12 Awesome Things to Do in Split for First-Timers

12 Best Things to Do in Split

1. Be Amazed by Diocletian's Palace

One of the most iconic landmarks in Split and one that you should definitely check out first things first is Diocletian's Palace, a stunning 4th century AD Roman palace located right in the heart of Split's old town.

This incredible ancient Roman palace was originally built as a retirement home for the Roman Emperor Diocletian before it was later used as a military fortress, and today houses museums, galleries, and restaurants in its Peristyle courtyard.

Due to the palace's central location, no matter in which direction you walk, you will eventually end up in Diocletian Palace's courtyard as the streets merge into the square. When you arrive at the courtyard, you will know immediately that you are at Diocletian's Palace as you are surrounded by the epic archways, full of stunning Roman columns on both sides.

Since the palace is a collection of buildiere built as part of the old town, most of the areas are not closed off behind a ,gate so you can stroll around any time you like for ,free which is pretty awesome.

If you wish to learn more about the history of Split and its incredible architecture, I highly recommend you go on one of the many walking tours you can find here. You will be able to dive deeper into the rich history of all the things you are seeing directly from a local guide. It is a great way to get a bit of understanding of what makes Split so awesome.

Now, if you are a huge fan of the HBO hit fantasy series, Game of Thrones, you are going to love exploring the palace as many of the scenes in the series are shot right here at the palace. You can also join a Game of Thrones-themed walking tour to learn about all the trivia of the series and its actual location.

Diocletian's Palace is truly the heart of Sp,lit and if you just arrive in the city and are not sure where to begin exploring, I highly recommend you make your way straight to the palace and start from there. Eventually, you will realize that all the paths leading from the palace will take you to almost all the attractions in the medieval city. Definitely one of the best things to do in Split.

2. Check Out the View from Saint Domnius Cathedral

One of the most prominent buildings in Diocletian's Palace is Saint Domnius Cathedral and its imposing bell tower where you can make your way up to admire the view of Split and its coastal area from above.

This ancient Roman cathedral was built in the 7th Century as a mausoleum for the Roman emperor Diocletian but was later converted into a cathedral dedicated to Saint Domnius, the patron saint of Split.

The cathedral's architecture is a unique blend of Roman, Byzantine, and Gothic styles, and you can get inside it to check out the beautiful interior before you head over to its impressive bell tower and make your way up the 200 steps to the top.

From the observation deck, you will have an incredible 360° panoramic view of the entire cityscape of Spl,it as well as its beautiful coastline and all the mountains and hills that surround it. It is quite a sight to behold,d and I highly recommend you make it all the way to the top of Saint Domnius Cathedral while you are in Split.

Saint Domnius Cathedral is open from 7:30 AM to 6 PM every day except on Sundays when it is open from 12 PM to 6 PM. To get inside, you are going to have to buy a Diocletian's Palace ticket, which comes in 4 types, 2 of which include access to the Bell Tower.

The first type is the Green Ticket which is 9 EUR and includes the Cathedral, the Bell Tower, and the Treasury, while the second type is the Purple Ticket which is 10 EUR and includes all 5 important sites of Diocletian's Palace, the Cathedral, crypt, baptistery, treasury, and of course, the bell tower.

If you are planning to visit all the attractions I listed here, I highly recommend you get the Purple ticket so you can access all the important sites in the city. You can buy the ticket from the ticket office located in Diocletian's Palace's courtyard. Definitely one of the best things to do in Split.

3. Check Out Jupiter's Temple

Another ancient ruin you should check out while you are exploring Diocletian's Palace is Jupiter's Temple, a small ancient Roman temple located not too far from Saint Domnius Cathedral, right around the corner from the ticket office.

The temple was built in the 3rd century AD as a sacred temple dedicated to the Roman god Jupiter, and it served as the spiritual hub of the palace complex and the entire old town during the Roman reign. It was then converted into a baptistery later on in the 6th century after the shift towards polytheism.

Inside, you will find a well-preserved interior with stone carvings and ceiling designs that resemble those of the Roman churches you find in Italy. Right at the center, you will also find a large bronze statue of St. John, the Baptist, and a Renaissance sarcophagus placed in front of it.

The temple is open from 8 AM to 4 PM every day except on Sundays when it is open from 12 PM to 6 PM. Since the temple is part of Diocletian's Palace, you can access the temple with the same ticket as Saint Domnius Cathedral as long you bought the Purple (10 EUR) or Blue Ticket (6 EUR).

