SplitCruise Port Guide
Step off in the city harbour and Diocletian's Palace is a flat ten-minute walk away. Timed plans, real tour prices, and the islands and waterfalls you can still fit in before all aboard.
Welcome to Split
Pro Picks
Walking tour · 1.5 hrsDiocletian's Palace & Old Town Walking Tour
A small-group walk through the Roman emperor's palace that makes up half of Split's Old Town: the Peristyle, St Domnius Cathedral, the Gregory of Nin statue and the Riva. It starts at the Golden Gate, about 12 minutes on foot from the cruise pier, and the shortest option takes an hour and a half.
From $16.73/ person
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Speedboat · 5 hrsBlue Lagoon, Trogir & Čiovo Speedboat Trip
A half-day speedboat trip west along the coast: a stroll through Trogir's walled old town, a swim and snorkel in the clear Blue Lagoon, then a beach-club stop on Čiovo island. It lasts five hours from the Booker Travel office in Split, and strong wind can cancel it, with a refund or rebooking.
From $60.25/ person
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Waterfalls day trip · 9 hrsKrka Waterfalls with River Boat & Primošten
A coach day trip to Krka National Park: a boat up the river from Skradin to the Skradinski Buk falls, three hours in the park with a guided walk, then Primošten for a swim or a wander. It runs nine hours from the Gregory of Nin statue by the palace, so it only fits a long call; park entry is cash to the guide unless your option includes it.
From $39.34/ person
Book Now →Your time ashore
Count from leaving the ship to being back aboard.
Split in 2 hours
Walking Tour
Diocletian's Palace Walking Tour
Ninety minutes with a guide through the palace's Peristyle, cathedral and gates and along the Riva. Meet at the Golden Gate, a 12-minute walk from the pier.
From$16.73
Time required1.5 - 6 hours
Electric Tuk-Tuk Tour
City Highlights by Electric Tuk-Tuk
A quiet electric tuk-tuk loop past Bačvice beach and the market, a short walk through the palace, then up to the Marjan hill viewpoints and Sustipan park. Meet by the water fountain and look for the white Eco City Tour vehicle.
From$55.35
Time required2 hours
Split in 5 hours
Walking Tour & Trogir
Split & Trogir Small-Group Tour
A guided walk through the palace, then a 45-minute van ride to Trogir's cathedral, loggia and castle with an hour free. On ship days the guide also waits at the cruise gate, and it can drop you at the port.
From$56
Time required5 hours
Zip Line
Zip Line on Mt. Kozjak
Six zip lines, 2.5 km in all and the longest 800 m, across the mountain behind Split. Transport from town is an option at booking; closed shoes are required and the weight limit is 110 kg.
From$67.33
Time required2 - 3 hours
E-Bike Tour
E-Bike Tour of Marjan Park
An electric-bike ride to Bene beach, up through the pine woods of Marjan park to its viewpoints, and back past the Matejuška fishing harbour to the Riva. It starts at Plinarska 25, west of the Old Town; arrive 15 minutes early.
From$73.06
Time required3 hours
Split in 10 hours
Speedboat & Swim
Blue Lagoon & Trogir Speedboat
Trogir's old town, a swim in the Blue Lagoon and a beach club on Čiovo, by small-group speedboat. Check in at the Booker Travel office; wind can cancel it.
From$60.25
Time required5 hours
Waterfalls Day Trip
Krka Waterfalls & Primošten
Coach to Skradin, a river boat to the Skradinski Buk falls, three hours in the park and a Primošten stop. Nine hours from the Gregory of Nin statue: only for calls of ten hours or more.
From$39.34
Time required9 hours
River Rafting
Cetina River Rafting & Cliff Jumping
Ten kilometres of rapids and calm water through the Cetina canyon, with rock jumps up to 5 m and a cave behind a waterfall. Bring dry clothes for the ride back; photos and extras are cash only.
From$56.18
Time required4 - 6 hours
Trogir Walking Tour
Trogir Old Town Walking Tour
A transfer to Trogir and a guided walk past its main square, cathedral and loggia, with free time after. It leaves the Golden Gate at noon and is back at 5pm, so it suits ships sailing in the evening.
