Food Tours in Split

In Croatia, you can feast on a variety of delicious foods, from garlicky lamb, delectable cheeses, wood-fired roasted vegetables and fresh seafood directly from the ocean.

With food tours from Split, there’s a lot of scope for you to do entire culinary-themed discoveries and focus on local food and regional wines. These tours will take you from the city’s Diocletian’s Palace, to farm family tables and Mali Ston’s world-famous oysters.

Here's all you need to know about food tours, one of the most captivating gastronomic experiences in Split.

What are the best food tours in Split?

Ηistorical and Green Market gastro tour in Split

You can enjoy delightful and generous food stops of traditional Croatian delicacies and wines on a small-group guided food tour in Split. Your city tour highlights will be a visit to the UNESCO-listed Diocletian’s Palace, discovering busy medieval squares, as well as the famous Split Green Market.

Your excursion involving food and history kicks off at the popular Green Market. Here you will enjoy a traditional hinterland brunch consisting of prosciutto, pancetta, cheese and peka bread. From here, continue to the famous ancient Diocletian's Palace, built here on the Adriatic Coast for the Roman Emperor Diocletian. Today, the Palace forms about half of the Split Old Town.

The excellently preserved ruins, which have appeared in movies and TV series, are often visited on Game of Thrones tours in Split. Here you will visit a konoba taverna-like restaurant and enjoy seafood, olive oil pies, and delectable wines from the Croatian south. You'll also have the chance to visit the oldest pastry shop in Split for traditional sweets and gelato. Located in the medieval part of Old Town, the shop uses secret recipes already a hundred years old.

Private countryside culinary tour from Split

Enjoy several plates laden with hearty home cooking on a full-day private tour in the countryside from Split. Enjoy a delicious breakfast at your guide’s farmhouse, and take a tour of the old village of Hardomilje. Float on the waters of the Trebizat River with a drink in hand and have a generous lunch consisting of several local dishes.

You will be picked up at your accommodation in Split and driven directly to the lovely Koćuša Waterfalls. Having enjoyed the sight of the scenic falls, your local tour guide will take you to the old village of Hardomilje. Here you can experience a way of life passed down for several Croatian generations. While you share a meal with your guide, you’ll savor delectable local delicacies, including traditional pies and iron dome peka roast, along with homemade brandies and wines.

With a healthy breakfast behind you, you can go on a culinary tour of Old Hardomilje. The village is located on the ancient Roman trading route from Narona to Salona, and you will admire the charming limestone houses. Then take a leisurely boat cruise in a traditional wooden boat on the Trebižat River. Enjoy a nice drink floating downstream and take a plunge into the clear waters of the river – the home of brown trout and crabs.

From here, return to Hardomilje for a delicious homemade lunch. This includes homemade cheese, prosciutto, genuine peka, cake and seasonal fruits and vegetables. Also enjoy a delightful wine and olive tasting, homemade juices and assorted grappas. At the end of your excursion, you’ll be returned to Split.

Pelješac Peninsula food and wine tour from Split

Explore medieval Ston, visit the oldest saltworks in Europe and taste the famous oysters in Mali Ston on a full-day tour from Split. Enjoy a marvelous 3-course lunch, some of Croatia’s best wines and the historical tradition of the Pelješac Peninsula – famous for its seafood.

Start your day with pickup from your accommodation and a relaxing 2-hour drive to your first stop, the medieval city of Ston. This lovely little city is famous as home to the longest city walls in Europe and the second longest in the world. The impressive 5.5-kilometer long wall connects the town of Ston with the small, rustic town of Mali Ston. These walls were built as far back as 1333 to defend the Republic and the Peninsula, when Ston became a part of the Republic of Dubrovnik.

Here, you will also have the opportunity to visit the oldest saltworks in Europe. You will learn more about salt production and where it has been produced through the same methods for several centuries. Wander through the narrow streets of the city, with its many monuments, churches and architecture of historical interest. See the Renaissance Duke’s Palace, re-modelled in the 19th century, and the Franciscan monastery dating back to 1347.

After your Ston visit, continue to Mali Ston, a most popular place to taste heavenly seafood, especially oysters and mussels. Here in lovely Mali Ston you can enjoy an oyster sampling and delicious lunch at a local restaurant. Following lunch, you will be driven to a popular winery in a small village on the Pelješac Peninsula for a fabulous wine tasting.

The Peljesac Peninsula is Croatia’s most famous wine making region, so fully enjoy your visit to the local winery. One of its most renowned products is the local red grape variety of Plavac Mali, which covers about 90% of all vineyards. At the end of a marvelous tour, you will be returned to Split.

How much does it cost?

Basic food tours from Split vary from about €40 to €100 per person, but where boat trips are involved it increases to about €200 per person.

For a historical city and gastro tour with of Split with a visit to the Green Market, you can expect to pay about €100 per person.

A private countryside tour about €200 per person, including meals and round-trip transport. An all-inclusive private food tour with a cruise to the Blue Cave costs €2500 per group up to 13.

A food and wine tour in the Pelješac Peninsula costs about €230 per person, with round-trip transfer included.

What is included?

Food and city tours in Split typically include all food and wine, along with the services of a licensed local guide. Private countryside tours include homemade breakfast, an authentic farm-to-table lunch, and private round-trip transfer in an air-conditioned minivan or van.

Food and wine tours to the Pelješac Peninsula include transfer with air-conditioned vehicles, entrance tickets to the saltworks in Ston, as well as an oyster tasting, lunch and wine tasting.

Where does it start?

Food tours in Split usually start with pickup from your hotel, or if you don’t request pickup, agreed meeting points in downtown Split.

How long does it last?

Food tours in Split can last as little as 3-4 hours, to an entire day, depending on your interests. Culinary tours that mainly focus on Split typically last about 3 hours, while excursions in the countryside can last about 10 hours. The duration of food tours to the Pelješac Peninsula is about 12 hours.

Are children allowed on food tours in Split?

Children are generally allowed, provided they are accompanied by an adult. On some tours, children under the age of 6 can join free of charge.

When is the best time for a food tour in Split?

The best time to visit Split for a food tour is in the shoulder seasons of spring (April to May) and autumn (September to October), when the weather is mild, the markets are bustling with fresh produce and seafood. During these months, you can enjoy the outdoor markets and restaurants without the intense heat and high tourist season crowds of the summer.

Travel tips

• Make sure to book your food tour in Split in advance, as they are very popular.
• Start your food tour in the morning, when the markets are lively and you can find fresh produce and seafood.
• Tips are not usually expected in Croatia, but look at tipping 10%-15% for wait staff.
• Try to time your visit during local food festivals, like the Days of Diocletian or the Fishermen's Night, where you can sample local dishes and drinks in a fun and lively atmosphere.