Split travel guide
Split Rainy Day Guide: Museums, Galleries & Seasonal Closures
Split is a year-round city: the palace, the museums, the market and the cafés stay open when the beaches empty. This page covers the best things to do indoors, what closes out of season, how ferries change in winter and a simple plan for a wet day.
While figuring out your rainy day plans is a critical piece of the puzzle, you will need to plan the rest of your itinerary, dining slots and sightseeing routes. Before you set out, make sure to read our definitive Split travel guide to map out your entire stay.
The best indoor things to do in Split
| Place | What it is | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| The palace, indoors | The cathedral, the Temple of Jupiter and the palace cellars | All under a roof, and rain empties the lanes of tour groups |
| Archaeological Museum | Croatia's oldest museum, with finds from Salona and a garden of Roman stonework | From October to May, Monday to Saturday; closed Sundays and holidays |
| Meštrović Gallery | The sculptor's villa and garden, with Kaštilac on the same ticket | Tuesday to Sunday, closed Mondays and holidays; €12 |
| Gallery of Fine Arts | Croatian painting and sculpture by the Golden Gate, with temporary shows | Check its site for hours, which we could not confirm |
| Split City Museum | The town's history inside the Gothic Papalić Palace | In the old town lanes |
| A long coffee | A café table on the Riva or in the old squares | Locals make one coffee last an hour, rain or shine |
The Museum of Croatian Archaeological Monuments has been closed for renovation since November 2024; check before you go. Hours checked in October 2026.
A rainy day in Split
- Morning: the cathedral and the palace cellars, with the Temple of Jupiter between them.
- Late morning: the Archaeological Museum, a short walk north of the old town.
- Lunch: a long one in a konoba; see our restaurant guide.
- Afternoon: the Meštrović Gallery (closed Mondays), or the Split City Museum in the old town.
- Evening: a coffee or a glass of plavac mali on the Riva once the rain stops.
Split in winter: what's open and what closes
Split is worth visiting in winter if you want the city rather than the beach. The palace, museums, market and cafés stay open, the lanes are quiet and the weather is mild, though days are short.
- Closes: from November to March many beach bars and some restaurants close.
- Shorter hours: museums and ticketed palace monuments keep shorter hours in winter.
- Still on: Pazar market, the fish market, the cafés, and picigin players at Bačvice.
- Events: see the city events calendar for what is on.
Ferries and catamarans out of season
- Car ferries: run all year to Brač, Hvar, Šolta and Vis.
- Catamarans: several lines run only from spring to October, and one Jadrolinija line to Vis only from June to September.
- Wind: catamarans are more often cancelled in strong wind; the car ferry is the safer bet.
- Plan ahead: check the winter timetable before you plan an island day. See our ferry guide.
What to plan next for your trip
Once you have sorted out your rainy day plans, it's time to explore the rest of Dalmatia - Split. When the sun comes out, start with our guide to Diocletian's Palace. If you are staying on the mainland, check out our guide to Biokovo Nature Park.