From$51.69
Time required4 hours
Hop-On Hop-Off Bus
Hop-On Hop-Off Bus + Walking Tour
One ticket for the Red Line sightseeing bus, guided trips out to Klis Fortress and Salona, and a walking tour; use as much of it as your day allows. It starts at Obala Lazareta 3, right by the cruise berths.
From$25.85
Time required8 hours
Quad Tour
Dalmatian Hinterland Quad Tour
Off-road quads through the hills behind Split with a picnic snack and, in summer, a swim in the Cetina river. The Split transfer leaves at 9:00am or 2:00pm sharp, costs €15 extra and must be booked a day ahead.
From$95.38
Time required4 hours
Within a stroll of the boat
Six stops from the cruise berths in Split's city harbour, all within about 12 minutes on foot: the palace's market, square, cathedral and cellars, the Riva, and Bačvice, the nearest beach to the Split cruise port.
Market · 0.3 mi · ~9 min
Green market (Pazar)
Split's open-air market just outside the palace's Silver Gate, the first place you pass walking in from the pier.
Plaza · 0.4 mi · ~10 min
Peristyle (Peristil)
The colonnaded square at the heart of Diocletian's Palace, where most walking tours gather.
Landmark · 0.4 mi · ~10 min
Cathedral of Saint Domnius and bell tower
Split's cathedral, built inside the emperor's own mausoleum, with its bell tower rising over the Peristyle.
Museum · 0.4 mi · ~9 min
Substructures (basement halls) of Diocletian's Palace
The palace's vaulted underground halls, entered from the Riva through the Bronze Gate; one of the reasons Split is on the UNESCO list.
Waterfront · 0.5 mi · ~11 min
Riva promenade
Split's car-free waterfront promenade along the palace's south wall, and a stop on the palace walking tour.
Beach · 0.5 mi · ~12 min
Bačvice beach
A sandy town beach just east of the harbour, the closest swim to the ship; it fills up on summer afternoons.
Handy Helpers
Small things that make a port day easier.
Private Driver, Waiting at the Dock
A pre-booked driver meets you at the dock for a fixed price. No haggling, no waiting for a taxi to fill.
Bike rental
Cover more ground than on foot. Book ahead and return it well before all-aboard.
Travel eSIM
Install it on ship WiFi and your maps and ride apps work the moment you land in Split.
Quick answers
Facts last checked .
How we checked these answers
Every answer is built from facts we checked against the sources below and cross-checked with recent port guides. Where sources disagreed, the answer says so instead of guessing a number.
- Split Port Authority (Lučka uprava Split) — cruise calls
- Split Port Authority — cruise ship call schedule
- Celebrity Cruises — Split port guide
- Jadrolinija — lines from Split
- Split Tourist Board — Diocletian's Palace
- Promet Split — single ticket price list from 1 June 2026
- Split Tourist Board — public bus transport
- European Commission — summer-time arrangements (Directive 2000/84/EC)
- U.S. Department of State — Croatia travel advisory
Getting ashore
Where do cruise ships dock in Split, Croatia? Is it a tender port?
Cruise ships in Split dock in the city harbour, right beside the Old Town; it isn't a tender port on a normal call. The Split Port Authority has 10 cruise berths there and a passenger terminal, and its 2026 schedule includes MSC, Costa, Celebrity, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, Princess, Holland America, Carnival, Viking and Virgin Voyages. Larger ships usually take the outer berths on Gat svetog Duje, a few minutes further out.
Can you walk into Split from the cruise port?
Yes. Diocletian's Palace is 0.4 miles from Split's cruise berths, a flat walk of about 10 minutes along the harbour, or 15 to 20 minutes if your ship is at the far end of Gat svetog Duje. No shuttle is needed, but there's little shade on the way. Inside the Old Town almost everything is on foot; see the walking map.
Is the Split ferry port the same as the cruise port?
Yes: Split's ferry port and its cruise berths are the same city harbour, next to the Old Town. Jadrolinija's ferries and fast boats leave from there for Brač, Hvar, Šolta, Vis, Korčula and Lastovo, and for Ancona in Italy, and Split's main bus and train stations are by the same harbour.
