Renting a Luxury Apartment in Split, Croatia

One of the biggest reasons I stayed in Split, Croatia for so long was because I absolutely loved my apartment. Split is hands down a seasonal city, with the bulk of visitors heading there every summer to hit the beach, check out the outlying islands, and scoot around the Adriatic Sea on a yacht – so I imagine renting a luxury apartment in Split in the summer can be extremely cutthroat, and potentially overpriced. 

However, I’m going to walk you through a bit about the luxury apartment I stayed in, what made it the best apartment I’ve ever rented, and where you can look online to rent luxury apartments in Split, Croatia. 

Let’s get started! 

Cost to Rent a Luxury Apartment in Split 

To start, I stayed in Split from the first week of December 2019 until late February 2020, which is definitely considered the down-season in Split. So, it was relatively easy to lock down a luxury apartment and at a reasonable price (mainly because I was able to book by month). I’d like to first echo some advice that my Airbnb hosts provided – if you want to enjoy great weather and a less-crowded Split, head there in either April or September. 

Because I was able to book by month, the total cost of my luxury apartment in Split came in right around USD $900, or HRK $6400. This was roughly a 50% difference than if I had booked by week, as the daily cost came in right around USD $60 to $80 per month (depending on the time of the year). Having browsed several websites (including Airbnb of course), the average weekly price for a luxury apartment in Split, Croatia was anywhere from USD $50 to $150. If possible, try to book by month so you can enjoy a  sizable discount. I also recommend booking several months in advance if you are heading to Split in the summer or several weeks in advance in the winter. 

If you are looking to stay more long-term in Split, consider booking your first month via Airbnb and then negotiating. I was personally able to knock roughly USD $100 off the monthly rent tag once I went directly through my landlord/hosts.  

So, what did roughly USD $30 per day and $900 per month get me in Split, Croatia? Let’s take a look. 

My Luxury Apartment in Split – Smack Dab in the Old Town

Split isn’t huge by any means, but if you are heading there for vacation or an extended stay, you 1000% want to stay in Split’s Old Town. Why wouldn’t you want to stay in a labyrinth of cobbled streets and small winding lanes that was once home to Roman Emperor Diocletian (and where he established the tetrarchy)? 

Plus, Split’s Old Town spills out onto a bustling and scenic promenade overlooking the Adriatic Sea – perfect for late night walks, drinks, and people watching. Each cobbled alley and lane is filled with a hidden surprise – from cevapi grills, to carb heavy pastry shops (that isn’t a bad thing), all the way to sushi joints and cold brew cafes – Split’s Old Town has it all. 

Now, on to the room!

Luxury Studio Apartment

The room was everything I could have asked for. It is tough to put into words, so let’s have some pictures do the talking. The below pictures are courtesy of the Airbnb profile and hosts. 

Keep in mind that this was a studio apartment, so space was somewhat limited – but boy oh boy did this apartment (well…the hosts) know how to maximize every inch of space. It never felt like a studio apartment when living here, as the separation between the hall, kitchen table, bathroom, and bedroom was perfect and made you feel like you were trekking through a multi-bedroom apartment.

The bathroom was in pristine condition, with a shower that cleared water efficiently and all necessaries that one could ask for (including a hair dryer). When it got especially chilly in Split (after all, it was winter), it was an absolute luxury to be able to turn on the heated floors for the bathroom. I don’t think I’ve ever rented an apartment with a bathroom that I could literally fall asleep in due to how cozy it was. 

The kitchen area was spacious and also perfect to work from on the days I didn’t feel like heading to a cafe. I don’t typically cook that often, but I did fire up the stove several times for some steaks, which got the job done and gave me no troubles whatsoever. I especially enjoyed working out of the kitchen because of the shutters, which opened up into a bustling little alley right in the Old Town. Part of the reason I decided to stay in Split instead of Zagreb was that I needed light – and the numerous pairs of shutters across the apartment were great for lighting up the apartment.  

The bedroom is what made me want to never leave this apartment. The bed was huge and one of the best mattresses I have ever slept on – the perfect balance between firm and fluffy. The air circulation and heat (controlled via the air conditioning unit) allowed me to acclimate the room to my perfect temperature, a refreshing feature as numerous Airbnbs I’ve stayed at have had extremely poor air circulation. I’ve also always wanted a mounted television at the head of the bed, so this checked off a life-long goal (I’m simple). 

My hosts were two of the nicest people I’ve ever met and were extremely accommodating. The apartment came with a weekly cleaning and restocking of necessities (such as toilet paper, paper towels, etc…), which is a blessing for any single guy nearing thirty (you’re looking at him). 

The apartment did not come with a washer or dryer, however there was a laundromat right down the street, which made getting laundry done a breeze. 

Overall, this is the best apartment I have ever rented for a significant period of time, and strongly recommend it for anyone looking for extremely welcoming hosts, proximity to the Split Promenade (legitimately a 2 minute walk), and a modern vibe. 

You can rent this actual apartment over at this Airbnb link. 

Where to Rent a Luxury Apartment in Split

As I noted above, you might be able to guess that one of the best sites to find a luxury apartment in Split, Croatia is Airbnb. Personally, I filter apartments by super-host and then input my dates (I usually am locking down an apartment for at least one month). Airbnb isn’t the only place though. Here are several websites I used when searching for luxury apartments in Split. 

• Nestpick: Just taking a look now at Nestpick, there are over 300 apartments in Split, Croatia to choose from. I typically pit Nestpick vs. Airbnb when it comes to choosing a place and would recommend them both about the same. 
• Wimdu: Wimdu is a rental aggregator, compiling results from all major apartment, condo, and villa renting platforms (ex. Airbnb, Nestpick, etc…). I generally use aggregators to get a good view of apartment prices and then go to the actual platform I like to book the apartment. 
• RealEstateCroatia: Going forward with booking long-term apartments in Croatia, this will likely be the site I use. The prices aren’t jacked up at a premium like they can be on Airbnb and Nestpick and appear far more reflective of a “local” price you can pay for a great apartment.  

Final Thoughts on Renting a Luxury Apartment in Split 

Once again, for a luxury apartment in Split, Croatia, you can expect to pay anywhere from USD $1500 to $3000-plus per month (depending on the number of rooms), should you decide to pay by week. However, should you opt for a longer stay, you can likely find a luxury apartment for around USD $700 to $1000. 

And remember, after your initial stay ends, if you want to extend your lease or stay, make sure to negotiate directly with your landlord or host. If you have had success locating a great apartment on a different rental website, let me know in the comments, as I am sure to go back to Croatia in the future and will of course be posting up for an extended period of time. 

P.S. If you are curious about the best way to get down to Split from Zagreb, check out my article on taking the bus from Zagreb to Split. Also, I highly recommend heading to Mostar (Bosnia) for a several day trip while you are in the Balkans, you won’t regret it – and, it’s only a four hour bus ride. 

Best,

Big Body