Split cruise port

A Roman emperor’s palace that 3,000 people still live in, ten minutes from the ship.

Split is the Dalmatian port where the Old Town is a 1,700 year old Roman palace: Diocletian retired here in 305 AD and the city simply moved in, so today the cafes, apartments and cathedral sit inside his walls. Ships dock at the city’s ferry port on the outer breakwater, a flat 10 to 15 minute walk along the harbor to the Riva promenade and the palace gates; the largest ships anchor and tender to a pier right on the Riva. Most cruisers wander the palace and climb the bell tower, then either swim at Bacvice or head out to Trogir or the Krka waterfalls. SmartCruiser lists every cruise that calls at Split from every line, priced with taxes and fees included, with the sailings that carry SmartCruiser bonus onboard credit or instant savings at the top.

See the SmartCruiser picks Open the full search
Dockedferry port 10 to 15 min walk, biggest ships tender to the Riva
Eurono shuttle needed, taxi about 10 euros
May to Jun, Sep to Octwarm, dry, lighter crowds
All inevery price includes taxes and fees
Start here

Three ways to do Split

The palace and the Riva on foot, Trogir or Krka by coach, or a boat to the Blue Lagoon: pick the day you want and the button filters the list of sailings below.

Palace and Riva

Diocletian’s Palace, the bell tower and a long lunch on the Riva

  • Walk 10 to 15 minutes along the harbor from the pier; tenders land you right on the Riva
  • Peristyle square and the lanes are free; the cathedral, bell tower, crypt and baptistery combo ticket is about 15 euros, the cellars about 10 euros
  • Climb the 200 step bell tower before 10 AM, then Marjan hill for the view if your legs have more in them

Best for: first-timers, photographers, Game of Thrones fans, short calls

Trogir or Krka

A second UNESCO town 30 minutes away, or waterfalls 90 minutes inland

  • Trogir is a tiny walled island town with a Romanesque cathedral; 30 minutes by coach, about 5 euros round trip on the local bus, 3 to 4 hours door to door
  • Krka National Park is a boardwalk through 17 waterfalls, about 30 euros entry in season; ship tours run 6 to 7 hours and about $110 to $160
  • Both are coach country: book through the ship unless you have an 8 hour call and a taxi for four

Best for: repeat visitors, nature lovers, long port days

Boat day

The Blue Lagoon, Trogir by sea, or Hvar and the islands

  • Half-day speedboat trips from the Riva to the Blue Lagoon off Ciovo with a Trogir stop run about 70 to 90 euros, 4 to 5 hours
  • Full-day Hvar and Blue Cave trips need a 10 hour call; check the return time against your all-aboard
  • Closer to the ship, Bacvice beach is a 5 minute walk from the ferry port and Kasjuni below Marjan is the pretty one

Best for: families, sun seekers, hot August days

Live from the cruise lines

Split cruises: SmartCruiser picks first

Every cruise that calls at Split from every line, priced live with taxes, fees and port expenses included. The picks at the top are sailings where booking with SmartCruiser gets you something extra: instant savings or bonus onboard credit. Below them, every other sailing that stops here, with full sorting by home port, line, month, length and price.

SmartCruiser picks

Sorted by what you save, biggest first
Loading this week’s picks…

Every cruise that calls at Split

Stack any filters, then pick a sort
Loading sailings…

Prices are per person, double occupancy, in US dollars, and include cruise fare, taxes, fees and port expenses as published by the cruise line at the moment you load this page. Fares are capacity controlled and change daily; the fare is confirmed when you book. Flights, hotels and transfers are extra unless the line’s offer says otherwise. SmartCruiser instant savings and bonus onboard credit are provided by SmartCruiser on top of the cruise line’s price and are not available when booking direct; amounts are per stateroom, vary by stateroom category and are shown for the lowest category offered. Special SmartCruiser rates are pricing SmartCruiser holds on that sailing for its clients, with extra onboard credit; you book your own stateroom and travel on your own. Senior fares apply to guests 55 and over; resident fares need proof of residency in a listed state or province at check-in; police and fire fares apply to active or retired police, fire and EMT personnel with ID. Qualifier-fare savings are measured against the best fare the cruise line offers the general public for the same stateroom category on the day the list was pulled, updated weekly.