4. Walk Through the Golden Gate

One of the signature pieces of architecture that the Romans loved to build in its towns and cities is the triumphal arch, and you can also find one in Split called the Golden Gate, located at the northern entrance of the old town.

The triumphal arch was built in the 4th Century as part of the Diocletian's Palace, and it served as the main gate through which the Emperor entered the complex and was elaborately decorated to mark its status.

Unfortunately, the gate was left in disrepair during the Middle Ages, and it lost its columns and statuary in the process, although you can still see a few ornate sculptures here and there on the gate as well as witness its impressive scale as you walk through it.

It really does feel like walking into a medieval town when you walk through the Golden Gate. If you love history and want to see a cool Roman city gate, be sure to drop by and check out the Golden Gate while you are in Split.

5. Listen to the Local Singing at Vestibule

Vestibule or the Rotonda is another piece of architecture that the Romans love to build in their cities. You can find such structures across the ancient Roman world, which is thought to have been inspired by the ancient Pantheon that was built in the early first century AD and is still standing to this day in Rome.

The Vestibule served as a reception hall for important visitors to Diocletian's Palace and was also used for public events and ceremonies, which is understandable since this place has an incredible acoustic, so much so that you will often find local performers singing local tunes inside Vestibule.

A group of street performers often come here and sing every day for tourists, and you can really witness the incredible acoustics of this place as they sing their hearts out for our entertainment. Of course, if you appreciate what they do, you can give them a tip before we continue on to explore the rest of Split.

6. Explore Diocletian's Cellars

As you walk through Vestibule, you will find yourself in the Diocletian's Cellars, a series of ancient underground chambers located within Diocletian's Palace, connecting the Old Town to Riva, the beautiful waterfront of Split.

The cellars were originally built in the 4th century AD as part of the palace's infrastructure and were used for storage, as well as for heating and cooling the palace.

Today, the tunnel is used as a way to connect the old part of Split to the new waterfront area, and along the tunnel, you will find several souvenir shops that sell all sorts of items, from paintings to postcards. If you are looking to buy something back home for your loved ones, you can check out some of the shops in Diocletian's Cellars.

7. Stroll Along Riva

As you emerge from Diocletian's Cellars, you will find yourself in the beautiful Riva waterfront area, where you will find lines of palm trees on a spacious promenade waterfront area where you can stroll around the admire the beautiful view of the Adriatic Sea and nearby islands.

The promenade runs along the waterfront and the city's historic old town, with restaurants, bars, and cafes as well as park benches and souvenir shops scattered along its 620 meters (2034 feet) length.

It is a great place to spend the evening, walking around, enjoying great company while watching people, and witnessing the beautiful sunset at this small harbor where the entire promenade turns golden as the sun dips below the horizon over the Adriatic Sea. It is truly quite a sight to behold.

Riva is also a great place to hang out at night, with several bars and clubs located along the promenade, waiting for you to explore. It is one of the liveliest places to hang out in Split, and if you are looking for a great night-out spot, be sure to check out Riva.

8. Check Out the Medieval Fruit Square

Fruit Square, also known as Voćni trg in Croatian, is a historic square located in the heart of Split, Croatia. The square is named after the fruit market that used to be held there in the past.

At the square, you will find all sorts of impressive architecture and monuments, including the Venetian Tower, the statue of Marko Marulić, a famous Croatian poet, and stone houses and buildings that Split is famous for.

Here, you will also find plenty of cafes and restaurants you can indulge yourself in, which makes it a perfect place to hang out if you prefer a lower foot traffic area and you want to be surrounded by old medieval buildings than what you find in Riva. Be sure to check out Fruit Square when you are in Split.

9. Hang out at People's Square

People's Square, also known as Narodni trg in Croatian, is an impressive historic square in Split, home to some of the most unique landmarks in the city, including the City Hall, the Ethnographic Museum, and the incredible Church of Our Lady of the Bell Tower located on top of another ancient city gate in Split called Iron Gate.

This Romanesque-style church was built in the 13th century, and it features a small but impressive bell tower that admire from People's Square from afar or you can spend 2 EUR to get access to the tower and climb to the top for a view over the square.

At the square, you will also find all sorts of restaurants and cafes you can indulge yourself in, as well as souvenir shops you can shop around in. It is a great place to hang out in Split and a perfect place to admire the beautiful medieval buildings of Split.

10. Hike to Vrh Telegrin Lookout

If you are looking for something active to do in Split that will also reward you with an incredible view, I highly recommend you go on a hike to the Vrh Telegrin lookout point located at the top of Marjan Hill, a prominent hill on the western side of Split.

