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Veli Varos, Split
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SplitTravel Guide

Croatia4 stories

A living Roman palace turned city center, a palm-lined seafront and ferries fanning out to the islands — Dalmatia's capital in every sense.

Is Split right for you?

When to come

Late spring and early autumn

Around 31°C by day in July, 11°C in January — recorded at the local weather station.

What it costs

Mid-range. Comfortable without planning around money, expensive if you stop counting.

What we've planned, and who for

No hour-by-hour route here yet — the guides below cover it by subject instead.

Split is inDeepest in Europe
When to go
January: around 11 degrees by day, 6 at night, 73 millimetres of rain, some rain.
February: around 12 degrees by day, 6 at night, 64 millimetres of rain, some rain.
March: around 15 degrees by day, 9 at night, 58 millimetres of rain, some rain.
April: around 18 degrees by day, 12 at night, 62 millimetres of rain, some rain.
May: around 23 degrees by day, 16 at night, 58 millimetres of rain, some rain. We recommend this month.
June: around 28 degrees by day, 20 at night, 49 millimetres of rain, some rain. We recommend this month.
July: around 31 degrees by day, 23 at night, 25 millimetres of rain, dry and hot.
August: around 31 degrees by day, 23 at night, 32 millimetres of rain, some rain.
September: around 25 degrees by day, 18 at night, 82 millimetres of rain, wet. We recommend this month.
October: around 21 degrees by day, 15 at night, 80 millimetres of rain, wet. We recommend this month.
November: around 16 degrees by day, 11 at night, 120 millimetres of rain, wet.
December: around 12 degrees by day, 7 at night, 99 millimetres of rain, wet.
Cold to hot, by dayDry to wetWhen we would go

Late spring and early autumn

Average daily highs, recorded at Split (Marjan Hill), 1991-2020.

Where this comes from

NOAA NCEI; Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service (DHMZ)

Budget level

Mid-range

Typical cost profile for visitors

Combine it with
  • Dubrovnik170 km

    a short hop — comfortable overland · both good in May, June, September · a different price level (mixed)

  • Kotor, Montenegro230 km

    a short hop — comfortable overland · both good in May, June, September

  • Zagreb260 km

    a short hop — comfortable overland · both good in May, June, September

  • Matera, Italy320 km

    a short hop — comfortable overland · both good in May, June, September

Plan itWhere to stay in Splitad · Booking.comTours and tickets
On the map

Finding Split

Open in Google Maps Larger map
The stories

Reading Split

The waterfront of Split seen from out on the Adriatic, the palm-lined Riva running along the cream stone facades of the old town with the grey Dalmatian mountains rising behind under a clear blue sky.
01
The List

Split, Ranked: What Actually Deserves Your Time

From sunrise in Diocletian's Peristyle to sunset on Marjan hill — the essential Split experiences, ranked, with the right day trips and the beach game locals invented.

Croatia · 2 min
The Romanesque bell tower of the Cathedral of St Domnius rising above the arcaded peristyle of Diocletian's Palace in Split, with the Croatian flag flying
02
The List

Split's Most Photogenic Corners, Ranked

Seven corners of an emperor's palace town ranked for the camera, with the hours, seasons, costs and detours that decide whether the picture actually works.

Croatia · 13 min
The small stone church of St Jerome on the Marjan hillside above Split, its open bell-cote and rounded stone steps set among cypresses, with the Adriatic spread out beyond.
03
Hidden Gems

The Split Neighborhoods Most Visitors Never Reach

Cruise crowds rarely leave Diocletian's Palace. Ten minutes' walk in any direction, Split becomes a Dalmatian city again — these are the quarters worth the detour.

Croatia · 2 min
A street lantern glowing at blue hour in a narrow stone lane inside Split's old town, its warm light falling across worn limestone walls and a low arch at the end of the alley.
04
Stays

Basing Yourself in Split: A First-Timer's Guide

Sleep inside a Roman palace, above a beach, or on a quiet fishermen's hill? How to choose your Split base, quarter by quarter.

Croatia · 2 min
In pictures

Split, framed

A woman walking the Split waterfront in silhouette against a burning orange sunset, a gull overhead and fishing boats moored along the quay behind her.
Photo: Ivan Jurilj / Unsplash
Split's old town below the campanile, the sea in front and the mountains behind
Photo: Sander Lenaerts / Unsplash
Veli Varos, Split
Photo: mana5280 / Unsplash
Veli Varos, Split
Photo: Mars / Unsplash
Our picks

What we'd do in Split

See and do

Where to stay

Before you go

Practical essentials for Croatia

Money

Euro (EUR) — adopted on 1 January 2023, replacing the kuna

Language

Croatian; English is widely spoken in the cities and along the coast

Power

Type C/F, 230V 50Hz

Getting around

Intercity buses are the workhorse — more frequent and faster than the trains — and Jadrolinija ferries connect the coast to the islands.

Tipping

Around 10% in restaurants is customary but not obligatory; rounding up is perfectly normal.

Tap water

Tap water is safe to drink throughout the country, including Zagreb and Dubrovnik.

Driving

Right-hand side; a UK or EU photocard licence is valid for up to a year, so most visitors need no International Driving Permit.

Emergency

112 (general); 192 police, 194 ambulance, 193 fire, 195 sea rescue

Country-level guidance, checked against official sources. Currency, fares and entry rules change — confirm anything time-critical before you travel.

Keep exploring

More of Europe

Dubrovnik's medieval sea walls and the round Bokar Fortress curving above a turquoise cove, with the terracotta roofs of the Old Town behind.
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St Mark's Church in Zagreb's Upper Town, its glazed tiled roof laid out as the coats of arms of Croatia and of the city
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A wooden platter of grilled white fish fillets with herbs, salad leaves, slices of bread and a dark dipping sauce, with a glass of beer behind
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The church of San Pietro Caveoso and its bell tower perched on the edge of the Gravina ravine in Matera
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The pink Franciscan Church of the Annunciation and the stone arches of the Triple Bridge over the green Ljubljanica river in central Ljubljana
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A classic Neapolitan margherita with melted mozzarella, tomato sauce and fresh basil leaves on a marble table
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A generous platter of charcoal-grilled meats — skewers, chicken wings, sausages and chops — served over flatbread with roasted peppers, potatoes and bowls of dipping sauces.
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Bled island with its church on the turquoise water of the lake, the castle on its cliff and the Alps behind
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Siena seen from the green edge of the city, the striped marble Duomo with its dome and campanile standing above ochre rooftops while dense trees and garden terraces fill the slope in the foreground.
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Piazza della Signoria in Florence at night, the floodlit Palazzo Vecchio and its crenellated tower standing over the empty stone square, with the lit arches of the Loggia dei Lanzi to the right.
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