Coast guide · Split & the Dalmatian coast

Split: Our Favourites

Croatia’s Adriatic capital: Diocletian’s Palace, the Riva and Marjan, our favourite restaurants and konobas, cafés, beaches and beach clubs, and the best hotels, with the full story of the city.

Coast feature

Split: a city inside an emperor’s palace

By the ULTIMATE Zagreb Editorial Team

Seventeen centuries ago, a Roman emperor built a palace by the sea to spend his retirement. Today it is the beating heart of Split, Croatia’s Adriatic capital, where people still live, shop and drink coffee among the columns.

Read the full storyClose the story

Split is a working Mediterranean city, not a museum: the old town inside Diocletian’s Palace is full of homes, cafés and shops, the palm-lined Riva is the city’s living room, and the beaches and the wooded hill of Marjan are minutes away.

Read the full back story below, then explore our favourite places to see, eat, drink, swim and stay. Split is also the gateway to the islands of central Dalmatia, which our island guides will cover next.

The back story

The back story

Split: the back story

Old Town·In depth: history

A city that grew inside a Roman emperor’s palace: how Diocletian’s retirement home on the Adriatic became one of the most extraordinary living cities in Europe.

Explore View on map

Things to see

The palace, the old town, Marjan and beyond.

UNESCO World Heritage

Diocletian's Palace

Old Town·Roman palace

The vast Roman palace built by the emperor Diocletian around AD 300, which became the old town of Split, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Explore View on map
The heart of the palace

The Peristyle

Old Town·Roman courtyard

The colonnaded court at the centre of Diocletian’s Palace, where the emperor appeared before his subjects, now the heart of the old town.

Explore View on map
An emperor’s tomb

Cathedral of Saint Domnius

Old Town·Cathedral·Ticket

The cathedral built inside Diocletian’s mausoleum, one of the oldest cathedrals still in use, with a bell tower you can climb.

Peristil 2Explore View on map
A Roman temple

Temple of Jupiter

Old Town·Roman temple·Ticket

A small, well-preserved Roman temple inside the palace, later converted into a baptistery.

Explore View on map
Beneath the palace

The Substructures

Old Town·Roman halls·Ticket

The vaulted Roman halls beneath the emperor’s apartments, which show the layout of the rooms that once stood above.

Explore View on map
Rub the toe for luck

The Golden Gate & Gregory of Nin

Old Town·Gate & statue

The grand northern gate of the palace, guarded outside by Ivan Meštrović’s giant bronze statue of the medieval bishop Gregory of Nin.

Explore View on map
The medieval town

The Pjaca & Fruit Square

Old Town·Squares

The two main squares of medieval Split, just west of the palace walls, with the old town hall, Gothic palaces and a Venetian tower.

Explore View on map
The city’s living room

The Riva

Old Town·Promenade

The palm-lined waterfront promenade in front of the palace, where Split meets for coffee and evening walks.

Explore View on map
A Venetian-style square

The Prokurative

City Centre·Square

Republic Square, a grand 19th-century square open to the sea, surrounded on three sides by neo-Renaissance arcades.

Explore View on map
Split’s green lung

Marjan Hill

Marjan·Forest park

The wooded hill on the peninsula west of the city, with walking paths, old chapels, viewpoints and beaches.

Explore View on map
Croatia’s great sculptor

Ivan Meštrović Gallery

Meje·Art museum·Ticket

The villa that Ivan Meštrović built on the sea in the 1930s, now a gallery of his sculpture, with the Kaštilac chapel nearby.

Šetalište Ivana Meštrovića 46Explore View on map
The oldest museum in Croatia

Archaeological Museum

City Centre·Museum·Ticket

Croatia’s oldest museum, founded in 1820, with Roman stone carvings and finds from ancient Salona.

Zrinsko-Frankopanska 25Explore View on map
Above the valley

Klis Fortress

Klis·Fortress·Ticket

A dramatic fortress on a rocky ridge above Split, which guarded the route inland for centuries.

Explore View on map
Sunset point

Sustipan

Sustipan·Park

A small, peaceful peninsula park west of the harbour, with views of the sea and the islands.

Explore View on map
The city market

Green Market (Pazar)

City Centre·Market

Split’s open-air fruit and vegetable market, beside the eastern wall of the palace.

Explore View on map

Where to eat

A MICHELIN Star, family konobas and modern bistros.

