Birds eye views, stunning landscape, sparkling beaches, streets lined with palms, and historical architecture. These are a few of my favorite things. Therefore, my pick for a must-see city in Croatia should come as no surprise.
Collectively, I spent nearly a week in Split, Croatia. Something about this city on the sea completely stole my heart upon arrival.
The sun was constantly shining in this little port town. The ‘Old Town’ was as easy to navigate, as it was to get lost in {which is always a plus for me}.
Free entertainment is provided throughout the streets, including an acapella band and an amazing guitarist playing in the city center. Plus, there are multiple, fantastic, day trips to take advantage of.
For example, it’s extremely easy to take day trips to destinations such as the island of Brač, and the charming pirate town, Omiš . For more on both of these locations, check out my previous post here.
Even if you plan to spend the duration of your trip solely in Split, I doubt you’ll be disappointed. Split is home to some of the best restaurants in Croatia, beaches are within walking distance, and finding birds eye views of the city couldn’t be simpler.
Food
You will find plenty of seafood restaurants along the marina, as well as in the Old Town. Pricing is reasonable for Croatia, which means dirt cheap for Europe. Some of my favorites include Mama Burger and Brasserie on 7, but most of the best restaurants are hidden withing the narrow walkways.
Each time I ate out in Split, I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.
Beaches
To get to the beaches in Split, you will need to take a quick stroll. Both are listed on the map below, but I must admit, the beaches in Split are quite underwhelming. I highly suggest taking a day trip to Brač, or any of the other islands along the Dalmatian coast, to get your beach fill.
Related: 7 Islands in Croatia to Visit in 2019
Nightlife
Nightlife was alive and well, however I was not really in the party mood during my visit to Split. Even so, I made it to a couple nightclubs: inBOX and Tropic Club. I preferred inBOX over Tropic Club, simply because it was outdoors, and very close to Old Town where I was staying. I’ve listed them both on the map for your convenience.
The Best Views
There are a few places in Split that allow you a birds eye view of the seaside town. One of them is the famous Diocletian’s Palace. For a small fee of 5 HRK {less than $1 USD}, you can climb to the bell tower of the palace and get a view of the city beneath you.
To get a different perspective, take a small hike up to the Split Viewpoint {Belvedere}. Here you will find a small restaurant overlooking the sea and the city below. Even if you don’t fancy a meal, there is a view point to gaze out and take as many pictures as humanly possible. Personally, I just went for the view and avoided the restaurant altogether.
Misc.
I also got my nails done {acrylic} in Croatia. The woman who worked on them put in so much effort that it ended up taking half an afternoon. Even so, I’ve never seen a better result. I tipped her way too much, but have zero regrets. If you also want to get the best manicure of your life, check out “Gloriosus” {listed on the map below}.
Have I convinced you to visit Split yet? I promise you won’t be disappointed. Where is your favorite destination in Croatia?
