- Date
- 1 – 7 May 2027
Curated places, guides and more events for Split.
What Sudamja means
Sudamja is the Split contraction of Sveti Dujam, Saint Domnius, bishop of nearby Salona and martyr under Diocletian around the year 304. He is the patron of the city, and his feast on 7 May is the day Split celebrates itself. The detail that makes it worth knowing: the cathedral dedicated to him is the converted mausoleum of Diocletian himself, so the emperor whose persecution killed him lies in the building that carries his name.
The shape of the week
The feast builds over several days. The fair along the Riva opens before 7 May, so the promenade you would normally take coffee on is given over to stalls. The regatta is sailed off the harbour, and the best free viewing is from the breakwater below Matejuška or the benches at Sustipan, both a short walk from the Riva. On 7 May the focus moves to the cathedral. The Mass and the procession are church events first, so stand back, keep your voice down and leave the front rows to the people of Split. The Peristyle fills early. Much of Split treats the day as a holiday, so expect some shops and offices to close and plan museum visits for the days either side.
Getting to Split
Split airport is at Kaštela, about 25 km west of the city. A shuttle bus runs from outside the terminal to the main bus station by the harbour, and city bus 37 covers the same ground more slowly. The bus station, the railway station and the ferry port stand side by side at the eastern end of the harbour, a 10 minute walk along the water from the Riva, so from any of them you can walk to most hotels in the old town. A car is of little use during the feast: the old town is closed to traffic, the Riva is taken up by the fair and street parking near the palace is scarce in any week of the year.
| From | How | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Split airport | Shuttle bus, bus 37 or taxi | About 25 km west, at Kaštela |
| Zagreb | Coach or train | Coach is faster and more frequent |
| Zadar, Šibenik, Dubrovnik | Coach along the coast | Arrives at the station by the harbour |
| Brač, Hvar, Šolta | Ferry or catamaran | Port beside the bus station |
| Trogir and Kaštela | City bus 37 | 27 km, via the airport |
| By car | A1 motorway or coast road | Garages north of the centre, walk in |
Where to stay
For the feast, stay inside or beside Diocletian's Palace. A room in the old town puts you within 5 minutes of the cathedral, the Riva and the harbour, and you will hear the bells on the morning of 7 May. Varoš, the old fishermen's quarter on the western side, is quieter at night and still a 10 minute walk from the Peristyle. Early May is the start of the season and Sudamja draws visitors from the whole of Dalmatia, so book early. Apartments inside the palace are often up steep stairs, which matters with luggage. Rooms facing the Riva will be noisy while the fair is on.
The saint's own city
Salona, the Roman city where Domnius held his see, lies in the fields of Solin, 15 minutes from the centre by car or city bus. The martyrs of Diocletian's persecution were buried at Manastirine, the early Christian cemetery on the site, and the amphitheatre where tradition places their deaths stands at its western edge. There is no crowd, little shade and a great deal of walking, so bring water and a hat. Seen before the feast, Salona explains where the procession comes from. The Archaeological Museum, 10 minutes north of the palace, holds what was dug up there.
Eating and practical notes
The Pazar, the green market along the eastern wall of the palace, runs every morning and is busiest between 07:00 and 11:00. Cheese, prosciutto, olives and bread from the nearby bakery make a lunch to carry to Sustipan or the breakwater. The fish market by Marmontova is at its best before 09:00 and thinnest on Mondays. For a sit-down meal, the konobas of Varoš serve grilled fish and the Dalmatian standards a few streets from the Riva, at lower prices than the promenade. In the evening, do as the students do and take a drink from a kiosk to the pier at Matejuška.
- Early May brings daytime temperatures around 20 degrees and cool evenings, so pack a light jacket for the procession and the regatta.
- Rain is possible in spring. The palace cellars and the museums are the wet weather options.
- Stalls at the fair and the market take cash. Cards work in cafés, restaurants and museums.
- Cover shoulders and knees inside the cathedral, and expect it to be full of local families on 7 May.
- With children: the fair on the Riva, the echo in the Vestibule and Froggyland for a rainy hour.
Questions about your trip?
