By getting more and more popular each year, especially in the summer, Split definitely earns its title as of one the best destinations in Europe. Split is a superb connection city to many islands and smaller coastal cities, as well as some cities and villages inland.
Split is the second largest city in Croatia with around 250.000 inhabitants. The city dated back to Roman ages (as Spalato).
Get to Split from Budapest in 8 hours. Comfortable, friendly, door to door. Learn more about shared shuttle transfer
Best time to visit Split?
Best time during June and August, the summer time of course. It is the peak period of tourism in Croatia, when all restaurants are open, ferries are frequently go between Split port and nearby islands, many people in the city, many music festivals, events.
But Split is enjoyable during autumn season (from Sept), thanks to less crowd, cooler temperatures and friendlier prices. Daily temperature is still warm but not hot, as Split is the second largest city, restaurants and places are still open. The climate of Split is mild during winter also, but most of the rain fall during that period of the year.
Old Town of Split
The core of the city is the Old Roman Palace of Dioclectian. He was the only roman emperor who actually retired and as he was born nearby, he built a palace for his older years. That is the Dioclectian's Palace and the nearby temple of Venus which are the most famous and iconic part of the downtown (can not miss).
You can see a high church tower The Cathedral of Saint Dominus rising above the Palace nowadays. That is the oldest part of the downtown with tiny small streets and alleys. Many shops, retaurants, bars in the area.
If you walk further, you reach to Narodni trg, which can be found in the medieval part of the Old Town of Split
You can see the remaining of the medieval city wall and bastion, and a clocktower, which is the most popular place of meet in city.
The Riva
The Riva is the walking promenade of Split next to the sea.
Busy all year. Restaurants, bars, ice-cream shops can be found here. Enjoy a good croatian coffee, watch the crowd and the busy harbour.
You also can find the daytour offers next to the sea at small tables. You can select a scuba diving, a daytour to islands, Blue Cave tour also.
Marjan Hill
Marjan Hill located on the end of Riva promenade. It is the lungs of the city. It is a great climb on the top. There is a bar with terrace offering great view on the city of Split and the nearby islands.
Old Jewish Cemetery can be found here also. Marjan Hill is a national preserve, but you can enjoy walking through. Specially good in hot summertime. It is an option to go around Marjan Hill, than you can explore a lot of smaller beach.
If you walk through Marjan Hill preserve, you found yourself in Varos district where is less tourist but more locals. That makes it special and insteresing. It is easy to walk back to Old Town of Split area.
Beaches of Split
You can find many beach in Split as it is on the shore of Adriatic sea. The best known and most popular the Bacevice, which is about 10min. away from the sea port. It is large area, sandy beach, free to go in.
More beach near the Marjan Hill. Most of those are pebble beach and some animal friendly. There is a great chain of family friendly sandy beach in Podstrana, which is a suburban area of Split to the south (you can get there by bus easily).
Visiting nearby Islands
Split has a busy sea harbour. Ferries are going to nearby islands, like Brac, Hvar, Korcula. Cities like Zadar, Dubrovnik and even international routes available to Italy.
The state owned ferry company called Jadrolinia, they have a cashier desk in the begining of the sea port. But private companies also operate ferries on some routes, like Krilo or Bluelines.
Local tour companies offers tailored tours with guide also.
How to get to Split
Compare the ways to get to Split from Budapest
It is easy to get to Prague from Budapest nowadays. Many options to choose from, so up to your preferred way, you can go by train, plane, coach bus, private transfer.
Flight from Budapest to Split
No direct flight available from Budapest to Split, you have to change in Vienna or germany. Although flight time is short, but with transit times it is not faster than minibus transfer to Split.
Train from Budapest to Split
Train connection is only available during summertime. And it is slow. And sometimes without A/C. And it is overnight, so can not enjoy much of the scenery (which is wonderful otherwise).
Coach bus service
Coach service available directly during summer peak period only. You have to change if you are travelling before June or after 1st Sept. Takes 10-11 hours (depends on border).
Shared shuttle bus
Eurobusways offers shared shuttle bus from Budapest to Split. Fast as we arrive in 8 hours. from door to door. friendly drivers. WiFi. no lugggage cost.
Bus from Budapest to Split now
Private transfer
The most expensive way (except some airfares), but the fastest (except flight) as private transfer buses/cars go from door to door. It is also the most comfortable and flexible as you can choose time of departure. No luggage cost.
Eurobusways offers private bus transfer from Budapest to Split for 420EUR (total cost), including free stopover at Plitvice lakes or Zadar/Trogir.