Top 8 Things to Do in Split, Croatia
Lying on the shore of Adriatic Sea, Split the second-largest city of Croatia boasting with historical sights that date back to the ancient times. Some of the best things to do in Split is to wander through the streets of the Old Town, sit by the shore on a sunny day and explore the markets to name a few.
We stayed for two days, and it was more than enough for exploring the city. However, depending on what you would like to do in and around Split, you might want to stay longer. This post will give you a bit of an idea on how to plan your visit to the city and its surroundings.
How to Get There
Getting to Split is not hard at all. There are buses, ferries, and cheap airlines you can get either from any other city of Croatia or even other major European cities. Moreover, there are ferries that operate from Italy to Split. As we started our trip from Dubrovnik and did a bit of an island hopping, we took a ferry from Hvar to Split.
Most of the must-see landmarks of Split are centrally located in its old town and near the city center. Thus, there are within walking distance from each other.
Things to do in Split: Diocletian’s Palace
Built for the Roman emperor Diocletian in 305 CE, Split was founded as the Greek colony of Aspálathos. Therefore, it’s one of the most well-known attractions of the city that date back to the 3rd or 2nd century. If you are a fan of Game of Thrones, you might even recall some of the areas from the TV show.
Generally, the summer months in Croatia are fully packed with hundreds of thousands of tourists. Thus, if your trip coincides with the peak season, make sure to visit it in the morning to avoid crowds. Even though we were here in October, the city was still quite busy with tourists.
And if you come here during the evening, you can sit and the stairs and enjoy very good live music and a cup of wine.
Things to do in Split Croatia: The Bell Tower
The Bell Tower next to the palace is the main symbol of Split and was dedicated to St. Domnius, the patron saint of the city in the 12th century. Pay a small fee to climb up the tower for 360-degree views of Split and its surroundings.
Things to do in Split: Underground market
Split is full of various markets for souvenirs, but one of the most significant ones is the market underneath the Diocletian’s Palace. Here you’ll find unique items to bring home to your family and friends. Apart from this, if you are into markets, here’s a list of some of the best Split markets for you to check out.
Things to do in Split: Riva Promenade
One of the things to do in Split on warm, sunny weather is to take a nice walk or a sit at the Riva Promenade full of palm trees, smoothie stands, coffee shops and a perfect view of the Split’s harbor.
Try some of the most unusual flavored chocolates
Chocolate lovers out there will enjoy the most unusual flavored chocolate bars here. We stumbled upon this shop, which apparently is one of the most popular chocolate shops in town offering chocolate bars with Lavender, carob, olive oil, and pepper.
I wanted to try Lavanda flavored, but I couldn’t dare and Oto, said to go with the one we would enjoy, so we bought Figs and Sweet Wine and it was DELICIOUS!!
Things to do in Split: bizarre fountain
Another most unique spot we accidentally stumbled upon was this weird but funny fountain. I don’t know the story behind it, but I thought it was worth including it in the list.
Go on day trips
The geographic location of the city enables you to visit many famous spots in the country as a day trip. For instance, you can explore small towns like Trogir, Hvar and Brac islands with ferries, or drive up to Krka National Park or Zadar. The possibilities are endless.
Eat seafood at a budget-friendly restaurant
The seafood here is plenty and quite cheap so take advantage of it. We wound Restaurant Fife to be the cheapest venue to eat, the meals were big portions, delicious, and the service was super fast.
Where to Stay in Split on a Budget
One of the biggest expenses without a doubt while traveling is accommodation. Finding a budget-friendly and high-quality place to stay can be difficult. However, we were lucky to find a five-star 101 Dalmatians Hostel offering comfortable beds, clean linen, and a nice atmosphere to chill out after a long, exhausting walk in the city.
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☀ Book in advance some of the best city walks, cultural experiences, and day tours to maximize your stay and experience here.
You had me at chocolate! Split is one of the bucket list destinations in Croatia that is definitely on my bucket list. I would love to see Diocletian’s Palace and the ruins throughout the city. I love the bizarre fountains you found too. How cool!
Well, the Bizarre Fountain looks bizarre! Seafood is always a favorite of mine, so I have no doubt that I’d love the food here along with the views and other things to do while strolling the promenade.
Split looks such a lovely place! Thank you for your great tips.
I don’t think of chocolate when I think of Split so appreciate the tip on where to find such a wide range of delicious flavours. The figs and sweet wine one would also be my top choice!
I do hope I get to Split, or anywhere in Croatia someday. The fig and wine-flavored chocolate sounds divine, and I would love to explore the waterfront and the fountains.