Stroll along “The Riva” as the sun sets on a sunny summer’s day in Split, and you won’t want to be anywhere else in the world. 

Watch the yachts and fishing boats pulling into Split’s centuries-old harbor as you take in the sights along the marina before pulling up a seat for an alfresco Aperol spritz or a glass of Croatian wine at one of the Riva’s best bars and restaurants. This is how the Mediterranean elite has enjoyed the finer luxuries in life for centuries, so why not embrace the same lifestyle during your stay in Split?

The Riva is Split’s beautiful seafront esplanade. Behind it, you’ll find the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Town, at the heart of which are the ruins of Diocletian’s Palace. Split’s glorious location on the Adriatic Sea, overlooking the azure waters that surround the Croatian islands, attracted no less than the Emperor of Rome himself. 

Croatia’s second-largest city offers a unique blend of history and vacation vibes, and after taking in the cultural attractions, you’ll love taking to the beaches and beach bars east and west of the Old Town. Stay in one of the best hotels in Split, and you’ll have a beautiful boutique room to retire to at the end of the day. 

If you’re planning a visit to this incredible Croatian city, keep reading as we explain exactly where to stay in Split!

Where to stay in Split

Split sits on a small peninsula on Croatia’s Dalmatian coast. The city is built around the ruins of Emperor Diocletian’s Palace, which form the basis for Split’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Town. Much of the ruins still remain, but much more has been subsumed into the endless layers of history that followed the Roman era.

The Old Town is the best place to stay if you’d love to be in the thick of the action. The narrow streets mean that it’s impossible for there to be any five-star resorts in this part of the city, but you can stay in luxury boutique hotels and homey guest houses with traditional red-tiled roofs and architectural elements that often date back to the 4th century AD.

You’ll find more modern hotels in the area between the Old Town and the train station, but the best boutique hotels in Split are found along the coast. Head down to the Riva and walk east along the waterfront, where for several miles, you’ll find beaches and hotels spread along the coast. This is where you can book a luxury spa retreat and spend your vacation days chilling in beach clubs or lounging around rooftop infinity pools!

If you’re planning a trip to Croatia, then get inspired by our list of the best 12 places to stay in Split!

The 12 Best Boutique Hotels in Split

1. Hotel Park Split

Surround yourself with history during your stay on the Croatian coast by booking a luxury room at Hotel Park Split. Dating back to 1921, this is Split’s oldest hotel, but you’ll love how there are equal measures of nostalgia and modernity at this wonderful boutique retreat.

Hotel Park Split has a long tradition of welcoming guests to Split, and the aging hotel was thoroughly updated in 2015 to bring it roaring into the luxury hotel era. You’ll love the unique art deco style that’s a throwback to the Roaring Twenties, while the palm-lined gardens, distinctive red-tiled roof, and magnificent sea views all add to your Croatian vacation experience.

Book quickly because this is one of the most popular boutique hotels in Split, and there are just 72 rooms and suites at Hotel Park Split. Marbled bathrooms, Roberto Cavalli toiletries, and plush beds make for a comforting stay, while the dark wooden furnishings, golden lamps, and vintage decor contribute to the nostalgically luxurious feel of the hotel.

Enjoy the sunshine as you lounge around the outdoor swimming pool, or take a quick stroll down to Bacvice Beach, where you can dip in the Adriatic Sea. Priska Spa is home to a Finnish sauna and salt bath, while Restaurant Split spills onto the terrace on those warm summer evenings as guests enjoy the freshest seafood served with local wines at one of Split’s premier dining institutions.

2. Radisson Blu Resort & Spa

The Radisson Blu Resort & Spa is one of the best hotels in Split. This modern, five-star resort offers the height of luxury in Split, and you’ll love everything from the private beach access to the sultry toiletries.

This high-end hotel is located to the east of Split’s Old Town. It’s a good half hour on foot to Diocletian’s Palace, but we enjoy the quieter setting away from the center of the action. The Radisson Blu Resort & Spa truly is a well-earned retreat at the end of a day’s sightseeing, and you can recharge and revitalize in the steam bath, Finnish sauna, or massage rooms of the hotel’s spa.

