Family Trips in Split to Bačvice, Marjan and Klis

Planning a family visit to Split

Split does not have a zoo or an aquarium that is open to visitors, so family days here are built from a beach, a boat, a hill and a couple of museums. Keep each outing short, and add shade and water to the bag.

Morning: Bačvice beach

Bačvice is a sandy bay with water that deepens slowly, which makes it the most comfortable beach in the city for small swimmers. The concrete edges around the bay are hard, so keep an eye on toddlers there. Water shoes help on the rocky fringes. Children can also watch picigin, the ball game that locals play in the shallows. It costs nothing to look on.

Midday: a ferry ride

For a cheap trip on the sea, the Jadrolinija ferry to Supetar on Brač takes about 50 minutes. A foot passenger pays about €6.50. Between 9 and 14 sailings a day run depending on the season, so look up the return time on Jadrolinija’s website before you board.

Afternoon: Marjan or a fortress

Marjan. Wooded paths give shade. A free observation tower of 19 m stands at Sedlo and opens daily from about 08:00 to 20:00. A tourist train leaves from in front of St Francis Church at €5, with the smallest children free, and its regular timetable is worth checking on site. A public road runs through the park, so traffic is a factor near the edges. Open fires are banned from 1 June to 31 October because of wildfire risk.

Klis Fortress. Children like the ramparts and the collection of arms. The paths are uneven, with some unguarded drops, so keep hold of younger visitors. Tickets are about €12 for adults and about €4 for children up to 15, and the opening hours vary between listings. Bus line 22 from Split is €2.00 on the app and €4.00 from the driver.

Rainy-day museums

Three sights are free with the SplitCard: the Natural History Museum, the Ethnographic Museum and the Emanuel Vidović Gallery. The card is free for stays of 5 nights or more from April to October and 2 nights or more from November to March. It runs for 72 hours and does not include public transport. Ask at the information points at Peristil, the Riva or Stobreč. Details are on the SplitCard page .

Where family tickets exist they are worth using: the Substructures and the City Museum are €18, the Archaeological Museum €15 and the Meštrović Gallery €20 for children under 15.

Quick tips

  • Pay for buses on the app, at a kiosk or at a machine, because the driver charges double.
  • Walking the palace streets is free, so a short loop between meals costs nothing.
  • From about 10:00 to 15:00 the old town is at its busiest in summer, so go early or late.
  • Wearing swimwear through town can bring a fine, so pack a cover-up for the walk back from the beach.

Read more: Day trips from Split and Split 5 day itinerary .

Find family activities: Split family tours on GetYourGuide .