Looking back on my travels in 2022, I still don’t know how I got through this specific trip. I spent two days in Split in July when the average temperature was always 37°. Considering the fact that I dislike summer and traveling during that season, it’s a surprise this trip ever happened.
However, I didn’t have much of a choice. I was attending a friend’s wedding in Bosnia & Herzegovina, near the border with Croatia. And if there’s one thing you need to know about my tiny country, it’s that traveling through Croatia takes ages! So instead of rushing through, I decided to stop in Split for a couple of days. Oddly enough, despite studying in the nearby city of Zadar, I never visited Split during those years!
I devoted all of my time in Split to discovering every nook and cranny of its old town. It’s on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites and it’s a wonderful labyrinth of narrow streets. In fact, the Let Me Pass Street is even considered one of the narrowest streets in the world!
Split is the second biggest city in Croatia so you could spend days here, especially if you’re visiting during the summer months. While there, you can’t miss the waterfront in Split, or as Croatians simply call it, Riva. Lined with stands selling various things, you can stroll under the palm trees.
During my stay, I found myself entranced by the sea. Its color, the way it scintillated with the sun, and its hypnotizing movement. It reminded me of those hours in Zadar when I would sit on the cliffs and stare into the sea while listening to music. I remember it felt so therapeutic and soothing. The coastline looked ravishing at any time of the day. Revisiting photos with even the simplest compositions evokes so many memories in me now.
While I didn’t budge from the old town, I know that you can take a lovely walk up the Marjan hill. You’re treated to a lovely view of the city and I was tempted for a second. Then I remembered how scorching hot it was and I left it for next time. Regardless, I made the most of my time in Split. The Roman and medieval architecture was a delight to photograph. Mostly though, I loved the endless tiny alleys in Split.
The old town of Split is rather small so after a full day of discovering it, I decided to do a day trip. There are many great destinations nearby. Easily accessible by car but also by bus, which was what I chose. I woke up early in the morning and took the early bus headed for Trogir. This enchanting little town delighted me over the course of half a day! If you want to read more about it, head over to this blog post.
Diocletian’s Palace in Split
The most popular landmark in Split, Diocletian’s Palace is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. This important cultural heritage dates back to the 4th century. Built as a retirement residence for Roman Emperor Diocletian, it’s an impressively big complex. If you’re wondering how I got a photo of the Perystile this empty in July, the answer is a lot of patience! It was 7 AM, I was on my way to the bus station and I knew this was my best shot at such a photo. Nonetheless, it still required 20 minutes of waiting!
The Cathedral of St. Domnius is another popular attraction. There are four types of tickets for visiting it, depending on how much of its complex you wish to see. You can climb up the bell tower for a sprawling view of the city. The crypt, baptistery, and treasury can also be included in the visit. So it really depends on your interests and curiosity!
Since it was full-on summer during my stay in Split, I didn’t really eat much aside from lots of ice cream and a few snacks. I sat down for a proper meal once, and it was for a veggie burger at Toto’s Burger Bar. In short, I tried out most ice cream parlors and can recommend you the best ones. My personal favorites were Bili San and Gelateria Emiliana, with a slight preference for the former one!
If I’m being completely honest, Split didn’t charm me much. If anything, I found Trogir more interesting. But that might be a result of the crowds and the sweltering temperatures. It’s hard to find those narrow streets charming when you’re moving at a snail’s pace due to too many people around you. However, I would still recommend it as a stop on your road trip through the Adriatic coast. Because let’s face it, that’s the only proper way to visit the Croatian seaside!
