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Food tours in Split: what to eat and which tour to book
Split is Dalmatia's working capital, and its food is Mediterranean and plain: grilled fish with olive oil and chard, black cuttlefish risotto, shellfish in buzara sauce, slow-braised pašticada with gnocchi, and meat or octopus baked under a peka lid. Soparnik, a thin chard pie from the Poljica villages just south of the city, is a local speciality. The city centre is built into Diocletian's Palace, and two markets sit just outside its walls: the open-air Green Market (Pazar) and the indoor fish market (Peskarija). Residents eat in the old quarter of Varoš and in konobas a short walk from the Riva, where prices drop noticeably.
Use this page to decide what to order and where: the dishes and areas below say what each part of town does well and when the markets run. The tours shown are real GetYourGuide listings, with prices as seen when we checked; confirm the current price and details on the booking page.
What to eat in Split
| Dish | What it is | Where to eat it | Typical price* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pašticada | Beef marinated in wine vinegar, then braised for hours with prunes, dried figs and wine into a dark sweet-sour sauce, served with homemade gnocchi. A celebration dish. | Traditional konobas in Varoš and the old town; sometimes only on certain days. | roughly €18–26 |
| Chard pie soparnik | A very thin pie of Swiss chard, onion and parsley baked on an open hearth and brushed with garlic and olive oil. From the Poljica area near Split. | Bakeries and konobas in Split and around Omiš; best fresh. | roughly €3–5 a slice |
| Black risotto crni rižot | Risotto cooked with cuttlefish and its ink, served glossy and black. | Konobas and seafood restaurants. | roughly €16–24 |
| Fish stew brudet / brodet | Several kinds of fish stewed with tomato, wine and vinegar, served with polenta. | Traditional seafood konobas; often needs ordering for two. | roughly €20–30 per person |
| Shellfish in buzara školjke na buzaru | Mussels or clams steamed with garlic, white wine, parsley and breadcrumbs (white buzara) or with tomato (red). | Seafood restaurants. | roughly €14–22 |
| Peka | Lamb, veal or octopus with potatoes slow-cooked in embers under an iron bell. Usually ordered several hours or a day ahead. | Konobas in Split and the villages inland. | roughly €28–40 per person, often minimum two |
| Dalmatian ham and cheese pršut and paški sir | Air-dried Dalmatian ham and sharp sheep's cheese from the island of Pag, served as a starter with olives. | Any konoba; vendors at the Green Market sell both. | roughly €12–20 for a plate |
| Fritters fritule | Small fried dough balls flavoured with citrus zest and rakija, dusted with sugar; a Christmas and festival sweet sold year-round in tourist areas. | Street stands and cafés. | roughly €4–7 a portion |
Where to eat: markets and neighbourhoods
Green Market (Pazar)
Open-air market just east of the palace's Silver Gate with fruit, vegetables, cheese, honey, dried figs, olive oil and lavender.
Fish Market (Peskarija)
Covered fish market west of the palace near Marmontova Street, where the morning's catch is sold to residents and restaurants.
Varoš
The old quarter of fishermen and farmers west of the centre, on the slope of Marjan hill, with narrow lanes and several traditional konobas.
Diocletian's Palace and the Riva
The historic centre and waterfront promenade, full of cafés and restaurants. Atmospheric for coffee or a drink, but prices are high and quality mixed.
Bačvice
City beach area east of the port with beach bars, cafés and casual restaurants used by locals.
Food tours in Split compared
Every tour below is a real listing on GetYourGuide or Viator, checked on 2 Oct 2026. Prices move with season and group size, so treat them as a guide and confirm on the booking page.
| Tour | Length | Price* | Group | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Split: Historical & Gastro Treasures Tour with Green Market | 3 hours | from €120 per person | — | Morning people who want to see where locals shop and taste produce at the source. | Check dates |
| Split: Small Group Food Tour with Private Option | 1.5 hours | from €89 per person | — | Couples, families or friends who want the route and pace set around them. | Check dates |
| Split: Food Tasting Walking Tour | 2 hours | from €89 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Split Food Tour: Discover Split One Bite at a Time | 4 hours | from €120 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Split: Old Town Food Tour with 9 Tastings & Local Wines | 3 hours | from €110 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Split: Local Mediterranean Food Tasting Tour | 2.5 hours | from €88 per person | — | Evening eaters who want dinner and drinks rolled into one, plus the city after dark. | Check dates |
Split: Historical & Gastro Treasures Tour with Green Market
On GetYourGuide · run by Aroma Delmatica j.d.o.o.
- Length
- 3 hours
- Price
- from €120 per person
- Rating
- 4.9 ★ from 170 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Included
- Cost of all food and wine Licensed local guide
- Suits
- Morning people who want to see where locals shop and taste produce at the source.
- Starts
- Meeting point may vary depending on the option booked.
Split: Small Group Food Tour with Private Option
On GetYourGuide · run by www.splitwalkingtour.com
- Length
- 1.5 hours
- Price
- from €89 per person
- Rating
- 4.8 ★ from 117 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Included
- Local licensed English-speaking tour guide Cultural, gourmet & historical tour of Split Visiting and tasting at the Green Market in Split, Croatia Visiting and tasting in a chocolate store Visiting and tasting in the…
- Suits
- Couples, families or friends who want the route and pace set around them.
