The Best Museums and Art Galleries to Visit in Split, Croatia

It would be impossible to talk about art in Croatia without mentioning the genius hands of Ivan Meštrović. The great sculptor learned his trade in Split and the finest collection of his work is found in the city, housed in a museum that was conceived by the great man himself. The villa first functioned as his summer home before developing into a museum in the 1950s. The Ivan Meštrović Gallery is the sort of place that will engage and impress even the most hardened of art cynics, making it an absolute must-visit in Split.

The history and development of Split and Dalmatia are intrinsically linked to the ocean, so indebted is the region to the sea and the riches it offers. Located in the 16th-century Gripe Fortress (initially built by the Venetians), the Croatian Maritime Museum is chock-full of all things ocean, exploring everything from the simplicity of initial ships to 20th-century cruise liners via all sorts of nautical equipment. The torpedo room is the museum’s secret weapon, detailing the development of a weapon conceived by Croatian general Ivan Vukić in the 19th century.

One of the finest art galleries (pun somewhat intended) on the entire Dalmatian coast, Split’s Museum of Fine Arts is one giant love letter to top drawer art. Home to artworks dating from the 14th century to the current day, the museum tells the tale of Croatia’s greatest artists, from Meštrović and Vidović through to Job, Bukovac and more. The museum is arguably best known, though for its extensive collection of religious icons, including a selection from Russia.

Split’s Ethnographic Museum is found deep in the heart of Diocletian’s Palace. The building itself is a cultural treasure but the collection within is even better: a gloriously detailed deep dive into Croatia’s cultural traditions with special attention paid to the various trades that have helped the people of Dalmatia survive and thrive over the centuries.

If mosaics and historical sculptures are your thing, the Archeological Museum is going to be right up your street. The actual street it lies on is just to the north of the city, a fairly apt location considering the majority of artefacts come from nearby Solin, the precursor to modern-day Split set to the north of the contemporary city. The museum is full of archeological objects, primitive jewellery and tools that remind visitors not just how far technology has come, but also how little the inherent ideas have changed. The museum is closed on weekends for most of the year.

Everything you ever wanted to know about Split and then some. The Papalić Palace in which it is housed is a tourist attraction on its own, a stunning 15th-century construction built by sculptor and architect Juraj Dalmatinac (known as George the Dalmatian) himself, but today it houses a collection of objects that tell the story of this delightful city. Split has changed a lot over the centuries and nowhere displays this better than the City Museum.

Dalmatia is well and truly embracing Game of Thrones mania. Opened in 2019, the Game of Thrones Museum in Split is located just a short walk from one of the many local filming spots and contains replicas of characters, scenes and more from the hit show. The museum also has a fascinating collection of photographs taken during the filming of the show, breaking the fourth wall on a show built on fantasy and suspension of disbelief.

He might not get the praise and international adulation that Ivan Meštrović does, but the contribution of Emanuel Vidović to art in Croatia cannot be overstated. Vidović is Split’s favourite artistic son, a painter and graphic artist who has long been considered the founding father of modern art in the city, such was his influence. Located in Diocletian’s Palace, the gallery is dedicated to the life and work of a man who was well and truly obsessed with the small-town beauty of this part of the Adriatic.

Split has no shortage of museums and galleries focused on history, art and culture, so it is quite refreshing to be faced with somewhere so unorthodox and eccentric. The Museum of Senses is exactly what you assume it will be, a multi-layered exhibition centre that encourages the visitor to explore the five senses, with occasional queries about common sense along the way. This is a particularly great option for those travelling with youngsters.

Founded way back in 1911, Fotoklub Split has provided a sanctuary for photographers in the city throughout the tumultuous last century of Croatian history. The gallery hosts frequent exhibitions showcasing local independent work, along with discussions and workshops that open up the art of photography itself.