Split: Old Town Food Tour

REVIEW · SPLIT

Split: Old Town Food Tour

  • 4.33 reviews
  • From $114
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Operated by Sol Travel Croatia · Bookable on GetYourGuide

Traveller rating 4.3 (3)Price from$114Operated bySol Travel CroatiaBook viaGetYourGuide

Split’s Old Town is an easy win. This 3-hour walking food tour pairs Diocletian’s Palace highlights—St. Domnius, Peristyle Square, the Golden Gate—with Game of Thrones filming locations in the palace substructures. I especially like how the history and the food portion feel tied together, not like two separate tours stitched together.

My other big win is the tasting plan at the Green Market, where you sample seasonal produce and local specialties. One possible drawback: at this price point, you’ll get planned tastings, not an all-you-can-eat meal, and the included food is fairly structured—so if you want lots of extra bites beyond that, you’ll need to budget for additional purchases.

Key Highlights You’ll Actually Feel on the Ground

Split: Old Town Food Tour - Key Highlights You’ll Actually Feel on the Ground

  • Diocletian’s Palace route focused on major stops like St. Domnius and the Golden Gate
  • Game of Thrones filming locations tied to the palace cellars and substructures
  • Green Market tastings with seasonal fruit and goods from an open-air setting
  • An added olive oil tasting or street-food bite depending on the option you choose
  • A live English guide on a walking route that keeps history understandable and moving

Starting at the Croatian National Theatre: the Walk That Sets the Tone

Split: Old Town Food Tour - Starting at the Croatian National Theatre: the Walk That Sets the Tone
You meet right in the city center, in front of the Croatian National Theatre, and the tour ends back at the same spot. That loop matters more than it sounds. You’re not burning time crossing the city, and it’s simple to fit this into a first day in Split.

This is a 3-hour experience on foot, and it’s built for you to see key Old Town sights without rushing every single corner. The tour is described as a private group, which usually means the pace can stay more comfortable than group tours that run on autopilot. It’s also not suitable for wheelchair users, so the route is likely uneven and built around walking through historic areas.

Bring comfortable shoes. Old Town streets can be rough, and you’ll be on your feet for the whole tour. Also note that smoking is not allowed, which makes the experience feel more pleasant if you’re sharing narrow lanes with your group.

You can also read our reviews of more food & drink experiences in Split

Inside Diocletian’s Palace: St. Domnius, Jupiter’s Temple, Peristyle Square, and the Golden Gate

Split: Old Town Food Tour - Inside Diocletian’s Palace: St. Domnius, Jupiter’s Temple, Peristyle Square, and the Golden Gate
The core of the tour is the Old Town walk through Diocletian’s Palace, the Roman-era complex that still shapes Split’s city layout. Even if you’ve seen photos of the walls, it hits differently when you walk through the spaces where the city still lives. You don’t just stop for pictures—you move through it in a way that helps you understand where things connect.

You’ll see major palace-area highlights along the way, including:

  • Cathedral of St. Domnius
  • Jupiter’s Temple
  • Peristyle Square
  • Golden Gate

What I like about this setup is that it makes the palace feel practical. St. Domnius and Jupiter’s Temple aren’t random landmarks; they help you picture how Roman Split worked—religion, civic life, and space planning in the same footprint. Peristyle Square is the kind of place where your brain finally clicks: this wasn’t built for a postcard view. It was built for movement, gatherings, and daily function.

One small caution: Diocletian’s Palace is the star, so you’ll want to stay mentally switched on. If you show up tired or distracted, the walking can feel like a lot of names. But with an active guide, the structure turns into a story you can follow.

Game of Thrones Filming Locations: Palace Cellars and Substructures

Split: Old Town Food Tour - Game of Thrones Filming Locations: Palace Cellars and Substructures
Here’s the fun part that earns its keep: the tour includes a stop at Game of Thrones filming locations connected to the palace substructures. In particular, you’ll be shown the cellars that served as one of the filming settings in Croatia.

This works well because cellars aren’t just “a cool location.” They help explain how the palace functioned as a real system, not a museum. When you’re standing where food storage and daily operations would have mattered, the show connection stops being a gimmick and turns into atmosphere.

If you’re a fan, you’ll probably enjoy spotting the contrast between what you see now and what you’re imagining from the series. If you’re not a fan, you can still get a lot out of the walk here, because it reinforces how Roman architecture created spaces that later filmmakers could reshape.

A practical note: this is still a walking tour. The historical spots are spread out, so plan for movement rather than long indoor hangs.

Green Market Tastings: Seasonal Fruit, Market Goods, and Local Bites

Split: Old Town Food Tour - Green Market Tastings: Seasonal Fruit, Market Goods, and Local Bites
After the palace area, the tour shifts from stone landmarks to something more immediate: an open-air market experience at the Green Market. This is where you get the food part of the food tour in a direct way—tasting seasonal fruits and other goods.