The SPALATO Spa is part of the hotel’s Mistral Beach Club, where you can reserve a lounger on the pebble seafront of the Adriatic. If you prefer freshwater to seawater, then take a seat around the hotel’s outdoor swimming pool, where you can order cocktails and light bites to enjoy in the shade of a parasol. 

There are a total of five eating and drinking experiences at this hotel, but the crème de la crème is The Caper Grill, where you’ll enjoy Mediterranean cuisine prepared fresh with local ingredients from Split’s markets.

And after all that, perhaps you’ll have time to check into your room. The enticing decor features colorful tones of purple, green, and blue, all intended to evoke the atmosphere of the Adriatic. You’ll have sea or city views from your private terrace or balcony, alongside king beds, walk-in showers, and luxury branded toiletries. 

3. Cornaro Hotel

One of the best boutique hotels in Split is the Cornaro Hotel, which offers the discerning traveler five-star luxury in the historic confines of the Old Town. 

Book a room at the Cornaro Hotel, and you’ll be staying among famous UNESCO World Heritage-listed sights like Diocletian’s Palace, the Vestibule, and the Golden Gate. It’s the perfect place for luxury-loving sightseers, and you can even enjoy a sauna, steam bath, or hot tub session in the hotel’s spa at the end of each day. 

Rooms at the Cornaro Hotel are intended for a cozy but comfortable stay, and you’ll love how the hotel draws on its urban location with some seriously chic decor. The beds are plush, the amenities are modern, and the bathrooms are luxurious – there’s not much more you could ask for during your Split vacation!

But there is more. Head upstairs, and you’ll find a rooftop terrace topping off the hotel. The Rooftop Bar offers supreme views over Split and the islands while serving up tasty cocktails and local wines. There’s even a “decorative rooftop pool” to cool off in while sipping on hand-mixed drinks. 

4. Heritage Hotel 19

Heritage Hotel 19 has an unbeatable location along Split’s seafront. This charming boutique hotel is saddled with history and heritage, but more than this, it offers a luxurious stay in the heart of the city. 

You’ll find Heritage Hotel 19 tucked away down a little side street just off the main sea-facing boulevard. The UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Town and the bustling Riva esplanade are just a short walk to the east, while to the west are Marjan Park and the lesser visited streets of Split’s western side. 

Enjoy breakfast in the hotel’s shaded garden before strolling into the Old Town, then order a sundowner cocktail to your balcony and enjoy light bites on the terrace when you return in the late afternoon. 

Rooms at Heritage Hotel 19 are what we like to call rustically luxurious. Exposed woodwork and the remnants of old stone walls poke through the modern decor, while antique furnishings combine with plush beds and period features to promote a sense of timeless tradition. 

The historic decor of the bedrooms contrasts mightily with the seamless, modern bathrooms, which feature spacious walk-in showers, smooth marbled surfaces, and sumptuous toiletries. There’s a reason this is one of the most coveted places to stay in Split!

5. Briig Boutique

Briig Boutique is one of the coolest hotels in Split. This four-star hotel, with its contemporary facade, offers a unique alternative to the more traditional hotels in the city. 

The bright white architecture stands out in the Mediterranean sunshine from its prominent position overlooking Bacvice Beach, while the lofty rooftop terrace offers supreme views over the Adriatic Sea. 

Atop the hotel’s terrace, you’ll also find a spectacular rooftop swimming pool surrounded by shady sun loungers. Here you can lose entire vacation days ordering smoothies and cocktails as you soak up the relaxed vibes of the Briig Boutique.

The Briig Boutique’s 62 rooms are all built in the same custom-designed style as the rest of the hotel. Light floods inside the luxury rooms through the glorious panoramic windows and viewing terraces, while the soft wooden features are more reminiscent of a Nordic spa retreat than an Adriatic hotel. 

Rooms are functional yet comfortable (again, reminiscent of Nordic style), featuring plush king-size beds, personal iPads, and LCD televisions. Upgrade to the executive suite, and you’ll even have the delights of a private hot tub to enjoy on the terrace. 

