Split

Croatia's second city is built inside a Roman emperor's retirement palace — the Adriatic's most extraordinary old town.

210 hotelsDalmatiaBest season: May – Jun, Sep

DestinationSplit, Croatia

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About Split

Split's old town occupies the shell of Diocletian's Palace, built by the Roman emperor as his retirement residence in the 4th century AD. Fifteen hundred years later, people are still living inside it. The palace walls enclose a functioning neighbourhood of apartments, restaurants, bars and hotels — a living Roman ruin that is simultaneously one of the most extraordinary UNESCO sites in the world and someone's ordinary Tuesday.

Split is increasingly popular as both a destination in its own right and a ferry hub for the Dalmatian islands. Its position — within easy reach of Hvar, Brač and Vis — makes it the logical base for island-hopping the Croatian coast.

Key facts

Country

Croatia

Region

Dalmatia

Currency

Euro (EUR, since 2023)

Language

Croatian (English widely spoken in tourist areas)

Airport

Split Airport (SPU) — 30 min to centre

Best time to visit

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Great Good Busy/hot Cold

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Where to stay in Split

Each neighbourhood has a distinct character — pick the one that suits your trip

Diocletian's Palace

Dioklecijanova palača

Living Roman palace, best restaurants and most unique accommodation

Old quarter west

Varoš

Medieval streets west of the palace, local feel, good value

Residential west

Meje

Quieter residential area, Marjan Hill park access, good value hotels

Split guides

Everything you need to plan your trip, written by people who've spent real time there

City Guide

Split: living inside Diocletian's Palace

The Roman emperor built it as a retirement home. Locals have been living in it ever since. Here's how to stay there too.

6 min readRead →

Practical information

The essentials before you go

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Getting there

By air Split Airport (SPU) has direct connections from most European cities in summer. Buses to the centre run every 30 minutes.

By ferry Regular ferries from Ancona and other Italian ports. Jadrolinija operates the main routes.

By bus Good bus connections from Zagreb (4.5h), Dubrovnik (4.5h) and other Croatian cities.

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Getting around

On foot The old town and Riva promenade are entirely walkable. Most visitors don't need transport within the centre.

Ferry Regular ferries and catamarans to Hvar (1h), Brač (1h) and other islands depart from the Riva.

Taxi Bolt operates in Split. Useful for reaching the airport or outlying beaches.

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Good to know

July & August Peak season is extremely crowded and hot. May, June and September offer the best combination of weather and manageable crowds.

Islands Hvar is the most famous (and most expensive) island. Vis is quieter, more authentic and increasingly fashionable. Brač has the famous Zlatni Rat beach.

The palace The Vestibule and Peristyle are free to enter. The cathedral (converted from Diocletian's mausoleum) charges a small admission.

Nearby destinations

Easy day trips and next stops from Split

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