MICHELIN Star

Krug

Old Town·Contemporary·€€€€

Split’s MICHELIN-starred restaurant on the waterfront, with creative tasting menus built on Dalmatian produce.

Trumbićeva obala 17Explore View on map
In the palace walls

Zoi

Old Town·Mediterranean fine dining·€€€€

An elegant restaurant in the MICHELIN Guide, set into the southern wall of Diocletian’s Palace above the Riva.

Obala hrvatskog narodnog preporoda 23Explore View on map
Sea-view terrace

Dvor

Firule·Mediterranean·€€€

A restaurant with a terrace over the sea at Firule, east of the centre, cooking modern Mediterranean dishes.

Put Firula 14Explore View on map
Bib Gourmand

Konoba Fetivi

Varoš·Dalmatian·€€

A family konoba in Varoš with a Bib Gourmand from the MICHELIN Guide, famous for fresh fish.

Tomića Stine 4Explore View on map
Family konoba

Konoba Hvaranin

Varoš·Dalmatian·€€

A small family konoba in Varoš serving traditional Dalmatian dishes.

Ban Mladenova 9Explore View on map
Rustic konoba

Konoba Otprilike Vako

Varoš·Dalmatian·€€

A rustic konoba in Varoš, cooking fish and meat over the fire.

Sinovčića ulica 5Explore View on map
Modern Dalmatian

Šug

City Centre·Modern Dalmatian·€€

A modern bistro reinventing traditional Dalmatian dishes.

Tolstojeva ulica 1AExplore View on map
At the marina

Zrno Soli

Old Town·Seafood·€€€€

An upscale seafood restaurant at the marina, with views over the yachts and the old town.

Uvala Baluni 8Explore View on map
Homemade pasta

Makarun

Old Town·Dalmatian·€€

A restaurant in the old town famous for homemade pasta and Dalmatian dishes.

Marulićeva 3Explore View on map
Dalmatian wines

Zinfandel Food & Wine Bar

Old Town·Wine bar·€€€

A lively wine bar and restaurant in the old town with a long list of Croatian wines.

Marulićeva 2Explore View on map
A lively favourite

Bokeria Kitchen & Wine

Old Town·Mediterranean·€€€

A lively, stylish restaurant and wine bar in the old town, serving modern Mediterranean dishes.

Domaldova 8Explore View on map
Market menu

Villa Spiza

Old Town·Dalmatian·€€

A tiny restaurant in the old town with a daily menu built on the market.

Ulica Petra Kružića 3Explore View on map
Open kitchen

Corto Maltese

Old Town·Bistro·€€

A lively bistro with an open kitchen just outside the palace walls.

Obrov 7Explore View on map
Steaks and seafood

Chops Grill

City Centre·Steakhouse·€€€

A steakhouse in the centre of Split, with steaks and seafood.

Tončićeva ul. 4Explore View on map
A quiet square

Portofino

Old Town·Mediterranean·€€€

A romantic restaurant on a quiet square in the old town, serving seafood and steaks.

Poljana Grgura Ninskog 7Explore View on map
By the fish market

Nostromo

City Centre·Seafood·€€€

A classic seafood restaurant next to the fish market.

Explore View on map
Wood-fired pizza

Bokamorra

City Centre·Pizza·€€

A stylish pizzeria on the waterfront, with wood-fired pizza and cocktails.

Explore View on map
Plant-based

Pandora Greenbox

Old Town·Vegetarian & vegan·€€

A plant-filled vegetarian and vegan restaurant just outside the palace walls.

Obrov 4Explore View on map

Cafés

Specialty coffee and cafés on ancient stones.

Split’s specialty pioneer

D16 Coffee

Old Town·Specialty coffee·€

Split’s best-known specialty coffee shop, tucked into a lane of the old town.

Dominisova ulica 16Explore View on map
A coffee window

4 Coffee

Old Town·Coffee window·€

A tiny coffee window in the outer wall of the palace, with excellent coffee to take away.

Explore View on map
On the Peristyle

Kavana Lvxor

Old Town·Café·€€

A café on the Peristyle, where you sit on cushions on the ancient steps of the palace.

Kraj sv. Ivana 11Explore View on map
On the Pjaca

Kavana Central

Old Town·Historic café·€

A historic café on the Pjaca, the main square of the medieval town.

