Split travel guide

About Split

Split is the second-largest city in Croatia, after the capital Zagreb, situated on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea. As the administrative seat of Split-Dalmatia County and the largest city on the Croatian coast, it serves as a key economic, cultural, and transportation hub for the region. Developed around the historic core of Diocletian's Palace and extending across a central peninsula toward its surrounding suburbs and hinterland, Split combines a continuous urban tradition spanning more than seventeen centuries with a contemporary role as one of Croatia's leading tourist destinations. The city itself has a population of over 160,000, while the metropolitan area encompasses approximately 310,000 inhabitants.

Cheap flights to Split

The lowest round-trip fare found by Destina Holidays travellers in the last 30 days was $1,095 from Philadelphia, travelling 15 Mar – 25 Mar. These are the cheapest fares from the most searched cities.

• NYC New York to Split14 Sep – 24 Sep · SPU from$1,150
• CHI Chicago to Split28 Apr – 11 May · SPU from$1,170
• LAX Los Angeles to Split9 Nov – 23 Nov · SPU from$1,174
• LAS Las Vegas to Split13 Mar – 24 Mar · SPU from$1,189
• BOS Boston to Split3 Nov – 16 Nov · SPU from$1,115
• WAS Washington to Split28 Apr – 5 May · SPU from$1,168
• DFW Dallas to Split20 Mar – 1 Apr · SPU from$1,164
• SFO San Francisco to Split5 May – 18 May · SPU from$1,158

Cheapest month to fly

Airlines travellers compared most often: United Airlines, Air Canada, ITA Airways, Lufthansa, Swiss International Air Lines, Finnair.

Prices are per adult in US dollars, taken from searches between 20 Sep and 20 Oct 2026. Fares change often, so search your dates for live prices.

Places to visit in Split

1. 

   Diocletian's Palace

   Historic

   A huge Roman emperor's palace whose walls now enclose Split's old town, with shops and homes built into its ancient structure. Explore the cellars below and come back at night when it is lit up.

2. 

   Cathedral of Saint Domnius

   Religious

   A cathedral built inside Diocletian's mausoleum, with a tall Romanesque bell tower. Climb the narrow steps of the tower for great views over the rooftops and harbor.

3. 

   Marjan Hill

   Park · 2 mi from centre

   A forested hill at the western end of the city, with walking paths, viewpoints, small chapels, and quiet coves. Climb from the old town in the early morning for a cooler walk.

4. 

   Trogir

   Historic · 9 mi from centre

   A small walled town on an island west of Split, packed with Romanesque and Renaissance buildings. Take the summer boat from Split for a scenic ride, and wander its narrow lanes.

5. 

   Klis Fortress

   Historic · 5 mi from centre

   A medieval fortress on a ridge above Split, famous as a filming location for Game of Thrones. The climb is steep in places, so bring water and comfortable shoes.

6. 

   Krka National Park

   Nature · 31 mi from centre

   A river park known for its cascading waterfalls, wooden walkways, and old watermills. Arrive early to avoid crowds, and note swimming under the falls is no longer allowed.

7. 

   Salona

   Historic · 3 mi from centre

   The ruins of a large Roman city just outside Split, with an amphitheater, basilicas, and city walls. It is quiet and uncrowded, so it suits a relaxed visit with a guidebook.

8. Bačvice

   Beach

   A shallow sandy beach close to the old town, known for the local game of picigin. It gets crowded in summer, so come early and stay into the evening for the beach bars.

Things to do in Split by type

41 tours, tickets and experiences across 5 categories. Pick a type to see what is available for your dates.

• City tours 11 experiences Blue Lagoon and 3 Islands Relaxing Day Cruise with Lunch
• Day Trips & Excursions 11 experiences 3 Islands Tour: Blue Lagoon, Čiovo and the Old town Island of Trogir
• Cruise & Water Tours 8 experiences 3 Islands Boat Ride with Lunch - Full-Day
• Transport & Rentals 6 experiences Ferry ticket - Route: Hvar - Korčula
• Zoo, Aquarium & Nature 3 experiences Krka National Park Guided Tour and Wine Tasting

Top experiences in Split

Tours, tickets and experiences you can book with Destina Holidays, from 41 available.

City tours

Hvar Private Walking Tour from Hvar

• 2 hours
• Free cancellation

From $225 per adult

City tours

Split Private Walking Tour

• 1.5 hours
• Free cancellation

From $225 per adult

City tours

Trogir Private Walking Tour - from Trogir

• 1.5 hours
• Free cancellation

From $225 per adult

Day Trips & Excursions

Highlights of Split - Walking Tour

• 2 hours
• Free cancellation

From $143 per adult

Day Trips & Excursions

Krka Waterfalls and Town of Šibenik Tour from Split - Full-Day Private Tour

• 9 hours
• Free cancellation

From $630 per adult

Day Trips & Excursions

Plitvice Lakes National Park Tour from Split - Full-Day Private Tour

• 12 hours
• Free cancellation

From $781 per adult

Best time to visit Split

Based on recent weather records, the most comfortable time to visit Split is June to July and September to October, when average daytime highs are around 69–89°F and rain falls on about 8 days a month.

Average daily low and high temperatures and days with at least 1 mm of rain, from recent weather records. Highlighted months are the most comfortable for sightseeing.

Split weather forecast

• Wed 21 Oct 69° 66° 93%
• Thu 22 Oct 71° 61° 60%
• Fri 23 Oct 65° 57° 8%
• Sat 24 Oct 67° 59° 50%
• Sun 25 Oct 65° 60° 61%
• Mon 26 Oct 68° 59° 48%

Know before you go

Currency

Euro (EUR)1 US dollar ≈ €0.89

Language

Croatian

Calling code

+385

Driving

On the right

Time zone

Europe/ZagrebUTC+2

Capital

Zagreb

Upcoming public holidays in Croatia

• Sun 1 NovAll Saints' DayDan svih svetih
• Wed 18 NovRemembrance DayDan sjećanja na žrtve Domovinskog rata
• Fri 25 DecChristmas DayBožić
• Sat 26 DecSt. Stephen's DayPrvi dan po Božiću, Sveti Stjepan, Štefanje, Stipanje
• Fri 1 JanNew Year's DayNova Godina
• Wed 6 JanEpiphanyBogojavljenje, Sveta tri kralja

Banks, offices and some attractions may close on public holidays, and flights and hotels often fill up early around them.

Getting to Split

These are the airports closest to central Split. Compare fares into each one, as a slightly longer transfer can sometimes mean a much cheaper flight.

• SPU Saint Jerome Airport7 mi (12 km) from the city centre

Getting around Split

Central Split is quite compact and most sights can be easily seen and best experienced on foot, but there are frequent local buses to outlying attractions and the airport.

By bus

Public transport is run by Promet.mw-parser-output .error-deadlink{color:red;background:yellow;display:none;white-space:nowrap}[dead link]. Most of the city buses in Split are new, but some are very old and dilapidated. You can find routes and schedules from Easyway journey planner.

By bike

Rent a bike and enjoy beautiful biking along Split's waterfront (Riva), continue to Marjan hill (approximately 7 km), climb to the top of the hill for great view on the Split town and surrounding islands. You can bike to the east side, along the coast to nearby village of Stobrec. Another great option from Split is to take a day tour to nearby islands of Solta, Brac, Hvar or Vis.

By boat

Speed taxi boat is an excellent solution for fast transportation of passengers on whole Adriatic. Said service is available through Dalmatia-express for direct transportation from airport Split to Split Riva or from Split Riva to Dalmatia islands.

Split travel FAQ