Split Tourist Information and Tourism

(Split, Central Dalmatia, Croatia)

Split resides down in Central Dalmatia, on the south-western side of Croatia, where it enjoys a unique setting, fronting the stunning Adriatic coast. This is an ancient port city centred around its massive Roman-era Diocletian's Palace, with its wealth of bars, eateries and gift shops, and is today very hot on tourism. Split has a lot going for it and is a major stop on a cruise holiday of the upper Mediterranean, along with Dubrovnik further south, while nearby are a number of appealing islands, just a ferry trip away.

Together with its huge palace and associated Old Town, which are loaded with ancient buildings and subsequent palaces, is a fantastic harbour setting and a fun new town area. In recent years, Split has invested a great deal of money reinventing itself and improving its appearance, with the seafront Riva promenade being a prime example of its commitment to tourism.

Of note, for up-to-date tourist information in Split you will need to head for the main office at the Silver Gate (Peristyle Square) in Diocletian's Palace. This is the place where you can purchase the Split Card, designed with sightseeing in mind, which features both discounts and free admission to many of the principal attractions in the city.

Split Tourist Information and Tourism: Top Sights

The surrounding mountainous scenery provides a sheltered backdrop to the Adriatic seafront and its plentiful beaches. Whilst there aren't any based in Split itself, Bacvice Beach is conveniently nearby and is often heaving during the summer season. Other neighbouring beaches include Kasjuni Cove to the west, Zlatni Rat Beach on Brac Island, and Potocine Beach on Bol Island, a prime candidate for windsurfing, scuba diving and sunbathing. More information about Split Beaches.

When you first arrive in Split, do consider taking a self-guided walking tour of the city, beginning at the famous statue of Gregorios of Nin and then heading towards the Chapel of Arnir. Next to the palace and the harbour, the Central Market (Centralni Trziste) is a good place to experience local life and pick up some souvenirs, although for the best city views, it is Marjan Hill that beckons, with its pathways, cycle trails and seasonal recreational activities. In the evening, you can choose between a night out at the Croatian National Theatre (Hrvatski Narodni Kazaliste), fine dining overlooking the harbour, drinks at one of the palace bars, or open-air clubbing at the Bacvice entertainment complex. Sport is another major attraction in Split, and the city's Spaladium Arena and Poljud Stadium regularly have something going on. More information about Split Tourist Attractions.

The majority of the most important and most historic landmarks in Split are located within the World Heritage Site of Diocletian's Palace, which is of epic proportions and packed with tourist appeal. Here you can explore the 12th-century Cathedral of St. Domnius (Katedrala Svetog Duje), the ruined Northern Palace Gate (Zlatna Vrata), the Papalic Palace (Papaliceva Palaca) and its attractive courtyard, and the Temple of Jupiter (Hram od Jupiter) with its giant columns and granite sphinx, amongst other ancient sites. The Kastelet (Kastelet-Crikvine) is another important landmark in Split and this fortress was once owned by acclaimed Croatian architect and artist Ivan Mestrovic, with his famous 'Life of Christ' wood reliefs being exhibited here. More information about Split Landmarks and Monuments.

As the second-biggest city in Croatia, it should come as no great surprise that Split has more museums than you will likely have time to see. Therefore, you should certainly prioritise so that you can visit the most appealing, perhaps choosing between the Archaeological Museum (Arheoloski Muzej) - founded in 1820 and packed with relics, the Museum of Croatian Archaeological Monuments (Muzej Hrvatskih Arheoloskih Spomenika) - offering in-depth information about the past rulers of Croatia, and the Town Museum (Muzej Grada Splita) - located within the Papalic Palace at Diocletian's Palace. Families in Split will enjoy an afternoon at the Science Museum and Zoo (Prirodoslovni Muzej i Zooloski) on Marjan Hill, and art aficionados may like to pay a visit to either the Ivan Mestrovic Gallery (Galerija Mestrovic) or the Gallery of Fine Arts (Galerija Umjetnina). More information about Split Museums and Split Art Galleries.

All along the Dalmatian coastline are many wonderful attractions, beaches and islands, with both Brac Island and Hvar Island being highly suitable for day trips. Brac is the closest to Split and the most popular, with Supetar being its principal resort, while sunny Hvar is noticeably less touristy and Hvar town is central to local tourism here. To the north-west, the Krka National Park (Nacionalni Park Krka) lies on the westerly side of the Dinaric Range and boasts a stunning landscape with lakes, gorges and waterfalls. Particularly close by is the ancient Roman city of Solin (Salona), where an amphitheatre from as far back as the 2nd century remains in surprisingly good shape, considering its age. Also within reach of Split are the islands of both Solta and Vis, as well as the pebbly beaches of Brela, the port town of Makarska, and the seaside town of Trogir, with its lively promenade overlooking the seafront and its impressive collection of yachts. More information about Split Attractions Nearby.

More Split Information / Fast Facts and Orientation

• Country: Croatia (south)
• Location: Central Dalmatia / Mediterranean coast
• Status: city / Croatia's second-biggest urban centre
• Area: approximately 25 square miles / 65 square kilometres
• Population: approximately 225,000
• Language: Croatian, English and German may also be spoken a little
• Currency: Kuna (HRK)
• Time zone: CET (UTC+1) / summertime CEST (UTC+2)
• Country dialling code: +385
• Telephone area code: 021
• Average daily Split January temperature: 11°C / 52°F
• Average daily Split July temperature: 31°C / 88°F