The Green Market Split also known locally as Pazar and should be on your must-see list when visiting the city. It gives you an insight into local life in Croatia and the city of Split. We visited with the boys during our two-day stay in the city. Green Market is not a fish market which is located in Ribarnica, a five-minute walk through the palace.
Where is Green Market Split?
Green Market is located next to the Silver Gate of the Diocletian Palace. If you walk through the gate and to the left you will see the open-air market in the centre of Split. Alternatively, there is an entrance on the railway bridge going away from the port area. If you are staying around the old town then it is within easy walking distance. Depending on which pier you come into at the port it’s probably only a ten-minute walk.
When is Green Market Split open?
The farmers market is open from 8 am to 2 pm every day of the week. Although we walked past at 7 am and some of the stalls were already open. Hoping to catch the local custom. We also found that some stalls that are aimed more towards the tourist as open past two. Especially those closer to the ancient Diocletian’s Palace end. Of course, if you want the best produce and the best fruit then you should arrive early.
How long do you need?
We spent about half an hour walking around the local farmers’ markets and buying fruit and souvenirs on a Saturday morning. It is not a particularly large market and it is not undercover. Instead, there is a sea of red and blue parasols to protect the stall holders from the sun and keep as much of their wares as possible in the shade. There is also a food hall at the bridge entrance. Under which there are various cafes, restaurants and fast food outlets. It is also a great place to shelter from unexpected downpours as we discovered on our visit.
What will you see and what can you buy at the outdoor market?
Although there are some stalls selling what I would call market tat. Especially on the roadside, the majority of the market sells food. Around the outside of the market and down the central part there are little buildings with corrugated iron fronts which are small shops. They sell homemade cheeses and meat mainly. These permanent structures have refrigeration. And this is where the locals buy their food rather than the rather overpriced grocery stores. It is also home to the oldest pastry shop in Split Croatia.
The central part of the market is dedicated to fresh fruits and veg. Many of the small stallholders have brought their homegrown seasonal fruits, vegetables and local wines to market. Not only that but there are herbs and bottles of homemade olive oil. All are presented in a way to make them very attractive to the buyer. A lot of the rural houses we passed while driving had small walled olive groves. When we visited at the end of July there was garlic, onions, tomatoes, peppers, green beans, watermelon, apricots and nectarines. All are sold by weight and many of the stall owners will invite you to look at their produce and give you a great price to entice you.
There are also stalls selling beans and pluses. Along with candied nuts and fruits including figs which are very popular. Expect to pay around 25kn for a small bag. There are also some honey stalls, prices vary but I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many different varieties. The boys were fascinated by the honeycomb and jars of pollen also for sale. Many of the more tourist-orientated stalls would allow you to try their fresh produce. Charlie particularly liked the lavender honey. A small jar will set you back around 40kn (£5).
There is also a flower stall area and the opportunity to try some of the local food. Such as spinach and garlic flatbread which was delicious and cost 10kn (£1.20).
Green Market of Split
We really enjoyed visiting the market and seeing all the fresh local products. It was a great way to show the boys some authentic Croatia. And I would definitely recommend visiting the local markets during your stay.
Related Blog posts
If you have enjoyed this post then you may be interested in some of the other articles I have written after our stay in Split city
- Travelling into the city from the airport – we found public transport particularly easy – How to get from Spit airport into the city.
- There is so much to do in Split we really enjoyed our visit to the city. We also visited Dubrovnik during our 2 week Croatia Holiday. Trying to decide which city to visit, this may help – Split or Dubrovnik.
- While staying in Split you may want to consider a day trip to Hvar, or a visit to Krka National Park
- or Kornati National Park, plus other day trips from Split.
- We also spent a week in Sibenik prior to visiting Split. It was a great location for the boys to enjoy and has some wonderful beaches. If you are travelling with children then Tips for holidaying in Croatia with kids may come in handy.
