A Week in Split, Croatia

Croatia has become a major tourist destination over the past few decades. One of the ideal areas to base yourself for exploring Croatia is the city of Split. I spent a vacation here this past August and will share the highlights of what to see if you have a week in Split, Croatia!

Located in southeast Europe, the country of Croatia features low mountains and highlands near the Adriatic coastline. It borders Slovenia to the northwest, Hungary to the northeast, Serbia to the east, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro to the southeast.

I have been lucky enough to visit Croatia three times before. My previous visits were on island hopping trips where we slept on a boat that toured different islands. We would bike on different islands each day. If you would like to know more about Croatia island-hopping tours, check out my blog post about my last Croatia Islandhopping Trip or my Youtube video on my first Croatian Islandhopping Trip.

For this time to Croatia with my girlfriend, we chose to base ourselves in Split and venture to the surrounding areas. There is a convenient international airport just a 30-minute drive from the town of Split. There are tons of things to see and do near Split. One week was the perfect amount of time for a fun-filled vacation to explore and discover!

Riva Promenade

A highlight in Split is the picturesque harbor promenade, called the Riva. The area got its present appearance more than 200 years ago when Napoleon ruled over the region. This vibrant promenade is lined with palm trees and many restaurants. Skip the crowded tourist restaurants and try to find smaller places in the back streets.

Diocletian’s Palace

No visit to Split is complete without walking through the UNESCO historical site (since 1979) of Diocletian’s Palace. Emperor Diocletian built the Roman palace in 305AD as a residential villa for his retirement.

It doesn’t cost anything to visit the place but you will need to purchase a ticket to visit the excavated remains of the basement. We didn’t choose this option as it was amazing enough to see the ruins of 200+ buildings and walk through the narrow stoned alleys.

However, don’t miss visiting the statue of Gregory of Nin, about 8 meters high and located in front of the Golden Gate of the palace area. This statue created by the most famous Croatian sculptor, Ivan Meštrović was made as early as 1929. Gregor of Nin, better known as Grgur Ninski, was once a bishop and a defender of the Croatian national language. Today he is considered a kind of patron saint of the city. Legend has it that touching the statue’s big left toe brings good luck.

Kasjuni Beach

One of the prettiest beaches close to Split is Kasjuni. We walked from town to explore the southern coastline along Marjan Forest Park. Instead of walking, you can take a taxi or the bus, which we did for our return back to town.

Kasjuni Beach is one of the nicest beaches in this area. After walking down a hill from the main road, we found this tucked-away beach with many canopy beds. It was crowded (especially since it was a Sunday and maybe locals were there), but we did manage to get a table at the beachside restaurant called Joe’s Beach Lounge and Bar. We chose not to go in the water but enjoyed visiting this popular beach.

When we returned to Split, we walked along the other coast to see more beaches but we were not impressed. The sandy beaches on this side of the town appeared dirtier and were overcrowded.

Supetar on Brac Island

Split is located near several islands which provide a unique experience of Croatia. You can easily take a day trip to these nearby islands, known for their beautiful beaches, crystal-clear waters, and charming villages.

We took the local ferry from the Split harbor to discover the village of Supetar on Brac Island. The town was very small and could be walked within 15 minutes. After walking around the center, we searched for an out-of-the-way restaurant to have lunch.

In addition, we wanted to go in the water at the nearby beach after lunch. The view from Supetar looking back onto the mainland was gorgeous. The trip is probably the quickest one from Split (50-minute ferry ride) to get you away from the city crowds. We couldn’t believe the number of tourists in Split during the first week of August. Be warned if you go there at this time of the year. Getting away to the islands helped us avoid all the people.

Trogir

I had been to Trogir on two different occasions but wanted to show this quaint coastal town to my friend. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Trogir is a popular destination from Split and only 28 kilometers away. We took the local bus which took an hour with all the stops. You can’t beat the bus price though at approximately 10 euros roundtrip.

A new experience for me this time in Trogir was to pay 5 euros to climb the steep steps to the top of the Kamerlengo Castle. This fortress was built by Venetians in the mid-15th century and was once connected to the city walls. It’s just an empty shell inside, but you can walk around the walls at the top for an impressive 360-degree panoramic view.

After having a nice lunch on the busy promenade, we walked through the old town and found a nearby beach for a drink. I wouldn’t recommend Trogir for beaches, but it’s definitely a beautiful town to visit.

Fortress of Klis

I had heard about this fortress being the location of filming for the show ‘Game of Thrones‘. As the location was only 14 km from Split, I ventured off one day by public bus to visit this castle. Klis Fortress is one of the largest of its kind in Dalmatia and a must-see for Game of Thrones fans. Over 2000 years old, this medieval fortress served as an important defense spot in Dalmatia. It was the seat of many Croatian kings and dukes, from the 9th century.

Be warned that the bus stop to reach the castle is not clearly indicated. I missed the stop and had to take a return bus from the middle of nowhere. One thing I noticed about the public buses in Croatia is that the drivers don’t speak much English. It makes it difficult to ask questions, but I resorted to asking some of the younger passengers for help.

Once I finally arrived at the fortress (after walking 15 minutes uphill from the bus stop), I paid 10 euros to enter the castle area. You could walk freely around the entire property which offered breathtaking views of Split and the surrounding islands. However, you will need good walking shoes to climb the many steps and enjoy the different viewpoints.

Stari Grad on Hvar Island

The day trip to Stari Grad was probably our favorite excursion of the week. The ferry ride itself from Split to Hvar Island was beautiful. Unlike the ferry we took to Supetar, this ferry was much bigger and didn’t offer shaded sitting areas. Nonetheless, we stayed on the top level to admire the landscape during the 1.5-hour ride.

We walked from the ferry dock to the town of Stari Grad, an easy 30-minute stroll by the water and among scenic forest trees. The area was very peaceful and shady. We came across two young boys selling local-grown figs. My friend bought five figs for only one euro.

The town is very colorful with many small boats in the harbor. As the ferries can’t enter this narrow peninsula, the ambiance is more intimate than other island ports.

Upon arriving in the town, we found a cute restaurant next to the harbor for lunch. I ordered the local specialty called Pašticada, which is a braised beef dish cooked in a fragrant sweet and sour sauce.

After lunch, we meandered through the center of town along the narrow cobblestone streets. You will come across a small square with the town church. Stari Grad had a very laid-back, calm feel about it.

On our way back to the ferry, we stopped off at Lanterna Beach. There were several spots where you could sit by the water and go for a refreshing swim. Because we found the area to be so peaceful, we decided to stay longer and take the later ferry back to Split. Eventually, that was a good decision as we were able to have a sunset cruise.

Omis

Another highlight of our week in Split Croatia was a day trip to the mainland town of Omis. We took a one-hour bus ride (25 kilometers from Split) to reach this fascinating historic town.

Omis is located at the mouth of the Centina Gorge and has a fortress sitting above the old town. If you have time, they offer river raft trips down the Centina River. I actually did the Centina white water raft excursion on a previous trip to Croatia.

While walking through the old town, I found the steps that led to the fortress. You can walk up to a high point before having to pay to go to the fortress lookout. The views were stunning!

After lunch, we walked further down the main road to find a nice beach for swimming. I loved the trees hanging over the beach which offer shade on a hot sunny day. All of the beaches we went to in Croatia were free. We found the water to be the clearest on the islands, but in general, the water is clean everywhere you go.

Summary

In summary, you will see encircled on the below map the places I went to during the week. I strongly encourage you to venture away from Split to explore this general area of Croatia. I am sure you will love it as much as I did! If you need any additional information about spending one week in Split Croatia, please reach out to me!

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