SPLIT, CROATIA: 15 best things to Do (with Day Tours!)
The city of Split is nestled on a peninsula sandwiched by the Gulf of Kaštela and the Split Channel. Within the city, natural and man-made attractions abound, from Marjan Hill’s want forest to the Diocletian Palace. The city center is dominated by the huge ancient palace complex, giving a look of its storied past through the historical landmarks and sites.
Split is also a good base to explore nearby cities within the central Dalmatia region. You can access two national parks — one with lots of majestic waterfalls and the other with exquisite lakes. If you unexpectedly crave some fun in the sun, you can easily hop to one of the nearby islands peppering the eastern side of the Adriatic Sea.
If you are planning to visit Split, here are the best things to do and places to visit. We also included day trip destinations that are easily easily accessible from Split. We also supplied Klook links if you are interested in booking guided excursions and skip-the-line tickets. rates and fares vary per season. prices go high in height season; that is during summer months — from June to September.
WHAT’S covered IN THIS GUIDE?
1. Diocletian’s palace walking Tour
2. game of Thrones Tour
3. Island Hopping
4. Plitvice Lakes national Park
5. Krka national Park
6. Sibenik
7. Cetina River Rafting
8. Cetina River Canyoning
9. St. Duje’s Cathedral (Cathedral of Saint Domnius)
10. The Campanile
11. Peristil Square
12. Grgur Ninski Statue
13. museum of Senses
14. Food Trip
15. Marjan forest Park
16. Riva Harbor
17. Pjaca Clock Tower
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1. Diocletian’s palace walking Tour
The old city of Split was built around the 4th-century Diocletian’s Palace, a historic icon commissioned by the former Roman emperor, Diocletian, as his retirement residence. Today, it occupies nearly half of Split’s old city area. The huge property features ancient walls or fortresses and a military garrison. It is recognized by UNESCO as a world Heritage site considering that 1979.
Entrance Fee: FREE; KN 40 (Palace Basement). If you want to enter the buildings inside the palace complex, some require entrance fees.
Opening Hours: The palace complex is part of the old city, so it’s open 24/7. The buildings within the complex have varying opening and closing times.
Nearest Bus Stop: Split stop (Leo express Buses). This is near the city harbor.
If you want to tackle the crucial attractions and landmarks in Split with insights from a experienced person, you can book a guided walking tour. Klook is using one that includes Diocletian’s palace and Saint Domnius Cathedral. The excursion lasts about two hours
✅ RESERVE A SLOT HERE!
2. game of Thrones Tour
Croatia is one of the countries where game of Thrones filmed some of their memorable scenes. some of the chosen locations were Split’s exceptional streets, the cellars, and the underground area. explore the Fortress of Klis, featured in the hit HBO series as the city of Meereen, and discover where Daenerys’s dragons were kept.
Several companies offer a game of Thrones excursion package. If you want to reserve your slot in advance, Klook is also using this tour. The inclusions are transportation between Klis and Split, entrance fees (Fortress Klis and Diocletian’s Palace), an English-speaking guide, and insurance.
✅ RESERVE YOUR SLOT HERE!
3. Island Hopping
The eastern side of the Adriatic Sea, just off the coast of Croatia, is specked with islets. This archipelago is under the jurisdiction of the Dalmatia region. here are some of them:
Biševo Island (Blue Cave)
Hvar Island
Vis Island
Budikovac Island (Blue Lagoon)
Pakleni Islands
You can easily reach lots of of these island destinations from Split. If you build your travel plan well, you can visit independently. If you don’t want to be bothered with the planning, you may simply join a guided island hopping tour.
Klook is using this excursion inclusive of the following:
Speedboat transfer between the islands
An English speaking captain and the crew
Windproof jackets
Snorkeling equipment
Onboard soft drink
Insurance
✅ book THIS excursion HERE!
4. Plitvice Lakes national Park
Located in the mountainous region of central Croatia, Plitvice Lakes national Park will overwhelm you with sensational views and natural wonders. Being one of the largest and oldest national parks in Croatia, it uses many hiking trails for both beginners and hardcore hikers.
The vast, lush alpine forests are scribbled with caves, lakes, rivers, and waterfalls. but the highlight is the lake terraces formed by sixteen lakes, flowing from top to bottom, forming splendid waterfalls. The highest among these falls is the 78-meter-high Veliki Slap.
