Exploring Split, Croatia: A Timeless Adriatic Gem
- Amy Leggett
- Jun 1
- 8 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
Nestled along Croatia's sun-soaked Dalmation coast, Split is a dazzling fusion of history, current culture, and natural beauty. Whether you are a history buff, a beach lover or just an traveller looking for a unique place to explore, the coastal town of Split offers something unforgettable for everyone.
Why Visit Split?
Split is the second-largest city in Croatia after Zagreb. It is also the one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Europe. What is truly unique about Split is how it seamlessly blends ancient Roman ruins with modern life. The city's Old Town is actually located WITHIN the ruins of the Diocletian's Palace (which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that dates back to the 4th century!). Outside the walls of the Old Town is a sprawling, thriving city and a beautiful coastal seaside community. If you are visiting Croatia, Split should definitely be on the itiinerary! Note that we did not visit any beaches while in Split as it was a bit on the early side of the summer season. However, there are many beaches to explore if you are visiting Split in the warmer months! This blog will highlight some of the amazing (non-beach) things you can see and experience while exploring Split.
Things to Do In Split, Croatia:
Visit Diocletian's Palace: Diocletian's Palace is definitely the superstar attraction in Split, and for good reason! Diocletian's Palace was commissioned by the Emperor Diocletian in 305 AD as a sprawling palace for him to spend his later years. It is one of the best-preserved monuments from the Roman era. Here's the twist, it is not only an historic monument but the palace is still mostly intact and serves as a vibrant part of the city that is alive with shops, cafés and local life. There are actually people living in apartments within the palace. It is clearly the heart of the city of Split and there is so much to see and explore within the palace walls. You could easily spend a whole day wandering the corridors and experiencing the energy of the Old Town.
Walking Through the Palace 
The Palace Rotunda Authentic Dalmation Singers Performing in the Rotunda 
Strolling Through the Corridors of the Palace Where People Still Live Today Take a Tour of the Palace Substructure: It is free to get into the general space of Diocletian's Palace. However, for a fee, you can opt to take a tour of the Palace substructures and learn more about the history of this magical place. For Game of Thrones fans, you can visit the substructure area that was used as a location for Daenerys' Throne Room and where she housed her dragons.
Entrance to the Diocletian's Palace Substructure 
The GOT Dragon Room and Diocletian's Palace Substructure 
Under Diocletian's Palace Visit the Cathedral of Saint Domnius: The Cathedral of Saint Domnius in Split is the oldest Catholic cathedral in Europe that is still in use in its original structure. Built between 295 and 305 AD, it was orginally designed as a mausoleum for the Emperor Diocletian who was subsequently interred there. However, as the Emperor was the last famous persecuter of Christians, when the Roman Empire fell and the Christians took over the space they destroyed the Emperor's sarcophagus. Not only that, the Christians turned the Emperor's tomb into a church and named a Christian persecuted by the Emperor as its' patron saint. The Cathedral still has regular masses and serves as the center of the city's spiritual life.
You can purchase a ticket for entry into the Cathedral which gives you admission into the Cathedral's interior including the crypt, treasury and baptistry. You can also climb the stairs of the iconic bell tower for panoramic views of the town of Split. We didn't go into the church, but visited the square in front of the Cathedral for views of the beautiful Cathedral, the soaring bell tower and the historic sphinx guarding the entrance. Apparently the sphinx was brought over from Egypt for Emperor Diocletian and is over 4000 years old! When visiting the square keep your eyes open for Roman soldiers wandering around the square (if you give them a few Euro's you can snap a pic with them).
Square in Front of the Cathedral (Peep the Roman Soldiers Amongst the Crowd!) 
The Iconic Cathedral Bell Tower 
The Black Sphinx Guarding the Cathedral 
Another View of the Iconic Bell Tower from the Palace Rooftop Grab a Bite or a Drink in People's Square: People's Square (Narodni Trg), referred to by the locals as Pjaca, is the center of Split's city life. It is where history, culture and Croatian daily life come together to create a vibrant urban space that you have to check out! We stopped by for a mid-afternoon refresher and came back after dark to experience the electric night life. The square is surrounded by quaint shops and lovely sidewalk cafés so you will have no shortage of options for how to spend your time. We were lucky because when we were there Split was celebrating the annual Feast of Saint Domnius and there were various live performances being held in the square. It was great to get the chance to experience popular Croatian performers doing their thing.