- Starts
- Golden Gate
Split: Food Tasting Walking Tour
On GetYourGuide · run by www.splitwalkingtour.com
- Length
- 2 hours
- Price
- from €89 per person
- Rating
- 4.8 ★ from 110 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Included
- Guide Food tastings Traditional recipes Extra expenses at the markets (optional)
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- Golden Gate
Split Food Tour: Discover Split One Bite at a Time
On GetYourGuide · run by Split Food Tour
- Length
- 4 hours
- Price
- from €120 per person
- Rating
- 4.9 ★ from 56 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- Split sign
Split: Old Town Food Tour with 9 Tastings & Local Wines
On GetYourGuide · run by Secret Food Tours
- Length
- 3 hours
- Price
- from €110 per person
- Rating
- 4.9 ★ from 18 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
Split: Local Mediterranean Food Tasting Tour
On GetYourGuide · run by Time Travel Split
- Length
- 2.5 hours
- Price
- from €88 per person
- Rating
- 5.0 ★ from 6 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Included
- Licensed local tour guide Homemade rakija (fruit brandy) tasting Traditional soparnik tasting Traditional rafiol pastry Visit to Split Green Market (Pazar) Seafood tasting Shared traditional Dalmatian meal Glass of lo…
- Suits
- Evening eaters who want dinner and drinks rolled into one, plus the city after dark.
- Starts
- Gregory of Nin Statue
Some links on this page are partner links. If you book through them TonyPlan earns a small commission — the price you pay is exactly the same.
Street food, sit-down or a cooking class?
Street food
Street food in Split is bakery food: burek, soparnik, pizza slices and sandwiches made with pršut. Ćevapi (grilled minced meat in flatbread) are common at grills. There's no night-market tradition.
Sit-down meals
Konobas are the place for Dalmatian food. Lunch is from about 12:00 and dinner from about 19:00, with the Riva busy at sunset. Many traditional places have a short daily menu. Ask for the price of fresh fish, which is sold by weight, before it's cooked.
Cooking classes
Cooking classes in and around Split usually teach peka, pašticada or seafood with local wine, often in a family home or a village outside the city. Many start with a visit to the Green Market or fish market.
How much to budget for food
| Style | Per person, per day* |
|---|---|
| Budget (street food, markets) | €35–45 (bakery breakfast, burek or soparnik lunch, simple konoba dinner) |
| Mid-range (one sit-down meal a day) | €65–90 (two sit-down meals with wine) |
| Splurge (tasting menus, wine) | €150+ (seafood tasting menu with wine) |
Vegetarian, halal and gluten-free
Vegetarian & vegan: Possible: soparnik, blitva (chard and potato), pasta, pizza and salads are meat-free, and the Green Market sells excellent produce. Many traditional dishes use fish or meat stock, and peka is always meat or octopus.
Halal: Halal-certified restaurants are rare. Bosnian-style grills serving ćevapi are common, but check that the meat is halal. Seafood is the easiest option.
Gluten-free: Awareness is growing and some restaurants mark gluten-free dishes; grilled fish, meat and blitva are usually naturally gluten-free. Brudet often comes with polenta (gluten-free), but buzara has breadcrumbs.
Food scams and tourist traps to avoid
- Fish priced per kilo, then a larger fish served than expected, giving a very high bill. Ask to see the fish and agree the weight and total price before it's cooked.
- Waterfront restaurants on the Riva and inside the palace with tourist menus and high prices for average food. Have coffee on the Riva, then eat in Varoš or a few streets back from the waterfront.
- Couvert (bread, olive oil) and bottled water charged without being ordered. Check the menu for a couvert charge and ask for tap water, which is safe to drink.
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Staying near the markets saves time and taxi money — most food tours start in the old centre.
Common questions
Do I need to tip in Split?
Tipping is not obligatory in Croatia but is common in tourist areas. About 10% at a sit-down restaurant is generous if service was good, and rounding up is fine in cafés. Check whether a service charge is already included. Food tour guides appreciate roughly €5–10 per person.
When are the Green Market and fish market open?
The Green Market (Pazar) by the Silver Gate runs every morning, roughly from 6:00 or 7:00 until early afternoon. The fish market (Peskarija) is busiest early in the morning and usually closes around midday and on Sundays. Check current hours locally, especially outside summer.
What is soparnik?
Soparnik is a thin, round pie filled with Swiss chard, onion and parsley, baked on the open hearth and brushed with garlic and olive oil. It comes from the Poljica villages between Split and Omiš and is a protected local speciality. It's vegetarian and best eaten fresh from a bakery or konoba.
How much should I budget for food per day?
On a budget, about €35–45 covers a bakery breakfast, a burek or soparnik lunch and a simple konoba dinner. A comfortable day with two sit-down meals and wine is roughly €65–90. Seafood tasting menus start around €80–120 per person before wine.
Should I book restaurants and food tours in advance?
In July and August, and around big summer events, yes; popular konobas and small-group tours can fill several days ahead. In spring and autumn a day or two is usually enough. Some restaurants reduce hours or close between November and March.
What wine should I try in Split?
Dalmatian reds are made mainly from the plavac mali grape, from Pelješac and the islands, including Brač and Hvar. Pošip and debit are popular whites. Many restaurants serve house wine by the litre or half-litre at good prices. Locals often mix red wine with water (bevanda) or white wine with sparkling water (gemišt).
* Prices are approximate, gathered on 2 Oct 2026 from menus, markets and the booking pages linked above. They change with season and exchange rates.