The hill is about 178 meters tall and offers stunning panoramic views of the city and the Adriatic Sea. The hill is covered in lush Mediterranean vegetation, including pine trees, cypress, and agave plants, which provide a nice shady area for us to hike around.

It should take about 30 minutes to hike from Split's Old Town to Vrh Telegrin lookout point, and along the way, you will find all sorts of cool attractions that will keep you busy the entire time like this viewpoint, a small St. Nicholas Church, a natural history museum and zoo, and Marjan observatory.

Once you are up at the top, you will be rewarded with incredible views of the colorful cityscape of Split, the beautiful coastline, and the Adriatic Sea from the other side of Marjan Hill. For the best time to visit, I highly recommend you start hiking about an hour before sunset and be at the viewpoint during the Golden Hour. Trust me, you are going to love the view up there at sunset!

11. Spend a Day in Hvar

One of the best day trips you can make in Split is to visit Hvar, a beautiful charming seaside town located on an island with the same name, around an hour's ferry ride away from Split.

Hvar is known for its small charming old town and beautiful coastline and there is no better way to appreciate it than to climb up to the top of Fortica Fortress and admire the view of the city, the Adriatic Sea, and the surrounding islands from up there.

Fortica Fortress or Spanish Fortress is a historic fortress built by the Venetians in the 16th Century as a way to fortify and defend the island from intruders. The fortress is situated on top of a hill behind Hvar's old town, which offers a great vantage point over the entire area.

To get up there, you are going to have to hike up the hill, which is not particularly hard as you stroll along the cobblestone street up through the staircase of the old town onto the foothill before it zigzags its way up to the fortress which you should be able to complete in under 20 minutes.

The views up there are pretty amazing, and it was definitely worth every sweat you shed along the trail. You can spend a few hours exploring the rampart, relaxing, and enjoying the view from the park benches in the fortress, or stroll around the museum inside.

Once you are done with the fortress, you can spend the rest of the day exploring the beautiful charming old town and check out places like St. Stephen's Cathedral, and Franciscan Monastery, or spend the day and walk around its coastline or relax at Plaža Lučica beach.

Hvar is an awesome place to visit with a lot to offer, from hiking to relaxing at the beach, so if you have a day to spare, be sure to go on a day trip and visit Hvar. You can visit Hvar as part of an organized tour which will take you to other tourist attractions in the area like the Blue Cave or you can travel independently as I did.

To travel to Hvar independently, you are going to have to buy a boat ticket the day before and catch the boat from Split Pier here. There, you will find the TP Line ticket booth where the boat will depart from. You can buy the boat ticket here.

Be sure to get the 9:15 AM one so that you will arrive at 10:30 AM and have enough time to explore the island before heading back to Split on the 5 PM ferry. The ferry should cost around 20 EUR per trip, so 40 EUR in total, making it a great budget way to explore Hvar.

For the best things to do in Hvar, check out:8 Best Things to Do in Hvar

12. Explore Krka National Park for a day

Another great day trip to make from Split is to visit the beautiful Krka National Park, home to a series of stunning waterfalls, crystal clear lakes, and lush greenery where you can spend a day hiking around in. The place is truly one of the prettiest natural wonders you can visit in Croatia.

At Krka National Park, you will have the opportunity to do some hiking around its extensive network of wooden boardwalks and walking trails that will take you through some of the prettiest waterfalls you will see in Croatia.

The most famous waterfall in the Krka National Park that you should definitely visit is Skradinski Buk, a spectacular cascade that drops 45 meters into a series of turquoise pools below. It is one of the first big waterfalls you will see in the national park and you can hike around or go uphill to have an even better view of the national park from above.

There are also other notable attractions deep inside the park that you can visit with a boat tour, like Roški slap, another dramatic, multi-tiered cascade with a cave, a wooden walkway, and a restaurant you can check out, Visovac Monastery, a picturesque Franciscan monastery located on an island in the middle of the lake, and so much more.

You can easily spend an entire just exploring all the attractions inside Krka National Park, so be sure to spare enough time to do all the hikes and boat tours you wish to do. Even then, do not expect to be able to do them all in a day, as there are way too many things to see inside the national park.

To get from Split to Krka National Park, the best way is to go on an organized tour which will allow you to visit Krka National Park without having to worry about the logistics of it all and you will be able to dive even deeper into the national park and visit further away places that you might not have been able to do it independently.

Places like Visovac Island and Roški Waterfall are not easy to see, especially for day-trippers that travel independently, as it requires at least 2 - 4 hours on a boat excursion to travel there and back. With the guided tour, you will be able to get there and back as well as provide time to hike around and explore the main area of Skradinski Buk.

