Split, Croatia has been a substantial place since ancient times. The history of the city goes back to the beginning of the construction of Diocletian's Palace in 298 A.D. Diocletian's Palace is the most significant monument and ancient symbol of Split. It has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1979. The city of Split was in the shadow of many other Dalmatian gems in terms of tourist attractions. When the Ultra Europe music festival arrived in Split in 2013, it opened its doors to visitors from all over the world. From that moment on, the city of Split became a must-visit destination. In recent years, Split has become increasingly popular as a tourist attraction for young people and art and history buffs worldwide. Expats choose to live in this Mediterranean destination because it's a city of rich culture, history, art, and events. It has excellent transport connections with the capital city of Zagreb, islands and it is much more than the sea, sun, and beaches. No wonder living in Split feels like you are in a fairy tale.
Split is the largest city in Dalmatia and the second-largest city in Croatia, with around 160,000 inhabitants. Part of the city lies on the Marjan peninsula, borders with surrounding mountains, Kozjak (780 m) and Mosor (1330 m), and the nearby islands of Brač, Čiovo, and Šotla. It has a typical Mediterranean climate with 2600 hours of sunshine a year. The most common local winds are bora (NE), Sirocco (SE), and mistral (NW). Split is located in the heart of Dalmatia and is the economic hub of the Dalmatian coast.
Split Airport is located in the Resnik area west of Kaštel Štafilić, 25 km from Split. It is the second busiest airport in Croatia. You can reach the airport by direct airport bus, which usually waits next to the ferry port. You can also take Split public transport bus lines no. 37 and no. 38.
A1 highway connects Split with Zagreb, and the Adriatic highway connects Split with other coastal cities. The Port of Split is the largest in Dalmatia. Ferries sail directly to the islands of Šolta, Vis, Brač (Supetar and Milna), Hvar, Korčula, and Lastovo. An international ferry line runs from Split to Ancona (Italy) and vice versa.
Around the city, transportation by local city bus is the cheapest way to get around. The Old town is well connected to all the outskirts of the city. However, buses can sometimes be late and overloaded. Alternatives are taxis and taxi apps.
The landmark of Split, Diocletian's Palace, has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1979 as a building in excellent condition from the Roman period, within whose walls people live today. Diocletian - the Roman emperor - built it in 305 as a residence for his retirement. The Palace complex is rectangular with a total area of 30,000 square meters, built as a blend of a villa and a military fort. The Palace has four gates, and it used to have 16 towers (3 are preserved). Over time the Palace became a medieval town. The only square inside the Palace is the ancient Peristyle (Peristil). Today, Diocletian's mausoleum is a cathedral dedicated to the Mother of God - often called the Cathedral of St. Domnius.
The old town has a new part built in the late Middle Ages that adjoins the Palace including the Square of the Radic Brothers (locals call it Fruit Square) and People's Square (locals call it Pjaca). In People’s Square, you will find Renaissance Palaces and Romanesque houses. South of the People’s Square there is the Square of the Radic brothers. A small fort from the 15th century and the Baroque Palace make a good circle around the square that used to be a farmer's market.
Today's farmer's market is located along the eastern wall of Diocletian's Palace. The fish market is placed on Marmontova Street and was built 120 years ago in the Art Nouveau style.
Onwards, the development of the Split coast in the 19th century during French rule made the coastal promenade one of the best on this side of the Adriatic.
Late Gothic palace Papalić, built by the famous Juraj Matejev Dalmatinac, today is the Split City Museum. The museum preserves the historical material and artistic heritage of Split.
The Archaeological Museum, founded in 1820, contains an extraordinary collection of ancient and early Christian monuments, most of which were found during the exploration of ancient Salona.
The Ethnographic Museum Split is located right next to the Peristyle - the central square of the Palace - and contains a valuable ethnographic collection that shows us the former life of the people of Split, the islanders, and the peasants of Zagora.
The Meštrović Gallery exhibits the works of the most famous Croatian sculptor Ivan Meštrović from the 20th century.
Traditional events reflect cultural and historical marks of the Split. Sudamja is the name of the centuries-old holiday of St. Domnius, which is traditionally held every May 7 in Split. St. Domnius is the patron saint of Split.
Splitsko ljeto (Split Summer Festival) is an international music and stage event in Split that includes drama, opera, ballet, and concert programs.
The Mrduja Regatta, organized by the Labud Sailing Club, takes place on the first weekend in October and is the oldest regatta in Croatia.
Modern Split events try to keep up with world popular culture. International Mediterranean Film Festival Split is a six-day review of films from the Mediterranean area that the audience does not have the opportunity to see in regular cinema distribution.
The Ultra music festival is an outdoor electronic music festival held in July in Split and the surrounding islands.
Days of Diocletian is a manifestation that brings Split back to the time of the famous Roman emperor Diocletian. Emperor Diocletian passes through Peristyle Square with a procession of Roman legions.
The parks and beaches in Split are definitely worth visiting.
The Marjan peninsula with the hill Marjan (178 m) is covered with a forest park and is a favorite promenade and picnic spot for the people of Split.
Strossmayer's Garden, or Đardin as locals call it, is located north of Diocletian's Palace next to its main entrance - the Golden Gate. The southwestern cape of Split harbor is Sustipan, a city promenade with a small church from the 19th century and a classicist gloriette.
Bačvice beach is the city's main beach. For the people of Split, Bačvice is part of the city's identity, where the famous picigin game is played, a game that is protected as cultural heritage. Kašjuni Beach is a beach located at the foot of Marjan. The pebbly beach surrounded by nature also has a lounge bar. Žnjan beach is a pebble beach with cafes and numerous hotels.
Split is the largest city on the Croatian coast of the Adriatic. It is an administrative, political, economic, cultural, sports, and scientific center and an important traffic hub of central Dalmatia. Split with its temperament and dialect is reminiscent of Naples.
