Exploring Split’s Old Town: Your Guide to Croatia’s Roman City (2024)

Split’s Old Town is a place where history and modernity blend seamlessly. It’s an amazing mix of ancient ruins, medieval churches, and modern homes, cafes and restaurants.

It’s easy to see why people describe Split as an open-air museum. Every street and building tells a story of diverse cultural influences — from its Greek beginnings to the Roman, Byzantine, Venetian, Ottoman, and modern eras that followed.

The city’s Adriatic Sea port was first established by the ancient Greeks who built a settlement there.

Every corner of the Old Town tells a unique story, from the Roman remains of Diocletian’s palace to the towering bell tower of St. Domnius Cathedral.

Modern-day Split is a vibrant and lively place, full of energy and excitement. I love to take a walk at sunset along the beautiful modern waterfront which runs alongside the ancient city walls.

It’s a beautiful city that I’d happily spend more time in.

Top Sights In Split

Thanks to its long and varied history, Split has a wealth of stunning sights, historic buildings, and architectural features.

Most of these are located inside the Old Town, a winding maze of cobblestone streets and tiny alleyways nursing with history and culture. 

Everywhere you look, you’ll find stunningly well-preserved Roman and medieval architecture.

It’s hard not to be impressed by this place, even if you’re not usually interested in ancient history or architecture.

I recommend coming either early in the morning or in the evening.  At these times, it’ll be less crowded, with the light at its best.

The following places are some of the highlights.  Aside from the cathedral, all are free to visit. 🙂

1. Diocletian’s Palace

The most famous attraction in Split is Diocletian’s Palace. 

Part luxury residence, part fortified military garrison, this vast palace complex was built in the 3rd and 4th centuries AD for the Roman Emperor Diocletian.  (Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus, to his friends.)

Diocletian’s Palace is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the complex contains some of the best-preserved Roman architecture in the world.  

The remains of over 200 Roman buildings are still standing today.

Some buildings are so well preserved, it’s hard to believe they were built over 1,700 years ago.

Much of Split’s Old Town grew organically out of the Roman palace.  After the Romans left, subsequent inhabitants developed and extended the existing buildings.

The result is an intricate patchwork that spans from ancient to modern.  Today, thousands of people live in and around this amazing place. 

Far from being a dusty old archaeological site, the ancient ruins are woven into a living, breathing modern city.

Whilst you could see many of the most notable areas of the palace in a couple of hours, I recommend taking your time.  

Explore the tiny backstreets and dead-end alleyways.  Keep your eyes and ears open.  Some of the most magical corners of this ancient city are hidden away, waiting for you to discover.

2. The Peristyle (Peristil)

The Peristyle is the central courtyard of Diocletian’s Palace and is where the Emperor would meet his subjects. 

Today, it’s still a popular meeting point at the heart of the city and is one of the most beautiful places in Split.

In the summer, the Peristyle hosts outdoor concerts, theatre, opera performances, and other public events. 

It’s a fantastic venue, lined with elaborately carved Roman columns and arches that are just as impressive today as when they were first built.

On the west side of the Peristyle is the Temple of Jupiter, built in honour of the king of the Roman gods. 

Guarding this temple lies a black granite sphinx, carved around 1500 BC, which Diocletian brought back from Egypt.

This is one of the most vibrant, alive UNESCO World Heritage Sites that I have ever visited.  I was blown away by how such an ancient place has remained at the heart of daily life here for almost 2,000 years.

3. The Vestibule

The Vestibule was the grand entrance to Diocletian’s personal chambers.  This circular room has an amazing domed ceiling and excellent acoustics.  

Today, the Vestibule often hosts performances of klapa (traditional Croatian folk singing).

4. Diocletian’s Cellars (Podrumi)

Underneath the Palace is an enormous network of vaulted cellars and hallways that were once used for storing wine, food, and other goods.

Parts of this basement complex are open to the public and house a museum, art exhibitions, and souvenir shops.

