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Voykit pocket guide · Croatia
Split
Give Split 2–3 nights: one full day for Diocletian's Palace and Marjan, one for a ferry island or Trogir. Base inside or just outside the palace walls.
Split is a Roman palace that became a city: people live, eat and drink inside Diocletian's walls, and the whole old town is compact enough to cross on foot in a few minutes. It is also the ferry hub for Brač, Hvar, Šolta and Vis, and the bus and rail gateway to the Dalmatian coast. Two or three nights covers the palace, Marjan hill and one island day; most travellers regret only one.
- Country
- Croatia
- Best months
- May–Jun, Sep–Oct
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (crowds, heat, peak ferry and room prices)
- Stay
- 2–3 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR) since 2023. Cards work almost everywhere; carry small cash for markets, beach bars and some island taxis.
- Daily spend
- Budget €55–80 excl. bed · Mid €90–140 excl. bed · High €180+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Hrvatski Telekom, A1 and Telemach sell prepaid SIMs at kiosks (Tisak) and shops; ID required.
- Emergency
- All emergencies (EU) 112 · Police 192 · Ambulance 194 · Sea rescue 195
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · European round two-pin; UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Café or bar: Round up.; Restaurant: About 10% for good service, in cash.; Taxi: Round up.; Boat trip crew or guide: €5–10 per person for a day trip.; Apartment cleaning: Not expected.
- Water
- Tap water is safe and good everywhere, including islands (some small islands rely on piped or tanked water — ask).
- Toilets
- Free in cafés for customers; public toilets in old towns cost €0.50–1.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee on the Riva | €1.50–3 |
| Burek or a bakery snack | €2–4 |
| Lunch main, konoba off the Riva | €12–20 |
| Dinner main, old town | €18–35 |
| Draught beer / glass of house wine | €4–7 / €4–6 |
| Ferry Split → Supetar (Brač), foot passenger | about €10–12 (check) |
| Catamaran Split → Hvar | about €10–20 |
| Taxi airport → Split | about €46 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- SPU · Split Airport (Zračna luka Split)
- 25 km west of the city, 5 km east of Trogir; the airport shuttle runs at least hourly to the inter-city bus station, about 30 min, €8 one way (check)16 mi west of the city, 3.1 mi east of Trogir; the airport shuttle runs at least hourly to the inter-city bus station, about 30 min, €8 one way (check)
Typical fares
- Airport shuttle → inter-city bus station
- €8, about 30 min
- Bus 37 airport → Split (Sukoišan)
- €3, about 50 min
- Taxi airport → Split
- about €46, 30 min
- Local bus within Split
- about €2
Get around
The old town is car-free and best on foot; you can cross it in about 15 minutes. Local buses (Promet) run to Marjan, Bačvice, Žnjan and the airport; fares are zone-based, €2 within Split. Bus 37 links the airport, Trogir and the local bus station Sukoišan. Bolt and Uber both operate. Ferries and catamarans for the islands leave from the passenger port next to the bus and rail stations.
See and do
Known for
- Diocletian's Palace (UNESCO)
- Riva promenade
- St. Duje's bell tower
- Bačvice beach and picigin
- Ferry hub for the Dalmatian islands
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Trogir | Bus 37 from Sukoišan, or a bus from the inter-city station; about 30–50 min | About 1 h |
| Hvar | Catamaran or ferry from the passenger port; about 1 h by catamaran | About 1.5 h |
| Brač and Bol | Ferry to Supetar, then bus or taxi to Bol and Zlatni Rat beach | 2–2.5 h |
| Šolta | Ferry from the passenger port to Rogač, about 1 h | About 1.5 h |
| Vis | Catamaran from the passenger port, about 2 h 20 min | About 3 h |
| Omiš | Bus 60 from Sukoišan, about 30 min | About 45 min |
Sleep
- Inside the palace (old town)
- Everything on foot, but noise from bars and restaurants until late; rooms are small and stairs are common.
- Varoš
- Old fishing quarter just west of the palace; quieter lanes, 5–10 min walk to the Peristil.
- Bačvice and the east side
- Beach and city beach 10–15 min walk from the old town; better for swimming, less for nightlife.
- Žnjan and the west
- Apartment blocks and beaches 3–4 km out; use buses or Bolt/Uber, cheaper for longer stays.Apartment blocks and beaches 1.9–2.5 mi out; use buses or Bolt/Uber, cheaper for longer stays.
- Near the bus and ferry station
- Practical for one night before an early ferry or bus; not the place to stay for atmosphere.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Dobar danDOH-bar dan |
| Thank you | HvalaHVAH-lah |
| How much is it? | Koliko košta?KOH-lee-koh KOSH-tah |
| The bill, please | Račun, molimRAH-choon MOH-leem |
| Can I pay by card? | Mogu li platiti karticom?MOH-goo lee PLAH-tee-tee KAR-tee-tsom |
| Where is the toilet? | Gdje je WC?gdyeh yeh vay-tsay |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and eye contact; 'dobar dan' in shops; avoid: Walking into a small shop without a greeting
- Café culture: Sit as long as you like over one coffee; avoid: Expecting the bill without asking
- Churches: Covered shoulders, quiet voices; avoid: Beachwear, flash photos during mass
- Conversation: Ask about food, sport, the islands; avoid: Comparing Croatia to Serbia or calling it 'Eastern Europe'
- Toasting: 'Živjeli' with eye contact; avoid: Looking away when glasses clink
Scams and watch-outs
- Walking the old town in a bikini or shirtless is banned; wardens can fine you on the spot (€150).
- Restaurant bills on the Riva and around the palace vary widely: check the menu and the price per kilo for fish before ordering.
- July and August bring cruise-ship crowds, 35 °C days and the highest room prices; book ferries and beds ahead.
- The old town is stone and stairs; wheeled luggage and strollers are awkward.
- Winter is mild, but a snow day happens most years and can disrupt road traffic.
Split is a safe city for tourists; the real risks are pickpockets in the palace crowds, heat in July–August, and restaurants or taxis with no posted prices: ask the total first.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Split yet. Suggested stay: 2–3 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Diocletian's Palace (UNESCO)
- Riva promenade
- St. Duje's bell tower
- Bačvice beach and picigin
- Ferry hub for the Dalmatian islands
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Split city government: split.hr/
- Promet Split (city buses): www.promet-split.hr/en/
- Wikivoyage: Split, revision 5301697 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5301697
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Split
Na ovu adresu, molim
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
Most countries have embassies in Zagreb and consulates in Split; check your own before you travel.
112 works from any phone in Croatia, free, in English.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/split). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.