Split is one of those rare places where history doesn’t sit behind a velvet rope — it breathes, argues, and hangs laundry out of windows. Built inside and around a 1,700-year-old Roman emperor’s retirement palace, this Dalmatian city rewards curious visitors with marble-paved alleys, crystalline Adriatic water, and some of the most self-assured cafe culture in Europe.
Arriving by Ship
Split’s cruise terminal sits enviably close to the city centre — you can practically step off the gangway and find yourself negotiating the narrow lanes of Diocletian’s Palace within ten minutes. The Luka Split port occupies the waterfront Riva promenade, a broad seafront boulevard lined with palms and pavement cafes that immediately sets the mood. Larger ships typically dock at Gat Sv. Duje or Gat Sv. Petra, both a short walk from the old town.
Taxis queue reliably outside the terminal, and rideshare apps like Bolt operate in the city. If you’re arriving via Split Airport rather than by sea, private transfers make the 25-kilometre journey simple and stress-free. 🎟 Book: Airport Split: Private Transfer to Split Alternatively, a slightly more elevated experience is worth considering for groups or families. 🎟 Book: Luxury private transfer: Split airport to Split
One important note: Split is a working city, not a stage set. Locals live inside the palace walls — treat the neighbourhood with the respect you’d give any residential area.
Things to Do
Start where the city literally started: Diocletian’s Palace. Emperor Diocletian built this enormous fortified complex around 305 AD as his personal retirement retreat, and today it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site that houses apartments, bars, restaurants, and a farmers’ market. Wander without a fixed plan — getting briefly lost among the peristyle columns and vaulted cellars is part of the experience.
Don’t skip the Cathedral of Saint Domnius, one of the oldest cathedrals in the world and an architectural curiosity — it was built directly inside Diocletian’s mausoleum, converting the pagan emperor’s tomb into a Christian church with satisfying historical irony. Climb the bell tower for sweeping views over the terracotta rooftops and the harbour below.
For context that goes far deeper than a standard audio guide, consider booking a specialist walking tour. 🎟 Book: Controversies behind Split and Croatia-Anthropologist guide An anthropologist-led exploration of Split’s contradictions and controversies adds layers you simply won’t find on a plaque.
If time allows, the hilltop fortress of Klis looms above the city and played an outsized role in Croatian history — plus, Game of Thrones fans will recognise it immediately as Meereen. Day trips to the nearby islands of Brač and Hvar depart regularly from the ferry terminal, which sits adjacent to the cruise port.
Local Food
Split’s cuisine is Dalmatian at its core: honest, seafood-heavy, olive oil-drenched, and deeply seasonal. The city’s covered Pazar market, which spills along the eastern wall of Diocletian’s Palace every morning, is the best place to calibrate your palate — buy figs, almonds, lavender honey, and sheep’s cheese before you’ve even decided on lunch.
For a proper sit-down meal, seek out peka — lamb or octopus slow-cooked under a bell-shaped lid buried in embers, yielding meat that falls apart at the slightest suggestion of a fork. Black risotto (crni rižot), made with cuttlefish ink, is another Dalmatian signature worth ordering without hesitation about its dramatic colour.
The local wine scene is excellent and underrated internationally. Plavac Mali, a robust red grape grown on the steep terraces of the Dalmatian hinterland, is the bottle to order. Wash everything down with a shot of locally made rakija — a herb or fruit brandy that functions as both welcome and farewell in Croatian hospitality.
Shopping
Split offers a shopping experience that rewards those who stray off the main drag. Inside the palace walls, you’ll find artisan workshops selling handmade lace (a protected Croatian craft), locally produced lavender oils from the island of Hvar, and contemporary jewellery designed by local makers working in silver and coral.
The Meštrović Gallery, just west of the old town in a villa the sculptor himself designed, sells quality art prints and books connected to the work of Ivan Meštrović, Croatia’s most celebrated 20th-century sculptor. For food souvenirs, look for pršut (air-dried ham from the Dalmatian interior), aged Paški sir cheese from the island of Pag, and bottles of Dalmatian olive oil — all legal to bring back to most countries.
Avoid the main pedestrian street of Marmontova for serious shopping — it’s fine, but generic. The best finds hide in the smaller lanes within the palace complex.
Practical Tips
Split’s old town is almost entirely pedestrianised, making it very walkable, but the limestone pavements can be slippery — wear flat, rubber-soled shoes. The Croatian currency is the euro, adopted in 2023, so eurozone visitors no longer need to worry about currency exchange. Most restaurants and shops accept cards, but carry some cash for the market and smaller vendors.
Summers are hot and busy — peak cruise season runs June through September, and mornings are significantly cooler and less crowded than afternoons. The city is most beautiful at the golden hour, when day-trippers have returned to their ships and the Riva fills with locals on their evening stroll.
Split is a city that gives back in proportion to the curiosity you bring. Even a single afternoon here leaves the distinct feeling that you’ve only scratched the surface — which is, frankly, the best possible advertisement for coming back.
🎟️ Things to Book in Advance
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📍 Getting to Split Croatia
Use the interactive map below to explore the port area and plan your route from the terminal.
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