Split or Dubrovnik: Which Croatian City Should You Visit?

👉 Jump to: Summary | Food | Old Towns | Nightlife | Prices | Day Trips | Beaches | Beauty | Final Verdict

Trying to decide between the cities of Split and Dubrovnik for your upcoming Croatian adventure? I get it, it’s a tough call!

Both cities are major Croatian hubs, coastal, and chock-full of fun things to do. However, Split and Dubrovnik are also very different in some key areas. During my month-long trip to Croatia, I spent a solid amount of time in both cities and made a point to really check out the best of both worlds.

Ultimately, I’d have to recommend that you visit both if possible. But if you’re strapped for time, then the choice you make depends on the kind of trip you want to have.

In this article, I’ll help you decide which Croatian city to visit:

Which is Better: Dubrovnik or Split?

Short on time? Here’s my straight answer:

Dubrovnik is a better travel destination for foodies and has a better Old Town. Split offers better nightlife, day trip options, and is generally cheaper than Dubrovnik. Both destinations have good beaches.

Looking for a little more context? Read on.

An Overview of Split, Croatia

The second-largest city in Croatia behind Zagreb, Split is a major hub in Croatia’s Dalmatia region. Home to roughly 200,000 people, Split offers a great blend of ancient relics and modernity, with Adriatic Croatian culture front and center.

Split is a major tourist hub and, like most of Croatia, is safe to visit (just be sure you get travel insurance for your trip).

Split is Best For:

• Budget travelers
• Partiers
• People looking to take day trips

An Overview of Dubrovnik, Croatia

Located on the southern Croatian coast, Dubrovnik is famed as being the “Pearl of the Adriatic” and is characterized by limestone streets, terracotta rooftops, medieval city walls, and spectacular sea views. With a population of just 42,000 people, Dubrovnik is notably smaller than Split, but its compact size has enchanted visitors for generations.

Dubrovnik is Best For:

• Luxury travelers
• Romantic weekend trips
• Foodies

With that, let’s look into which city does it best in a few key areas:

Food

🏆 Best culinary scene winner: Dubrovnik

Croatia isn’t particularly known for its culinary scene. However, because Split and Dubrovnik are two of the largest Croatian cities, there are excellent food experiences to be had in both Split and Dubrovnik.

Because Dubrovnik is more of a luxury destination than Split, you’ll find more Michelin-recommended (and starred) restaurants there. Of course, far be it to say that Michelin-starred restaurants are the only excellent food experience to be had. Honestly, both cities boast eclectic culinary offers of both Croatian and international fare.

Still, I have to give this one to Dubrovnik. For even more fun, check out this traditional Dalmatian cooking class!

🏆 Best culinary scene winner: Dubrovnik

👉 Planning a longer trip? Then check out our epic Croatia trip itinerary!

Old Towns

🏆 Old Town winner: Dubrovnik

In a country known for its stunning old centers, both Dubrovnik and Split bring their A-game.

In Dubrovnik, the Old Town dates back to the 11th century, is one of the best-preserved medieval centers in the world, was used as a Game of Thrones filming location (this Game of Thrones Dubrovnik tour is highly-rated), and you can actually walk the old city walls. In particular, walking along Dubrovnik’s old city walls gives you amazing views of the medieval streets, the Adriatic, and the nearby islands.

Meanwhile, Split’s Old Town is characterized by a maze of cobblestoned paths, Diocletian’s Palace, the Narodni Trg (People’s Square), and the St. Domnius Cathedral. Being the one-time home of Roman Emperor Diocletian, these streets have a ton of nooks and crannies to discover.

So, which destination deserves the gold star? In this case, I’d have to say Dubrovnik. Being able to walk the walls, getting incredible views of the surrounding area, and learning all about local history make for an unforgettable experience.

🏆 Old Town winner: Dubrovnik

👉 Looking to get out on the water? Our Croatia island guide is perfect for planning your trip!

Nightlife

🏆 Croatian nightlife winner: Split

There are some things you should know if you’re a traveler looking to get your party on in Croatia.

First off, though Dubrovnik is known for having a couple of the coolest clubs in the world (I’ll let you look them up as they have been in flux lately), the scene is otherwise quite sparse. Yes, there are plenty of bars in Dubrovnik (and this Dubrovnik pub crawl is a great way to see some), but the city isn’t really known for its nightlife.

On the other hand, Split is one of the top nightlife hotspots in Croatia. Walk down the promenade and you’ll be handed flyers for bar crawls, beach clubs, and raves. The parties are pretty easy to find. There is also a notable live music scene in Split, with local and international acts circulating.