Narodni trg 1Explore View on map
A tiny stone café

KaKantun

Old Town·Café-bar·€

A small café-bar in a stone corner of the old town.

Explore View on map
Hidden in the palace

Teak Caffe

Old Town·Café·€

A café hidden in the lanes of the palace, with seats outside on the stone.

Explore View on map
Books and jazz

Marcvs Marvlvs

Old Town·Bar & café·€

A bar filled with books and jazz in a historic house in the old town.

Papalićeva 4Explore View on map
Near the beach

Cookie Lab

Firule·Café·€

A café near Firule beach, known for cookies, cakes and coffee.

Put Firula 1Explore View on map
By the ferry port

Terminal F

City Centre·Café·€

A café near the ferry port, popular for breakfast before catching a boat to the islands.

Explore View on map
Above the beach

Žbirac

Bačvice·Café·€

A small café above Bačvice beach, a local favourite for coffee with a sea view.

Explore View on map

Beaches & beach clubs

City beaches, pine-shaded coves and beach clubs.

Home of picigin

Bačvice Beach

Bačvice·Sandy beach

Split’s famous sandy city beach, a short walk from the centre, where locals play picigin in the shallows.

Explore View on map
Below Marjan

Kašjuni Beach

Marjan·Pebble beach

A pebble beach in a bay below the wooded slopes of Marjan, with clear water.

Explore View on map
Žnjan seafront

Mistral Beach Club

Žnjan·Beach club·€€€

A beach club on the Žnjan seafront east of the centre, with sunbeds, cabanas and a restaurant on the sea.

Šetalište pape Ivana Pavla II. 1Explore View on map
Under the pines

Joe's Beach Lounge

Marjan·Beach bar·€€

A beach bar and lounge at Kašjuni, under the pines below Marjan.

Šetalište Ivana Meštrovića 45bExplore View on map
Sunset views

Jadran Beach Bar

Sustipan·Beach bar·€

A beach bar at Sustipan, west of the harbour, with views of the sunset.

Sustjepanski put 23Explore View on map
At Le Méridien

Gooshter Beach Club

Podstrana·Beach club·€€€

The beach club of Le Méridien Lav at Podstrana, south of Split.

Explore View on map
At Bačvice

Bounty

Bačvice·Bar·€

A bar at Bačvice, overlooking the city’s favourite beach.

Vinkovačka ulica 21Explore View on map

Where to stay

Heritage hotels in the palace and resorts on the sea.

Beach resort

Radisson Blu Resort & Spa, Split

Žnjan·Resort hotel·€€€€

A beachfront resort east of the centre, with a spa and pools.

Put Trstenika 19Explore View on map
Resort on the sea

Le Méridien Lav Split

Podstrana·Resort hotel·€€€€

A large resort hotel on the sea at Podstrana, south of Split, with a beach club and spa.

Grljevačka ulica 2AExplore View on map
Near Bačvice

Hotel Park

Bačvice·Historic hotel·€€€

A historic hotel above Bačvice beach, a short walk from the centre.

Hatzeov perivoj 3Explore View on map
Inside the palace

Hotel Vestibul Palace

Old Town·Boutique hotel·€€€€

A boutique hotel inside Diocletian’s Palace, beside the Vestibule.

Explore View on map
On the Pjaca

Judita Palace Heritage Hotel

Old Town·Heritage hotel·€€€€

A heritage hotel in a 16th-century palace on the Pjaca.

Narodni trg 4Explore View on map
Rooftop bar

Hotel Cornaro

City Centre·Hotel·€€€

A stylish hotel just north of the palace, with a rooftop terrace.

Sinjska ulica 6Explore View on map
In the old town

Hotel Marmont

Old Town·Boutique hotel·€€€

A boutique hotel in the old town, west of the palace.

Zadarska 13Explore View on map
On the waterfront

Hotel Ambasador

City Centre·Hotel·€€€€

A modern hotel on the waterfront west of the Riva, home of the MICHELIN-starred Krug.

Trumbićeva obala 18Explore View on map
In the palace

Jupiter Luxury Hotel

Old Town·Boutique hotel·€€€€

A small luxury hotel inside the palace, near the Temple of Jupiter.

Explore View on map

Share your Split experience

Been to Split? Share your favourite konobas, beaches and tips with other visitors.

Loading the conversation…