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    Croatia

    City

    Split is Croatia's second-largest city and the center of Dalmatia. Its heart is the palace, which the Roman Emperor Diocletian had built around 300 AD, and where people still live, run cafés, and shop today.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Croatia
    7. Central Dalmatia
    Split is Croatia's second-largest city and the center of Dalmatia. Its heart is the palace, which the Roman Emperor Diocletian had built around 300 AD, and where people still live, run cafés, and shop today.From the port, ferries and catamarans depart for the islands of Brač, Hvar, and Vis. West of the old town lies the forested city hill Marjan.

    Sights in

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Peristyle
    Attraction

    1Peristyle

    The Columned Courtyard was the palace's heart and is now the Old Town's central square.
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    St. Domnius Cathedral
    Church

    2St. Domnius Cathedral

    The Cathedral arose from Diocletian's Mausoleum. From its Romanesque bell tower, you'll see the Palace and harbor.
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    Marjan
    Park

    3Marjan

    The wooded hill west of the Old Town has viewpoints, hiking trails, and swimming spots.
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    Golden Gate
    Historic Landmark

    4Golden Gate

    The North Gate of the Palace, above it is the small church of Saint Martin.
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    Diocletian Palace
    Museum

    5Diocletian Palace

    The Palace of Roman Emperor Diocletian, built around 300 AD, forms the Old Town of Split and is considered the most completely preserved Roman palace. UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979.
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    City walks in

    Curated walking tours through the city's highlights, handpicked by experienced travel journalists.

    Inside Diocletian's Palace

    A short tour through the Roman palace, built around 300 AD and now forming Split's Old Town, with a detour to Marjan Hill.

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    Stops (4)

    Restaurants in

    1

    Restaurant Krug

    Restaurant with a Michelin star (2026 Guide), where guests sit at a counter around the open kitchen.
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    2

    Konoba Fetivi

    Konoba with fish and grilled dishes, recommended in the Guide Michelin 2026.
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    Food and Beverages

    Split shares Central Dalmatia's cuisine with the hinterland.

    Poljički soparnik

    Thin flatbread with chard and red onion, baked on an open hearth. It originates from Poljica south of Split and is EU-protected.

    Pašticada

    Wine-marinated, slow-braised beef roast with plums and Prošek in the sauce, usually with gnocchi.

    Palace, Klapa and Alka

    Diocletian's Palace, built around 295–305, has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1979 as the historical core of Split. The emperor's mausoleum was transformed into the Cathedral of Saint Domnius. Dalmatia's multi-part Klapa singing has been on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage List since 2012. In the hinterland, during the Sinjska alka knightly tournament in Sinj each August, riders charge towards a ring; this tradition is also UNESCO cultural heritage.

    Nightlife

    1

    Academia Club Ghetto

    Bar with a courtyard in the Old Town.
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    2

    Vanilla Club

    Club at Bačvice city beach, which is open until the early morning hours.
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    Getting There & Around

    Split Airport is located in Kaštela, about 19 kilometers west of the city. From the ferry port, car ferries travel to Supetar on Brač (approx. 50 minutes), to Stari Grad on Hvar (just under two hours), and to Vis (around two hours 20 minutes). During the season, fast catamarans connect Split with Hvar, Korčula, and Dubrovnik. You can explore the Old Town on foot.

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    Nearby

    Trogir

    Trogir

    Trogir is a small old town located on an island between the mainland and the island of Čiovo, approximately 27 kilometres west of Split. Its Hellenistic street network, the cathedral with Master Radovan's portal, and Kamerlengo Fortress have been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1997.
    Central Dalmatia

    Central Dalmatia

    Central Dalmatia is the area around Split, including the old town of Trogir, the Makarska Riviera, and the islands of Brač, Hvar, and Vis. Diocletian's Palace in Split and the ferry connections to the islands make the region the center of the Croatian coast.
    Omiš

    Omiš

    Omiš is a small town at the mouth of the Cetina, southeast of Split. Behind the old town, rocky cliffs rise, topped by two fortresses, and the Cetina gorge leads inland.

    Brač is an island off Split and can be reached from there by ferry in approximately 50 minutes. It is best known for Zlatni Rat near Bol, a pebble spit that extends far into the sea and changes its shape depending on the wind and currents.

    Hvar, a long, narrow island south of Split, is one of the most famous in the Adriatic. Its namesake town blends a Venetian harbour, a fortress above the rooftops, and a vibrant nightlife, while in the Stari Grad plain, farmers still tend fields laid out by Greek settlers.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Wikimedia Commons, Pexels, Google Maps. Each photo carries its credit.
    • Place data such as addresses and ratings comes from Google Maps.
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