10 Best Things to Do
Roman walls form part of everyday life in Split, where cafés, homes and shops occupy the fabric of Diocletian’s Palace. The lanes open onto the Riva waterfront, with Bačvice beach to the east and wooded Marjan rising to the west. The Meštrović Gallery adds a quieter stretch of art and coast beyond the centre. The palace quarter is easiest to explore on foot; seaside hotels in Podstrana require a journey into town.
Explore Diocletian’s Palace
Historic centre, Split, Croatia
Begin with the Peristyle and the palace lanes, where successive generations have made a neighbourhood from an imperial residence. Then step into the southern substructures to understand the scale and arrangement of the apartments that once stood above them. The combination turns a celebrated monument into something easier to read: ancient engineering below, daily city life above. Allow time to look beyond the main passage, and treat ticketed interiors as separate visits within the wider palace district.
A living Roman city
Meštrović Gallery
Meje, Split, Croatia
The Meštrović Gallery places sculpture within the villa and Mediterranean gardens created for the artist’s own life and work. Marble, bronze, wood and plaster reveal different sides of his practice, while preserved domestic details and documentary material connect the finished works to their maker. Its position in Meje makes the setting part of the visit. Give the house and grounds an unhurried interval, and check whether a combined visit to nearby Crikvine-Kaštilac fits the current opening arrangements.
Sculpture in an artist’s home
Walk Marjan Forest Park
Marjan peninsula, Split, Croatia
Marjan brings wooded slopes and open views within reach of central Split. A walk can connect viewpoints, small historic chapels and quieter stretches of the peninsula, with the city and islands appearing through breaks in the trees. Choose a route for your energy and the conditions rather than treating the whole park as a single short stroll. The visitor centre and official audio guide provide useful orientation, particularly when you want to understand the landscape as well as photograph it.
Woodland paths and city views
Discover ancient Salona
Solin, Croatia
Salona spreads across an open archaeological landscape in Solin, where the remains of a major Roman city give context to the later story of Split. The amphitheatre and early Christian basilicas provide clear starting points, but the experience rewards time and interpretation more than a quick photograph. The managing museum can arrange an archaeologist or expert guide in advance. Plan it as a dedicated excursion, allowing room to move between the ruins and to appreciate the scale of the settlement.
An open-air encounter with Roman Dalmatia
Climb through Klis Fortress
Klis, Croatia
Klis Fortress occupies a steep position above the coastal plain, with gateways and successive lines of defence revealing how carefully the landscape was used. Moving through the stone passages gives the visit a physical sense of progression before the broad view across Split comes into focus. Its long military history is the principal reason to linger. Check the current combined-ticket arrangements, which can add an interpretation centre and other nearby visits, while leaving enough time for the fortress itself.
Defensive architecture above the coast
Trogir old town and cathedral
Trogir, Croatia
Trogir’s compact old town invites a slow circuit from its waterfront into the lanes around the cathedral square. At St Lawrence’s Cathedral, Radovan’s carved portal rewards close attention, while the bell tower and Chapel of St John reveal different phases of the building’s long development. The appeal lies in seeing these details within the wider townscape rather than isolating a single monument. Set aside a proper excursion from Split, with time for the streets, cathedral and a pause by the water.
Medieval streets and intricate stone carving
Ethnographic Museum Split
Iza Vestibula, Split, Croatia
The Ethnographic Museum shifts attention from imperial monuments to the clothing, skills and objects of everyday Dalmatian life. Embroidery and traditional dress sit alongside material associated with crafts such as woodcarving and pottery, creating a more intimate view of the region’s culture. Its position behind the Vestibule makes it easy to include during a day in the palace district. Visit with enough time to look closely at materials and workmanship, which are central to the collection’s appeal.
Dalmatian clothing and everyday craft
Archaeological Museum in Split
Zrinsko-Frankopanska, Split, Croatia
Split’s Archaeological Museum helps place the region’s ancient sites within a wider material history. Roman stone monuments and finds associated with Salona are a particular reason to visit, while the garden setting gives the museum a different atmosphere from the palace lanes. Current displays include interpretation designed for visitors with visual impairments. The indoor presentation has been reconfigured for temporary exhibitions, so check what is on before arriving and combine the visit with Salona when your itinerary allows.
Context for the region’s ancient sites
Museum of Fine Arts
Kralja Tomislava, Split, Croatia
The Museum of Fine Arts gives Split a substantial art collection beyond its ancient monuments. Works range from the fourteenth century to contemporary practice, with historic and modern art on the upper floor and later Croatian and local work below. Painting, sculpture and newer media reveal changing cultural influences across the region. It is a rewarding choice for a quieter stretch of the day, especially for visitors who want to connect the city’s architectural history with its artistic life.
Croatian art across the centuries
Browse Pazar and the fish market
Historic centre, Split, Croatia
Split’s markets offer a direct view of the ingredients and daily exchanges behind its restaurants. Start at Pazar, beside the palace’s eastern wall, where fruit and vegetables share space with other everyday goods. Continue across the centre to the separate fish market at Obrov, where the catch gives the visit a different rhythm. Go in the morning, keep clear of people doing their shopping and ask before photographing stallholders. The pleasure comes from paying attention to ordinary commerce.
The ingredients of Dalmatian cooking