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The best experiences to book in Split’s old town come down to five formats. The small-group palace walking tour (from €15 per adult, 2-person basis), the Game of Thrones tour with the cellars (€39 per adult), the food tour (€120 per adult), the cooking class (€175 per adult) and the sunset cruise (€69 per adult). Prices verified on the August-September 2026 window. If you only book one, start with the small-group walking tour, the most reviewed pick in my selection.
There is no entry ticket for Diocletian’s Palace: entry is free, and the district is home to around 3,000 people. What booking changes is the depth of the experience. Standing alone in Peristil Square, you see columns and an Egyptian sphinx that nobody explains; with a good guide, you suddenly understand that this « palace » is actually a 30,000 m² Roman military camp, turned into a living city by 1,700 years of use. That’s the whole difference between seeing and understanding.
In this article, I share my pick of 12 experiences to book in and around the palace, all verified on the August-September 2026 window: guided tours to decode the site, Game of Thrones tours in the cellars of Meereen, food tours and cooking classes to taste Dalmatia, and activities that change your angle: kayaking, e-bike, rickshaw and a sunset cruise. The prices shown are real, checked over a 30-day window, with the group size always specified: Viator’s rates drop depending on the date and the number of travellers, so a single price without that context would be misleading.
If you only keep one option, the small-group palace walking tour remains the most solid pick of the whole selection: 4.95/5 across more than 2,600 reviews, departures from Peristil at 8 am or 5 pm to dodge the cruise-ship crowds, and a route that covers both Roman history and the daily life of Split’s residents. It’s the foundation I would build a first visit on, before adding one or two complementary experiences depending on your profile: foodie, show fan, or after the best viewpoints.
Why Diocletian’s Palace: the Pixidia angle
Diocletian’s Palace [Q322287] was built between 295 and 305 AD as the retirement residence of Emperor Diocletian, laid out as a Roman military camp with two perpendicular axes (cardo and decumanus) and four gates: the Golden Gate to the north, the most monumental, the Silver Gate to the east, the Iron Gate to the west and the Bronze Gate to the south, facing the sea [AFAR]. The historic centre of Split [Q1663] has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979, largely thanks to its substructures: the cellars, considered the best-preserved Roman cellar complex in the world, faithfully mirror the floor plan of the imperial apartments that no longer exist [UNESCO].
What makes Split unique is that the palace is not a closed museum: St Domnius Cathedral [Q1268475] occupies Diocletian’s former octagonal mausoleum, the oldest cathedral still in continuous use, and the Temple of Jupiter is now the baptistery. The statue of Gregory of Nin [Q31843497], a work by Ivan Meštrović, stands watch in front of the Golden Gate and serves as the meeting point for most tours. The city stretches far beyond the walls: around 160,000 residents, overlooking the Adriatic Sea [Q13924] at the heart of Dalmatia [Q528042], in Croatia [Q224], part of the eurozone and the Schengen area since 2023: no currency exchange or visa formalities for UK travellers [Nomadotravel].
Finally, the palace became a Game of Thrones [Q23572] set in seasons 4 and 5: the cellars shelter Daenerys’ dragons, the Vestibule hosts the Unsullied fight, and the Golden Gate stands in for the entrance to Meereen [Transat]. On the calendar side, August remains the busiest month: high season peaks from mid-June to early September, and if you’re visiting in August, our guide to the Sinj knights’ tournament gives you a great excuse for a day trip outside the walls.
The 12 best experiences to book in Split’s old town
1. Small-group palace walking tour
The foundation of my selection: 90 minutes to decode the palace with a trained local guide, departing from Peristil (yellow sign, opposite the Lvxor bar). The group is capped at 15 people, which makes all the difference when you want to ask questions in the cellars, where space tightens. With more than 2,600 reviews, it’s the most battle-tested product in this whole list — a genuine guarantee of consistency.
- Small group of 15 people maximum
- Peristil, Vestibule and palace cellars on the itinerary
- 4.95/5 rating across more than 2,600 reviews
2. Game of Thrones and history, East and West cellars included
The only Game of Thrones tour in my selection with a perfect rating, and the one that smartly combines the show with Roman history instead of sticking to trivia. The meeting point is Gregory of Nin’s statue, under the Golden Gate; look for the black umbrella. Tickets for the East and West cellars, where Daenerys sheltered her dragons, are included: allow 2 hours between the Palace and the old town.
