After visiting Dubrovnik and Hvar, we finished our adventure with a stay in Split, Croatia. Split is the second largest city in the country and steeped in rich history. A part of the city is actually built within palace ruins. You will have so much to explore throughout the city.
Split Croatia Walking Tour
A walking tour of Split is a must. You will quickly realize that the streets you are walking are all within Diocletian’s Palace built in 293 AD. The city is the perfect blend of ancient ruins and new builds. Your guide will point out all of the original palace structures for you to marvel at.
One such structure is the Vestibule, a large domed structure in which Diocletian himself used to greet visitors. The dome’s top is now partially open, but that doesn’t make it any less breath taking. If you’re lucky you will catch a Klapa group taking advantage of the incredible acoustics and singing traditional folk songs.
If you’re a game of thrones fan, you’ll want to make your way into the palace basement. Game of Throne’s filmed their Dragon dungeon scenes down in the vast basement halls. For those who have never seen an episode of the hit show in your life, don’t worry. You will still be able to appreciate all of the exhibits and stalls lining the passageways.
This basement, though clean as a whistle now, was not always that way. Back in the middle ages the basement was used as a dumping ground for sewage and trash for years. Lucky for us, the trash is not only gone but it actually helped preserve the structure of the basement and kept it in pristine condition. Archeologists have been able to use the preserved basement to help guide the blueprint of the upstairs apartments which no longer exist.
General Recommendations For Split, Croatia
Havar and Dubrovnik are your beach cities. For Split on the other hand we recommend opting for a room in the heart of Old Split. You’ll be able to enjoy the hustle and bustle of the town. The lively restaurants and shops in the city center are a can’t miss and are the essence of what makes this city so special. In fact, many residents who own property inside the palace walls leave for the summer and rent out their places to tourists looking for an amazing place to stay. That’s right, you have the opportunity to stay inside the walls that make up the foundation of Split itself.
Split has a plethora of restaurants to choose from with authentic Croatian cuisine to both within the palace walls and outside the walls. Make sure to ask your tour guide or another local for their favorite spot so you can indulge in the most mouthwatering food. Don’t forget to save room for gelato! You won’t get more than 50 feet without seeing a gelato shop. For us, we had gelato at least once a day while exploring Split. Not only are the plenty of restaurants for you to try but you’ll also have to check out the shops!
In split you’ll be able to find the big name brands like Zara and Tommy Hilfiger. However, they also have a number of locally owned book shops, clothing stores, curated art studios and so much more. I’d recommend leaving yourself some time to peruse the shops to find all the treasures that Split has to offer.
Krka National Park
A bus tour to Krka National Park is the perfect day trip for anyone staying in Split. Your guide will fill your hour and fifteen minute ride with tidbits of knowledge on both Croatian history and Split history, before you get off and explore the wonders of Krka National Park.
The leisurely hike through Krka’s scenic trail to the Skradinski buk waterfall can take between 1 to 2 hours to complete. Though it is tempting to rush to the breathtaking views of the falls, enjoy the journey! Krka National Park offers beautiful views and sights of Croatian wildlife. Every step reveals something beautiful.
You can spend the day at Krka hiking, biking and exploring or you can take a ferry to Skradin, a medieval town located about 20 minutes away. This small ancient town dates back to 34 BC and was highly sought after for years because of its location. Because of this, there is a fortress right in the town center for visitor to now climb. At the top of the small fortress is where you’ll find the best views up and down the river.
Croatian Travel
You can’t go wrong when visiting Croatia, and although hitting Dubrovnik, Hvar, and Split might be stereotypical travel plans for tourists, it’s common for a reason! Each town is so unique and packed with its own history and adventures, you have to visit them all. Next time you are making travel plans, move Croatia to the top of your list. It is a can’t miss!
