What to see, where to stay and the best time to visit Split, Croatia.
Photo: DS-Foto / Pixabay
Split is a coastal city in Croatia with a population of 160,577. Its Old Town lies inside Diocletian's Palace, where the Cathedral of St. Domnius, the Temple of Jupiter and People's Square (Pjaca) sit close together. You can walk along the Riva waterfront, spend time on Bačvice Beach or explore the paths of Marjan Forest Park. The best months to visit are June, July, August and September.
Plan at least a full day. Diocletian's Palace takes half a day and Marjan Forest Park takes another half day. With more time, add 2–3 hours at Bačvice Beach and 1–2 hours at the Meštrović Gallery.
Old Town
The Roman emperor Diocletian built this huge retirement palace by the sea, and today it forms the heart of Split's old town. People still live, shop and eat inside its walls. Walk through the gates and around the Peristyle, the colonnaded central square, to see how the city grew inside a Roman building.
Old Town
This cathedral was once Diocletian's own mausoleum and is one of the oldest cathedral buildings still in use in the world. Climb the bell tower for wide views over the red roofs, the harbour and the islands.
Old Town
These vaulted halls under the palace held up the emperor's living quarters above. Because they were filled with rubble for centuries, they stayed in good condition and show the original floor plan of the palace. The main passage is also a market for crafts and souvenirs.
Old Town
A small Roman temple inside the palace, later turned into a baptistery. Look up at the carved stone ceiling, and stop at the headless sphinx near the entrance.
Waterfront
Split's wide seafront promenade runs along the south wall of the palace. It is lined with palm trees and cafés and is where locals meet for coffee or an evening walk, with views of the ferries and the harbour.
Marjan
A pine-covered hill on the western edge of the city with walking and cycling paths, small chapels and quiet coves for swimming. Take the stone steps up from the Varoš district to the Vidilica viewpoint for a good view over the old town and the islands.
Old Town
A giant bronze statue by the sculptor Ivan Meštrović, standing just outside the palace's Golden Gate. It honours a medieval bishop who fought for church services in the Croatian language. Visitors rub his big toe for luck, which is why it shines.
Meje
The former villa of Ivan Meštrović, Croatia's best-known sculptor, now shows a large collection of his work in stone, bronze and wood. The garden looks out over the sea, and the nearby Kaštelet chapel holds his carved wooden reliefs of the life of Christ.
Bačvice
A sandy, shallow beach a short walk east of the old town and the main city beach for locals. It is the home of picigin, a local game where players keep a small ball in the air while splashing in the water.
Old Town
The main square of medieval Split, just outside the palace's west gate. It is paved with white stone and surrounded by old town houses, the Old Town Hall and cafés, and it shows how the city spread beyond the Roman walls.
Average weather and our month score, from 10 years of climate data.
| Month | High / low | Rain days | Sunshine | Sea temp | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 11°C / 4°C | 11 days (133 mm) | 6.5 h/day | 15°C | 3.8/10 |
| February | 13°C / 5°C | 10 days (108 mm) | 7.7 h/day | 14°C | 5.3/10 |
| March | 15°C / 7°C | 10 days (104 mm) | 9.4 h/day | 14°C | 6.5/10 |
| April | 18°C / 10°C | 9 days (89 mm) | 10.8 h/day | 16°C | 8.2/10 |
| May | 22°C / 15°C | 12 days (101 mm) | 11.9 h/day | 19°C | 7.6/10 |
| Best month: June | 28°C / 19°C | 6 days (48 mm) | 13.2 h/day | 23°C | 8.7/10 |
| Best month: July | 31°C / 22°C | 3 days (23 mm) | 13.6 h/day | 26°C | 9.6/10 |
| Best month: August | 31°C / 22°C | 5 days (54 mm) | 12.9 h/day | 26°C | 9.4/10 |
| Best month: September | 26°C / 18°C | 8 days (116 mm) | 10.6 h/day | 25°C | 9.0/10 |
| October | 21°C / 14°C | 9 days (124 mm) | 9.0 h/day | 22°C | 8.2/10 |
| November | 16°C / 10°C | 13 days (238 mm) | 6.6 h/day | 19°C | 6.2/10 |
| December | 13°C / 6°C | 11 days (166 mm) | 6.1 h/day | 16°C | 4.6/10 |
Cool and wet: highs of 10.7°C, 11 rain days and 133 mm of rain. It scores 3.8, the lowest of the year, with only 6.5 sun hours.
Still cool at 12.7°C, with 9.8 rain days and a 14°C sea. A score of 5.3 makes it an ok month for quiet city walks.
Highs reach 14.7°C and rain falls on 9.5 days. It scores 6.5, a good month, though the sea is still cold at 14.3°C.
Spring warmth at 18°C, with 9 rain days and 10.8 sun hours. A score of 8.2 puts it among the best months.
Warm at 22.3°C, but 11.9 rain days make it the wettest spring month. Still rated best, with a score of 7.6 and an 18.8°C sea.
Hot, sunny days reach 27.7°C, with just 6.4 rain days and 13.2 sun hours. The sea warms to 23.3°C. Score 8.7, a best month.
