Family Days Out in Split and Around

Family days out in Split and around

Split works well with children if you plan around sand, short sights and shade. The city has no open zoo or aquarium, so the best days combine a beach, a ferry ride and one or two compact museums.

Bačvice beach

Bačvice is a sandy, gently shelving bay in the city, and it is the best beach in town for small children. The water stays shallow for a long way out, which suits first swims. Watch the concrete edges around the bay, since they are hard on bare feet and toddlers, and bring water shoes for the rocky fringes. Picigin, the local ball game played in the shallows, is free to watch.

A ferry to Brač

The Jadrolinija car ferry from Split to Supetar on Brač takes about 50 minutes and costs about €6.50 for a foot passenger, which makes it a cheap sea trip for a family. Sailings run 9 to 14 times a day depending on the season. Check Jadrolinija for the current timetable before you plan the return.

Marjan hill

Marjan has shaded paths, which helps on hot days. The 19 m observation tower at Sedlo is free and opens daily from about 08:00 to 20:00. A tourist train leaves from in front of St Francis Church and costs €5, with children up to 5 free, though the regular timetable should be checked on the spot. The park has a public road and buses, so keep an eye on small children near it. Carry water on every trail. Outdoor fires are illegal from 1 June to 31 October, and the pine forest is a wildfire risk.

Klis Fortress

Klis is about 12 km from Split on a mountain pass, reached by Promet line 22 for €2.00 with the app or €4.00 from the driver. Children enjoy the ramparts and the arms collection. The paths are uneven and some drops are unguarded, so hold hands near the edges. Entry is about €12 for adults and about €4 for children up to 15, and hours vary, so check before you go.

Museums with children

The Natural History Museum and the Ethnographic Museum are free with the SplitCard. The SplitCard itself costs nothing: it is issued at the tourist information offices at Peristil, Riva and Stobreč to guests staying 5 or more nights from April to October, or 2 or more nights from November to March. It is valid for 72 hours and has no public transport benefit. See the SplitCard page for the full list of discounts.

Family tickets help elsewhere. The Substructures cost €18 for a family, the City Museum €18, the Archaeological Museum €15 for two adults and children, and the Meštrović Gallery €20 for a family with children under 15.

Practical tips

  • Bus fares double when you pay the driver, so buy tickets in the app, at a kiosk or at a machine.
  • The palace streets are free to walk, so a quick loop with a stop for ice cream costs nothing.
  • The old town is crowded from about 10:00 to 15:00 in summer. Go early or in the evening with young children.
  • Split fines people for walking through town in swimwear, so cover up between the beach and the palace.

Read more: Day trips from Split and Split 4 day itinerary .

Find family tours: Split family tours on GetYourGuide .