Split: crowd and history
As the second-largest city in Croatia, Split is a nice sea destination, also for its proximity to the most beautiful islands in Croatia.
Split owes its popularity in part also to the infamous HBO’s series “Game of Thrones“. For those who know it, this is where Daenerys Targaryen keeps her three dragons and where they are then locked up, for the danger they pose to the inhabitants. For those of you who don’t know Game of Thrones… go watch it now!
Split is famous for the Diocletian’s Palace: its walls, it coincides with the original core of the historic city of Split. For those of you wondering, it is not a “closed” monument you can visit only during certain hours. It actually includes a vast area of the old city and is comprised of several buildings; these all together create the Palace. So, you should enter from the Bronze Gate or “southern gate” and explore the surrounding area, the cellars (today lined with souvenir stalls), the peristyle, the Cathedral of San Doimo, the Jupiter’s Temple.
The most crowded area of the city is the promenade. During the day is where all stands are to sell to customers great excursions to the islands. At night, it is full of people looking for a place to eat. And even though there are dozens of restaurants, they are not enough for all the tourists arriving in Split in the summertime.
Where to sleep in Split
First of all: if you choose accommodation within the Diocletian’s walls, don’t try to find it on your own. It is quite impossible! There are so many alleys and small streets that Google Maps doesn’t know either! The best thing to do is to meet your host at popular venues and then walk together to the apartment.
Luxury Apartment Fortuna 2
When we eventually reached Luxury Apartment Fortuna 2, this was a good surprise. The facade of the building and the stairs as well are not very nice or welcoming. But the apartment was super new, furnished with taste and design, and very spacious. Apart from the initial difficulties in reaching it, the location was great to visit the city. And don’t think these alleys are lonely: there is plenty of pubs, bars, and restaurants all over.
Where to eat in Split
If you are visiting Split in the summertime, be sure you reserve your tables for dinner. Certainly, the city hosts hundreds of good options, but if you are looking for something good to eat, nice to look, and not too pricey, you should reserve your seats 2 days in advance.
Konoba Matejuska
On the first evening, we opted for Konoba Matejuska. We had dinner outside – the weather was perfect – and enjoyed some very good fish for the appetizer and main course. The staff was very careful and kind. Highly recommended.
On the second night, we forgot to reserve a table… As a result, after 30 min wandering to find a restaurant with a free table, good online reviews, and a nice location, we ended up at Brasserie on 7. A nice location for those who love flowers, where the food was good enough, but not excellent.
My opinion about Split
Split is a nice spot you shouldn’t miss when planning your trip to Croatia. It is also very convenient to discover the surrounding islands if you don’t want to stay on the islands overnight. There are a lot of boat tours departing from the promenade, you only have to choose the one you prefer. We decided to do ours with Summer Blues. Check out the whole day here!
Check the whole 2-week Croatia itinerary to discover other beautiful spots of this European gem.
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