The included tasting at the market is straightforward: you’ll sample what’s being sold there that day, which is exactly why this stop works. You’re not just eating a fixed menu of generic “tour food.” You’re getting a slice of what’s local and current.

Then there’s an additional included experience depending on the option you selected: either a local olive oil tasting or a street food experience. I like that choice structure because Split is one of those places where you can enjoy the food two ways—through ingredients (olive oil) or through portable local flavors (street food style). If you care more about products and how they’re made, lean into the olive oil option. If you want something you can eat quickly while you keep walking, the street food option makes more sense.

About alcohol: you must be at least 18 years old to participate in alcohol tastings. If you’re under 18, you can still join, but expect that any alcohol-related part won’t be for you.

Also keep in mind what’s not included: any additional food and wine is on you. That’s normal for a guided tasting tour, but it affects expectations.

Price and Food Value: What $114 Actually Covers

At $114 per person for a 3-hour guided walk, you’re paying mainly for three things: expert-led access to key Old Town sights, organized tastings, and time spent keeping you moving efficiently on foot.

The tour includes:

  • Walking tour with a guide
  • Food sampling at the Green Market
  • Local olive oil tasting or street food experience (depending on your chosen option)

What it doesn’t include is the stuff you might instinctively keep ordering once you start tasting. The tour doesn’t claim to be an all-inclusive meal plan. There’s no blanket offer of extra food and wine beyond the included samples.

So here’s the value check I’d use before you book: if you want a guided, structured introduction to Split’s Old Town plus a couple of tasting moments, the price can feel fair. If your goal is to eat a lot—multiple full-size dishes and lots of drinks—this won’t match that appetite on its own.

Also, one common expectation to set correctly: the history portion is strong, and the food portion is intentionally focused. In other words, this is more “taste and learn” than “taste and snack forever.”

Getting the Most Out of the Walk: Shoes, Pace, and How to Watch for Clues

This is a walking tour of historic spaces, so your comfort directly affects your enjoyment. Wear comfortable shoes, and plan to keep a light rhythm through cobblestones and palace corridors. If you go in expecting a slow, sitting-heavy tour, you’ll feel disappointed.

I also recommend you arrive ready to ask one good question during the palace stops—things like how spaces were used or what changed over time. The tour format is designed to keep the story clear while you see Cathedral of St. Domnius, Jupiter’s Temple, and the other palace landmarks.

One more thing I appreciate: the tour’s strongest thread is consistency. It doesn’t scatter you into random alley food stalls and then disappear into monuments. It links the sights (Roman palace spaces) to the filming locations (cellars/substructures) and then to the market (local goods). That “one through-line” makes it easier to remember what you saw after the tour is over.

Who Should Book Split’s Old Town Food Tour (and Who Might Skip)

Split: Old Town Food Tour - Who Should Book Split’s Old Town Food Tour (and Who Might Skip)
This tour fits best if you want a first-timer-friendly Split experience: major Old Town landmarks plus market tastings in one package. It’s also a solid choice if you like food travel that includes context, not just eating.

It’s a great fit for:

  • People who want to see Diocletian’s Palace landmarks without doing the planning alone
  • Anyone curious about the Game of Thrones connections in Split’s architecture
  • Visitors who enjoy market food—seasonal produce and local products—more than fancy restaurant meals

You might choose something else if:

  • You want a long, heavy meal with many extra servings (this includes tastings, not everything)
  • You need wheelchair accessibility (this isn’t suitable for wheelchair users)

And if you’re picky about language: it’s English with a live tour guide, so it should work smoothly for English speakers.

Should You Book This Tour?

With an average rating around 4.3 and a small set of scores, the biggest clear message is that the Old Town walk and the guiding experience are the strong points. One guide name that comes up in feedback is Marija, praised for being prepared and easy to follow during the old city portion.

On the food side, the tastings are described as good, with one common wish: people often hope for a bit more variety in local foods to taste. That tells me how to decide. If you want a structured introduction—palace + filming location + Green Market tastings—this is a smart buy. If your top priority is maximizing food quantity, plan on doing additional eating on your own afterward.

FAQ

Where is the meeting point for the Split Old Town Food Tour?

You meet in front of the Croatian National Theatre, and the tour ends back at the same meeting point.

How long is the Split Old Town Food Tour?

The duration is 3 hours. Starting times depend on availability when you book.

What food and drink do you get during the tour?

The tour includes food sampling at the Green Market plus either a local olive oil tasting or a street food experience, depending on the option selected.

Is there alcohol on the tour?

Alcohol tastings may be part of the experience, but you must be at least 18 years old to participate in alcohol tastings.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

No. This activity is not suitable for wheelchair users.

What should I bring?

Wear comfortable shoes. That’s the only specific item mentioned, but it’s a big one for a walking Old Town route.

Can I cancel for a full refund, and can I pay later?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now & pay later, keeping your plans flexible.

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