- Perfect 5.0/5 rating from 136 reviews
- East and West cellar tickets (Meereen) included
- Game of Thrones tour and history walk combined
3. Walking tour with a master of history
For curious travellers who want to understand, not just visit: the tour is led by Toni, an academically trained historian and former teacher, and relies on 3D reconstructions of the vanished imperial floors. It’s the option I recommend to Roman history buffs who find classic tours too superficial. Departure at the Bronze Gate, on the Riva side, with an audio headset so you don’t miss a word.
- Led by a trained historian and former teacher
- 3D reconstructions of the imperial floors
- Audio headset and small group
4. Private palace tour for history lovers
The premium option of the selection: an accredited resident guide, a Split native with a history degree, entirely at your service for 2 hours. Running since 2016, this private tour lets you tailor the itinerary to your interests (Diocletian in depth, medieval life, the cellars from every angle) without keeping pace with a group. The price makes sense if you’re several enthusiasts or if you really want to go into detail.
- Accredited private guide, born and raised in Split
- Tailor-made itinerary based on your interests
- 100% personalised pace
5. Food tour: Dalmatia on a plate
The experience I recommend to every foodie: 4 hours and five stops through the old town alleys, from black risotto to pašticada, burek and gelato, with an accredited local guide telling the palace’s story between bites. The meeting point is the big red SPLIT sign, at the eastern end of the Riva, ferry side. The tasting ends with a shot of rakija — the obligatory Dalmatian tradition.
- Five food stops through the old town
- Black risotto, pašticada, burek and gelato on the menu
- Palace history and Dalmatian cuisine combined
6. Cooking class with a market visit
The longest and most immersive food experience of the selection: 5 hours starting at Split’s fruit and fish market to buy ingredients from the producers, before cooking with a chef. Meal, wine tasting, snacks and drinks are included, and a private option exists for two people. Departure at the Silver Gate, Hrvojeva 4, in front of St Dominic’s church.
- Market visit and shopping with the producers
- Full meal and wine tasting included
- Private option for 2 people
7. Electric rickshaw: see Split without walking
Made for the August heat: 90 minutes in the shade of an electric rickshaw driven by a local guide, between the Palace, the Riva, Prokurative and Marjan forest park, a green area with limited car access. It’s also the only quick way to cover the city’s heights without effort; a cold drink awaits you at the Va Bene Café by the sea. Drivers are easy to spot in their red Riksa Tour t-shirts around the old town.
- Shaded ride in a private electric rickshaw
- Palace, Riva, Prokurative and Marjan park covered
- Free cold drink by the sea
8. E-bike: Split and Marjan park without the effort
The best way to gain some height: 3 hours on an electric bike between the city and Marjan forest park, with panoramic views over Kasuni Bay and the Riva. The electric assistance absorbs the climbs, leaving room for the views. Departure at the Plinarska 25 agency, right opposite the Mural, with helmet and insurance included.
- City and Marjan forest park on the itinerary
- Effortless climbs thanks to electric assistance
- Views over Kasuni Bay and the Riva
9. Palace and old town in a small group, smart value
The best value-for-money pick of the selection: 75 minutes covering Diocletian’s Palace and the old town, at €14 per adult, with the comfort of a true small group. It’s the choice I recommend first for a short first visit or if you need to save budget for the rest of your stay. The meeting point is the bronze model of Split, at the start of the Riva promenade, under a purple umbrella.
- Small group with a local guide
- Diocletian’s Palace and old town covered
- Most accessible price in this list
10. Kayak and snorkelling around Marjan
My favourite angle for discovering the palace differently: from the sea, the silhouette of the walls reads far better than from the Peristil crowd. 3 hours of kayaking around the Marjan peninsula, with swimming and snorkelling stops in the coves, a cliff jump for the brave and photos offered by the guide. Departure at Bene Beach, next to the kayak stand, and the equipment (dry bags, mask, snorkel) is provided.
- Diocletian’s Palace seen from the sea
- Marjan park coves, swimming and snorkelling
- Tour photos offered by the guide
11. Sunset cruise aboard the Polaris
The evening I recommend to close out a stay: 2 hours on a classic wooden yacht, unlimited open bar and a live band, along Split’s Riviera at sunset. Capacity is deliberately capped at half the boat to keep a boutique vibe. Heads up: departures are irregular — on the window we checked (9 August to 8 September), about 10 open days out of 31, mostly in late season: check the dates before locking in your plans.
- Classic wooden yacht, boutique vibe
- Unlimited open bar and live band on board
- Capacity capped at 50% for comfort
12. Game of Thrones: the dragons’ lair in a small group
The most complete option for fans who want to go down into the cellars: Diocletian’s cellar, the lair of Daenerys’ dragons, is included in the tour, led by a local guide and superfan who knows every scene by heart. 2 hours in the streets of Meereen, in a small group, with filming anecdotes alongside the historical explanations. The meeting point is the Grey Line office, Riva 21.