You can explore the central passageway, which connects the Peristyle to the Riva Promenade and the sea, free of charge.

5. Saint Domnius Cathedral (Sveti Duje)

Consecrated in the 7th century, Saint Domnius Cathedral is the oldest Catholic cathedral in the world.  Located next to the Peristyle, it’s an important landmark in the centre of Split.

Parts of the building itself predate its use as a church. 

The oldest section was built to house Roman Emperor Diocletian’s mausoleum at the end of the 3rd century. The cathedral’s wooden doors date back to the 1200s.

Saint Domnius Cathedral’s beautifully ornate bell tower is a later addition, built in the 12th century, and is an iconic feature of Split’s skyline.

Those who choose to climb to the top are rewarded with the most spectacular views over Split, the surrounding mountains and the sparkling Adriatic coastline.

6. Split Old Town Walls

Large sections of the original ancient Split city walls remain intact to this day.  

25 metres tall and two metres thick, these impressive walls have protected Split from countless enemy attacks over almost two millennia.

Each of the four main walls has a gate.  These guard the entrance to the city and are each named after metals:  Golden, Silver, Bronze, and Iron. 

7. People’s Square (Narodni Trg / Pjaca)

People’s Square (known affectionately as Pjaca) has long been a meeting place for the people of Split.

In the square itself, and the narrow side streets and alleyways leading into it, you’ll find many trendy shops, cafes, bars and restaurants.

A beautiful old clock with a gothic bell tower faces into the square and marks the edge of the Old Town.

This is another favourite place for outdoor concerts and other live entertainment.  Surrounded by intricate and varied architecture, it’s a pleasant place to linger.

8. Riva Promenade

The Riva Promenade is a beautiful walkway running between Diocletian’s Palace and the harbour.

Lined with palm trees, restaurants and cafes, it’s the perfect place to take a stroll, or simply relax.

You can browse the quirky shops by day, or just sit and watch the world go by (called fjaka, pronounced “fee-ah-ka”, in Croatian).

At the end of the day, grab a drink and watch a perfect sunset over the Adriatic Sea.  You’re welcome.

Easy Day Trips From Split

There’s more than enough to see in the Old City of Split itself to warrant spending at least a couple of days here.  If you have more time, there are several other places nearby which are easy to visit.

Salona and Klis Fortress are two of the best. These can even be combined into one (fairly full) day trip if you fancy it.

(Hiring a car makes this more straightforward, and gives you increased flexibility with timings, although both sites are easily accessible by bus from Split.)

Salona

Not all of Split’s Roman ruins are located in the city centre.

About 8 kilometres from modern-day Split, Salona was the ancient capital of the Roman province of Dalmatia.

The remains of this ancient city make up the largest archaeological site on the Adriatic coast and one of the most significant in Europe.

The highlight in my opinion is the Salona Amphitheatre. 

Built in the 2nd century, this giant arena could accommodate 18,000 spectators, who would come here to watch gladiators fight to the death.

The vast structure was destroyed in the 17th century by the Venetians, who feared that the Ottomans might try to set up a fortress here. 

However, the ruins that remain are still pretty impressive.

Klis Fortress

While Croatia’s Roman ruins are (rightfully) celebrated and famous, there are many other equally impressive historical sites located throughout the country.

Klis Fortress is an amazing medieval castle perched at the top of a steep hill in the mountains above Split.

The castle played an essential role in defending the region against enemy attacks for hundreds of years.  It was the scene of countless sieges and battles during its long history.

Perhaps most significantly, Klis Fortress was a pivotal location during the Ottoman invasion of Europe in the 1500s.

From the walls of Klis Fortress, the views out over the surrounding area are incredible.  You can see clearly all the way to the coast and out to sea.

Fans of the Game of Thrones series will also recognise Klis Fortress as the filming location for Meereen, a city which Daenerys liberates from the Slavers.