If you are planning to visit Krka National Park from Split, there is no better way to do it than with an organized tour. You can browse through some of the great deals on day trips and tours from here.

The whole trip should take you the entire day, so if you have a day to spare in Split, be sure to make it to Krka National Park! The national park is open from 8 AM to 6 PM every day, and the entrance ticket is around 30 - 40 EUR per person, depending on the season.

Looking for a complete guide to Krka National Park? Check out:A Complete Travel Guide to Krka National Park

Where to Eat and Drink in Split?

Eat Seafood At Fife

Fife is a local restaurant that serves delicious local cuisine ranging from fresh seafood like fried squid and grilled sea bass with baked potatoes, one of my favorite dishes from here, to regular street food style dishes like Cevapi and more.

The restaurant is on the pricier side but not as outrageously pricey as the restaurants along the waterfront. You can expect to pay between 7 EUR for a simple pasta dish to 16 EUR for a full-blown seafood dish.

The restaurant is open from 10 AM to 12 AM every day except on Sundays, which makes it great to visit for both lunch and dinner. If you are craving proper seafood dishes in Split, be sure to check out Fife.

Try Out Burek at ST Burek

Burek is a popular pastry dish in Croatia that is typically made from layered thin sheets of phyllo dough with a filling made of meat, cheese, and vegetables, and there is no better place to try that than at ST Burek.

You can get Burek with a variety of fillings like cheese and meat from here, and it costs only 2 EUR for a massive piece that will fill you up for hours.

The bakery is open from 7 AM to 11 PM every day except on Sundays when it is open from 8 AM to 11 PM. It is a delicious street food to try for those who are looking for a quick bite before continuing to explore the city.

Enjoy a Cup of Coffee at KaKantun

If you are looking for a nice cafe to hang out at, I highly recommend KaKantun, a small cafe/bar that serves delicious specialty coffee during the day and gin at night which makes it a great place to hang out with friends no matter what time you visit the place at.

The cafe is located in the quiet corner of Split Old Town, which makes it an awesome little place where you can enjoy the aroma of coffee beans as you are surrounded by beautiful medieval buildings. The cafe is open from 8 AM to 12 AM every day except on Sundays when it is open from 9 AM to 12 AM.

Further Reading for Croatia

I hope you found this Croatia travel guide useful. If you want to read more about Croatia, here is a selection of articles you might like:

• For a complete itinerary to the Balkans, check out: 2 Months Backpacking Balkans Itinerary.
• For a comprehensive Croatia backpacking itinerary, check out: 2 Weeks Backpacking Croatia Itinerary.
• Zagreb may not be on everyone's radar, but the city does have its charm, and it is a great place to see what life is really like in Croatia outside of touristy towns. Here are the 14 Best Things to Do in Zagreb.
• If you want to hike around Plitvice Lakes National Park, one of the best national parks in Croatia, be sure to check out: A Complete Hiking Guide to Plitvice Lakes National Park.
• Pula is a charming city in the beautiful region of Istria, home to some of the most well-preserved Roman ruins outside of Italy. If you are planning to visit Pula, be sure to check out: 10 Best Things to Do in Pula.
• One of the most charming coastal towns that doesn't get as many tourists as other places in Croatia, Rovinj is one of the best places to visit in Croatia. Here are the 10 best things to do in Rovinj.
• Krka National Park is home to some of the most beautiful waterfalls in Croatia. If you want to visit the park, make sure to check out: A Complete Travel Guide to Krka National Park.
• From swimming in the crystal clear waters to walking around the quaint town, Hvar is a great island to visit to escape the typical touristy towns in Croatia. Wondering what you can do there? Here are the 8 Best Things to Do in Hvar.
• You can't come to Croatia without visiting Dubrovnik, one of the most famous travel destinations in Europe, home to so many cool things to do and places to see. If you are planning to visit the town, here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Dubrovnik.
• Not convinced by my words? Here are 125 photos that will inspire you to visit Europe.
• To see all the articles about Croatia, visit the Croatia Travel Guide page.
• Traveling in Europe can be cheap, really cheap. These are the 12 Cheap European Countries to Visit.
• Looking for more travel guides for Europe? You can find more on my Europe Travel Guide page.
• Or, if you want something more specific to the region, visit our Balkans Travel Guide, Eastern Europe Travel Guide, Western Europe Travel Guide, Southern Europe Travel Guide, or Central Europe Travel Guide pages.
• For more of my travel guides like this, visit my Destinations page.