16 AMAZING THINGS TO DO IN SPLIT, CROATIA: HOW I’D EXPLORE SPLIT IN 2026

If you’re searching for the best things to do in Split, you’re in the right place! In this blog post, I’ll tell you exactly what I’d do while exploring Split as a local!

Split is one of the most popular destinations in Croatia, and thousands of tourists come here every year for their summer holidays. If you need help planning your trip, I have a whole post on spending 2 days in Split. However, if you’re looking for more things to add to your itinerary, keep reading.

As a local Croatian, I’ve spent quite a lot of time in Split, and these are the things I’d recommend adding to your itinerary. I’ve included the main sights you shouldn’t miss, as well as some of my personal recommendations to help you make the most of your time in the city. All of these are worth doing!

MY FAVOURITE THINGS TO DO IN SPLIT

What to do	Why I recommend it
Diocletian’s Palace	This is the main reason I’d visit Split. You can’t really come to Split without exploring the Palace and the Old Town around it.
Walk along the Riva	It’s simple, but I always enjoy walking along the Riva. Grab a coffee, have a drink, or just walk along the waterfront and watch the city and the people.
Visit Marjan Hill	I love coming here when I want a break from the busy old town. You get some great views over Split, and you don’t have to spend the whole day hiking. Visiting the first viewpoint is already great!
Take a boat tour	If you’re in Split during summer, I’d definitely try to get out on the water. It’s a completely different way to experience the coast and swim in some beautiful spots. The most popular is the Blue Cave, but I prefer the Blue Lagoon.
Take a day trip to Hvar	Hvar is one of my favourite islands in Croatia, so if you have an extra day, I think you must do this day trip from Split.

STROLL DOWN THE RIVA PROMENADE

The Riva Promenade is one of the most visited and loved parts of Split, and it’s definitely something that should be one of your first experiences. This beautiful promenade along the coast is lined with palm trees, boats, restaurants, and cafés, and it’s one of the liveliest parts of the city.

I love grabbing a coffee or a drink here, because the Riva is one of the most scenic places in Split to sit and watch the city and the people. You immediately get to experience Split’s true atmosphere. Even if you just want to take a walk along the sea, the Riva is a perfect place to do it.

CLIMB MARJAN HILL

If you like an active vacation, Marjan Hill is a place you must visit, and I recommend it to everyone. This is a gorgeous hill that’s one of the nicest and most peaceful parts of Split, and it’s totally worth climbing when you want to escape the crowds of the old town and the Riva.

You can choose between the easier or harder climb. The easier is to just climb the stairs to the first viewpoint from which you can get incredible views of Split. It’ won’t take you more than 30 minutes to reach the viewpoint from the old Town. There’s even a bar there where you can grab a drink or a coffee and enjoy the views!

If you want a bigger challenge, climb to the higher viewpoint, which is Telegrin. You will get gorgeous views of the whole city and the Adriatic Sea, but it will take you 2-3 hours to get up there. This is more challenging so if you decide to climb it, make sure you dress comfortably and bring water!

EXPLORE DIOCLETIAN’S PALACE

Diocletian’s Palace is the most iconic landmark in Split, and it’s a must-visit. This UNESCO-protected site was built in the 4th century AD by Roman Emperor Diocletian, and much of it is still well preserved today.

The most special part of Diocletian’s Palace is the central courtyard, known as the Peristyle, which is now a popular gathering place for both tourists and locals. In my opinion, this is the most impressive part of Split’s Old Town, and although it’s almost always crowded, it’s definitely worth seeing, trust me!

You can explore the Palace itself for free, but if you’d like to visit the cellars, you’ll need to pay a small entrance fee. I’d also highly recommend getting a guided tour of the Old Town. They’re usually quite affordable, and I think you get a lot more out of visiting Diocletian’s Palace when you know the history behind what you’re seeing.

CLIMB THE BELL TOWER

The bell tower of the Church of Saint Domnius is an unmissable landmark you’ve seen on many pictures of Split. It’s a part of the Diocletian’s Palace, and if you don’t have a fear of heights, I’d definitely recommend climbing it. The bell tower is 57 meters high (around 187 feet) and it offers breathtaking panoramic views of Split, the Adriatic Sea, and nearby islands. The entrance fee is around 10 euros and you can buy it on the spot.

RELAX AT LOCAL BEACHES

If you’re visiting Split in summer, you can easily fit in some beach time between exploring the city. There are several beaches in and around Split, although I wouldn’t come here specifically for the beaches.

The most popular is Bacvice Beach, a sandy beach with shallow water that’s great for families. It’s also very close to the Old Town, but personally, it’s my least favourite. It gets very crowded and I don’t find it particularly beautiful, but if you want a quick swim close to the centre, it will do the job!

