Welcome to Split!

CROATIA VOTED #1 HOT SPOT TOURIST DESTINATION 2005 Lonely Planet

With more than 1000 kms of coast line, 1185 islands, stunning beaches, a string of ancient wall cities and Roman ruins it is no surprise Croatia was voted # 1 tourist destination by many.

Set in Central Dalmatia, Split is a major port and the second largest city in Croatia, known for its rich cultural heritage, vibrant night life and the gateway to the unspoiled islands along the Adriatic coast. It is a city of charming streets, busy with people and full of life.

What to do and where to go whilst in Split...

Cultural fix

Lose yourself in time, wandering through Diocletian's Palace, a unique architectural construct built by the Roman emperor between the 3rd and the 4th century AD and included on the UNESCO world heritage list. Explore Saint Dujam's Cathedral (Patron Saint of Split), the world's oldest Catholic cathedral and then climb the bell tower to enjoy a view of Split. To recharge your luck, head through the Northern Gate and rub the big, worn-out toe of the statue of Grgur Ninski (Gregory of Nin), a Croatian religious leader from the 10th century, sculpted by the famous Croatian sculptor Ivan Meštrović. To admire more works by Meštrović head to the Meštrović Gallery housed in his former summer residence. Other places worth visiting are the Maritime Museum, the Museum of Croatian Archaeological Monuments, the Museum of Croatia and the list goes on...

Lucky enough to be in town for the summer sun? Then check out the Annual Split Summer Festival from mid July to mid August. Party each and every night along the waterfront as only the locals know how with traditional and international festivities and live open air music concerts.

If you get the chance we definitely recommend to see a ‘Hajduk’ (local Split team) soccer game, the atmosphere is second to none.

Chill out zones

Marjan mountain. It is a fifteen minute walk from the centre of town and set on a hill top 178m high. The view is awesome, looking over all of Split. Fuel the inner romantic in you and watch the sun set over the picturesque islands. Make sure to take full advantage of the 300 plus days of sunshine by relaxing on sandy Bačvice Beach or find your own private cove along the gorgeous Adriatic Coast.

Out and about around Split

From Split, day trip to some of Croatia's most beautiful islands. Wander through Hvar Island's old town, hire a scooter and ride across Brač Island to Croatia's most famous beach “The Golden Horn” or soak up the sun on the Isle of Solta. Step back to Roman times and explore the ruins at Solin or get lost in the medieval town of Trogir. Want to burn some energy? Get wet and wild rafting down the Cetina River through the canyons to Omis. For the naturists, visit the natural beauty of Krka National Park. Backpacker's Croatia runs tours daily from Split.

Where to Party

The 'Ghetto' - located within the palace walls, the combination of its location and atmosphere makes the ghetto a great starting point for the evening. The 'ghetto' is filled with an array of bars sprawling with people that fill the narrow streets and alleyways of the Palace. Here you can find live music and funky tunes to kick off the evening. Split hostel's recommendations include, Gaga Bar, Puls, Ghetto bar, Red Room, Dante and Porto, just to name a few. The 'Ghetto' area is open till 1am. To keep partying, head down to Bacvice...

Bačvice - Situated on the beach, be sure to relax here by day and party by night as Bacvice will keep the party going. The two main hot spots are the cocktail bar Tropic and Club Bačvice. Here you will also find popular restaurants, cafe's and bars. Club Bacvice will keep you entertained with its dancers and cheap cocktails and to sample some local music check out Pupa and Tropic on certain nights of the week. And if you have worked up a sweat, join the many people on the beach afterwards for a midnight swim.

Poljud - the Poljud area is famous for its shell-shaped sporting stadium. Within the stadium arena you find two of Split's most popular clubs, Vanilla and Tribu. At Vanilla you can party to pop and house music and on weekends it's often the stage for local stars' concerts. Just a 5 minute walk from Vanilla and you find yourselves at Tribu, a definite stop for every true party animal. Tribu's stylish interior, the huge outdoor terrace with 3 bars and a swimming pool, all under the shadow of bamboo sun umbrellas, lend an exotic atmosphere to the whole club. Widely popular with both locals and foreign guests, Tribu owes its reputation to its cosmopolitan atmosphere, great Djs, professionally made cocktails and a special attraction: exotic dancers from Brazil – a mix bound to keep you on the dancefloor until early in the morning.