Experience the best of Dalmatian life, history and culture
Although Croatia‘s second largest city, Split is often viewed as a jumping off point for adventures to the islands beyond. The peninsula on which it rests might jut out invitingly into the Adriatic, but visit vibrant Split today and it won’t take you long to realise that it’s very much a destination in its own right.
Dramatically located between pine-strewn mountains and the turquoise sea, the city’s roots stretch right back to ancient Greek colonists and the Roman Emperor Diocletian who retired here in a suitably large palace. The city has arranged itself around Diocletian’s grand retirement home, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, within which a multitude of treasures abound. Take a look inside to discover Split’s most fashionable boutiques, trendy cafes, and the best restaurants and bars which are sometimes built into the ancient walls and share space with an imposing cathedral and an array of Roman relics. Outside of the palace walls you’ll find Split’s medieval quarter of cobblestone streets filled with ancient churches and many of the city’s best museums and galleries.
Split offers an opportunity to see Dalmatian life as it’s really lived. You’ll soon discover that the city’s main public beach, Bacvice, is an integral part of daily city life. Join the locals in its sparkling blue-flag waters and you might even be invited to to take part in a game of picigin, a beloved local sport that involves keeping a ball up in air and out of the sea for as long as possible. Afterwards, stroll down the marbled “Old Riva” seaside promenade in the shade of the palms and people-watch from one of its cafes. Split’s nearby seaside towns like Šibenik are full of quiet charm, and of course the surreal green and blue lakes of the Plitvice National Park, are also easily accessible on day trips.
Highlights
Take a tour of Diocletian’s Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of world’s most impressive Roman monuments
Walk through the medieval quarter and explore Split’s finest museums and galleries
Stroll down the renovated and marbled “Old Riva” seaside promenade or people-watch from one of its cafes
Climb up the forested Marjan hill for great views over the city
Kate Herz
Senior Travel Designer
This beautiful coastal city is the perfect base for exploring the islands as well as the mainland. Your time here will be filled with good food and plenty of historically and culturally important sites to discover.
Kate Herz
Senior Travel Designer
Luxury accommodation in Split
Why book with Jacada?
Personalised design
We’ll plan your trip around your specific interests, tastes and preferences, providing helpful tips and honest advice based on first-hand knowledge of the destination.
Authentic experiences
Our expert guides and brilliant travel concierges are hand-picked to provide a genuine experience, bringing your destination to life with care and passion.
Responsible travel
Our luxury trips are designed with responsible travel principles that prioritise travel experiences that are both good for you and good for the planet.
Trip Inspiration
Discover more of Croatia
Dubrovnik
Glimmering on the Adriatic coast, enchanting Dubrovnik is Croatia’s most up-market destination. The city delights with its Mediterranean-style culture and the marbled streets of its UNESCO World Heritage old town.
Discover moreHvar
Hvar is Croatia‘s sunniest island and one of Europe’s most sunlit spots. Rivalling even France’s famed Saint-Tropez in terms of glamour, it’s become Croatia’s most popular destination and attracts luxury yachts, sun-seeking adventurers, and visitors of all kinds.
Discover moreIstria
The picturesque towns of Rovinj and Opatija offer you a coastal escape surrounded by historic charm.
Discover moreKorcula
Korčula has long been known for her dense and lush pine-woods and is one of the greenest islands in the Adriatic sea. Lying just off the Dalmatian coast stretching parallel with the nearby mainland, the island is also one of Croatia‘s most populous, its woodlands and vineyards bordered by sleepy hamlets and dreamlike fishing villages.
Discover moreZadar
Intriguingly unique, Zadar is a northern coastal hub with a very particular character. Although it’s definitely less busy than the tourist centres further south, it is one of Croatia‘s larger metropoles and a living, vibrant city.
Discover moreZagreb
A city of grand Austro-Hungarian architecture and home to a multitude of museums and the majority of the country’s residents, inland Zagreb is Croatia‘s cultural hub.
Discover moreMeet your Europe team
When to visit
Split is a vibrant living city, with plenty going on throughout the year. July and August are popular for visitors when the weather is hot and the city busy. May, June, and September are particularly pleasant with warm weather that’s great for hiking and cycling and less visitors.
Beach Break
June–September
Hiking
May–September
Winter Wonderland
November–March
Plan your trip to Split
Whatever you want from your adventure in Split, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.
We had an amazing time and experience that was truly above and beyond what we could’ve planned or imagined. Everyone was so professional and warm and the schedule was so well organized and planned for every detail which eliminated any stress on our part. This was truly unforgettable. I loved the special excursions especially our enchanting lunch with the chef…
Jacada made our trip planning and execution so easy and enjoyable. Our travel consultant (Hanna Fischer) was wonderful to deal with and made great suggestions for the trip. Then the travel concierge (Alice Cosso) took over and helped with restaurant and other arrangements, including some minor changes to the itinerary. Every arrangement on our trip--drivers, guides, etc.--went smoothly and all…
Jacada did a fabulous job planning our trip in Slovenia and Croatia. They provided excellent advice about where to go, arranged for special activities for my family, and were extremely flexible even as our plans evolved after we arrived.
With the help of Jacada we were able to experience a spectacular stress-free family vacation to Croatia. Our trip designer thoughtfully planned out our itinerary so that we had the perfect balance of adventure and site seeing. We hiked waterfalls, went white water rafting and enjoyed tours of Diocletian’s place, Dubrovnik’s fortress, and Hvar. All of the Jacada drivers and…
Jacada helped me plan and execute a fantastic trip to Croatia. Our travel experts, Melanie and Heather, were a wealth of knowledge and answered countless questions from me along the way. I've booked with Jacada several times before and I KNOW that I will book with them again. Exceptional customer service and outstanding trips every single time. I cannot recommend…
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When you book a trip in today’s world there’s a lot to think about. But with the right advice and expert planning, you can do it with confidence.
If you book to travel with us but your plans are impacted by circumstances you can’t control, we’ll change your reservation or cancel your booking for a full credit towards future travel.