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🛒 Top picks for this trip
✅ Essentials Checklist
- Passport (Croatia is Schengen since 2023)
- GHIC card for EU healthcare
- Travel insurance
- Comfortable non-slip shoes — the palace's marble streets get slippery
- Sunscreen SPF50 ↗+
- Swimwear if combining with island beaches
- Euros cash (Croatia joined the Eurozone in 2023)
- Reusable water bottle
🛒 More kit for this trip
👕 Clothing Checklist
- Comfortable non-slip walking shoes
- Light breathable clothing
- Swimwear × 2 if island-hopping
- Modest cover-up for the Cathedral of St Domnius
- Smart-casual for Riva waterfront dining
- Sun hat and sunglasses
⭐ Nice to Have
- Ferry tickets booked ahead for Hvar or Brač (Jadrolinija, book online in summer)
- Snorkel set for island beach days
- Game of Thrones filming-location walking tour (Diocletian's Palace featured heavily)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can you actually stay inside Diocletian's Palace?
Yes — the 'palace' is effectively Split's entire old town, still fully inhabited with shops, restaurants, apartments and hotels built into and around the original Roman walls. Many visitors stay in accommodation genuinely inside the palace complex, which is a unique experience rarely available in a European city this size.
Which Croatian island should I visit from Split?
Hvar is the glamorous option — nightlife, boutique hotels, lavender fields — and the most touristy. Brač has Zlatni Rat, Croatia's most photographed beach, and a quieter pace. Vis is the furthest and least developed, popular with those wanting an authentic, less crowded island experience. All are reachable by ferry from Split, with Hvar and Brač as easy day trips.
How busy does Split get in summer?
Very — July and August bring cruise ship crowds into the old town on top of regular tourism, and the narrow palace streets get genuinely congested by midday. Visit the palace complex early morning or evening for a much better experience. May, June and September offer similar weather with dramatically fewer crowds.
Check the weather and best time to visit before you finalise your Split, Croatia packing list — and see country facts and travel info for entry requirements and local tips.
Not sure which suitcase size or clothing sizes you need? Check 247Sizing's luggage and clothing size guides before you pack.