In port

Things to do in Split

The palace is a short walk from the pier and the best trips are 30 to 90 minutes out, so an eight hour call lets you do the Old Town properly and one excursion.

Diocletian’s PalaceThe emperor’s fortified retirement villa, now the Old Town: the Peristyle courtyard with its sphinx, the Golden Gate, Jupiter’s temple turned baptistery and lanes full of cafes and apartments. Free to wander, one to two hours, a 10 to 15 minute walk from the pier or steps from the tender landing.
Cathedral of St. Domnius and the bell towerDiocletian’s mausoleum became the cathedral, which is the joke of history since he persecuted Christians; the 190 foot Romanesque bell tower beside it has the best view in Dalmatia. Combo ticket for the cathedral, tower, crypt, treasury and baptistery about 15 euros (tower alone about 5 to 7 euros), 45 to 60 minutes, 200 open-sided steps.
The cellars (Podrumi)The vaulted substructures under the palace where Daenerys kept her dragons, lined with vendors at the Riva end and a quiet maze at the other. About 10 euros as of 2026, open from 8 or 8:30 AM, 30 minutes; the free passage from the Riva to the Peristyle runs through the middle.
The Riva and Marjan hillThe palm-lined waterfront promenade for coffee and people-watching, and the forested hill behind it with a 15 to 20 minute climb to the first viewpoint over the city and the ships. Free; allow 90 minutes for the hill and back.
TrogirA UNESCO walled town on its own tiny island 30 minutes west, with a Romanesque cathedral, a Venetian loggia and a Kamerlengo fortress. Local bus 37 or a ship coach, about 5 euros round trip by bus or $60 to $90 by tour, 3 to 4 hours door to door.
Krka National ParkSeventeen travertine waterfalls in a river canyon 90 minutes north, walked on boardwalks with a boat ride on the lower river. About 30 euros entry in summer (less in the shoulder months), 6 to 7 hours door to door; swimming at the falls ended in 2021.
Klis fortress and SalonaThe hilltop fortress that was Meereen in Game of Thrones and the ruins of the Roman capital of Dalmatia, both 20 to 30 minutes from the port. About 15 euros for Klis and a few euros for Salona, 2 to 3 hours for the pair by taxi or tour.
Bacvice beachThe city’s sandy cove where locals play picigin in the shallows, a 5 minute walk east of the ferry port. Free, with cafes and sunbeds; Kasjuni beach below Marjan is quieter and clearer if you have the time.
Pick your style

Which lines call at Split?

Split is on nearly every Adriatic itinerary and gets several calls a week in season; these are the lines whose 2026 schedules we confirmed.

Royal CaribbeanExplorer of the Seas calls weekly on 7 night Greece and Croatia cruises from Venice (Ravenna), with Brilliance of the Seas from Athens.SmartCruiser bonus onboard credit Celebrity CruisesThe most frequent caller: Celebrity Ascent, Eclipse, Constellation and Infinity on 7 to 11 night Italy, Adriatic and Greece itineraries.SmartCruiser bonus onboard credit Norwegian Cruise LineNorwegian Pearl and Norwegian Gem on 7 night Greek Isles and Adriatic loops from Venice (Ravenna), plus Norwegian Viva on longer itineraries.SmartCruiser bonus onboard credit MSC CruisesMSC Armonia calls weekly through the summer on 7 night Adriatic loops from Trieste and Bari, and MSC Lirica keeps calling into the winter.SmartCruiser bonus onboard credit Princess CruisesEnchanted Princess and Island Princess on 7 to 14 night Mediterranean cruises that call here in late summer and fall.SmartCruiser bonus onboard credit Carnival Cruise LineCarnival Legend’s 2026 European season puts Split on its 9 to 12 night Adriatic and Greek Isles cruises from Rome.SmartCruiser bonus onboard credit Costa CruisesCosta Deliziosa calls weekly on 7 night Croatia and Greece loops from Trieste, Venice and Bari.SmartCruiser bonus onboard credit Oceania CruisesInsignia, Sirena and Allura on 7 to 12 night Adriatic voyages between Venice, Trieste and Athens.SmartCruiser bonus onboard credit VikingViking Star, Vesta, Jupiter, Mira, Neptune and Sky all call on Empires of the Mediterranean and Adriatic itineraries between Venice and Athens.Live prices
Timing

When to go

Split has hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters; the stone lanes are most pleasant in the shoulder months, and July and August bring upper 80s heat and the biggest crowds on the Riva.

