Split's Old Town is small enough to walk in an afternoon, so the honest question is why bother with a tuk-tuk at all. The answer is everything the Old Town doesn't cover – the harbour front, the streets ringing the palace, and a viewpoint that's a genuine uphill slog on foot – done in a fixed two hours with a guide, not a self-navigated afternoon.
Electric, not the usual tuk-tuk
This isn't a diesel three-wheeler belching fumes through narrow streets – the tour runs on fully electric tuk-tuks, which matters more than it sounds in a city where Diocletian's Palace's alleys are barely wide enough for pedestrians to pass each other. Quieter, no exhaust, and small enough to get closer to the sights than a full-size coach ever could.
What the ride actually covers
Since no vehicle can enter Split's pedestrian-only Old Town, the tour is built in two parts: a guided tuk-tuk ride past the city's landmarks and a panoramic viewpoint – almost certainly a stop on Marjan, the forested hill above the harbour that most Split city tours use for their skyline shot, since walking up and back eats a real chunk of a day – followed by a short walk through Diocletian's Palace itself once the tuk-tuk parks up. It's a genuinely different experience from the walking tour: less depth on any single building, more ground covered, and a rest for anyone who'd rather not spend two hours entirely on foot in summer heat.
Booking
The electric tuk-tuk tour runs about two hours and is the most-booked tuk-tuk option in Split by a wide margin over its smaller rivals. If history and the palace's Roman past are the main draw, pair it with the dedicated Diocletian's Palace walking tour instead, or add the Game of Thrones walking tour if the palace's underground filming locations are more your interest.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
If you only want the Old Town, walking is enough on its own. A tuk-tuk earns its price by covering ground beyond the Old Town too – the harbour front, the wider streets around it, and a viewpoint that would otherwise mean a real uphill walk – in a fixed two hours with a guide talking you through it.
Image: dronepicr via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)