The Ultimate Visitor's Guide to Split, Croatia

Located along the Adriatic Coast, the dazzling coastal city of Split was long thought of as just another industrial town. But over the past decade, the tourism industry has struck gold on its potential, turning it into one of the most sought-after summer destinations in the region.

The city’s character is found in its charming mix of ancient architecture and modernity, making it a unique place to explore.

Accessible by boat or plane, it’s a hub for travellers venturing between the Croatian islands, and especially buzzing in summer.

With so much on offer in and around the city, here’s a guide to what to see and do – whether you’re in town for just a few days or have a week or more up your sleeve.

When to go

The city thrives in summer (between June and August), but the shoulder seasons of spring and autumn will offer pleasant, sunny days minus the crowds. The winter months (between December to February) are the wettest time of the year.

What to do

Walk down the Riva promenade

Split’s a very walkable city so you’ll spend the majority of your time on foot. And the best place to start is the Riva promenade.

This is the seafront strip that wraps around the harbour and looks out onto the mesmerising Adriatic Sea; it’s lined with charming old-time buildings fronted by an array of cafes and bars.

The Riva is the perfect place to grab a bite to eat after a long day of exploring, or to stay until the evening with a cocktail or glass of wine as you watch the promenade come to life before your eyes.

During the day, grab a fresh juice or some delicious Fritule, aka Croatian doughnuts from one of the many stalls along the boardwalk. Then, take a seat and do some people-watching while lapping up that amazing European sun.

Grab some delicious Fritule, aka Croatian doughnuts

Visit the Old Town

As Croatia’s second largest city, Split is rich with history. It’s also home to some truly fascinating ancient sites, including the Old Town of Split.

It’s the gem of the region and known for its cobblestone streets and medieval atmosphere. Venture into this historic ‘city within a city’ and be prepared to delve into the true essence of Croatian culture.

Make sure you stop off at one of its many souvenir stores or quirky candy shops, like The Candy Bar, where you’ll find all types of sugary treats held in old-school wooden barrels.

Don’t visit the Old Town without heading down to the People’s Square, found in its centre. Home to a myriad of cafes and restaurants, this is where you can get a taste of some signature local cuisines.

Diocletian’s Palace

Considered the heart of the Old Town of Split, the ancient Diocletian’s Palace is a historic World Heritage Site made of white stone and marble.

Created in the fourth century, it’s a pillar of grand Roman architecture and was built like a fortress, making it a maze to navigate.

From courtyards and ancient sculptures to basements and living quarters, the palace has become a bustling living museum incorporated into normal city life.

Explore the majestic St Domnius Cathedral, located within the site, and climb the narrow staircase leading up to its famous bell tower. Though a later addition built into the cathedral, the bell tower has become an important symbol of Split – plus the views from the top of the tower will make it well worth the climb.

Finish up your palace tour at Peristyle, also known as the Emperor’s Square. Found at the centre of the palace, this place has become a hub for modern culture and entertainment.

When exploring Diocletian’s Palace, we recommend making Peristyle your meeting place, just in case you ever lose your friends or travel group in its maze. You’ll thank us later.

Interior of temple of Roman Emperor Diocletian

Pazar Market

If you love fresh produce and wholesome Mediterranean food, then the Pazar Market is for you.

Located on Hrvojeva Street, along the east side of the Diocletian Palace, the vendors of this daily market have stalls filled to the brim with the best fruits and vegetables in town.

Pazar Market encompasses the best that the cities produce has to offer, and is open from the early morning until well after the sun goes down, so there’s no bad time to visit it. Known as the ‘green markets’ it really is a feast for the senses.

We recommend that you dabble in all the fresh ingredients they have to offer, and try your hand at some cooking. Not only is it a great way to save money on your trip, but it’s culturally enriching as well.

Mestrovic Gallery

The Mestrovic Gallery, located just outside the Old Town of Split, is an art gallery dedicated to the work of 20th-century sculptor and writer Ivan Mestrovic. His most famous statue, Grgur Ninski, can be found in the heart of town.

Spend some time exploring the gallery, as it showcases around 200 of his most creative sculptural pieces and other works as well.

The stunning villa the gallery is housed in was designed by the sculptor himself, and is perfectly placed on a hill looking out over the Adriatic Sea.

And if that wasn’t beautiful enough, the museum also has a tranquil garden surrounding it, in which some of his wooden sculptures are displayed.

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Krka National Park Tour

The Krka National Park is located in central Dalmatia, close to the city of Sibenik. An easy one-hour drive from Split, it runs along the 73-kilometre Krka River that spans from the Adriatic Sea all the way into the Croatian mountains.

Upon arrival, the sight before you will take your breath away. Its abundance of charming walkways, monasteries and sparkling lakes will easily fill your day’s exploring.

But it’s the Krka Waterfalls that are the true jewels here. There are seven marvellous waterfalls scattered along the Krka River but the most famous is the Skradinski Buk.

This waterfall’s cascading feature has made it famous worldwide, with its base forming a picturesque natural swimming pool that gives you a perfect view of the stunning rapids and surrounding lush flora.

From the main parking lot, situated near Skradinski Buk, there’s a network of wooden walking trails that take you around Krka and through the town of Skradin. The streets of this alluring little village are paved with cobblestones and have hidden passages around every corner.

With hiking trails, river canyons and splendid lake views, a tour through this natural beauty is every explorer’s dream.

The Krka National Park is located in central Dalmatia

Guided tours

Guided tours are a great way to meet like-minded travellers, while also getting to experience the uniqueness of Split’s culture in ways you may have never thought of. A quick trip to any of the travel agencies around the city, will have you booked and ready in no time.

Don’t miss a sunset sailing tour around Split and its neighbouring islands, and an Old Town walking tour.

Take a walking tour through the Old Town

Klis Fortress

This medieval fortress is 20 minutes north of Split and is positioned between two mountains, Mosor and Kozjak.

Its historical importance in Croatia dates all the way back to the second century, where the panoramic views of the coast were commonly used as a vantage point for Croatian defence.

As an attraction that flies under the radar for many tourists, witnessing a sunset from the rarely visited Fortress of Klis is a serene opportunity that you shouldn’t pass up.

You can wander through these historic grounds as you please, which is uncommon in many ancient sites nowadays. Just be careful to watch your step.

And for all the Game of Thrones fans out there, this fortress is the filming location for the City of Meereen. There are also several Game of Thrones tours dedicated to taking groups to all the filming locations around Split.

Klis fortress is 20 minutes north of Split

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

A first-timer’s guide to Split, Croatia