Split

Split’s undisputed attraction is the remains of Diocletian’s Palace, so proximity to this core attraction is a key selling point for many hotels – it’s worth deciding early in your browsing whether you care about views of the iconic ruin. Sitting minutes away from the remains is the Hotel Marmont, which boasts 21 rooms with at least partial views of the palace. Alternatively, you might want to consider staying within Split’s UNESCO-listed Old Town, which can be a little cheaper and offers plenty of funky boutique accommodation.

While most tourists visit the Old Town’s boutiques and souvenir stall, the best shopping area in Split is the daily market. Found adjacent to ferry wharf, the market is an enjoyable place to browse and buy with plenty of fresh produce for sale alongside clothes, knick-knacks and much more. However, if you’d rather indulge in some mall shopping, City Center One markets itself as the biggest mall in Dalmatia, with stores ranging from Adidas to H&M.

Much of Croatia’s coastline cuisine is heavily influenced by Italian cook and this is certainly felt in Split. It’s easy to find pasta, pizza and risotto as well as a lot of seafood dishes as you want the city streets. If you’re a fish-lover you’ll want to try Nostromo, where you can sample many tradition seafood recipes sourced from the nearby fish market. A more affordable option is the Pizzeria Galija where you can grab one of the best slices in the city. Elsewhere, Buffet Fife is renowned among locals for its delicious Dalmatian home cooking.

As one of the most prominent hubs of the Dalmatian coastline, Split has plenty of unique events and festivals for visitors to enjoy. Here are a few of our favourites:

April: Croatia Boat Show

The world’s best sailors descend upon Split during the annual boat show which showcases some of the most advanced yachts and vessels on the market. Even if you’re not a millionaire on the hunt for the newest addition to their fleet, it’s still fun to attend and see the impressive boats.

June: Festival of Street Performers

A gathering of the buskers and entertainers of Split, the Festival of Street Performers spreads over more than a fortnight with performances and plays held every evening. If you’re visiting the city during this time be sure to check out the squares and streets as most will be filled with actors and musicians.

July: Split Summer Festival

This celebration of stage arts, while primarily dedicated to opera, sees a range of hand-picked performance from the international scene fill the theatres of Split. While the theatres are full jazz concerts, exhibitions and more flood the street, turning the city into one big cultural melting pot.

August: Days of Diocletian

Experience the life of a Roman as the city of Split is transformed during this incredible mass historic re-enactment with many residents swapping their regular clothes out for traditional Roman dress. Travel the streets to find unique examples of Roman cooking as well as many vintage carriages and staged depictions of classical scenes.

September: Split Film Festival

Running since the mid-1990s and now established as a valuable platform for domestic and international filmmakers, Split’s week-long film festival is a must for movie lovers. Radicals in the industry are particularly common – Lars von Trier is a previous guest.