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must-visit in SplitChurch & Religious Site

Bell Tower

📍 Cathedral of St Domnius, Diocletian's Palace, 21000 Split, Croatia
Bell Tower
1 photos
4.4/ 5.0
★★★★☆

Quick Facts

Location
Croatia, Split
Category
Church & Religious Site
Duration
45-60 minutes including the queue for the climb
Address
Cathedral of St Domnius, Diocletian's Palace, 21000 Split, Croatia
Coordinates
43.5080, 16.4380

Introduction

The bell tower of the Cathedral of St Domnius is the tallest structure in Split's old town, its 57 metres defining the skyline for centuries and making it the highest bell tower in Dalmatia. It belongs to the cathedral converted from the mausoleum of the Roman emperor Diocletian - not to a defensive bastion by the palace's Golden Gate. Work began in the mid-13th century and dragged on for some 300 years, only topping out in the mid-16th, one of the slowest-built buildings in Split (the whole palace took ten years); it is mostly Romanesque with Gothic and Renaissance layers added floor by floor, and was extensively rebuilt between 1890 and 1908. Two stone lions guard the tower's base portal, above which a small sarcophagus holds the remains of two daughters of Bela IV, king of Hungary and Croatia, who died of plague after the family fled the Mongol invasion of 1241. The climb is about 183 steps (about EUR 7) up a mix of broad stone stairs and narrow metal treads, and the top gives 360-degree views over the palace's terracotta roofs, the old town, the harbour, the Adriatic and the offshore islands - Split's classic vantage point.

✨ Highlights

1
A 57-Metre Skyline
The tallest structure in the old town and the highest bell tower in Dalmatia, defining Split's skyline for centuries.
2
Three Centuries to Build
Begun in the mid-13th century and topped out in the mid-16th, about 300 years - one of the slowest-built buildings in Split.
3
Romanesque, Layer by Layer
Mostly Romanesque with Gothic and Renaissance details added floor by floor, and heavily rebuilt between 1890 and 1908, when many original sculptures were removed.
4
Lions and a Royal Sarcophagus
Two stone lions guard the base portal, above which a small sarcophagus holds the remains of two daughters of Bela IV, king of Hungary and Croatia.
5
The 183-Step Climb
About 183 steps of broad stone and narrow metal stairs demanding fitness and nerve, with 360-degree views from the top over the palace roofs to the Adriatic.
6
The Cathedral Doors
Inside, Andrija Buvina's 13th-century carved doors show 28 scenes from the life of Christ - a masterpiece of Croatian Romanesque woodcarving.

🛈 Practical Info

→Duration：45-60 minutes including the queue; the climb itself takes 15-20 minutes, and allow an hour with the cathedral interior and its doors
→Best time：The first hour after opening or the last before closing is quietest; midday cruise crowds jam the stairs one-way; dusk gives the best light on the rooftops
→Worth it?：Yes - the only angle from which the Roman palace's layout makes sense; but if heights or stamina are an issue, Marjan hill and the seafront give free alternatives
→Watch out：The stair is narrow with open metal treads - skip it with vertigo or small children; wind at the top takes hats and phones; Croatia uses the euro now, the kuna (HRK) is no longer accepted
→Combine with：The Peristyle and cathedral are right below, the Silver Gate leads east to the Riva, and the Golden Gate west to Gregory's toe - all within ten minutes on foot
→Opening Hours：About 9:00-20:00 in summer, shorter in spring and autumn; follow the ticket desk for the day's climbing hours
→Transportation：On foot (Split old town)

Ticket Information

Ticket Information
AdultFree

The climb is about EUR 7, or EUR 10-12 combined with the cathedral; the tower exterior and cathedral facade are free

💡 Tips

• Climb within the first hour after opening and you will barely queue.
• The stair is narrow with open treads: grippy shoes and a phone strap.
• Dusk from the top gives the best light on the rooftops and harbour.
• Do not miss Buvina's 28-panel carved doors below the tower.
• About EUR 7 for the climb, EUR 10-12 combined with the cathedral.
• Croatia uses the euro now; the kuna (HRK) is no longer accepted.

FAQ

What are the opening hours of Bell Tower?

About 9:00-20:00 in summer, shorter in spring and autumn; follow the ticket desk for the day's climbing hours

How much is the admission for Bell Tower?

Adult: Free; The climb is about EUR 7, or EUR 10-12 combined with the cathedral; the tower exterior and cathedral facade are free

Any practical tips for visiting Bell Tower?

Climb within the first hour after opening and you will barely queue. The stair is narrow with open treads: grippy shoes and a phone strap.

How long should I spend at Bell Tower?

A typical visit takes 45-60 minutes including the queue for the climb.

Climb prices and hours shift by season - follow the cathedral ticket desk; Croatia has used the euro since 2023 and the kuna (HRK) is withdrawn. Compiled October 2026.