Split in Croatia, is an easily accessible city by land, sea and air, and a great place to spend some time and/or use as a base for day trips nearby. It’s a destination where you will want to take your time. So, here’s a few pointers to help with planning how to spend your time in Split.
When to visit
July and August are usually busy with peak season visitors. The middle of September is when the weather is not so hot and after the school holiday period has passed. We were there in September and found the temperature suited our style of travel and the fact we wanted to get out and about and explore.
Beaches
Just 10 minutes walk from the city centre is the popular sandy beach at Bačvice, which is usually busy with tourists and locals. We enjoyed stopping by to watch a game of picigin which originated here.
Bačvice beach – Picigin origin
For more beach recommendations check out this post.
Walking tour
I would always recommend a free walking tour in any city as it’s a great way to suss out the key sights and learn a little bit about the history and culture.
The laws in Croatia do not permit free walking tours like other European cities, but the next best thing is this self-guided free walking tour with a downloadable pdf and plenty of info that you either complete in full or pick out the things that interest you.
Saint Domnius Bell Tower
Alternatively for 1Kuna you can book a tour here and then tip the guide what you feel it’s worth or can afford.
Wandering and people watching
Do what the locals do and wander along the Riva which is the port/harbour area and where you will find many restaurants, cafes and bars which are a great place to sit and watch the world go by. Sometimes there are live performances so it’s a popuar area to spend time, particularly in the evening.
Day trips
If you want to head out of the city and see some of the key sights I would highly recommend a visit to Salona, the Fortress of Klis and Trogir. In fact it’s possible to do all 3 in a day and if you don’t have a car, like us, Gecko Tours offer a day tour which includes transport and a guide at a reasonable price.
Fortress of Klis
Food and drink
Split is renowned for it’s seafood, due to being situated along the coast, and there is no shortage of places to eat this. Make sure you also try Pasticada which is a beef stew with gnocchi. Then of course you must eat Burek for breakfast, lunch or dinner as this is a great snack and one of my favourites in this region, not just Croatia.
Croatia produces a diverse selection of wines and all are very good. Taking a wine tasting experience in or around Split is a great way to spend a few hours. From the more pricey options via a hoursedrawn carriage to nearby villages to simple tastings in town make sure you try a few varieties.
Have you been to Split? If you are considering a trip sometime soon I would recommend combining Split and maybe another Croatian destination for your visit, especially between now and October when the weather is warm.
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