Split, Croatia’s second city and premier harbour is the most delightful port of embarkation. Here you can join a superyacht, a charter boat or simply board a ferry to one of the outlying islands.
Split is an exciting place to start any voyage. Conceived by the Roman Emperor Diocietian, work began to create the city in the year 295 AD. It grew in importance slowly and then in the Middle Ages more quickly. It was ruled by the Venetians and then by Napoleonic France. When Napoleon died, the Austro Hungarians moved into power and until the Great War of 1914. Split became part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.
After WW2 the country became a Republic and so the Tito era began. When Yugoslavia fell apart, Croatia took its place and Split has been on a roll ever since.
Getting There
Flying from the UK to Split take between two and two and a half hours, depending on where you are flying from. Croatia Airlines has flights in summer from London Gatwick and a now year-round service from London Heathrow. They also have a route from Dublin. British Airways flies from London Heathrow and London City airports and Easyjet has daily flights from London Gatwick. They also have flights from Luton, Bristol, Manchester and Glasgow.
By Ferry
There are year-round ferries from Ancona in Italy, with a higher frequency of ferries in the summer months. This service is run by Jadrolinija who also operate a route from Bari in Italy to Split.
By Bus
There are regular bus services from, amongst other cities, Munich and Trieste to Split. See the Split Bus Terminal website for timetable details.
By Train
It is possible to travel by train to Split from elsewhere in Europe, although the majority of routes involve a change of trains at Zagreb the capital of Croatia.
Staying Overnight
The Heritage Antique Hotel, has just eight rooms. It is located in the heart of the Diocletian’s Palace an UNESCO listed site and one of the best preserved Roman architectural monuments in the world. Whilst the rooms are lovely and very comfortable with their original ancient stone walls, it is the view from the window that is so stunning. It looks directly across to St Duje Cathedral just feet away.
Shopping
Truthfully you do not come to Split for shops. Yes, they are there, but they offer branding and pricing like the rest of Europe so why bother? There are no real bargains but if you like cheap tatty souvenirs made from plastic in China then you will be in luck! The Market however, does have outstanding fresh produce and local delicacies. In our opinion this is the only place to splash the cash
Sightseeing
There is a lot to see in Split and much of it centred on the old town. It is easy to see why it was chosen as one of the locations in which to film the TV series Game of Thrones. Our favourite attractions include:
Diocletian Palace
Diocletian Palace is one of the best-preserved monuments of the Roman architecture in the world. The Emperor’s Palace was built as a combination of a luxury villa – summer house and a Roman military camp.
The Substructures
The Diocletian Palace Substructures represent one of the best preserved ancient complexes of their kind in the world, and hence are in many ways responsible for the reason the historical core of Split was in 1979 included on the UNESC015 World Heritage list.
Cathedral of Saint Domnius
Among the European cathedrals the one in Split is one the oldest. Initially the Mausoleum of the Roman Emperor Diocletian, it became a cathedral in the 7th century.
The Bell Tower of the Cathedral (57m) is the most original Dalmatian Medieval architecture started in the 13th century. The bell tower was thoroughly reconstructed and somewhat altered at the turn of the 20th century. Today you can climb the steps all the way to the top of the bell tower, where a spectacular view of the entire Split awaits you.
Eating
Little wonder, given its proximity to the Adriatic, Split is a haven for those who love seafood. Local chefs excel when it comes to cooking fish in the traditional manner and there really is no finer way to dine than eating locally caught freshly cooked fish.
Konoba Korta and Konoba Nikola came highly recommended, and we were lucky enough to find space in both. If you are only there for one night than go for Konoba Korta but do not expect to walk in off the street and find a table. When you get to eat you will realise why it is so popular and why it is necessary to make a reservation before you get to Split.