What to do in Split with dogs: top 5 activities

So you’re in Croatia with your loyal companion and now wondering what to do in Split with dogs. Don’t worry I got you covered as Split was our last stop on our trip and we stayed three full days!

When we first arrived, I have to admit I was nervous. The apartment building we were staying in was full of graffiti, and, I am ashamed to admit, I started looking at other options. 

Then we walked literally two streets and the city transformed, from a bustling modern city, to a magical town. It was like walking back in time, to multiple time periods. I was in awe as I looked around and realized I was inside Diocletian’s Palace. The city had grown inside of this Roman fortress!

I am so glad we stayed where we did as I always felt safe in Split! It became one of my favorite cities in Croatia!

As always, I look for the best pet friendly activities in each place to make the make each trip a true dog friendly vacation. So let’s dive in so you know the best things to do in Split the next time you are in Croatia with your dog.

Where to stay in Split

1. Visit Diocletian’s Palace

The top thing to do in Split is definitely to walk around what used to be Diocletian’s Palace and is now old city Split. This historical center is a UNESCO World Heritage site for two reasons: it is one of the best-preserved Roman imperial residences, and it has been continuously lived in since 305 AD! This means that there is history in every corner and every building. We absolutely loved roaming around the streets of Split on our trip.

Walk through the Golden Gate straight into Diocletian’s Palace. Diocletian actually retired in this fortress of almost 35,000 square meters (more than 8 acres or ~380,000 sq ft). There are three main parts to the palace: imperial residence above the basement halls, peristyle or religious square, and guard, servants and slave quarters. 

The peristyle, or palace square, included the imperial mausoleum which was later converted into the cathedra, as well as three temples: Jupiter, Venus and Cybelle. The Jupiter temple was converted into the baptistery while the other two were destroyed. These are unfortunately not pet-friendly, but if you are visiting with more than one human and really want to go in, you can take turns going inside! 

If not, you can admire the outer columns of the cathedral which were military trophies from his Egyptian campaign. In front of the cathedral you can also see one of Diocletian’s sphinxes. This is thought to be around 3,600 years old! Mishka nailed the sphinx pose!

During the summer, at noon you can see a performance of the Roman changing of the guards in the peristyle. You will see the Roman guards as well as Diocletian and his wife, Priska, while Diocletian gives a short speech welcoming everyone to his palace. Inside the vestibule, you might experience some klapa singers, traditional Dalmatian a capella, taking advantage of the incredible acoustics. Don’t forget to see the Eastern Gate. 

Walk down the stairs in the peristyle and explore the Basement Halls when you walk through. These 60 halls were meant to elevate the imperial residence because the palace was built on a slope. Even though we call them basement, they were actually the ground floor!  The central hall is free of charge and you can buy some artwork and souvenir. We did not visit the rest of the halls as our dogs couldn’t enter, but just seeing the central one gives you an idea of the impressive palace. 

Continue on your way through the central hall and exit through the Brass Gate to the Riva Promenade. 

Did you know that Diocletian would enter his palace on his boat? 

Yes, he wanted to fully enter the palace without leaving the deck. The lower tier of his palace was covered with water and Diocletian would pass between the columns to stop among the rooms. But over time the sea receded, and so now we have to walk all the way to the Riva to see it. 

2. Walk the Riva Promenade

This promenade is an important center for Split’s modern life. We owe it to Napoleon Bonaparte’s governor who demolished all the Venetian fortifications and dumped the rubble in the sea, creating this promenade. Of course it has been renovated throughout the years, to this beautiful pedestrian area we can enjoy today. 

From what I heard, it is where everyone in Split gathers to celebrate the New Year or a special victory. Oh and apparently famous people like Freud and Agatha Christie have all stayed on the Riva. Which means that at least walking the Riva is something you must do, too!

There are so many cafes and restaurants along the promenade to choose from. Take a break from white stone walls, and have a drink overlooking Split’s magnificent coast. If, like me, you cannot live without a good breakfast place— not talking about bread and coffee—the Riva has many options, including Brasserie on 7. 

3. Go to a dog friendly beach in Split 

Another great activity in Split with your dog is to go to the beach!

On the western coast of Split inside Marjan park, you will find Kašjuni Beach. This is a beautiful pebbled beach inside a calm cove. There is a bar where you can rent loungers, but we opted for the free beach as we had our dogs and we wanted to be away from the music. Look for the exclusive area that is marked off for dog swimming. Otherwise your dog may not swim. They are allowed on the beach, even the unmarked area, just not allowed to swim. 

Or to the east there is Duilovo Beach. This beach in Split is a true dog beach with a pet area with tents and showers for both humans and dogs. It is also a pebbled beach and a fun alternative to get away from the tourists. 

