{"id":21472,"date":"2026-08-14T09:29:46","date_gmt":"2026-08-14T07:29:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.recalculandoviajes.com\/things-to-do-in-split\/"},"modified":"2026-08-12T17:29:14","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T15:29:14","slug":"things-to-do-in-split","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.recalculandoviajes.com\/en\/things-to-do-in-split\/","title":{"rendered":"21 must-see things to do in Split (with map)"},"content":{"rendered":"[et_pb_section fb_built=\u00bb1″ _builder_version=\u00bb4.24.0″ _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][et_pb_row _builder_version=\u00bb4.24.0″ _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][et_pb_column type=\u00bb4_4″ _builder_version=\u00bb4.24.0″ _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u00bb4.27.6″ _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb]\n

Deciding things to do in Split<\/strong> is simpler than it seems: almost everything essential is within the walls of a 1,700-year-old Roman palace where people still live. We stayed for three nights at the end of June with a rental car, after spending almost two months touring Croatia and its islands. Here we leave you the 21 places we liked the most, the walking tour we would plan today, real ticket prices, a map with everything marked, where to sleep and even where to park for free.<\/p>\n

And something almost no one tells you when you look for things to do in Split: Croatia has much more here than just Diocletian’s Palace. It is also a beach city with a hill full of pine trees fifteen minutes from the center. We discovered that on the second day and it changed our trip.<\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=\u00bbads iati primeros parrafos 5off (2026) – EN\u00bb _builder_version=\u00bb4.27.6″ _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb global_module=\u00bb15677″ saved_tabs=\u00bball\u00bb locked=\u00bboff\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb]\n

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Things to do in Split – Croatia Summary<\/h2>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Concept<\/th>\nKey details<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Best time<\/strong><\/td>\nMay, June and September (avoid July and August due to heat and crowds).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Recommended duration<\/strong><\/td>\n2 days for the city; 3 days if including beaches or excursions.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Daily budget<\/strong><\/td>\nFrom \u20ac90-120 per couple in mid-season.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Palace accessibility<\/strong><\/td>\nFree access to the entire complex; paid entry only for cathedral, bell tower, cellars and temple.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Language<\/strong><\/td>\nCroatian (fluent English in all tourist areas).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Transport<\/strong><\/td>\nOld town is 100% pedestrian; car is unnecessary within the city.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Must-sees<\/strong><\/td>\nDiocletian’s Palace, Peristyle, Cellars (Game of Thrones), Marjan hill and Ka\u0161juni beaches.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Key tip<\/strong><\/td>\nStay near Varo\u0161 to combine proximity to the center and a peaceful rest.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\u00bb4.24.0″ _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][et_pb_column type=\u00bb4_4″ _builder_version=\u00bb4.24.0″ _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][et_pb_image src=\u00bbhttps:\/\/www.recalculandoviajes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/que-ver-en-split.webp\u00bb alt=\u00bbthings to do in split\u00bb title_text=\u00bbthings to do in split\u00bb _builder_version=\u00bb4.27.6″ _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u00bb4.27.6″ _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb]\n

1. Diocletian’s Palace, the heart of Split<\/h2>\n

If we had to choose just one thing to do in Split, Croatia, this would be it. As they say, Emperor Diocletian ordered his retirement residence to be built between the late 3rd and early 4th centuries, covering about 30,000 square meters, half imperial villa and half fortress. The incredible thing is what happened next: the city did not turn it into a museum; it moved inside. Today there are apartments, bars, shoe stores and opticians (lots of opticians, it’s curious) within the Roman walls, and about 3,000 people live between those walls.<\/p>\n

Here is the clarification that confuses everyone the most: Diocletian’s Palace is not a building with a door and a ticket booth. It is an entire neighborhood surrounded by a wall, with four access gates, and entry is free at any time<\/strong>. What you pay for are four specific things inside: the cathedral, the bell tower, the side rooms of the cellars and the Temple of Jupiter.<\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=\u00bbhttps:\/\/www.recalculandoviajes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/que-ver-en-split-palacio.webp\u00bb alt=\u00bbthings to do in split palace\u00bb title_text=\u00bbthings to do in split palace\u00bb _builder_version=\u00bb4.27.6″ _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u00bb4.27.6″ _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb]\n

We got lost on purpose through its narrow streets more than once and something always appeared: a courtyard with a grapevine, a guy singing under an arch, a little stone door we hadn’t seen the day before. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979.<\/p>\n

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TIP:<\/strong> walk through the palace at least twice, early in the morning and after 8 pm. After 10 am, when the cruise ship groups arrive, the Peristyle and the main streets get crowded and it is a different place, not for the better. At night, with the stone illuminated and without the crowds, is when we liked it most.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\u00bb4.24.0″ _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][et_pb_column type=\u00bb4_4″ _builder_version=\u00bb4.24.0″ _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u00bb4.24.0″ _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb]\n

