Split, a city not to miss in Croatia

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Lying on the shores of the Adriatic Sea, Split is one of the oldest in the region.

It’s Croatia’s second largest city, and a top tourist destination with a lot to offer.

The hugely impressive Roman Palace of Diocletian, the seaside suburbs, and the great weather!

The city was founded back in Greek times but it was the Romans who really put it on the map.

They built the Diocletian’s Palace from the end of the 3rd century into the 4th century. Today this remains one of the city’s top attractions.

How to get there

Split is easy to get to by road, air, train, and boat, so there are many choices to come to the city.

Arriving on water is always a wonderful way to be introduced to a city.

There are numerous ferry services going back and forth between the port and Italy.

You can also get to and from here to some of Croatia’s beautiful islands such as Brac, and Hvar.

Split Airport is the second or third largest airport in the country.

24 kilometres (15 miles) outside the city and linked by bus, taxi, or rental car.

A majority of flights are seasonal. So if you’re planning to visit outside the summer season you will be quite limited for flight options.

In season though there are many airlines operating with flights from all across Europe.

Croatia Airlines from hubs like London, Amsterdam, and Frankfurt, also Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, and Germanwings are among the other airlines.

Attractions and what to see in Split

The Palace of Diocletian is the main attraction, but there’s many more architectures to see around the city from different periods in the history.

There are museums too if you’re interested in discovering more about the city’s background.

Split is not all about the city-center; There is a lovely forested area on the western tip of the peninsula.

Also a lot of beaches to relax on, right by the city centre as well as out in the suburbs.

Cathedral Saint Duje

Diocletian also had a mausoleum built for himself at the turn of the 3rd century and today this mausoleum still exists as part of the Cathedral of Saint Duje, also known as the cathedral of Saint Domnius.

It’s recognised as the oldest cathedral in the world and as well as the mausoleum section of the church two additions were made in later years – the bell tower in the year 1100, and a chorus in the late 17th century.

Needless to say, if you want to enjoy some fabulous views over the Palace and others parts of Split, you should climb the bell tower!

Marjan

This forested hill is a popular public space where you can get away from the hustle and bustle of the city for a while.

The dense Mediterranean pine forest smells wonderful as you walk along its paths in the summer heat, with canopies providing shade from the warm sun.

If you get to the top of the hill there are great views over the city and the sea, and after a walk you can cool off in the sea from one of the beaches.

If you’re visiting with children be sure to also visit Split Science Museum and Zoo which is on Marjan hill.

It may be one of the smallest zoos in the world but it offers a nice diversion!

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Diocletian Palace and Historic Centre

Right in the heart of the historic centre you find the best known and most visited attraction in the city.

When we think of a palace usually one large building comes to mind, but Diocletian’s Palace is more like a small city in itself, walled from invaders, and made up numerous different buildings. As the name suggests, it was built for the Roman Emperor Diocletian who wanted a safe haven and place to relax in his retirement which was set to begin on May 1, 305 AD.

When the Romans left the palace it was empty for several hundred years until local citizens began to use it as protection against invading barbarians.

Gradually they moved their businesses to inside the palace walls and today restaurants, stores, and even some homes can still be seen here.

Spend several hours wandering around inside the palace walls to really experience this place.

It is still amazingly intact and well preserved considering its age, and unsurprisingly it was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in one of the earliest sessions, in 1979.

Things to do in and around Split

If you want to see tours, sightseeings and more things to see and do in Split; Check it out here

Where to stay in Split ? Hotel-tips here …

5 – 4 star and luxury

There are few ones to choose from in Split.

But if you’re happy to stay in a 4 star hotel your choices suddenly leap up to over 100 different places.

if you do want to enjoy a 5 star service you can take a look at Luxury Apartment Matkovic. It’s only some few steps from the center and Diocletian’s Palace. It also has 9 of 10 score on the guest reviews.

Some 4 star hotels right within the walls and great located to see the city’s major tourist attraction are three very nice hotels you could choose from;

Jupiter Luxury Hotel – Hotel Diocletian, and Palace Augubio.

Both Beach Resort and City

A combination of staying by the beach and a 30 minutes walk from the center can be a great option if you want to stay longer and enjoy the beachlife.

A hot tips and our recommendation is Radison Blue Resort just 2,5 kilometers from the center. Just by the beach and lovely pool and excellent service and facilities