Split, Croatia

Our second stop on our tour of Croatia was the coastal city of Split. We spent 2 days and 2 nights there which I felt like was a suitable amount of time. 

Getting There

Split is the 2nd largest in Croatia, so you have several options to get there. For us, the easiest thing was to take a ferry ride from Dubrovnik to Split. It took around 4 hours on the ferry to get to Split. What I loved about the ride is how peaceful and scenic it was. There were 3 stops on the ride and when passengers were getting off and on we could go on the outside deck to see the views and get some fresh air. 

Sites

Diocletian’s Palace – Built in the 4th century, the palace was a retirement home for a Roman emperor. It looks more like a fortress than a palace and now contains shops, restaurants and homes inside its walls. It is in the center of Split and one of the must sees of the city.Within it are many important historical sites. I used Rick Steve’s book to take a self guided tour of the Palace.

The Riva – This is a palm tree lined promenade between the Adriatic and Diocletian’s palace. At the very least, take a stroll around the Riva during the late afternoon or evening. It comes alive with tourists and locals. There are plenty of places to have a drink or dinner and watch the sunset along the Adriatic.

The Bell Tower – Inside the palace the bell tower is a great place to get a view of the whole city. I didn’t actually climb it but a couple of my friends did. They said it was a bit scary but worth it.


Beaches – If you want some time to sunbathe Split has plenty of beaches. Private or public they are all beautiful. Many of them have bars so you can sip a cocktail while you relax in the sun. 


Stay 
Like we did for most of our trip, we stayed in an Air BNB in Split. We rented an apartment that was actually within the walls of Diocletian’s Palace. It was the best location for us and I would highly recommend staying in the same area. We were within a short walking distance to restaurants, sites and anything else you’d want to see. 

Eat
Zinfandel – Within the palace walls, this wine bar is a must for dinner. They have a whole list of Croatian wines that we loved trying. Even though you’re in Croatia they have great Italian food and nightly specials.