Hotel Park Split
The city's grande dame — 1921 heritage hotel refreshed 2018, six-min walk to Bacvice beach and Old Town.
Bacvice · Luxury
Where to stay
Best Hotels in Split, Croatia: 15 Old Town, Riva & Marjan Picks
Split works two ways — a Dalmatian city in its own right and a base for hopping the Adriatic islands. Below is our shortlist across the palace, the Riva and Podstrana and how to book with live rates through our licensed hotel partner.
Diocletian's Palace vs Riva vs Marjan vs Podstrana
Inside Diocletian's Palace: small boutique guesthouses and heritage boutiques — the atmosphere pick, walk to everything.
Riva Waterfront: five-stars and design boutiques directly on the palm-lined promenade — Marmont, Cornaro, Ambasador.
Varos and Meje (under Marjan Hill): quieter boutique hotels — Villa Diana, Vestibul Palace, boutique feel with a 10-min walk to the Riva.
Podstrana (10 km south): beach resorts — Le Meridien Lav Split, quieter families and beach access, needs a taxi or car for the Old Town.
Which segment fits your trip
Luxury (EUR 350-700/night): Hotel Park Split, Cornaro Hotel, Ambasador Hotel Split, Le Meridien Lav Split (Podstrana).
Boutique heritage inside/near the palace (EUR 200-400/night): Vestibul Palace, Marmont Hotel, Peristil, Judita Palace Hotel.
Design mid-range (EUR 150-300/night): Piazza Heritage Hotel, Divota Apartment Hotel, Hotel Luxe.
Beach family (EUR 200-400/night): Le Meridien Lav Split, Hotel Radisson Blu Resort & Spa Split.
Getting there and around
Fly into Split Airport (SPU) — direct from London, Manchester, Amsterdam, Paris, Frankfurt, Vienna, Zurich, Rome, Milan, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Athens, Istanbul (April-October).
SPU to Old Town is 30 minutes. Pre-book a Kiwitaxi private transfer.
You don't need a car inside Split. Rent one (Discover Cars, EconomyBookings) only for coast drives to Dubrovnik, Krka or Plitvice.
Ferries to Hvar, Brac and Vis depart from Split's main port at the eastern end of the Riva — Jadrolinija for car ferries, Krilo/Kapetan Luka for fast catamarans.
The must-do experiences
Walk Diocletian's Palace at dawn — the Peristyle square, cathedral bell tower, cellars and Vestibule dome.
Marjan Hill hike — 1-hour circuit above the city with the best skyline view.
Fast-ferry day trip to Hvar Town (55 min) — the Riva, Fortica fortress and Pakleni Islands.
Blue Cave and Vis day trip — the region's headline sea-cave tour. Book via GetYourGuide.
Krka waterfalls half-day trip — swimming currently prohibited but the walkways are spectacular.
15 handpicked Split hotels
Cornaro Hotel
Four-star boutique 100 m from the palace's Golden Gate — rooftop pool with cathedral views.
Old Town · Luxury boutique
Ambasador Hotel Split
Riva-adjacent five-star — sea-view rooms, best full-service hotel walkable to the palace.
Old Town · Luxury
Le Meridien Lav Split
Podstrana beach resort (10 km south) — 381 rooms, private beach, marina and casino.
Podstrana · Family luxury
Radisson Blu Resort & Spa Split
Znjan beach resort — 252 rooms, three pools, direct beach and 10-min taxi to Old Town.
Znjan · Family luxury
Vestibul Palace
Seven-room heritage boutique inside the palace vestibule — the most historically embedded stay in Split.
Old Town · Heritage boutique
Marmont Heritage Hotel
Boutique four-star tucked in a palace lane — 21 rooms in a restored 15th-century townhouse.
Old Town · Boutique
Judita Palace Heritage Hotel
Historic square-facing boutique — nine rooms in a 16th-century palazzo, romantic-luxury pick.
Old Town · Boutique luxury
Piazza Heritage Hotel
Fruit Square boutique — 12 rooms in a restored palazzo, walk-to-everything Old Town base.
Old Town · Boutique
Hotel Peristil
The closest hotel to the cathedral — 12 rooms directly on the palace Peristyle square.
Old Town · Boutique
Divota Apartment Hotel
Restored Varos townhouses — 32 apartments and rooms, best-value boutique in the quiet old quarter.
Varos · Boutique
Villa Diana
Boutique guesthouse under Marjan Hill — nine rooms, walk-to-Old-Town, best-value boutique in Meje.
Meje · Boutique
Hotel Luxe
Four-star business boutique between train station and Old Town — walkable to both, sea view rooms.
Poljud · Boutique
Cornaro's sister B&B Villa Split Heritage Hotel
Tiny boutique in a Roman fragment near the palace — five heritage-suite rooms.
Old Town · Boutique
Hotel Slavija
The oldest hotel in Split — 25 rooms inside a palace-wall building, budget-atmosphere pick.
Old Town · Mid-range
Check live hotel rates in Split, Croatia
Real availability and prices from our licensed booking partner. No hidden fees.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Split?
May-June and September-October — warm swimmable sea, open ferries, manageable crowds. July-August is peak (hot, crowded, expensive). November-March: many restaurants closed but the palace is atmospheric and hotel rates drop sharply.
Split or Dubrovnik?
Split for the lived-in ancient palace, ferry access to Hvar/Brac/Vis and better value. Dubrovnik for the walled Old Town drama and one-city trips. Combine both in a 10-day Dalmatia loop.
How do I get to Hvar from Split?
Fast catamaran ferries (Krilo, Kapetan Luka) run Split-Hvar Town in 55 minutes, several times daily May-October. Jadrolinija car ferries go to Stari Grad on the north side of Hvar in 2 hours.
Do I need a car in Split?
No inside the city — the palace is pedestrian and everything walkable. Yes only if you're driving down the Dalmatian coast to Dubrovnik or up to Krka or Plitvice.
How long should I stay in Split?
Two to three nights for the city itself. Add three to four nights for island hopping (Hvar, Brac, Vis) for a proper Dalmatian week.
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