2. The Palace Cellars: the Split of Game of Thrones<\/h2>\n

Under the palace, there is a network of vaulted rooms that remained buried for centuries and for that reason, they are the best-preserved part of the original 4th-century building. The central nave, which connects the Riva with the Peristyle, is free to walk through and is full of souvenir stalls. The side rooms are the ones with paid admission, costing around \u20ac5-6 (2025 price, it is worth confirming at the box office).<\/p>\n

This is where one of the must-sees in Split appears for fans of the show: in these cellars, the dungeon scenes where Daenerys locks up her dragons in Meereen were filmed. Even if you haven’t seen a single episode in your life, the place is impressive: it’s cool in the middle of summer, the acoustics are tremendous and it gives a very clear idea of how everything above was built, because the layout of the cellars replicates that of the imperial quarters that were above them.<\/p>\n

If you go in July or August and the heat is killing you, this is the best refuge in the center. It takes about 30 or 40 minutes to visit.<\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u00bb4.27.6″ _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb]\n

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Did you know\u2026? <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Diocletian’s Palace in Split is considered the oldest cathedral in the world still in operation, maintaining its original structure. <\/div>\n
Source: Split Tourist Board <\/a> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\u00bb4.24.0″ _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][et_pb_column type=\u00bb4_4″ _builder_version=\u00bb4.24.0″ _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u00bb4.27.6″ _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb]\n

3. The Peristyle, the central square of the palace<\/h2>\n

The Peristyle is the porticoed courtyard where Diocletian received his subjects, and it remains the center of gravity of the city. It is surrounded by granite columns brought from Egypt and has an original sphinx over 3,500 years old, also Egyptian, which the emperor brought as decoration. Today it functions as an open-air living room: there is a bar that puts cushions directly on the steps and everyone sits there to have a drink.<\/p>\n

It is the most photographed point in Split and also the one that gets crowded the fastest. If you want the photo without people, you have to be there before 9 am or after 9 pm. In summer, by mid-morning, it is simply impossible.<\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=\u00bbhttps:\/\/www.recalculandoviajes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/que-ver-en-split-palacio-diocleciano.webp\u00bb alt=\u00bbthings to do in split diocletian’s palace\u00bb title_text=\u00bbthings to do in split diocletian’s palace\u00bb _builder_version=\u00bb4.27.6″ _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\u00bb4.24.0″ _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][et_pb_column type=\u00bb4_4″ _builder_version=\u00bb4.24.0″ _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u00bb4.27.6″ _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb]\n

4. The Vestibule, a must-see in Split and it’s free<\/h2>\n

A few meters from the Peristyle, crossing an arch, is the Vestibule: a circular room with the dome open to the sky and absolutely empty. It was the anteroom to the emperor’s private quarters and was originally covered by a polychrome mosaic of which nothing remains today.<\/p>\n

It is free and many people walk by without entering, which is a mistake. The acoustics inside are perfect and with luck you can come across a klapa<\/em>, the traditional Dalmatian male singing groups that go to sing there because the sound bounces in a unique way. It happened to us one afternoon without planning it and it was one of those moments that stay with you. It lasts five minutes and costs nothing: it is one of the things to do in Split that we recommend the most.<\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\u00bb4.24.0″ _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][et_pb_column type=\u00bb4_4″ _builder_version=\u00bb4.24.0″ _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u00bb4.27.6″ _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb]\n

5. The Cathedral of Saint Domnius and its bell tower<\/h2>\n

The cathedral of Split has one of the most ironic histories we encountered while traveling: it was the mausoleum of Diocletian, the emperor who persecuted Christians, and in the 7th century they transformed it into a cathedral dedicated precisely to Saint Domnius (San Duje), the bishop executed by his order. It is considered the oldest cathedral in the world still in use, maintaining its original structure.<\/p>\n

From the outside it is worth the detour: the walnut wood door carved in 1214 by Andrija Buvina, with 28 panels telling the life of Christ, is one of the images most repeated in the city. The 57-meter Romanesque-Gothic bell tower is the other symbol of Split and remains the tallest in Dalmatia.<\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=\u00bbhttps:\/\/www.recalculandoviajes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/catedral-san-duje-split.webp\u00bb alt=\u00bbcathedral of saint domnius split\u00bb title_text=\u00bbcathedral of saint domnius split\u00bb _builder_version=\u00bb4.27.6″ _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\u00bb4.24.0″ _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][et_pb_column type=\u00bb4_4″ _builder_version=\u00bb4.24.0″ _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u00bb4.27.6″ _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb]\n