 Both pet friendly beaches in Split are one bus ride away from the old city. Be aware that during high-season it was very busy and crowded on the bus. Thankfully, our dogs were allowed on the bus without a problem, even without a carrier. 

These two are close to old-city Split, but if you go outside the city, you will definitely find more dog friendly beaches.

4. Hike Marjan hill

Another activity to do with your dog is a few minutes away from the bustle of the city but it will feel completely out of the city. Hike Marjan hill with your dog, an important landmark for Split’s history. On the eastern side, one of the oldest neighborhoods was built and there are several churches, chapels, and remains of ancient temples. 

Explore the park and hike up to the Church of St. Jerome and see the hermit’s cave, or Karepić’s Tower. This walled narrow cave is impressive and was used by the hermits as well as the locals during invasions. 

The views from atop Marjan Hill are definitely worth a hike! You can even spot some of the neighboring islands from here. Maybe find your next destination from Marjan hill.

5. Eat delicious Dalmatian food

There are so many delicious restaurants in Split that you can go to with your dog. All the restaurants we went to in Split allowed us to eat inside despite having dogs, especially if they didn’t have an outdoor seating area. Actually, on our roadtrip we were never turned away from a restaurant!

We waited for Zinfandel as we didn’t have a reservation, but the wait was worth it. The food was delicious and they had no problem sitting us inside the restaurant with our dogs. 

We also ate at Fig for breakfast when I was craving eggs. They sat us inside when their outdoor tables were full. I really enjoyed their inventive dishes, like the spicy eggs for breakfast or the Mexican pulled pork for lunch. 

At Šug Restaurant we enjoyed their modern Dalmatian food out on their terrace. Even though I wasn’t feeling great that day, I do remember the food was incredible! They had the best butter and I ate ALL of it! For other restaurants with local food, our Airbnb host recommended Konoba Fetivi and Bakra. 

For some pizza, Bokomorra Haute Couture Pizza & Cocktails was delicious, and that is coming from someone currently living in Rome. 

If you are craving a coffee fix, we found that the best coffee in Croatia was at 4 Coffee!

Bonus: visit one of the islands near Split

Split is an ideal launching pad to visiting islands like Hvar. 

If you do visit Hvar, ferries are the most affordable option, while a private boat will be more expensive but can get you to the nicest swimming coves.

For ferries, use Jadrolinija, the main ferry company in coastal Croatia. Book online during the summer months to reserve your spot. Pets travel for free, but only small pets are allowed on fast routes—catamarans— in transport bags kept under the seat or on the lap. The maximum weight for these is 8kg. Dogs of all sizes are allowed on ferries but are required to only stay on deck and be on a leash and muzzle at all times. 

Remember to choose a city/port correctly. For exmaple, if you want to go to Stari Grad, don’t book for Hvar Town. Hike one of the many trails on the island and cool off in one of their beaches.  

There is a dog friendly beach in Hvar Town on Šetalište Antuna Tomislava Petrića, Ul. Vlade Avelinja 34! 

Or try these two in Stari Grad: Vaiana Beach Hvar with amenities and a restaurant or Žukova Beach which has no amenities but it is secluded and has trees for shade. 

Taking a ferry or renting a boat to visit Croatian islands is a great activity to do with your dog while in Split. There are many options and these islands are full of pet-friendly beaches and old towns to explore! 

Events in Split to enjoy with your dog

For holiday themed things to do in Split, here are the main events:

Split Carnival: on Shrove Tuesday, or the day before Lent begins, Split’s carnival takes place. This is not an organized parade, but an unrestrained celebration. Wear a mask and take part in the bonfire to destroy Krnje. 

Sudamje: Saint Domnius Day, ironically the patron saint of Split, is on May 7. Leading up to the day, there are fairs, concerts, and other events. On the day of, there is a procession and a mass, and later a tombola—where people can win something— and a concert and fireworks in the evening on the Riva. Buying something made of wood on this day is an old custom!

Mrduja Regatta: normally held on the first Saturday in October. You can see hundreds of sailboats competing in this historical regatta from Sustipan Park or ACI Marina. Its 100-year anniversary is coming up in 2027. 

Advent Markets or Christmas Markets: normally from end of November to January 6th. Christmas time brings a lot of holiday spirit to Split with multiple local Christmas Markets like the one at the Riva with free concerts and events on the weekends. Prokurative square gets taken over by an ice rink and local restaurant stalls, and also has concerts on the weekends. Try some fritule, fried donuts, or some warm rakija to celebrate the season. On Christmas Eve head to the Iron Gate at noon to listen to klapa singers.

We truly loved our time in Split before having to head up back to Pula! The rich history and dog friendly culture really helped make it to the top of our list of best cities in Croatia!

Don’t forget to always prepare your dog for travel!

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