About the City of Split

Introduction: Split is the urban, cultural and transport centre of the Dalmatian Coastline with air, road and sea connections to Dalmatia's islands and many mainland attractions. Split is itself a major tourist destination. Split is a city with a 1700-year old tradition, a variety of archaeological, historical and cultural monuments, among which the world renowned Palace of Diocletian, inscribed into the UNESCO World Heritage List. Split is also an excellent base from which to explore other stunning locations in the Dalmatia region, such as Trogir, Dubrovnik, the Krka National Park. It is also the main ferry port for transfers to the Islands of Hvar, Brac, Vis and Korcula. 

Getting to Split: The centre of Split and main ferry terminal is a 30 minute bus ride from Split Airport. Croatian Airlines operate a bus link service from right outside the new airport terminal. International Airlines making regular scheduled flights direct to Split Airport include Easyjet, British Airways, Wizzair, German Wings, Croatian Airlines and Sky Europe.

UNESCO heritage: The Roman Emperor Diocletian spent his declining years in an enormous palace that he had built near his birthplace, Aspalthos, in Dalmatia. With the passing centuries the original architecture of the palace has been altered, but the people of the city, later called Spalato, and then Split, were able to use the structure of the palace, damaging it as little as possible, under Byzantine, Venetian and Austro-Hungarian rule.

Life in Split: Split has a large variety of restaurants, bars, cafes and wine cellars. Many of these are set within the old town and palace walls. The main waterfront “the Riva” is a perfect spot to have a drink and watch the boats and people of Split pass you by. There are many beaches in the city and its surroundings, Bacvice, a sandy beach almost in the very heart of the town is one of the most popular. The cultural and entertainment events held in Split are extremely rich, particularly in the summer, when the city squares, yards and other areas turn into a large open-air stage.

Places to visit: From Split there are many organised tours and excursions available to places up and down the coast. Some of the best and most famous attractions are shown here. For more information and other places to visit look at www.croatia.hr . Car rental is also readily available in numerous locations around Split, with both International and local rental companies.

Trogir: Another UNESCO world heritage site located about a 40 minute drive from Split, Trogir was founded by Greek colonists from the Island of Vis in the 3rd century BC. On this Antique matrix lies the historical core of Trogir, which is the best-preserved Romanesque-Gothic complex not only in the Adriatic but in all of Central Europe. Trogir's medieval core, surrounded by walls, comprises a preserved castle and tower and a series of dwellings and palaces from the Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque periods. Trogir's grandest building is the church of St. Lawrence, whose main west portal is a masterpiece by Radovan, and the most significant work of the Romanesque-Gothic style in the country.

Dubrovnik: A three hour drive South. A city of a unique political and cultural history, of world-famous cultural heritage, and beauty (as recorded on the List of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO). – Dubrovnik is one of the most attractive and famous cities of the Mediterranean. Take a walk through Stradun, through narrow streets and small squares, monumental ramparts and fortresses. This all provides an opportunity to experience the millennial beauty of Dubrovnik’s shell-shaped urban core, centuries of building, stone-cutting, carving and engraving.

Krka National Park: A one hour drive. The 142 sq km Krka National Park follows the line of the Krka river, from its source in the foothills of the Dinaric mountains on its short journey through the dramatic karst landscape to its finish in the Adriatic. The river flows through a limestone gorge, dropping over 220m in 50km, with eight sets of rapids. Only two falls – Skradinski buk and Roski slap – are in the park itself, although the former is the most impressive of all with a 46m drop over seventeen limestone steps.