On the hotel’s ground floor, you’ll find the Median Restaurant. This unusual restaurant offers what it describes as “molecular and fusion” cuisine, where chefs focus on the minute details and flavors of dishes while fusing international recipes with local ingredients.

6. Sleep Split

Sleep Split aims to provide you with the best night’s sleep you could possibly have, so why not book a luxury suite at this boutique hotel and see if they hit the mark?

This four-star property offers chic rooms and plush beds on the edge of Split’s Old Town. As one of the most unique hotels in Split, rooms are uniquely decorated in a post-industrial style that you’d expect to see in a German boutique hotel rather than on the Adriatic Sea. 

The exposed red brickwork is more akin to a Hamburg hotel than a Split suite, while the deep gray, mauve, and blue tones are more reminiscent of a Berlin boutique hotel than a Croatian guesthouse. 

We love the style, though, and Sleep Split offers an urban boutique stay that’s just a little different from the Mediterranean look and feel that’s so popular in Split. Luxury suites at Sleep Split offer spacious seating areas with comfy sofas alongside fully-equipped kitchens complete with up-to-date cooking facilities and sleek countertops. 

It’s the perfect base for a city getaway focused on sightseeing rather than a beach vacation, and the level of comfort is such that you’ll sleep seamlessly through the night after a day of Roman ruins, archeology museums, and art galleries. 

7. Hotel Globo

Hotel Globo is another one of the most unique hotels in Split. Book a boutique room at this tastefully designed hotel, and you’ll feel like you’ve entered a time warp. Hotel Globo is best described as “nostalgic,” but the terms “vintage,” “traditional,” and perhaps even “old-fashioned” are also incredibly apt descriptors.

This 33-room hotel is located just a 10-minute walk from the Old Town, and you’ll love the retro style that awaits you upon check-in. Bright red carpets will remind you of a royal palace (perhaps this is what Diocletian’s Palace once looked like?), while wooden chests of drawers and wardrobes add to the vintage theme.

The hotel’s Golden Age was clearly during the communist Yugoslav era, but the colorfully old-fashioned hotel rooms offer a nostalgic glimpse into this past. But rooms have been updated, too, and you’ll find the “anatomic mattresses” and sleek bathrooms are much welcome after a day of walking!

8. Hotel Atrium

If you’re in Split for entertainment, then the best place to stay is Hotel Atrium. This five-star favorite is one of the biggest, brashest hotels in Split, and it’s home to the largest casino on the Dalmatian Coast. 

Don’t worry, though, because despite Hotel Atrium hosting a 24-hour casino, bar, and entertainment venue that holds regular live music events on-site, the luxury rooms are fully soundproofed. You can also escape the outside world in the Aurelia Spa, where you’ll find a heated indoor swimming pool, roaring hot saunas, and a rejuvenating whirlpool. 

Rooms at Hotel Atrium are luxurious, with modern but muted colors that promote a sense of relaxation after a day’s sightseeing. You’ll love the plush bedding and bathrobes, not to mention the quirky artwork and spacious bathrooms.  

There’s 24-hour room service, a complimentary breakfast for all guests (which, of course, you can order to the room), and an a la carte restaurant serving up Mediterranean classics. Hotel Atrium is located in the modern part of Split. You’re equidistant between the train station and the Old Town, making this a seriously convenient place to stay. 

9. Villa Galla

One of the best Split hotels is Villa Galla, a quaint three-star boutique stay that’s not afraid to mix its heritage with quirky modern decor and style. 

You’ll find this unique hotel on the edge of Split’s Old Town, where you’ll be staying in a property that embraces its historic location just a short stroll away from Diocletian’s Palace. Book a cozy double or twin room with a private balcony, and you can sit in the sunshine watching life trundle past in the streets of Split below. 

You’ll feel like a local as you lie back in your sun lounger in the shade of the orange trees and vines that grow on the terraces and balconies as you look out across the iconic red-tiled roofs of the city. The best balconies even offer a glimpse of the Adriatic Sea beyond.

Inside, rooms at Villa Galla are both homey and distinctly holiday-ish. The bedding is plush and comfy, while the walls are decorated with oversized murals and photos of famous (and historic) sights from Split’s Old Town. 

