Getting Married on the Split & Dalmatian Coast

May and June are the most recommended months: the city is warm, the sea is swimmable from late May and the Old Town can be walked at an easy pace. September is also strong, with the warmest sea and a golden light. The Bura and Jugo winds affect the coast in spring and autumn but rarely disrupt outdoor ceremonies.

Recommended wedding months

May, June, September

Peak season is July, August, and the shoulder months are April, October.

Palace-quarter boutique stay. A very small hotel occupies part of the original palace, including Roman towers. Scale is the limit, so it suits small, private events.

Resort for larger groups. A large beach resort south of the centre is the practical choice for weddings needing full self-sufficiency within the Split area.

Hilltop fortress venue. Klis Fortress sits on the ridge above Split with views to the sea and islands. All catering, lighting and guest transport must be brought in, so it suits a pre-wedding dinner or drinks better than a full reception.

Coastal estate and boutique venue. A historic estate with a castle at Podstrana, south of Split, offers a private setting nearer the sea. Smaller properties along the Makarska Riviera also hold event facilities.

Split Airport lies beside Trogir, outside the city. Ferries to Hvar, Brač, Vis and Korčula leave from Split harbour.

Split Airport (SPU). Several UK carriers fly to Split from airports across the country. Scheduled flights run year-round.

Dubrovnik Airport (DBV). For a Split and Dubrovnik itinerary, flying into Split and leaving from Dubrovnik covers the whole Dalmatian coast without retracing. Croatia Airlines operates the domestic route between the two.

Choices run from a tiny historic stay inside the palace to full resort infrastructure at Stobreč. Peak-season rooms need to be reserved far ahead.

Inside the palace walls. A handful of rooms sit within Diocletian's Palace, some in original Roman towers, on a very small scale.

City centre beside the walls. A boutique hotel next to the palace walls has a rooftop terrace with views of the Old Town and the sea, and full event facilities.

Stobreč resort coast. A large resort south of the centre has a private beach, pools and a ballroom.

Makarska Riviera. The resort strip from Omiš to Makarska has four-star hotels with beach access at lower rates than the city, which suits groups where cost per guest matters.

Split is the culinary capital of Dalmatia, and pašticada, the traditional Dalmatian wedding dish, belongs on a Split menu.

Pašticada. Beef larded with garlic and prunes, marinated in vinegar and slowly cooked in wine and prune broth, served over homemade gnocchi. It has marked weddings in Split for centuries.

Brudet. The Dalmatian fisherman's stew of mixed fish, onion, tomato, vinegar and olive oil, cooked in a clay pot and served over polenta.

Soparnik. A flat pie of Swiss chard, onion, garlic and olive oil baked in a wood-fired oven, from the Omiš area. It holds UNESCO intangible cultural heritage status.

A living city inside Roman walls. The palace is a working urban quarter, with apartments above the Roman columns and bars in the Roman cellars. Guests should expect layered, inhabited history rather than a preserved monument.

Game of Thrones locations. Klis Fortress stood in for Meereen in Season 5, and the palace cellars, the Podrumi, were filmed as the dragon cages. The cellars are open to visitors.

Currency. Croatia uses the euro. Cards are accepted at hotels, restaurants and most shops, and cash helps for small harbour payments and market stalls.

Legal marriage in Croatia. Legal marriage is handled through the State Administration Office. Many UK couples complete it at home and hold the celebration in Croatia. Some venues within the palace complex hold civil ceremony licences, to be confirmed when enquiring.

The legal requirements for marrying here, and who needs a visa, are being checked and are not published yet. Confirm both with the official authority that will marry you before you book.