Diocletian's Palace & Old Town Walking Tour with Historian

Walk Split’s ancient palace, hear local stories, see cellars & squares

A walking tour of Split's Old Town and Diocletian's Palace, a UNESCO site built in 305 AD, led by a licensed resident guide with a degree in history. The tour covers the Palace, the Cathedral of Saint Domnius, Peristyle Square, the Temple of Jupiter, and the medieval streets in between, in groups of up to 16 people. Choose between a private tour for all ages or a group tour for adults only; the group tour requires a minimum of four participants to run.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Diocletian's Palace and Old Town

• Start at Riva promenade main stage
• Tour Diocletian's Palace
• See main entrance to Diocletian's Palace
• Visit Museum of Cellars, best preserved part
• Visit Emperor's Square
• Tour Medieval Old Town of Split
• See Cathedral of Split from outside
• Visit Peristyle Square
• Learn about Gregory of Nin
• Visit former Green Market with Marul statue
• Explore People's Square
• See Temple of Jupiter from outside
• See 500 years old 24-hour clock
• See main entrance to Emperor's private residence
• Finish at Riva promenade main stage

The Experience

The tour starts at the Riva Promenade waterfront and moves into Diocletian's Palace, the UNESCO World Heritage Site that anchors everything else in Split. Your guide is a Split native with a master's degree in history—someone who grew up here in the 1980s and 1990s and can explain not just what the stones are, but what it meant to live among them through the recent decades. The Palace itself is the frame: built in 305 AD as a fortress and residence for a retiring Roman emperor, it became the skeleton of the medieval town that grew around and inside it over the centuries.

You'll walk through Peristyle Square, the heart of the Palace and the town, then see the Cathedral of Saint Domnius from outside. The route takes in the Temple of Jupiter (with the option to step inside), the Fruit Square with its statue of Marulić, the father of Croatian literature, and People's Square, the largest and liveliest plaza in the Old Town. You'll pass a 500-year-old 24-hour clock and learn about Gregory of Nin, one of the most important figures in Croatian history. The Museum of Cellars, the best-preserved section of the Palace, is part of the tour; note that admission to this museum is separate from the tour price.

Small groups—maximum 16 people—mean the guide can move at a pace that lets you actually see what's being explained instead of craning over shoulders. The whole walk takes two hours. A private tour works for all ages; a group tour is adults only and needs at least four people to depart. Both are led in English by someone who knows this place not as a script but as home.

What’s included

• Licensed resident guide with a master's degree in history.
• access to Diocletian's Palace, the Cathedral of Saint Domnius, Peristyle Square, the Temple of Jupiter, Fruit Square, People's Square, and the Museum of Cellars.
• small-group format with no more than 16 participants.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Walking Tour of SPLIT

Is this one for you?Book the private tour if you want to set your own pace and departure time; choose the group tour if you prefer a structured schedule with other travelers, though it's adults only.

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Top questions

What's inside Diocletian's Palace that I'll actually get to see?

Diocletian's Palace is the UNESCO World Heritage Site built in 305 AD, and the tour covers its main sections: the Peristyle Square at its heart, the Cathedral of Saint Domnius, the Temple of Jupiter, and the Museum of Cellars, which preserves the Palace's underground chambers. The guide shows you the main entrances and explains how the medieval town of Split grew inside and around the Palace walls over centuries.

Is this tour just standing around listening, or do I actually walk through the sites?

You walk through the Old Town and the Palace itself, moving between the squares, streets, and landmarks—Peristyle Square, the Temple of Jupiter, Fruit Square, People's Square, and others. The route covers the medieval streets and takes you inside the Museum of Cellars to see the best-preserved sections of the Palace underground.

Who is the guide, and what makes them different from other tour guides in Split?

Your guide is a licensed resident of Split with a master's degree in history and economics. They're a Split native who grew up here during the 1980s and 1990s, so they have original, firsthand knowledge of the city's recent history alongside their formal training in the ancient and medieval periods. This combination of local experience and academic expertise shapes how they explain the sites.

How many people will be on the tour with me?

The tour is a small group, with a maximum of 16 people. If you book the private tour option, it's just your group. If you book the group tour option, you'll join other travelers, though the group stays capped at 16 to allow the guide to move at a pace where everyone can actually see and hear.

Do I need to be in great shape to do this tour?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. It's not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or pregnant travelers. The walk covers medieval streets and the Palace, which involves some uneven terrain and stairs typical of a 1,700-year-old site.

What's not included in the tour price?

Admission to the Museum of Diocletian's Cellars is separate from the tour price and paid at entry. Gratuities for the guide are also not included in the tour cost.