Check out the official website of Klis Fortress for further info, including opening times and ticket prices.

How To Get To Split, Croatia

Several airlines fly to Split from many other European cities.  If coming from the UK, you can fly directly with EasyJet, British Airways, Wizz Air, or Jet2.

Split Airport is a 30-minute drive from the Old Town.  

The easiest way to get from the airport to the city centre is to use a ride-hailing service like Uber or Bolt, although you can also take the bus if you prefer. Public transport is good (and cheap) in Croatia.

I use – and recommend – Aviasales to find the best deals on flights.  Their search engine is really easy to use and often picks up on promotions and discounted fares that are missed by other comparison sites.

Accommodation In Split

There are many excellent places to stay in Split, with something to suit all budgets and preferences.

You’ll find many Airbnb properties in and around the Old Town. Most of these are high quality and relatively affordable. Prices tend to fall the further out from the centre you go.

If you’d prefer to stay in a hotel, Booking.com is a good place to look for deals.

Car Hire in Split

If you’d like to see more of Croatia, hiring a car is easy and affordable.  Croatian roads are, generally, in very good condition and the driving is easy.

For deals on car hire in Croatia, check out either rentalcars.com or discovercars.com.

I often find that Discover Cars finds the cheapest and best deals. They have more than 500 partners in 145 countries and a helpful app that you can use to compare prices and book your car.

Most countries’ driving licences are recognised in Croatia.  If you’re coming from the UK, you can drive with your UK driving licence, without the need for an International Driving Permit (IDP). 

Car hire companies may impose their own requirements, so it’s always best to check with them before arriving if you need to hire a car.

Split Tours

Split (and Croatia more generally) is a very easy and safe destination to explore independently. 

However, if you would prefer a guided tour to see the highlights, there are many excellent companies to choose from.

These include walking tours, food tours, and even tours of the major filming locations from Game of Thrones! This is one of the best (and best value) group walking tours of Split.

Why Visit Split?

Split’s city centre is compact and mostly pedestrianised, making it a perfect place to explore on foot. It’s easy to see why this is one of the most popular destinations in Croatia.  

The whole place is extremely atmospheric, despite the increasingly large number of tourists who flock here during the high season.

Split is also a fantastic place to base yourself when exploring some of Croatia’s beautiful islands, including Hvar and the Pakleni Islands.  

This section of the Dalmatian Coast is becoming increasingly popular with holidaymakers from all over Europe and beyond. You’ll find many boutique hotels in Hvar and the other islands.

It’s also one of my favourite places in Europe to go sailing. This gives a totally different perspective on the Dalmatian Coast’s historical richness and stunning landscapes.

(FYI – If you’re interested in learning more about how to organise a sailing trip on the Dalmatian Coast, or eager to explore beyond Split and experience more of the region’s captivating allure, Dubrovnik cruises from Sail Croatia is a good option.)

* Want to see some more of Croatia?  Check out this excellent Croatia road trip itinerary over on PlacesOfJuma. *

** Or take a day trip to Mostar in neighbouring Bosnia and Herzegovina. **

Do You Need A Visa To Visit Croatia?

NOTE: Croatia joined the Schengen Area (and the Eurozone) on 1 January 2023.

If you require a Schengen visa, I recommend iVisa.com.  Their online visa processing service is quick, secure, and easy to use.

FAQs About Visiting Split

Here are answers to some commonly asked questions to help you plan your trip to Split.

Final Thoughts

Have you ever been to Split?  What did you think?  I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

I’m sure you’ll enjoy your time in Split, it’s a wonderful city. I hope this guide has helped you decide what to see and do there.

If you’re looking for other alternative city break destinations, check out some of my posts on:

• Tallinn, Estonia
• Naples, Italy
• Riga, Latvia
• Tel Aviv, Israel 
• Kolkata, India
• Almaty, Kazakhstan (& Day Trips from Almaty)

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