- Diocletian’s cellar included — the dragons’ lair
- Accredited local guide and show superfan
- 2 hours in the streets of Meereen
Getting ready for the trip
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Book my sailing dayPractical tips on the ground
Timing makes all the difference in the palace: cruise passengers land in numbers between roughly 10 am and 4 pm from June to August and converge on Peristil [Short Stay Guide]. Plan your palace visit early in the morning, around 7.30-8 am, or after 6 pm, when Peristil lights up and klapa groups sing live. The ancient stone pavements are worn and slippery: closed shoes with grippy soles beat sandals, especially for the 300 steps of the bell tower.
The palace cellars stay cool all year round (around 15-18 °C), a real relief in midsummer, but bring a light layer if you’re doing the guided tour in the morning. Everything is paid in euros — Croatia adopted the single currency in 2023 — and the old town is perfectly walkable. If you’re extending your stay, the nearby town of Trogir [Q189161], a UNESCO-listed site, is 30 minutes away by bus from the main station; our Adriatic cruise itinerary also details the stops from Dubrovnik to Hvar if you want to go further. For adventure travellers, the Soča and Velebit gorges remain reachable on day trips from the coast.
Frequently asked questions
Do you have to pay to visit Diocletian’s Palace?
The palace as a neighbourhood is free and open 24/7. Only the interiors cost money: the cellars (archaeological section, around €8-10), the cathedral, the bell tower and the baptistery (around €15 combined, €20-25 for the full pass). A guided tour is optional on top, from €14 per adult in a group. More on the most accessible tour.
How long do you need to visit Split’s old town?
Allow 2 to 4 hours for the heart of the palace: cellars, cathedral, bell tower, Peristil and the four gates. Half a day if you add the paid monuments, and 2 to 3 nights to really enjoy the city and its beaches. Guided tours last 75 to 120 minutes depending on the format. See the recommended guided tour.
What’s the best time to avoid the crowds?
Before 9 am or after 6 pm. Cruise passengers pour in between roughly 10 am and 4 pm from June to August and converge on Peristil. The evening visit is often the most pleasant: lit-up palace, klapa concerts and milder temperatures. Some tours offer early morning slots precisely so you can enjoy the cellars almost empty.
Is the guided tour of the palace worth it?
Yes, for the context: without a guide, the palace remains hard to read, between a 3,500-year-old Egyptian sphinx, the logic of the Roman camp and the vanished imperial floors. The most common approach: a guided tour first to understand, then a free wander to feel. The small-group tour at €15 per adult is the most tested format of the selection. Details.
Where can you see the Game of Thrones filming locations in Split?
Mainly in the palace cellars (Daenerys’ dragons’ lair and Meereen’s slave quarters), the Vestibule (the Unsullied fight), the Golden Gate (entrance to Meereen) and Papalićeva Street (the « Kill the Masters » scenes). Klis Fortress, 20 minutes away, stands in for the walls of Meereen. Game of Thrones tours include most of these locations, cellars included. See the top-rated tour.
Sources
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre — Historical Complex of Split with the Palace of Diocletian — accessed 2026-08-09
- Split Tourist Board — official website (2026 events) — accessed 2026-08-09
- Tickets-Split — Visiting Diocletian’s Palace: tickets, opening hours, tips — accessed 2026-08-09
- Tickets-Split — Opening hours and best time to visit — accessed 2026-08-09
- Nomadotravel — Diocletian’s Palace: Complete Visitor Guide — accessed 2026-08-09
- AFAR — Diocletian’s Palace, Split — accessed 2026-08-09
- GastroTravelogue — What to See Inside Diocletian’s Palace in Split — accessed 2026-08-09
- Short Stay Guide — Is Split Worth Visiting? — accessed 2026-08-09
- GPSMyCity — Podrum (cellars of Diocletian’s Palace) — accessed 2026-08-09
- Transat — Game of Thrones filming locations in Croatia — accessed 2026-08-09
- Nomadotravel — What to eat in Split: a guide to Dalmatian cuisine — accessed 2026-08-09
- ExploreVia — Sunset cruise in Split — accessed 2026-08-09
- Rome2Rio — Paris to Split: transport options — accessed 2026-08-09
- Dalmatia.hr — Dalmatia Tourist Board (GoT locations) — accessed 2026-08-09
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