The peak: 31.3°C highs, only 3.2 rain days and a 26°C sea. It scores 9.6, the top of the year, but expect real heat.
Just as hot at 31.2°C, with 4.7 rain days and the warmest sea at 26.2°C. A score of 9.4 makes it a best month.
Highs ease to 25.9°C and the sea stays at 24.6°C. Rain days rise to 7.8, with 116 mm. Score 9, still a best month.
Mild at 21.2°C, with 8.8 rain days and a 21.7°C sea. Rain climbs to 124 mm, but it scores 8.2, a best month.
The wettest month: 13.1 rain days and 238 mm of rain, with highs of 16.3°C. The sea stays at 19.2°C. Scores 6.2, rated good.
Cool and wet at 12.7°C, with 11.2 rain days and 166 mm of rain. Only 6.1 sun hours, the fewest of the year. Scores 4.6, rated ok.
Climate averages 2015–2024 · Best time to visit Croatia →
The best areas to base yourself and who each one suits.
Good for first-timers, sightseeing, nightlife
The Roman palace walls hold the heart of the old town, with narrow stone lanes, cafés and the main sights on your doorstep. You can walk to the Riva waterfront, the ferry port and the bus station. Bars and crowds can make it loud late into the night in summer, and many buildings have steep stairs and no lift.
Good for first-timers, couples, food lovers
This old fishermen's quarter sits just west of the palace, with stone houses, quiet lanes and small family-run restaurants. It is a short walk to the centre and to the paths up Marjan Hill, but calmer at night. The streets climb steeply and many are stepped, which is hard work with luggage.
Good for beach lovers, young travellers, nightlife
Split's best-known city beach is a short walk east of the centre and the ferry port. It has a shallow sandy bay, beach bars and clubs along the shore. It gets very crowded by day in summer and noisy at night.
Good for couples, quiet stays, walkers
A leafy, upmarket residential area on the southern slopes of Marjan Hill, with villas, sea views and small rocky beaches nearby. It feels calm and green, yet the old town is within walking distance. Expect hills and fewer shops and restaurants close by.
Good for families, longer stays
A residential area east of Bačvice with a pebble beach, local cafés and a more everyday feel. It is quieter than the centre and handy for the beach with children. The walk into the old town is longer, so you may want the bus or a taxi at night.
Good for families, beach days, self-caterers
A newer area further east with a long, wide pebble beach and a seafront promenade. There is plenty of space and it feels relaxed, with apartment blocks rather than historic streets. It is too far to walk to the old town comfortably, so plan on buses or taxis.
A slow-cooked Dalmatian beef stew, marinated in wine vinegar and simmered with prunes and red wine. Locals serve it with gnocchi at family celebrations and weddings, and many konobas offer it too.
A thin, flat pie filled with Swiss chard, onion, parsley and olive oil. It comes from the Poljica area just outside Split and was traditionally baked on an open hearth. Bakeries and markets sell it by the slice.
Black risotto made with cuttlefish or squid and coloured by the ink. It is a standard dish in seafood restaurants along the coast, often eaten at lunch.
A fish stew of several kinds of white fish cooked with tomato, onion, wine and olive oil. It is usually served with polenta and shared at the table in fish restaurants and family homes.
Small fried doughnuts flavoured with citrus zest and brandy, then dusted with sugar. Families make them at home during Advent, Christmas and carnival, and stalls sell them at winter fairs.
Dry-cured ham from the Dalmatian hinterland, sliced thin. People eat it as a starter with cheese, olives and bread, often with a glass of local wine.
Yes, August is one of the best months for Split, with a score of 9.4. Days are hot, with highs around 31°C and lows around 22°C. The sea is at its warmest, about 26°C. You get about 12.9 hours of sun a day and only about 4.7 rain days in the month. If you find heat tiring, plan sightseeing for the morning or evening.
The best months for Split are July, August, September and June. July scores highest at 9.6, then August at 9.4, September at 9 and June at 8.7. In these months highs are 26–31°C and the sea is 23–26°C. For milder days, April and October both score 8.2. April highs are about 18°C and October highs about 21°C.
The sea is warmest from June to October. It is about 23.3°C in June, 26°C in July, 26.2°C in August, 24.6°C in September and 21.7°C in October. In May it is cooler, at about 18.8°C. From December to April it stays between 14°C and 16.4°C, which most people find cold.
Winter in Split is mild but wet and fairly dark. January has highs around 10.7°C, lows around 3.7°C, 11 rain days and 133 mm of rain. It also has only about 6.5 hours of sun a day. November is the wettest month, with 238 mm of rain over about 13.1 days. January has the lowest score of the year at 3.8. It suits travellers who are happy with cool, damp days in the city.
Plan at least 2 days to see the main sights. Diocletian's Palace takes about half a day. Add 1–2 hours for the Cathedral of St. Domnius and 1 hour for the Palace Cellars. The Riva waterfront takes about 1 hour. On a second day, Marjan Forest Park takes half a day. You can add 2–3 hours at Bačvice Beach or 1–2 hours at the Meštrović Gallery.
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