For a nicer beach, I’d head towards Marjan Hill. Jezinac, Kastelet, and Kasjuni are all pebbly, but I much prefer these three for their clear water and nicer surroundings. Kasjuni is my personal favourite. Check out my whole guide to best Split beaches!

VISIT KLIS FORTRESS

Klis Fortress is an incredible medieval fort located just outside Split, so it’s an easy half-day trip. It’s perched atop a hill, and you’ll get stunning views of Split, the Adriatic Sea, and the surrounding countryside. While this fort is really historically important for Split, it has recently become a popular tourist attraction after being featured in Game of Thrones as the city of Meereen.

You can reach Klis Fortress easily by car, in around 30 minutes. If you don’t have a car, you can book a tour which will take you to the fort. The entrance ticket is 12 euros for adults and 4 euros for children.

TAKE A DAY TRIP TO HVAR

Along with Split and Dubrovnik, Hvar Island is one of Croatia’s most popular destinations, and it’s an island I LOVE. Hvar is only about an hour from Split by ferry, so it’s a perfect day trip. You can get there by Jadrolinija ferry.

The most visited places on the island are Hvar Town and Stari Grad, both with charming old streets and squares, historical sights, and plenty of great bars and restaurants. I absolutely love both towns, as well as smaller places like Jelsa and Vrboska.

Hvar is an amazing island, and if you don’t have time to stay for a few days, I’d definitely recommend visiting as a day trip. Check out my Split to Hvar day trip guide for everything you need to know!

VISIT THE BLUE CAVE

Visiting the Blue Cave is one of the most magical experiences in Croatia, and it’s a must for most people visiting Split. The Blue Cave is located on Bisevo Island, near the island of Vis. This natural wonder is famous for its glowing blue light, created by sunlight reflecting off the seabed through an underwater opening.

You need to book a tour for this experience and I suggest booking below well in advance. You’re only allowed to spend 30 minutes in the cave, so these tours often include other interesting islands and locations which will only enhance your day trip. Check out the tours below!

TAKE A GAME OF THRONES TOUR

If you’re a Game of Thrones fan, you should definitely book a Game of Thrones tour with a certified tour guide. These guides take you around the city and show you all the locations where GoT was filmed, and give you commentary on the filming process. These tours below are the most popular and most booked in Split!

VISIT TROGIR

Trogir is one of the most charming small cities near Split, and it’s totally worth spending a day there. I would say I even prefer Trogir to Split, because it’s quieter, more charming, and less crowded than Split.

You can reach Trogir easily from Split by car, bus, or taxi. If you’re driving or taking a taxi, Trogir is only 20 minutes away. If you’re using public transport, buses go quite frequently. Grab one from the main bus station and you’ll be in Trogir in 30 minutes. The ticket is 4,50 euros.

Trogir has got a lot to offer once you’re there. Some of the best things you can do is explore the old town, stroll down the waterfront promenade, visit the Karmelengo Fortress, and go to the beach. Check out this blog post about visiting Trogir from Split for more info!

RENT A BOAT

If you’d like to explore the Croatian coast by yourself, you can rent a boat with a skipper in Split. The most popular activity in Split is actually island hopping. From Split you can easily visit Hvar, Brac, Vis, Bisevo, Pakleni Islands, and so on. While you can visit all of them by ferry, if your budget is comfortable enough, visiting by your own boat will be way more fun.

The skippers in Croatia are very experienced and can take you to the places you want to visit, as well as some beautiful secluded bays and beaches that you wouldn’t be able to reach otherwise. If you don’t have a boat license, you can’t rent a boat and drive it yourself, even if it’s a small one, so keep that in mind when planning your boat trip!

GO KAYAKING

If you like water sports, you might be interested in sea kayaking. It’s quite a popular activity in Split and throughout Croatia, and you can book tours either in the city or online. Most tours start in or near the Old Town and follow the coast towards Marjan Park-Forest. They usually last around 3–4 hours, with breaks for swimming and relaxing along the way. I think it’s a fun way to see a different side of Split, especially if you enjoy being out on the water. If you’d like to try it, you can check out some of the available tours below!

VISIT OMIS

Another charming town not far from Split is Omis. This small town is around 25 km from Split, and you can reach it in about 40 minutes by car, depending on traffic. Omis has some of the most beautiful natural scenery near Split, so if you’re a nature lover, I’d definitely add Omis to your itinerary.

The area was recently affected by a fire, but the town itself is completely intact and still absolutely worth visiting. Unfortunately, some of the surrounding nature was affected by the fire, so the landscape doesn’t look the same as it used to.

Some things you definitely need to do are explore the Old Town, visit Mirabella Fortress in the town centre and Starigrad Fortress on the hill above Omis, go zip-lining over the Cetina River, and spend some time at the beach.Omis also has a huge and beautiful sandy beach called Velika Plaza, which you won’t want to miss. If you’re planning a visit, check out my guide to 5 best things to do in Omis before you go!