How much does it cost to enter the Split Cathedral?<\/h3>\n

The ticket system is color-coded according to how many points you want to see, and it is one of the things worst explained on the internet. These are the reference prices (2025 season, to be confirmed at the box office when you travel):<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Ticket<\/th>\nWhat it includes<\/th>\nApprox. Price<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Blue<\/td>\nCathedral, crypt and baptistery (Temple of Jupiter)<\/td>\n\u20ac7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Red<\/td>\nCathedral, crypt, baptistery and treasury<\/td>\n\u20ac8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Green<\/td>\nCathedral, bell tower and treasury<\/td>\n\u20ac10<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Purple<\/td>\nAll five points, including bell tower<\/td>\n\u20ac11<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bell tower only<\/td>\nClimb to the tower<\/td>\n\u20ac5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

Hours are around 7:30 am – 6 pm from Monday to Saturday, with breaks on Sundays for mass, so if you go on a Sunday, check before. The line between 10 am and 2 pm in summer can take you 20 minutes, better to go first thing in the morning or at the end of the day. You can check updated data on the official Split tourism website.<\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u00bb4.24.0″ _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb]\n

The treasury, the crypt and the climb to the bell tower<\/h3>\n

The treasury<\/strong> holds one of the most important sacred art collections in Croatia, with gold and silver reliquaries and a gospel book from the 6th or 7th century that is among the oldest liturgical books in Europe. The crypt<\/strong>, on the other hand, is honestly the most dispensable of the combo: you enter from the outside, it is practically empty and can be seen in five minutes. If you are short on time or budget, that’s the one you can skip.<\/p>\n

Climbing the bell tower<\/strong> is what almost every traveler points to as the best part of the visit, with the complete view of the palace from above. Now, a warning: the stairs are narrow, steep and quite open in one section. If you have vertigo or knee problems, better skip it. We stuck with the views of Marjan, which are free and also spectacular.<\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=\u00bbads iati Middle seguro de viaje (2026) – EN\u00bb _builder_version=\u00bb4.27.6″ _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb global_module=\u00bb15701″ saved_tabs=\u00bball\u00bb locked=\u00bboff\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb]\n

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6. The Temple of Jupiter, the hidden gem<\/h2>\n

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This is one of the places to see in Split that surprised us the most, and it’s less than a minute from the Peristyle through an alley that most people pass by. It’s a small Roman temple, but incredibly well-preserved, with a stone-vaulted coffered ceiling that is among the best preserved in the entire Adriatic. At the entrance, you are greeted by a headless black granite sphinx.<\/p>\n

Later it became a baptistery and inside is the medieval baptismal font, with the relief of a Croatian king which is one of the oldest depictions of a European monarch. A single entry ticket costs around \u20ac3-4 and is included in several of the cathedral combo tickets, so if you buy the blue, red or purple one, you already have it paid for.<\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=\u00bbhttps:\/\/www.recalculandoviajes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/que-ver-en-split-templo-de-jupiter.webp\u00bb alt=\u00bbthings to do in split temple of jupiter\u00bb title_text=\u00bbthings to do in split temple of jupiter\u00bb _builder_version=\u00bb4.27.6″ _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\u00bb4.24.0″ _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][et_pb_column type=\u00bb4_4″ _builder_version=\u00bb4.24.0″ _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u00bb4.27.6″ _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb]\n

7. The Golden Gate and the finger of Gregory of Nin<\/h2>\n

The Golden Gate (Porta Aurea) is the northern entrance and the most monumental of the four: it is actually a double gate with a central courtyard in the middle, a defensive system designed to trap anyone who entered without permission. Diocletian crossed this gate for the first time into his palace on June 1, 305 AD.<\/p>\n

Just outside is the statue of Gregory of Nin<\/strong> (Grgur Ninski), a work by Ivan Me\u0161trovi\u0107. It stands over eight meters tall and it is impossible to miss.<\/p>\n

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Tradition says that touching his big left toe brings luck and ensures you return to Split, so the bronze there is polished and shiny while the rest of the statue is dark. Obviously we touched it, and that’s where one of our favorite photos from the trip came from.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

It is free, it is always full of people waiting for their turn for the photo and, if you want to take it without anyone around, go before 9 am. A few meters away, in the building that was the city’s first hospital, is the Gallery of Fine Arts<\/strong> (Galerija Umjetnina), with about a thousand years of Croatian art. We didn’t go in, but many travelers recommend it if you have extra time and like art.<\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=\u00bbhttps:\/\/www.recalculandoviajes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/dedo-gregorio-nin-split.webp\u00bb alt=\u00bbgregory of nin toe split\u00bb title_text=\u00bbgregory of nin toe split\u00bb _builder_version=\u00bb4.27.6″ _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\u00bb4.24.0″ _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][et_pb_column type=\u00bb4_4″ _builder_version=\u00bb4.24.0″ _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u00bb4.24.0″ _module_preset=\u00bbdefault\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00bb{}\u00bb]\n

8. The palace’s other three gates<\/h2>\n

The palace has four gates, one for each cardinal point and each with a metal name. Seeing them all is one of the simplest things to do in Split and a perfect excuse to go around the wall and understand how the complex was organized:<\/p>\n