Split

Choose your dates by deciding how much you value swimming, long daylight, quieter streets, and a broad choice of ferry departures. Summer brings the hottest weather and the busiest historic center. Spring and autumn are easier for long walks, while winter is quieter, wetter, and less suited to a beach-first trip.

Split has hot, dry summers and mild, wetter winters. The DHMZ long-term climate table for Split-Marjan shows monthly mean temperatures of 14.4°C (58°F) in April, 19.2°C (67°F) in May, 26.2°C (79°F) in July, 21.6°C (71°F) in September, 17.2°C (63°F) in October, and 12.7°C (55°F) in November. July and August average 18 and 17 days respectively with maximum temperatures of at least 30°C (86°F).

The chart below makes the seasonal pattern easier to compare. In the same long-term table, July is the driest month at 26.6 mm of precipitation, while November is the wettest at 115.5 mm.

May and June are strong choices when you want warm days for walking and a reasonable chance of beach time before the highest summer heat. September remains warm, while October better suits travelers who care more about the palace, markets, museums, and Marjan than about swimming every day.

We spent the full month of November in Split. That timing suited a city-focused stay, but the long-term climate figures show why November is a poor choice for a beach-first trip: the monthly mean is 12.7°C (55°F), daylight is shorter, and rainfall is at its annual peak.

Do not assume that one month is always the cheapest time to visit Split. Accommodation prices depend on the exact dates, day of the week, events, and distance from the palace. Compare the same property for late April or May, late September or October, and a winter date rather than comparing unrelated hotels in different areas.

Also compare the palace edge with Veli Varoš and Bačvice. A slightly longer walk may save more than changing the month. Before booking outside summer, check the ferry timetable and the operating dates of any seasonal excursion that matters to your trip.

For a first visit, compare three areas: the palace and Riva edge, Veli Varoš, and Bačvice. All three are within walking distance of the historic center, but they suit different priorities.

Stay beside the palace or Riva when you have only one or two nights and want the shortest walk to the main sights, restaurants, markets, and ferry port. Check the room description carefully: the pedestrian core has stone lanes, stairs, late-night noise, and no door-to-door car access at many properties.

Veli Varoš is the strongest all-round alternative. It sits immediately west of the old town, with quick walks to the Riva and Marjan, but its lanes can be steep and many historic buildings have stairs. Choose Bačvice when the beach, bus station, railway station, or an early ferry matters most. The palace remains walkable, but you will not be sleeping inside the historic center.

Use the map below to compare the exact walk to the palace gates, waterfront, beach, and transport terminals before booking.

Split Airport is about 20 kilometers northwest of central Split, between Kaštela and Trogir. The airport lists shuttle buses, public buses, taxis, and rental cars as transfer choices. Road traffic can change journey times, especially in summer, so leave a wider margin for a flight than the distance alone suggests.

Split’s main railway station is at Obala kneza Domagoja 9, beside the main bus station and passenger port and a short walk from Diocletian’s Palace. HŽ Passenger Transport runs trains between Split and Zagreb, while seasonal and international services vary by date. Check the current HŽ timetable rather than relying on a fixed schedule.

According to the 2021 census, the city of Split had a population of 160,577.

Split uses Central European Time (CET, UTC+1) in winter and Central European Summer Time (CEST, UTC+2) during daylight saving time.

Croatia uses the euro (€). Keep a small amount of cash for market stalls or other businesses that do not accept cards. The European Central Bank confirms that Croatia adopted the euro on January 1, 2023.

Croatian is the official language. Hotels, restaurants, museums, and tour offices in central Split commonly publish visitor information in English, but learning basic greetings and Croatian place-name pronunciation still helps.

Croatia is part of the Schengen Area. Entry and visa requirements depend on your nationality, passport, and the purpose and length of your stay. Travelers permitted a short Schengen stay are generally limited to 90 days in any 180-day period across the whole Schengen Area, not 90 days in each country. Check the European Commission’s visa policy and its short-stay calculator before travel.

For more information on visa-free travel in Croatia, check out our article on traveling visa-free.

Croatia uses Type C and Type F plugs with a 230-volt, 50-hertz supply. Travelers from countries with different plugs need an adapter, while some appliances may also require a voltage converter. Check your device label and the IEC World Plugs guide before packing.

Travelers with an EU or EEA mobile plan can generally use their domestic allowance in Croatia under EU roaming rules, subject to their provider’s fair-use limits. Other visitors can compare a Croatian prepaid SIM with a travel eSIM based on data allowance, activation requirements, and coverage rather than choosing solely by the headline price.

We use eSIMs exclusively because they can be purchased before arrival in a new country and activated when you hit a cell tower in the country. We use Airalo eSIMs. They work great, and I recommend them if you plan to use less than 5 GB of data during your stay or if you need internet immediately on arrival.

You do not need a car for Diocletian’s Palace, the Riva, Veli Varoš, Bačvice, or the main transport terminals. A car becomes more helpful for Klis, inland Dalmatia, and places that require several bus connections. If you rent one, check whether your accommodation includes parking and avoid planning to drive into the pedestrian palace core.

Most large American rental car brands, as well as Sixt and Europcar are available in Split. For a comparison of rental car offers from large, international brands and smaller regional brands, we recommend Discover Cars.