Unique Things To Do In Split, Croatia

An Overview of Split

Now one of the most popular resort towns of Croatia, Split is enormously famous for its exquisitely-preserved Roman ruins, specifically the amazing Diocletian’s Palace.  The outer bays are perfect for swimming through the day and beach trails follow the shoreline to gaze at the shallow sea. With many fresh seafood markets, a bustling waterfront and beautiful beaches, there are many unique things to do in Split, Croatia.

Unique Things To Do In Split

Diocletian’s Palace

Diocletian was a remarkable Roman emperor who’s policies and military efforts stabilized Rome’s boarders, restored the empire and effectively ended the Crisis of the Third Century. Then, the uncommon leader retired to the town of shores of Croatia where he constructed a massive fortress stocked with a military garrison and adjacent buildings. Now, Diocletian’s Palace makes up the core of Split’s Old Town area. The complex has many rooms and access to other parts of the Old Town, as well as market stalls. The palace has various additional features, including hidden cellers, a Temple of Jupiter, the Saint Domnius Cathedral, and the People’s Square, making this one of the unique things to do in Split. Diocletian’s Palace merits at least a couple hours of exploration time.

Cathedral of Saint Domnius

The Cathedral of Saint Domnius, known locally as the Sveti Dujam, is the Catholic Cathedral found in central Split. The Cathedral is rather small, but it is also among the oldest cathedrals in the world, a restored Imperial Roman Mausoleum which was initially constructed in the 4th-centruy.

Bacvice Beach

Split is famous for it’s profound access to many swimming areas and calm beach shores. This is especially true for Bacvice Beach, which is a narrow, sandy shore arcing around shallow, turquoise waters. It’s a popular and busy swimming area.

Riva Harbor

Running along the side of Diocletian’s Palace, the Riva is a gorgeous, popular seaside promenade accented by tall palm trees, water-facing cafés and numerous eateries.

Froggyland

For a truly outlandish and quirky experience, people visiting Split can seek out Froggyland. This small exhibit has dozens of stuffed, taxidermized frogs behind glass cases acting out a quaint existance. The frogs are posed playing sports, making music, sitting in class and partaking in other mundane daily tasks.

Park Šuma Marjan

This green space is found on the forested peninsula to the West of central Split. The area is known for pines on sloping hills, narrow jogging trails, stunning lookout points over the Mediterranean, overlooks of the Split and the bay and several quiet, rocky beaches.

Voćni trg (Fruit Square)

Located a two-minute walk away from Diocletian’s Palace, this small plaza is striking with a nearby octagonal Ventian tower and the impressive baroque strucutre, Milesi Palace.

Ruins of Ancient Salona

Salona is an archaeological dig site crafted by Romans, predating Diocletian’s Palace. The site is located slightly north of Split and contains a massive sprawl of preserved ruins. The ruins include various pillars and walls alongside a museum, the shadow of the Amphitheater, the Suplja crkva (Hollow Church), and other remains.

Gregory of Nin

Gregory of Nin was a vital medieval bishop who opposed the Church, pushing to include the Croatian Language in religious services. Prior to his success, services were only done in Latin, which the average person didn’t understand and kept interpretations of the Bible firmly under Roman influence. For his success in promoting Chirstianity in Croatia, Gregory has a tall statue between Park Josipa Jurja Strossmayera City Park and the ornately beautiful Golden Gate of the Palace. Gregory of Nin’s statue is known to grant wishes and provide good fortune, provided people stop to rub his toe before entering the Golden Gate.

Vranjic Village

Vranjic is a impressive village with beautiful scenery located just North of Split at the mouth of the mouth of Jadro River. The scenic small town is home to the Church of Saint Martin, sacred folk music performances and romantic walking paths.

Fortress Klis

Overlooking the village Klis, the Fortess of Klis (Tvrđava Klis) was a crucial military stronghold with over 2,000 years of history. The fortress was originally a bastion for the Dalmantae, a Illyrian tribe which was eventually subverted by the Romans. When the influence of the Roman Empire crumbled, the Fortress became a seat of power for rising Croatian Kings.

UNESCO-Protected SPAR Supermarket

Tucked into the spectacular plazas and structures incorperated into Diocletian’s Palace, there’s a UNESCO-protected supermarket. The grocery venue managed to open within the ground floor of the historic Mala Papalićeva Palača complex, selling food and other goods. While the grocery store itself isn’t technically protected, the site it operates out of is, giving this store odd UNESCO-preservation protection.

Krka National Park

Located about an hour-and-a-half away from Split, Krka National Park is a spectacular protected area filled with walking trails, riverboat tours, artful waterfalls, monastic historical sites and castle ruins. With terraced pools and lakes, turquoise waters, lush foliage, impressive boardwalks, this is one of the most beautiful natural settings in the country.

Trogir

this is a popular day trip out of Split. Trogir is a stunning town with preserved old buildings showcasing Renaissance, baroque and Romanesque structures. The community lies on a small island connected to the Croatian mainland through a series of bridges. Visitors can enjoy shoreline walks, the stunning 13th-century Cathedral of St. Lawrence and the intact portions of the city’s original medieval walls.

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