Visitors can traverse and explore the lakes and the falls through the walkways snaking around and through the waters. Each lake and waterfall has its own stories and legends. founded in 1949, it is additionally protected when it is recognized by UNESCO as a world Heritage site in 1979.
Entrance Fee: KN 80 (January – March, November – December); KN 180 (April – may & October); KN 300 (June – September). These rates are for adults. children from seven to seventeen years old get less than half of the rates for adults. children under seven years old are complimentary of charge.
Opening Hours: 8AM – 4PM (October – March), 8AM – 7PM (March – May), 7AM – 8PM (June – 20 August), 7AM – 7PM (21 August – September). note that last entry, ticket purchase, and exchanging vouchers are done two hours before closing time.
Getting There: From Split, go to the main bus terminal near the port and board a bus bound for Plitvice Lakes. There are direct routes used from Split. The travel time is 3-4 hours. The fare is KN 135 – KN 175.
If you want to travel conveniently and learn a lot more insights and stories about the lakes, you can book a guided tour. Klook is using a day excursion that covers roundtrip transportation between Plitvice and Split, onboard WiFi, an English-speaking guide, boat ride, a bottle of water, and insurance.
✅ book THIS excursion HERE!
5. Krka national Park
Declared a national park in 1985, Krka national Park is an crucial ecological, cultural, and tourism site. It covers 109 square kilometers of protected land that is home to several endemic species of flora and fauna. Straddling the Krka River in the central Dalmatia region, the park’s crowning glory is the series of seven waterfalls.
Image by means of Klook
Located in the north is Roški Slap, a waterfall surrounded by walking paths and checking out spots. situated in the south is the most popular waterfall within the park, Skradinski Buk. It features a huge natural pool and smaller cascades aside from the main waterfall. There are also walking trails and checking out spots.
Another vacationer attraction is the Visovac Island, which houses a 15th-century Franciscan monastery. The centuries-old Krka Monastery is also a noteworthy destination. It is located north of Roški Slap.
Entrance Fee: KN 30 (January – March, November – December); KN 100 (April – may & October); KN 200 (June – September). These rates are for adults. From ages seven to eighteen, the rates are KN 20/KN 80/KN 120. children seven years old and below are complimentary of charge. The fee includes access to all land sites in the Krka national Park.
Opening Hours: Skradinski Buk follows a different schedule. It is open all year round, while other sites are closed during wintertime months (January – March, November – December). Skradinski Buk starts operation at 9AM during the wintertime season, 8AM outside the wintertime season. closing time varies from 4PM to 8PM. other sites open at 10AM and close at 5-6:30PM from April to October.
Getting There: There are five entrances to the park — Skradin, Lozovac, Roski Slap/Laskovica, Burnum/Puljane, and Kistanje/Krka Monastery. There are direct bus routes from Split to Skradin. The travel time is 1.5-2 hours. The fare is KN 65 – KN 75.
Klook is using a day excursion to Krka national Park from Split. This is inclusive of roundtrip transfers, onboard WiFi, an English-speaking guide, a bottle of water, and insurance. If you want a easy transfer, you can book this tour.
✅ RESERVE A SLOT HERE!
6. Sibenik
Sibenik, the third-largest city in the central Dalmatia region, is located northeast of Split and south of Krka national Park. This coastal city is also the main gateway to the Kornati archipelago, which is composed of 150 islands and is located west of Sibenik.
Image by means of Klook
The oldest native Croatian city along the Adriatic Sea, the city is home to lots of ancient cultural and historical landmarks, including two UNESCO world Heritage sites — the Cathedral of St. James at the city center and St. Nicholas Fortress on an island. There are three a lot more historic fortresses in Sibenik aside from St. Nicholas: St. Michael’s Fortress, St.John Fortress, and Barone Fortress. The city also has beaches, resorts, restaurants, and bars.
Nearest Bus Stop: Sibenik Bus Terminal
Fare: The bus fare is KN 45 – KN 55.
Getting There: Buses are the fastest and a lot of convenient mode of transportation to Sibenik from Split. If you are taking the train, you need to change trains at Perkovic and may take 2.5 hours. The fare is more affordable when you take the bus. There are direct bus routes from Split to Sibenik. The travel time is about 1.5 hours.