April to JuneHighs from the mid 60s in April to the low 80s in June, the sea warming to the low 70s by June, occasional spring showers and the palace lanes still breathable at noon.
July to AugustHighs in the upper 80s, almost no rain (under 2 inches a month) and the sea at 75 or warmer. Three or four ships on peak days; do the bell tower at opening and spend midday on a boat or at Bacvice.
September to OctoberLow 80s in September easing to about 70 in October, the sea still warm, and the rain returning in late October. The best balance of weather and crowds for a port day.
November to MarchMild, 48 to 55 degrees, but Split’s wettest months (November averages more than 5 inches) with the cold bura wind off the mountains. Boat trips stop, Krka hours shrink, and only MSC, Viking and a few others call.
Good to know

Split questions we answer every day

Where do cruise ships dock in Split, and how far is the Old Town?

Most ships dock at the city port (Gradska luka), on the outer breakwater or the berths beside the ferry terminal, a flat 10 to 15 minute walk along the harbor to the Riva promenade and the palace gates; Diocletian’s Palace is about half a mile from the pier. The largest ships anchor in the bay and tender to a pier in the center of town right beside the Riva, which actually puts you closer. There is a taxi rank at the pier (about 10 euros into town if you would rather not walk) and buses, ATMs and cafes across the road from the terminal.

How do I get around, and what do things cost?

The Old Town is pedestrian only, so once you reach the Riva it is all on foot. The big tickets as of 2026: cathedral and bell tower combo about 15 euros, the cellars about 10 euros, Klis fortress about 15 euros, Krka National Park about 30 euros in season. Local bus 37 to Trogir is about 5 euros round trip from the suburban bus station a 10 minute walk from the port; taxis to Trogir are about 40 to 50 euros each way. A simple lunch in the palace lanes is 15 to 25 euros a head and the Riva cafes charge a premium for the view.

What currency, language and time zone will I find?

Croatia switched to the euro in 2023 and cards are accepted nearly everywhere; keep a few coins for the bus and the restrooms. English is spoken fluently in every shop and restaurant. Split is 6 hours ahead of US Eastern time. Croatia is in the EU, so EU roaming plans and US carrier day passes work normally.

Is Split safe for cruise passengers?

Yes, Split is one of the safest ports in Europe; the U.S. State Department rates Croatia at its lowest advisory level. The practical cautions are the polished, slippery stone in the palace lanes (wear shoes with grip), the open-sided bell tower steps, the heat on Marjan in August, pickpockets on a packed Riva when four ships are in, and drivers on the harbor road who do not stop at crosswalks. Agree the taxi fare before you set off.

What is the best excursion, and should I book through the ship?

The palace itself is the best thing in Split and needs no tour, just the combo ticket and the bell tower before 10 AM. If you leave town, Krka is the one that makes the day, and it is coach country at 90 minutes each way, so book it through the ship unless you have a long call and a car for four. Trogir is close enough to do on your own by bus or taxi on a 7 hour call. Boat trips to the Blue Lagoon and Hvar are wonderful but only on a 9 or 10 hour call, and the operators on the Riva will promise any return time you want, so read the ship’s all-aboard before you pay.

Do I need a passport for an Adriatic cruise?

Yes. Every Mediterranean cruise starts and ends outside the United States, so a passport valid for at least six months beyond your trip is required; the closed-loop birth-certificate rule applies only to round trips from a US port. Croatia joined the Schengen area in 2023, and the EU’s ETIAS travel authorization is expected to begin in late 2026, so check the requirement before you fly.

Are taxes and fees included in the prices here?

Yes. Every price on SmartCruiser includes the cruise fare, taxes, fees and port expenses. Flights, hotels, shore excursions and gratuities are extra.

Talk to a Split cruise specialist

Tell us your dates and we will pull every sailing that calls at Split, note which ones give you a long enough day for Krka or the islands, and put the SmartCruiser bonus onboard credit sailings first. Monday to Thursday 9 to 6, Friday 9 to 5, Saturday 10 to 6 ET.

1-800-444-1560