Bustling People's Square Lucked Out and Got to Experience Live Croatian Music on People's Square 
Stopping for a Mid-Afternoon Cocktail on People's Square Walk the Riva Promenade: No visit to Split would be complete without a stroll along the Riva Promennade stretched out along the gorgeous Adriatic Sea. The Promenade is lined with historic architecture, palm trees swaying in the sea breeze, and bustling sidewalk cafés perfect for people watching and taking in the beautiful views.
The Hustle and Bustle of the Riva Promendade 
Split Harbor Check Out the Golden Gate and the Gregory of Nin Statue: The Golden Gate is the main entrance into the Diocletian's Palace. But don't expect to see anything gold when you arrive! The name of the gate has nothing to do with the materials it is made of, rather the name reflects the size and importance of the gate. There were four gates into the palace all named after metals-Gold, Silver, Iron and Bronze. The Golden Gate was designed to be the most representative gate of the Palace. It used to be elaborately decorated so that when an ancient visitor approached the Golden Gate, they would know that they were entering the residence of one of the most important people in the Roman Empire.
The Golden Gate Into Diocletian's Palace
Right outside of the Golden Gate is a huge statue that looks straight out of Harry Potter. It is not a statue of a wizard, rather a statue commemorating Gregory of Nin, a 10th century bishop of Nin, Croatia. Gregory is remembered for defying the Catholic church in 926 and for advocating for the use of the local Croatia language in religious services. When you visit the statue you will notice that his big toe is really shiny. That is because it is a common tradition of locals and tourists to rub his toe for good luck. I don't know if its' true, but we rubbed his toe just in case!
Visit the Pazar Green Market: The Pazar Green Market is a big open air market located right outside the Diocletian's Palace Silver Gate. All the fruits and vegetables are grown by local farmers. It is a colorful feast for the eyes! In addition to fruits and vegetables, some vendors also sell other commodoties and trinkets. It is a great way to get a feel for the local vibe as it is where the locals go to buy their produce. The market is open from 7 am to 2 pm (and rumor is prices go down after noon).
A Colorful Feast for the Eyes Grab a Bite to Eat: There are so many options to choose from when trying to decide where to stop and grab a bite to eat. The first decision is what atmoshpere you are looking for. You can sit at a table right on Riva Promenade and enjoy the view of the harbor or people watch as you dine. Another option mentioned above is to eat at one of the seveal spots located right on People's Square. The energy is high and there is always something going on in the Square. When we stopped for an afternoon drink, there were live performances taking place on the Square to provide entertainment while we took a break. If you want something a little more quiet, you can wander through many of the corridors inside Diocletian's Palace and find numerous places to eat.
We ended up eating dinner at an amazing place that my daughter Madison found while searching for gluten free options. Both of my daughters have Celiac Disease so we always have to do research when deciding where to eat. Fortunately Madison's research led us to Bokeria Kitchen and Wine, a delightful wine bar that is just steps from the Palace. Our dinner at Bokeria was one of my favorite meals of our trip! As soon as you enter you feel the vibrant energy that fills the space. Rumor is the owners wanted to capture the feel of the iconic Mercado de la Boqueria in Barcelona (hence the name) and I can confirm they succeeded. From the wreaths of garlic and proscuitto hanging aroound the restaurant to the colorfully mosaic-tiled bar, you definitely get that Spanish vibe. They have added a touch of luxury to the market-vibe with a grand crystal chandelier and artwork around the space. We were seated on the second level near the balcony that looked down onto the bustling first level.
Despite the Spanish feeling decor, Bokeria focuses on Croation dishes and local wines. One aspect I especially loved is the knowledgeable waiter who suggested local Croatian wines to pair with our menu selections based on our personal wine preferences. Our meals were delicious! I had a truffle and mascarpone cream pasta while my girls, who are more adventurous eaters than me, tried traditional Croatian dishes of Oxtail Risotto and Black Ink Risotto (it is black from squid ink!). I did have a taste of the Black Ink Risotto (you know, when in Rome...) and it actually was good! We also really enjoyed our Croatian wine selections that perfectly paired with our dishes.
Make Sure To Go Back to Diocletian's Palace and People's Square At Night: I highly recommend a return visit to the areas around Diocletian's Palace and People's Square at night. There is a whole different vibe and the views of the buildings lit up at night are amazing. If you are looking for night life activities, this is where you will want to be.
Saint Domnius Bell Tower at Night 
The Illuminated Palace Rotunda 
Night Time Photo Ops
Conclusion:
If you are planning a trip to Croatia, you need to include at least a couple of days in Split. Having the Old Town mostly contained within the Palace walls is a unique aspect and creates a feeling that you are travelling back in history. The people are friendly, the food and wine are delicious and the whole experience is just unforgettable!
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