Have you ever - been to Split, Croatia

Split is the capital of central Dalmatia, located centrally in Croatia. It is the second largest city in Croatia and one of the busiest transport hub with many arriving as a stopover to Zagreb or Dubrovnik or a transit point for those heading to neighbouring islands, Hvar and Brac by ferry. I decided to spend some time in Split before leaving to Hvar island to discover what this city has to offer. I found that Split is more than just a transport hub but a vibrant town that is rich in culture with beautiful architecture. The vibe surrounding the town is very relaxing and laid-back unlike other major European cities with lots of hustle and bustle. It can easily keep you busy here for a couple of days at least.

The Old Town

Let's start from the old town. The Old Town is where most tourists gather to explore the history and culture in Split. Diocletian Palace that was built centuries ago, survived the test of time and still standing at the heart of the town. It is one of the well-preserved Roman ruins and most of you might recognise it from Game of Thrones. There are 4 gates entrance to the palace: Golden Gate, Silver Gate, Iron Gate and Brass Gate. If you are entering from Brass Gate, there are plenty of souvenir shops for you to browse. Few steps into the palace, you will come across this circular ground plan (Vestibul) with good acoustics which used to be the entrance of the residential part of the palace. Here you can also find the Cathedral of St. Domnius and St. Deju Cathedral at the courtyard (Peristil), another symbols of roman history in Split. If you are in good shape, climb up to the top of the bell tower of the cathedral to soak in some spectacular view of Split. They are basically within a stone's throw distance of each other.

There are pedestrian-only streets around with plenty of shops and restaurants where you can spend a good afternoon or evening stroll around on your own by foot or bike. You can sign up for a Diocletian's palace walking tour that is available throughout the day if you are keen in fully exploring this historical city. The narrow streets will often lead you to different squares like People Square and Fruit Square where surprises and little treasures await at every corner.

Old Town

The Silver Gate

The Brass Gate

Diocletian's Palace

Vestibul

Cathedral of St Domnius

The Riva Waterfront

The Riva is a public space lined with restaurants, bars, cafes and shops and this is where the land meets the sea. There isn't a particular time to visit the Riva because this is the venue for many kinds of social events in Split throughout the day. Everything happens here from concert to street performances. The walkway is also a green area filled with palm trees and benches where tourists tend to just sit there and people-watch. The harbour view of sunrise and sunset makes it a perfect place to start and end your day here. 

Riva

Riva

Sunset by Riva

The Beach

There are plenty of beaches in Split that stretch one after another from east to west. The most popular one is Bacvice Beach which is the nearest sandy beach from the city centre (about 10 minutes walk). It can get very crowded here especially when it is hot and sticky during summer. Bacvice beach is popular among the youngsters because there are often beach discos and festivals taking place here. Even on normal days without the party, the youth tourists would also have their mini beach party here to keep the vibe high. Hence, If you just want to relax by the beach, you might want to opt for another beach. There are pebbled beach like Trstenik beach and Znjan beach, and some resort beaches like Radisson blue if you are looking for some privacy, but all continue to stretch from Bacvice Beach along the coast. There are also some beautiful beaches at neighbouring islands such as Zlatni Rat Beach at Brac if you don't mind the distance and the hassles of travelling (about 1.5 hours by ferry).

Bacvice Beach 

Bacvice Beach

And if you still think that Split is just a stopover, perhaps you might want to think again.