January the 25th, 2026 – Split is set to realise an enormous project that even dwarfs the extensive (and expensive) Žnjan project, involving a new port, an aquarium and more.
As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, the expansive area between the Žnjan swimming complex and the future Duilovo-Stobreč promenade, which is also the last unused part of the Split coastline, will eventually get a new port. The current plan is to build most of the berths intended for locals, as well as numerous public facilities, including a large aquarium. It is currently being estimated that this project will be more expensive than the development of Žnjan itself, according to HRT.
1,000 berths on 12 hectares
This huge new Split project extends over more than 800 metres of coastline and covers a huge area spanning as much as 12 hectares. In addition to the future new port, public facilities are also planned, among which a large aquarium spanning an impressive area of 12,000 square metres stands out.
“The Split Port Authority plans to make an investment with 1,000 berths, of which 700 would be communal berths for the local population who use vessels for sports and leisure, and up to 300 berths would be for nautical or economic purposes,” revealed Domagoj Maroević, director of the Split-Dalmatia County Port Authority.
proper connection for the entire coastal belt
The goal of this massive Split project is not only a new port and an aquarium, but to create a single public space and connect the promenade to its full extent.
“It will all be one public space, a lot like Žnjan, like the promenade between Duilovo and Stobreč, and our primarily goal is for that promenade to be fully connected,” stated Split Mayor Tomislav Šuta.
Dragan Žuvela, director of the Department for Spatial Planning of the City of Split, agreed with the above. “I think this whole story is very exciting because in addition to the port itself, there will be additional public facilities, among the most significant ones is certainly an aquarium, which will further contribute to the social offer of Split, not only the commercial one. I see all this as a quality articulation of some really great potential,” believes Žuvela.
a proper response to increasing nautical demand
A marina with communal berths has not been built in Split for decades now, and the demand for more berths is only increasing.
“We currently have over 1,000 requests for a municipal berth in Split, we think that this area is ideal for creating municipal berths,” said Maroević. A tender for the conceptual design of the project is currently being prepared. Although it is still too early to predict the final cost of the project, it is estimated that it will not be less than 150 million euros. For its implementation, the County Port Authority will need financial assistance from the city, the state and European Union funds.