If you want to visit both Sibenik and Krka national Park, there are companies that offer this tour. Klook’s package from Split includes roundtrip transportation, Krka national Park entrance fee, a professional guide, insurance, and a bottle of water.
✅ RESERVE A SLOT HERE!
7. Cetina River Rafting
Flowing from the alluring springs in the northwestern slopes of mount Dinara, Cetina River snakes through cities and towns in the Dalmatia region before it enters the Adriatic Sea. For the adventurous, a thrilling way to explore and go sightseeing is through a rafting experience on the Cetina River.
Image by means of Klook
Get your adrenaline pumping as you course through the river, basking in the raw appeal of nature enveloping you and taking your breath away. You can also stop for a while and take a short swim.
Cetina River Rafting excursions are used by operators from Split. Klook has a package that includes roundtrip transfers, certified professional instructor, safety briefing, insurance, and full rafting equipment — wetsuit, life jackets, helmets. neoprene shoes, and paddles. The activity lasts for about six hours.
✅ RESERVE A SLOT HERE!
8. Cetina River Canyoning
Image by means of Klook
This is another level of extreme. Canyoning is like a mixture of hiking, cliff-diving, and rappelling. If you are not terrified of heights and into a thrilling outdoor experience, canyoning is the best way to immerse yourself in Croatian nature. take pleasure in the view as your scale the canyon and cliffs. scream your heart out as you splash and slide your way through clear waters.
Klook has curated a canyoning excursion package from Split to Cetina. The inclusions are roundtrip transfers, safety briefing, a certified professional instructor, insurance, and full canyoning gear — wetsuits, life jackets, and helmets.
✅ RESERVE A SLOT HERE!
9. St. Duje’s Cathedral (Cathedral of Saint Domnius)
The 4th-century Cathedral of Saint Domnius is said to be the world’s oldest functioning Catholic cathedral that retains its original structure. located inside the Diocletian’s palace complex, it was actually a mausoleum built for the emperor. Over the years, the choir and the bell tower were added, forming the cathedral complex.
While the church is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, the 60-meter bell tower is dedicated to Saint Domnius, Split’s patron saint. The cathedral also features a treasury that hosts the relics of Saint Domnius.
Entrance Fee:KN 35 (Cathedral + Treasury + Crypt + Baptistery), KN 20 (Bell Tower)
Opening Hours: 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM (Daily). note that opening hours may change, so check first before going.
Nearest Bus Stop: Split stop (Leo express Buses). This is near the city harbor.
10. The Campanile
The medieval bell tower is one of the most crucial landmarks in Split. It reflects Gothic and Romanesque styles of architecture.
But besides history and architecture, it boasts a spectacular panoramic view of the city and the harbor. conquer nearly 200 steps up the tower for a natural high. good news for those checking out soon because it recently reopened this 2020 after a two-year renovation.
Entrance Fee: KN 20
Opening Hours: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM (Monday – Saturday), 12:30 PM – 6:30 PM (Sunday). note that opening hours may change, so check first before going.
Nearest Bus Stop: Split stop (Leo express Buses). This is near the city harbor.
11. Peristil Square
Peristil, often spelled Peristyle, is originally the palace courtyard of Diocletian’s palace where imperial guests were welcomed and received before being ushered to the palace hall. Diocletian used to hold public addresses here.
Today, it functions as a city square inside the palace complex. The square is dominated by the towering bell tower of the Cathedral of Saint Domnius and surrounded by ancient porticoes. The area is also teeming with shops, restaurants, and bars. The square leads to Split Harbor.
Entrance Fee: FREE
Opening Hours: 24/7
Nearest Bus Stop: Split stop (Leo express Buses). This is near the city harbor.
12. Grgur Ninski Statue
The Gregory of Nin Statue is an crucial historical monument in Split. It was erected in 1929 by Croatian sculptor Ivan Meštrović in honor of the medieval bishop, Gregory of Nin, who championed the Croatian language to be used in Catholic services in Croatia instead of Latin.
Its current location is actually the third site. It was originally placed in Peristil Square before it was moved outside the city in 1941. Finally, it was moved again in 1954 to