Most Visited Villa in Bol near Zadruga BeachN°001
Brac, Croatia
Private PoolSea View
From $70,859 per night
Split is Croatia's vibrant Dalmatian capital, where a living Roman palace meets the Adriatic. Renting a luxury villa here pairs cobbled-old-town atmosphere with private pools, sea views and concierge ease, giving families and groups a sophisticated coastal base for beaches, islands and unhurried Mediterranean living.
- Living Roman heritage inside Diocletian's Palace at the city's core
- Walkable old town with celebrated restaurants and a lively after-dark scene
- Easy ferries to Hvar, Brac and the wider Dalmatian islands
- Private-pool villas with Adriatic views and concierge support
- Beaches ranging from buzzing Bacvice to secluded coastal coves
Known forDiocletian's Palace, Adriatic beaches and island-hopping gateway
Best time to visitMay to September for warm seas and long, bright days
Nearest airportSplit Airport (SPU), roughly 25km from the centre
Ideal forFamilies, groups of friends and culture-led coastal holidays
Modern Dalmatian Villa in Scenic HvarN°002
Hvar, Croatia
Sea View
From $11,627 per night
GRAND DELUXE VILLA WITH PRIVATE OUTDOOR POOLN°003
Split-Dalmatia County, Croatia
gardenair conditioning
From $10,465 per night
Charming Holiday Home Close To BeachfrontN°004
Brac, Croatia
gardenair conditioning
From $10,465 per night
GORGEOUS CONTEMPORARY VILLA WITH JACUZZI AND INFINITY POOLN°005
Split-Dalmatia County, Croatia
Sea View
From $10,465 per night
STUNNING VILLA WITH PRIVATE SWIMMING POOL AND SAUNAN°006
Split-Dalmatia County, Croatia
Private PoolSea View
From $10,465 per night
269homes available
1–11bedrooms
up to 22guests
212with a pool
Where to stay in Split
Events not to miss in Split
- 7 May
Feast of Saint Domnius (Sudamja)
Split honours its patron saint with processions, concerts and fairs around Diocletian's Palace, the city's biggest and most heartfelt celebration.
- Mid July to mid August
Split Summer Festival
Opera, theatre and dance staged in open-air settings across the old town, including performances on the Peristyle of Diocletian's Palace itself. Roman architecture as a living stage.
- July
Ultra Europe
One of Europe's largest electronic music festivals brings global DJs and tens of thousands of fans to Split for a high-energy midsummer weekend. Plan around it, or for it.
- Late August
Days of Diocletian
The old town turns Roman, with togas, legionaries, an emperor's procession and ancient-style markets in and around the palace. Great family entertainment.
Split through the seasons
- Spring (March – May)
The palace before the crowds
Mild sunshine, blossoming Marjan hill trails and Diocletian's Palace at a local pace. A rewarding season for combining the city with day trips to Trogir and Krka's waterfalls.
- Summer (June – August)
Sailing season on the Adriatic
Split becomes the gateway to Hvar, Brač and Vis, with daily catamarans and private charters from the Riva. A villa with a pool near the city balances beach, islands and nightlife.
- Autumn (September – October)
Warm seas and konoba evenings
The Adriatic holds its summer warmth while the old town relaxes, and Dalmatia's wine harvest fills the konobas. The insiders' choice for a Split villa stay.
- Winter (December – February)
Advent in the palace cellars
Christmas markets and mulled-wine stalls thread through the Roman substructures and the Riva, with the city's museums and cafés blissfully uncrowded.
The Area
Split is Croatia's second city and the beating heart of Dalmatia, blending lived-in history with an easy coastal rhythm. Its centre is unlike anywhere else in Europe: the old town occupies the walls of Diocletian's Palace, a remarkably preserved Roman complex built for the emperor at the turn of the fourth century. Far from a roped-off ruin, the palace is a working quarter of shops, cafes and apartments, settled continuously since seventh-century refugees made it home. Marble lanes open onto the Peristyle, the cathedral and the seafront Riva promenade. Around this historic core, leafy residential hillsides and the Marjan peninsula offer quieter, view-rich settings for a luxury villa within easy reach of the action.
Where to Stay
Smiling House offers a curated collection of luxury villas in Split and across the surrounding Dalmatian coast, each chosen for privacy, design and outlook. Closer to the centre, properties put the Riva, restaurants and the palace within a short stroll, ideal for culture-led stays. For seclusion, villas on the wooded Marjan peninsula and along the coast towards Trogir and the Riviera deliver private pools, terraces and sweeping Adriatic panoramas. Many homes suit larger groups and multi-generational families, with chefs, transfers and boat charters arranged by concierge. Whether you want a walkable urban base or a tranquil hillside retreat, there is a setting to match the pace of your holiday.
Things to Do
Begin with the palace itself, climbing the cathedral bell tower for rooftop views before wandering the Peristyle and the atmospheric cellars. Walk or cycle the Marjan forest park for pine-scented trails and lookout points over the islands. Split's beaches range widely: central Bacvice is a sandy, shallow stretch buzzing day and night, while coves south towards Trstenik reward those seeking calmer, shingle-fringed water. The city is also Dalmatia's island gateway, with ferries to glamorous Hvar, beach-rich Brac and the bays of Vis. Concierge-arranged day trips reach Krka's waterfalls, the walls of historic Trogir and private sailing along the Adriatic coastline.
Dining and Nightlife
Split rewards appetite. Konobas tucked into palace lanes serve Dalmatian classics such as grilled Adriatic fish, black risotto and peka slow-cooked under coals, while a new wave of refined, ingredient-led kitchens has raised the city's culinary profile. Local olive oils, Plavac Mali wines and just-landed seafood anchor most menus. After dark, the Riva promenade fills with strollers, and Bacvice beach shifts from family sands by day to open-air bars and clubs by night. Wine cellars, cocktail terraces and live-music spots cluster around the old town, giving evenings an easy, sociable energy. A villa concierge can secure tables at sought-after restaurants and plan tastings.
When to Visit
The season runs from late spring to early autumn. May and June bring warm days, swimmable seas and lighter crowds, making them excellent for sightseeing and beaches alike. July and August are the liveliest months, with hot weather, full ferries and the city at its most energetic, best suited to those who enjoy the buzz. September offers some of the finest conditions of all: warm water, softer light and a calmer pace ideal for villa stays and island excursions. Winters are mild and quiet, when Split reveals its everyday Dalmatian character.
Getting There
Split Airport sits about 25 kilometres west of the city near Trogir, with broad seasonal connections across Europe and a short transfer to most villas. The city is also a major hub on Croatia's coastal road and rail network, and its ferry port is among the busiest in the Adriatic, linking the central Dalmatian islands and routes towards Dubrovnik and Italy. Concierge can arrange private airport transfers, chauffeured cars and skippered boats so your arrival is seamless. Once settled, the compact, walkable centre and nearby coast make a hire car optional for many guests staying close to town.