Five Fun Things to do in Split, Croatia

Split is in a great location midway along Croatia’s Adriatic coast. When we travel, we prefer to have a “home base” and take day trips from there, and Split is perfectly located for that. Check out my Croatia Travel Guide for our itinerary and more travel inspiration! There are also a ton of cool things to do in Split and the surrounding areas, but I'm going to give you my top five fun things to do in Split.

Diocletian's Palace

Diocletian was a Roman emperor who actually made it to retirement and decided to build his retirement home in (what is now) Croatia. Diocletian's Palace is now a UNESCO World Heritage site! I loved wandering through the hallways and trying to imagine what it was like to live there in 305 AD. It was quite different from today I am sure :) This is an absolute must-see, and while you’re there you can check out St. Dominus Cathedral and climb to the top of the tower for an incredible view. 

Diocletian's Palace is a tall old stone castle in Split Croatia
Diocletian's Palace

Wander through the Old Town

The Old Town is a maze of cobblestone streets and architecture from different cultural influences. You can see architectural styles ranging from Romanesque and Gothic to Baroque and Viennese because the Balkans is one of the most conquered places in history. The blending of cultures is one of my favorite things about this area of the world. There are shops and restaurants lining every alleyway and it is quite easy to get lost! Every time we wandered through we discovered a new part of it. The busiest part is the People’s Square, which has restaurants, cafes,  and the old clock tower. 

Blue and yellow sunset over building in Split Old Town, one of the best things to do in Split, Croatia
Sunset in Split Old Town

Klis Fortress

Klis Fortress is about a 20-minute drive from Split. Some of Game of Thrones was filmed there! We took an Uber there one afternoon to check it out. The ruins sit high in the hills surrounding Split, and it served as the guardian of the area in ancient times. Klis offers an amazing panoramic view of the countryside, with locals’ backyard olive and grape vines visible for miles from above. 

There is lush green overgrowth springing through the gray and whitewashed stones of the crumblingancient Klis fortress that is one of the best things to do in Split Croatia
Klis Fortress

Watch the Sunset on Marjan Hill

Marjan Hill is the highest point in Split. There is a beautiful hiking trail, and the view from the top gives a sweeping look over the harbor and Old Town. On the other side, you can see the more modern part of Split, with the football stadium in good view. If you had some binoculars, you might even be able to catch a glimpse of the game! While it was hard to see the sun actually setting, the dreamy glow over the city was well worth the hike. 

Pink, gold, and purple streaked sunset through the trees on Marjan Hill. A must-do during travel to Croatia.
Sunset from Marjan Hill

Cooking class / eat Croatian Food

Croatian food is full of fresh seafood and Dalmatian dishes. We did a cooking class with at the SKMER ACADEMY in Split, and it was so much fun. It’s a must-do in my book! Check out the restaurants and cafes along the Riva Promenade for some great seafood. There’s an amazing pizza place called Bokamorra that overlooks the harbor, and we love pizza so we had to check it out. Hands down the best pizza I've ever had. While we were eating, a yacht with a helicopter pad parked right outside! 

Spread of Croatian food cooked by the participants of the cooking class. Risotto, fresh bread, swiss chard, squid, shark, fresh fruits. Fun thing to do in Split, Croatia.
Delicious Croatian food we cooked

I hope this post on five fun things to do in Split will inspire you to plan a trip there and see some of the amazing things Croatia has to offer. Let me know if you have questions or other thoughts in the comments!

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