Things to Do in Split, Croatia

Diocletian's Palace

Diocletian’s Palace is best understood as a living urban quarter rather than a single monument. Constructed for Emperor Diocletian around the turn of the fourth century, its high Roman walls and four main gates form the oldest core of modern Split.

Inside, narrow medieval streets follow the palace’s original grid while Roman stonework, Renaissance windows and Baroque façades sit side by side.

The palace substructures (cellars) underlie the emperor’s former apartments and make the original plan legible; the mausoleum became the Cathedral of Saint Domnius, illustrating dramatic reuse over time. Many important palace spaces require separate admission or guided explanation, and conservation work can affect access, so check official guidance before visiting.

Official Diocletian's Palace website →

Peristyle (Peristil) in Diocletian's Palace

The Peristyle, or Peristil, is the ceremonial heart of Diocletian’s Palace: a colonnaded imperial courtyard that once hosted official reception and display. Today it reads as an open, paved square framed by Roman columns, arcades and a semicircular vestibule that historically formed a theatrical threshold into the emperor’s inner space.

The eastern octagonal building that anchors the square later became the Cathedral of Saint Domnius.

Ancient decorative pieces, including several Egyptian sphinxes and reused stones, hint at the palace’s original ornamentation. The Peristyle functions as a free public square and an occasional performance venue; expect crowds and brief interpretive panels, and verify event schedules or access with official sources if you hope to attend special programs.

Official Peristyle (Peristil) in Diocletian's Palace website →

Cathedral of Saint Domnius

The Cathedral of Saint Domnius occupies the octagonal core of Diocletian’s original mausoleum, a rare example of an imperial tomb converted into a Christian cathedral. Thick Roman masonry is reworked with medieval and later fittings; notable features include carved wooden doors by Andrija Buvina and a late‑Gothic ciborium attributed to Bonino da Milano.

The cathedral’s treasury displays reliquaries and liturgical metalwork tied to Split’s ecclesiastical history.

The complex is visually anchored by a bell tower built and modified from the 13th to 16th centuries; its stairs and viewing platforms offer highly recommended panoramas over the old town and harbor, though access involves narrow steps.

Official Cathedral of Saint Domnius website →

Diocletian's Palace Cellars

The palace cellars are an extensive vaulted system beneath the emperor’s southern apartments, engineered in the early fourth century to raise living spaces above the waterfront and to provide storage, service rooms and drainage. Their stone vaults and piers make the palace’s original plan legible and show how Roman engineering supported the residence above.

Nineteenth‑century excavations reopened these halls and later conservation work clarified their archaeological value. Several cellar chambers are curated and interpreted with panels by the local museum system, while other areas retain a raw, atmospheric quality.

Expect low vaults, uneven stone floors and limited accessibility; parts of the cellars are ticketed or subject to conservation access, so verify visitor arrangements in advance.

Official Diocletian's Palace Cellars website →

Riva (Split harbour waterfront promenade)

The Riva is Split’s principal seaside promenade and public living room, running along the harbour beneath the palace’s south face. A wide, paved esplanade lined with cafés, plane trees and benches, it invites long walks, people‑watching and views of moored boats, palace walls and the islands beyond.

The promenade functions as a social axis, a departure point for harbour excursions and a linear link between ferry terminals, tourist information and the old town.

The Riva assumed its current public form during early 19th‑century urban reforms and was later resurfaced for clearer sightlines. Its level surface suits strollers and short walks; combine a Riva stroll with a short ascent to Marjan for a contrasting green panorama.

Official Riva (Split harbour waterfront promenade) website →

Marjan Hill and Park-Forest

Marjan is a compact wooded peninsula west of the old town often called Split’s “lungs.” The park‑forest runs along a rocky karst ridge about 3.5 kilometres long and rises to Telegrin, roughly 178 metres above sea level.

Dense pine, Mediterranean shrub and maintained paths create a restful contrast to the urban grid, while small chapels, memorials and a botanical garden mingle with recreational installations.

Trails range from paved promenades to rough natural tracks; viewpoints such as the Vidilica terrace, Sedlo watchtower and Telegrin summit reward walkers with layered views over the city, harbor and islands. West‑facing slopes drop to small coves used for swimming.

Official Marjan Hill and Park-Forest website →

Bačvice Beach

Bačvice is Split’s best known central sandy beach, located a short walk from the Old Town and Riva. The bay’s shallow, gently shelving sea makes it especially family‑friendly and is the traditional home of picigin, a local shallow‑water ball game played without letting the ball touch the water.

The sand and long shallow shelf also make Bačvice a convenient spot for swimming, sunbathing and people‑watching.

Historically a site for swimming contests and informal festivals, Bačvice becomes lively into the evening with terraces and small beach bars. Practical considerations include seasonal crowding and variable beach services; confirm water‑quality notices, lifeguard coverage and event restrictions through official tourism channels before you go.

Official Bačvice Beach website →

Archaeological Museum Split

Founded in 1820, the Archaeological Museum in Split is one of Croatia’s oldest institutions and presents the long story of Dalmatia through material remains. Its collections span prehistory, Greek‑Hellenistic contacts, Roman provincial life, late antiquity and the medieval period, with stone monuments, inscriptions, pottery and coins that illuminate regional change.

The museum grew from excavations in Salona and maintains deep local research ties.

Displays use courtyards, a lapidarium and exhibition halls to group objects chronologically and thematically. The institution also manages external sites such as Salona and preserves specialized holdings in underwater archaeology.

Because the museum emphasizes research and education, check official visitor information for current exhibitions, branch openings and guided‑tour options.

Official Archaeological Museum Split website →

Ethnographic Museum Split

The Ethnographic Museum Split is a compact museum housed within rooms of Diocletian’s Palace that presents Dalmatian daily life, crafts and costume. Its curated displays include regional clothing, lace, jewellery, tools and household items that make local traditions legible at human scale.

The intimate rooms and close‑packed cases create a detailed, tactile viewing experience that complements the palace’s archaeological and architectural story.

Collections emphasize craft techniques, wedding and festival customs and rural‑urban connections across the Adriatic hinterland. The museum rewards slow reading of labels and close observation of textiles; verify visitor hours, ticketing and accessibility on the museum’s official site before visiting.

Official Ethnographic Museum Split website →