GO RAFTING ON CETINA RIVER

If you’re looking for something more adventurous, you’ll love rafting on the Cetina River. The river passes right by Omis, so if you’re planning to visit the town, you can easily include rafting in your itinerary. If you do go rafting, I’d also recommend staying for lunch at Radmanove Mlinice afterwards. It’s one of my favourite restaurants in Croatia, and their peka is amazing! The Cetina River is a great place for rafting, and here are some of the tours you can book for a fun day on the river!

EAT SOME TRADITIONAL FOOD

Croatia has incredible traditional food, and if you like Mediterranean cuisine, you’ll have a great time eating your way around Dalmatia. Split has plenty of restaurants serving different types of cuisine, but if you’re visiting Croatia for the first time, I’d definitely recommend trying some traditional Dalmatian dishes.

The most popular options are fresh fish, whether grilled, boiled, or prepared as a stew, as well as pasticada, Dalmatian prosciutto, lamb and octopus or meat prepared “pod pekom”. These are some of the dishes I’d look out for while visiting Split, with peka being the most popular option. I also really love mussels if you can find them on the menu!

Some great restaurants where you can try traditional Croatian and Dalmatian dishes are Makarun, Konoba Varos and Sug. Make sure you make a reservation in advance if you’re visiting during the summer, as popular restaurants can get very busy. I have a whole guide on the best Split restaurants below!

VISIT KRKA NATIONAL PARK

Krka is the most popular national park in Croatia after Plitvice Lakes. It’s only an hour from Split, near the town of Sibenik. It’s one of the best day trips you can take if you love nature.

Krka NP is famous for its powerful waterfalls on the Krka River and incredible green surroundings. There are 2 popular entrances to the NP, Skradin and Lozovac. We personally always use the Lozovac one because we come by car, but if you want to experience a boat tour try the Skradin entrance.

You’ll need around 3-4 hours to explore the main part of the NP, around the Skradinski Buk waterfall. If you plan to venture farther out, you’ll need more time. The entrance to the park is 40 euros, and here’s a complete guide to everything you need to know about Krka NP.

BEST DAY TRIPS FROM SPLIT

I’ve already mentioned quite a few day trips throughout this blog post, but I really want to emphasise that Split is one of the best bases for day trips in Croatia. There are so many places you can visit from here that you could easily stay for 10 days, take a different day trip every day, and still have plenty to see!

I’ve already mentioned Brac, Hvar, Krka National Park, Omis, Trogir, the Blue Cave, and more, but you can also visit Makarska, Primosten, Sibenik, Zadar, Brela, and many other places along the coast. So if you’re planning a longer stay in Split, make sure you leave at least a few days for day trips. Trust me, you won’t run out of places to explore!

HOW MANY DAYS DO YOU NEED IN SPLIT?

If you only want to explore Split itself, I’d say 2 days is enough. However, I’d highly recommend staying longer, and around 5 days is ideal for me if you’re planning to take several day trips. In my opinion, the day trips are actually one of the best parts of staying in Split.

For example, one or two boat trips, a visit to a national park, and a beach day already give you plenty to do over 5 days. And there are still so many other places you can visit from Split! Whatever you decide to do, think about what you’d like to see and plan your stay accordingly. If you want to explore more of the surrounding area, I’d definitely give yourself at least a few extra days.

WHAT I’D DO IN SPLIT IN ONE DAY

If you only have one day in Split, I’d focus on the Old Town and the main sights around it. You won’t be able to see everything, but you can definitely get a good feel for the city in one day. My must-sees and things to do would be:

• Explore Diocletian’s Palace
• Take a guided tour of the Old Town
• Have a coffee on the Riva Promenade
• Have lunch at Fig
• Walk up to the Marjan Hill viewpoint
• Spend some time wandering around the Old Town
• Finish the day with ice cream at Ela’s or Emiliana

This is pretty much how I’d spend my own day in Split, without trying to rush around and tick off too many places.

MY PERSONAL TAKE ON THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN SPLIT

I’ve visited Split plenty of times, and all of these activities are absolutely worth doing, especially if it’s your first time in the city. That said, I’d strongly encourage you to prioritise the islands if you’re not planning to spend more time on them later. The islands around Split are truly some of the biggest gems in this part of Croatia, and I think they’re well worth making time for.

CONCLUSION: BEST THINGS TO DO IN SPLIT

Split really offers plenty of things to do, both in the city and in the surrounding area. To experience most of the activities on this list, I’d recommend staying for at least 5–7 days. Of course, how long you need depends on what you want to see and do, so choose the activities that interest you most.

But if you’re visiting Split, make sure you properly explore the Old Town and visit AT LEAST one nearby island. In my opinion, the islands are one of the best parts of the whole area.