🏆 Croatian nightlife winner: Split

👉 Staying safe while partying abroad is super important. These 10 Croatia Safety Tips will help you stay aware and prepared!

Day Trips

🏆 Day trip winner: Split

One of the great things about Croatia is how easy it is to take day trips and road trips (especially if you are comfortable driving a car). So, if you’ll be in Croatia for more than a few days, then choosing to stay in Dubrovnik or Split will also depend on which day trips you plan to take.

Popular destinations from Dubrovnik include Lokrum Island, Cavtat, Mostar (Bosnia & Herzegovina), Korcula, and Mljet Island.

Meanwhile, day trips from Split include Krka National Park, the Cetina River, the Blue Cave, Hvar, Plitvice Lakes, and Trogir.

Though you can’t go wrong with any of these options, Krka National Park, the Blue Cave, and Hvar are three of the most beautiful places to visit in Croatia. For this reason, I’d say Split is the better day-trip base. 

🏆 Day trip winner: Split

Prices

🏆 Budget travel winner: Split

Despite the tourism boom in recent years, when compared to other popular European tourist destinations, Croatia is still notably wallet-friendly. But you still may be wondering: which city is cheaper?

Generally speaking, Split is cheaper than Dubrovnik. Planning to visit Dubrovnik during high season will not be easy on your wallet. Dubrovnik is arguably the most luxurious destination in all of Croatia, and especially during the summer months, it gets flooded with tourists (especially from cruise ships).

Not only can it be difficult to find a budget-friendly hotel in Dubrovnik, but it can also be difficult to find accommodation at all (booking well in advance is always the way to go).

For this reason, if you’re concerned about how much you’ll spend, I recommend either visiting Dubrovnik during the shoulder season or not staying directly in Dubrovnik.

Personally, I stayed in nearby Cavtat and took a small boat into Dubrovnik every day. This allowed me to save a pretty penny while still taking in the best Dubrovnik had to offer.

On the other hand, due to Split being a larger place that caters to both locals and tourists, you’ll find the prices are much more affordable. Plus, you’ll have more selection.

Yes, Split sees a lot of tourists every year, but there’s just more room.

🏆 Budget travel winner: Split

👉 If being budget-friendly is important to you, then check out our guide to the best time to visit Croatia. It’ll help you choose when to go and what to avoid!

Beaches

🏆 Best Beaches Winner: Tie 

Hitting the beach is a must on your summer trip to the Dalmatian coast.

But, and this certainly was something I wasn’t entirely prepared for, you’ll find that many of Croatia’s beaches are rocky. In fact, unless you know where to go, sand can be hard to come by.

In Dubrovnik, the nearest public sandy beach is easily accessible from the old city, Banje Beach. With excellent views, this spot can get absolutely swarmed with people on hot days and isn’t the most relaxing place to spend your time. Some of the other great beaches (both sandy and rocky) nearby are Sveti Jakov, Kupari, and Copacabana. Just keep in mind some of these beaches have minimum spends.

On the other hand, the closest public beach to Split’s downtown is Bacivce, which is a sandy beach and is a major nightlife spot (it gets pretty crowded during the day too). 

Other top beaches in Split include Trstenik, Kastelet, and Kasjuni.

With that info, which destination has the better beaches? I’m going to say a tie on this one.

Both destinations have great beaches that fill up with people depending on the time of year, but have a ton of alternative options depending on how far you’re willing to go!

🏆 Best Beaches Winner: Tie 

Which is Prettier?

🏆 Beauty winner: Dubrovnik

Declaring that one city is prettier than the other is sure to drive up some controversy, but in this case, the winner is clear: Dubrovnik is prettier than Split.

Before anyone comes for me, let me say that both cities are absolutely gorgeous. They both have striking views, stunning Old Towns, and are perfect for charming your Instagram followers into total envy.

However, you’ll likely visit Dubrovnik for its city walls, which simply cannot be beaten in terms of beauty. This, combined with the views you get from Banje Beach, makes Dubrovnik the most beautiful city.

🏆 Beauty winner: Dubrovnik

Final Verdict – Split or Dubrovnik?

Overall, both cities are vacation-worthy destinations in Croatia. While Split is better for budget travelers, nightlife lovers, and those looking to take day trips, Dubrovnik is the place to be for luxury travelers and foodies. Both destinations are great for outdoor activities, history, and culture.

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As I mentioned, both destinations are excellent places to visit, and your decision should be made on what kind of trip you’re hoping to have. Up next, check out my Croatia Road Trip Guide [Epic Itinerary Planner]. Have fun in Croatia!