With 2,800 hours of good weather a year, and white sun-bleached buildings tumbling down to the Adriatic coast, Split certainly earns its nickname of “the most beautiful city in the world”. Explore the bars and restaurants of the old town (a UNESCO designated World Heritage Site) and relax with the locals in the sunshine. A perfect place for a city break.
Whatever your interests, Croatia’s largest coastal city has plenty to explore during a holiday.
Split is the largest Dalmatian city and a major transportation hub with a huge port which sends ferries out to the Dalmatian islands and beyond. Although Split is one of the largest cities in Croatia, the centre itself is remarkably compact. An apartment in the centre of the city will mean that all attractions can easily be visited on foot without needing to take public transport. Despite the ancient centre having a holiday town feel, Split actually covers a much larger area and staying on the outskirts or in one of the smaller towns scattered down the coast also has its advantages, one of the main ones being quieter beaches - those within walking distance of the town, such as Bačvice, can get extremely busy at popular times of the week. The Dalmatian coast is one of the most beautiful in Europe, so exploring outside the city is a worthwhile exercise.
Built around the remains of the Roman Diocletian’s Palace, the entirety of Split’s old town has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can walk around it for free, enjoying the well-preserved ruins and remains of the Roman roads, or you can pay to visit the excavations. While exploring the palace, make sure to step into St Domnius Cathedral - you can climb to the top of the bell tower for incredible views over the city. If you are interested in the city’s Roman past, head to the Archaeological Museum which is packed with artefacts from this time period. For visitors who want to get out of the city for the day, there are some great options such as Klis Fortress is just 10km from Split, a medieval fortress which recently found fame as a film location in the hit TV series Game of Thrones, and the island of Hvar, a short boat trip from Split itself, and a charming and attractive place to spend the day.
Don’t leave Split without having tried Soparnik, a Dalmatian speciality of dough filled with spinach and other vegetables, and covered in olive oil and garlic. If that sounds a little like Greek or Turkish food, you’ll also be surprised by the Italian influences on Croatian cookery - risotto with scampi and calamari is a firm favourite, made with zingy ingredients and delicious seafood, fresh from the Adriatic. Split is justifiably famous for its fresh fish, and good seafood restaurants abound - and make sure you try a bottle of world-renowned Dalmatian wine with your meal. In the evening, head down to Bačvice, the main city-centre beach, which is the main strip for bars and clubs, and packed throughout the week. Do as the locals do, and enjoy some drinks in the sun, soaking in the atmosphere by the blue waters of the Adriatic Sea.
You can fly into Split Airport from most major cities in Europe, and catch an airport bus directly into the city centre. As well as trains and buses, you can also approach Split by boat, direct from Ancona and Pescara in Italy. The city itself is easy to navigate on foot, especially if your apartment is in the centre of Split. It is also a pleasant city for cycling, and there are various bike rental shops in the city. Day trips such as to the fortress at Klis, or the ancient Roman colony of Salona, are perfectly doable by bicycle, although there are also buses running along the coast to the main points of interest to tourists. Take advantage of the coastal location and take one of the many boat trips available or head to Zadar just two hours away. However you choose to explore, we know you’ll fall in love with this fascinating city!
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