressure for your exact dates.

Which neighborhoods should I explore in Split?

Diocletian Palace and Grad, Riva and Ferry Port, Varos, Marjan, Spinut, and Meje. Tripsapien groups your places by neighborhood so each day stays in one or two areas instead of zig-zagging.

When is the best time to visit Split?

May, September, June balance comfortable temperatures with fewer rainy days. Pick your month below to see that month's events, public holidays, and seasonal timing.

Will the places on my list be open when I'm in Split?

Tripsapien checks each place against the exact dates you're in Split and flags closures, limited hours, and sell-outs before the trip.

Split Croatia

Things to do in Split

By Tripsapien Research / Updated May 20, 2026

Split is an Adriatic port where Diocletian Palace is not a ruin outside town but the lived-in core of the city. The practical visitor frame is the Palace and Riva for the historic center, Varos and Marjan for old lanes and viewpoints, and Bacvice or Firule for city beaches.

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About Split

City overview

Food & drink

Split food is Dalmatian and coastal: pasticada with gnocchi, black risotto, grilled sardines, brudet, soparnik, blitva, fritule, and local olive oil. Pazar produce market, the fish market on Marmontova, palace konobas, and Varos taverns are the useful first stops.

Top sights

Ranked for suitability using weather, setting, ratings, and review volume.

Map of Split with pinned top attractions (1 through 10)

1
Diocletian Palace
4.7★ · 90,036
Roman emperor Diocletian built the seafront palace around AD 305, and Split grew inside its walls. Shops, apartments, churches, and cafes still fill the Roman grid between the Golden, Silver, Iron, and Bronze Gates.
Wikipedia
2
Peristyle
The Peristyle was the palace ceremonial court, framed by columns, sphinxes, and the entrance to the imperial apartments. It sits beside the cathedral and is the best place to understand the palace plan before exploring lanes.
Wikipedia
3
Cathedral of St. Domnius
4.6★ · 7,430
The cathedral occupies Diocletian mausoleum, turning a Roman imperial tomb into one of the oldest cathedral buildings in continuous use. The bell tower climb looks over the Riva, harbor, and palace roofs.

Show 7 more sights

4Temple of Jupiter
5Basement Halls
6Riva
7Marjan Hill
8Bacvice Beach
9Mestrovic Gallery
10Archaeological Museum

Neighborhoods

1
Diocletian Palace and Grad
The historic core is dense and lived-in, with the Peristyle, cathedral, basement halls, Narodni trg, tiny apartments, wine bars, and souvenir lanes inside Roman walls.
2
Riva and Ferry Port
The waterfront is practical and social, with cafe rows, catamaran piers, Jadrolinija ferries, bus links, and evening strolls in front of the palace walls.
3
Varos
Varos climbs west of the palace in narrow stone lanes, old fishermen houses, konoba restaurants, and stairways toward Marjan viewpoints.
4
Marjan, Spinut, and Meje
The western peninsula side is greener and calmer, anchored by Marjan forest, Mestrovic Gallery, Poljud Stadium, coastal paths, and small swimming coves.
5
Bacvice and Firule
East of the port, Bacvice and Firule feel beachy and local, with sandy shallows, cafes, tennis courts, hospitals, and low-key apartment streets.
6
Znjan and Trstenik
The eastern shore is more residential and modern, with long pebble beaches, seaside bars, bigger hotels, and bus links back to the palace.

Day trips

28km / 30-45min by bus or car from Split
Trogir
The UNESCO old town sits on a small island with the Cathedral of St. Lawrence, stone lanes, and a waterfront that feels easier than Split in peak afternoon crowds.
12km / 20-30min by car or local bus from Split
Klis Fortress and Salona
Klis controls the pass above the city, while Salona preserves Roman ruins near Solin. Together they make the closest history day beyond the palace.
1h by catamaran from Split ferry port
Hvar Town
Hvar adds Venetian lanes, a harbor promenade, fortress views, and island swimming. Check return sailings before committing to dinner on the island.

Getting around

Split old center is foot-only in practice, and most ferry, bus, rail, Riva, Bacvice, and palace stops sit within a compact harbor zone. Promet buses cover Marjan edges, Znjan, Salona, Trogir, and airport approaches, while ferries and catamarans drive island travel.