What is there to do at the Split cruise port?
Yes: Split's cruise berths are a 10-minute walk from Diocletian's Palace, a Roman emperor's palace that is now half the Old Town and on the UNESCO list since 1979. Its gates, the Peristyle square, the cathedral and the Riva are all on foot. Right by the port there are ATMs, a tourist information office, cafés and a taxi stand, and Bačvice beach is about 12 minutes away. The walking map has six stops.
How do I get around Split: taxis and buses?
Split's Old Town is a 10-minute walk from the ship and almost car-free, and taxis wait at the port for anything further. Promet Split runs the buses: a ticket within Split costs €1.50 bought in advance or online and €3.00 from the driver, valid for 60 minutes. The main bus and train stations are right by the harbour. Taxi prices are higher in summer.
Beaches & day trips
Can you walk to a beach from the Split cruise port?
Yes. Bačvice, a sandy town beach just east of the harbour, is 0.5 miles from Split's cruise berths, about a 12-minute walk. It's the closest place to swim from the ship and gets crowded on summer afternoons; it's the last pin on the walking map.
How should I spend one day in Split from a cruise ship?
With one day in Split, walk to Diocletian's Palace first: the Peristyle, the cathedral built inside the emperor's mausoleum, the underground halls and the Riva are all within 10 minutes of the ship. Most calls run nine to eleven hours, which leaves time for Bačvice beach or a half-day boat or zip-line trip. The 2-hour plans start with a guided palace walk.
Can I visit Hvar from Split on a cruise stop?
You can reach Hvar from Split on a cruise stop, because Jadrolinija's boats to Hvar town and Stari Grad leave from the same harbour your ship docks in. It's a round trip by public ferry on your own clock, so check the current timetable and leave a wide margin: cruise lines don't wait for passengers late from their own plans, and most Split calls leave between 4 and 7pm.
How do I get to Trogir from Split?
Trogir, a medieval town on the UNESCO list, is about 20 kilometres from Split, and city bus line 37 runs Split–Airport–Trogir. With a guide, a 5-hour small-group tour walks Diocletian's Palace first, then drives 45 minutes to Trogir, and on ship days it meets at the cruise gate; it's in the 5-hour plans. A 5-hour speedboat tour from Split also stops in Trogir before the Blue Lagoon.
Can I see the Krka waterfalls on a cruise stop in Split?
Yes, but only on a long call: the popular Krka Waterfalls trip from Split takes 9 hours, with a coach to Skradin, a river boat to the Skradinski Buk falls and three hours in the park. It meets by the palace's Golden Gate, a 12-minute walk from the pier. If park entry isn't included, the guide collects it in cash: €30 for adults from June to September, €16 in April, May and October. Swimming at the falls isn't allowed.
Time, money, documents & safety
What time zone is Split in, and how long do ships stay?
Split runs on Central European Time (UTC+1), and summer time (UTC+2) under EU rules; in 2026 the clocks go back an hour on Sunday 25 October. Most ships on the Split Port Authority's 2026 schedule arrive between 7 and 8am and leave between 4 and 7pm. If your ship keeps a different time, go by the ship's all-aboard.
What currency does Split use? Can I pay by card?
Split uses the euro, as Croatia has since 1 January 2023, and it's the only legal tender; older guides that mention the kuna are out of date. Cards are widely accepted in shops, cafés and taxis, but it's worth carrying a little cash.
Do I need a passport to go ashore in Split?
Croatia is in the Schengen area, so bring the passport you sailed on: for Schengen, a non-EU visitor's passport should be valid at least 3 months beyond the date you leave the EU and issued within the last 10 years. ETIAS, the EU's planned travel authorisation, isn't running yet and no applications are being collected.
Is Split safe for cruise passengers?
The US State Department rates Croatia Level 1, "Exercise normal precautions", its lowest advisory level. The bigger risk on a Split day is time: cruise lines don't wait for passengers late from their own plans, so leave a margin on any trip out of town.