Croatia’s second largest city offers vibrancy amidst history

Split was originally settled by the Greeks - but there is little left of that first colony. Later, it became home to the Palace of the Roman Emperor Diocletian - and after the destruction of the Roman capital Salona, Split became the the re-settling point for many of those Roman refugees. While it passed many hands since - Byzantine, Venetian, French, Austrian-Hungarian, and Croatian - the city’s Old Town primarily feels Roman in origin.

The core attractions of Split are small and can be seen in a day trip - but most travelers choose to stay longer. As Croatia’s second largest city, Split offers a vibrant local economy full of bars and restaurants - and can serve as a comfortable base for day trips.

TAKE IN the OLD city

While most of Old City Split is beautiful, the core attractions are concentrated on the east side. I recommend by starting in Diocletian’s Cellar, which now houses vendors, and walking up to Peristil Square - which is home to both Diocletian’s Palace and Saint Dominic’s Cathedral. In that short walk, you’ll have seen the most remarkable sights of the Old City - but I recommend exploring west through the narrow streets and checking out People’s Square - a sophisticated square that dates to Split’s Venetian era.

CLIMB MARJAN HILL

To the west of Old City, Marjan Hill offers a small nature walk with beautiful views of both Split and the Adriatic Sea. While it’s not the most beautiful seaside view on the Croatian coast, it’s a nice way to spend a few hours and to escape the busyness of the city.

OTHER THINGS TO DO

If you’ve finished exploring Old City and climbed Marjan Hill, here are some other common to-dos:

• Relax at the Beach: East of Old City, Firule Beach offers a calm place to relax and has beautiful sunsets.

• Take a Day Trip: If you’re based in Split for multiple days, it makes for a good base for day trips. You can take a bus or ferry to the medieval island town Trogir, take a bus just north of the city to the Roman ruins of Salona, head to the ancient Klis Fortress (which was the Game of Thrones filming location for Meereen), or take a bus to Krka National Park (the waterfall park located close to Sibenik).

• Shop at a Market: Just east of Old City, you’ll find a market with both produce and clothing. I’ll remember the market best for an older woman who weighed out her produce with an antique balance scale using metal weights. It was a charming step back in time.

The public transportation for day trips in Croatia is often lacking - so if you’ve got your eyes set on any given day trip, I’d try to check feasibility within your budget before heading to Split. Private and group tours are readily available for pretty much any location - but you should expect to spend at least $50 for each per person.