Upgrade to a two-bedroom apartment or a four-person duplex, and you’ll feel even more at home as you sink back into a comfy sofa in the spacious living area. Head out to the local markets to pick up fresh fish or vegetables, and you can prepare breakfast, lunch, or dinner in the apartment’s fully equipped kitchen before enjoying your home-cooked Croatian-inspired dishes on the terrace. 

Check Prices & Availability on Booking.com

10. Heritage Hotel Antique Split

History fans will love staying at Heritage Hotel Antique Split, one of the coolest boutique hotels in Split that’s located within the old walls of Diocletian’s Palace.

Few hotels can boast such a magnificent location as this, and when you walk out of reception, you’ll be walking among Roman ruins in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Town. This beautiful boutique hotel draws on the heritage that surrounds it, and you’ll feel like a Roman royal when you open the tall windows of your luxury room and gaze across centuries of history arrayed before you.

Rooms at the Heritage Hotel Antique Split feature exposed stone walls that evoke a sense of the past, while the muted tones and pastel colors mix wonderfully well with the floral decorations found throughout the hotel. The bathrooms are sleek and modern, and the beds are king-sized, offering a luxury-laden contrast to the prominent stone decor. 

Heritage Hotel Antique Split also serves up a gourmet breakfast that would satisfy Diocletian himself. The hotel’s in-house chef serves up a fresh plate of seasonal fruit, meats, and cheeses every morning, alongside your choice of eggs, cereals, juices, and coffees. 

11. Hotel Vestibul Palace & Villa

One of our favorite Split boutique hotels is Hotel Vestibul Palace & Villa, which you’ll find in a historic location in the Old Town. The hotel is found somewhere between Emperor Diocletian’s old bedroom and the “Peristyle,” an area within the palace that served as the emperor’s personal courtyard.

This is one of the most unique hotels in Split, not least because Hotel Vestibul Palace & Villa has preserved many of the old Roman stone walls from centuries ago. It’s also preserved many other layers of history from centuries of development in the Old Town, including Gothic and Renaissance elements that were added later. 

Inside, you’ll find the exposed Roman brick walls are contrasted wonderfully with modern features, such as glass mezzanine floors and flat-screen televisions. Rooms are super spacious and feature handmade furniture and plush king beds. 

The hotel is a prestigious member of the “Small Luxury Hotels of the World” group, which means you can expect personalized service, boutique rooms, and a supreme level of luxury. It also means you can expect a gourmet dining experience at the hotel’s on-site restaurant. 

Reserve a table at Restaurant Magnus well in advance’ because this is a restaurant that epitomizes the historic atmosphere of Diocletian’s Palace perfectly. 

The restaurant is named for Magnus Severus, a local historical character who is said to have led refugees to safety in Diocletian’s Palace when the city of Salona (the ruins of which you can see nearby) was destroyed during the fall of the Roman Empire. 

The food is great, too, and you can enjoy culinary specialties like Dalmatian Scampi, Tuna Steak, and Emperor Diocletian’s Drunken Pear (a quirky local dessert!). 

12. Dioklecijan Hotel & Residence

If you’re looking to escape the busy Old Town, then why not book a stay at Dioklecijan Hotel & Residence? Although this boutique property is named after the iconic palace of the same name, the hotel is a 20-minute walk east of Split’s Old Town. 

You’ll love the rooftop infinity pool at the top of this four-star hotel. Take a dip in the water, soak up the sun on the terrace, and enjoy panoramic views of the city below. If that’s not enough to relax you, then book a session at the hotel’s spa, where you can enjoy the hot tub, sauna, and steam room at your leisure.

Rooms are modern in tone, with flat-screen televisions, sound systems, and mini-fridges. You’ll have balcony views, a spacious king-size bed, and super soft bathrobes as standard. 

You’ll find a pool bar back up on the top floor of this Split boutique hotel, and if you’re hungry, book a table at the hotel’s restaurant, where local Dalmatian cuisine is top of the menu!

That completes our list of the 12 best Split hotels! Did we miss any cool boutique hotels in Split? Comment below so we can add them to the list!

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