One Day in…Split, Croatia

Traveler Profile: Keegan, 24, US

Location: Split, Croatia

Time of Year: Early Spring

Travel Goals: Food, culture, and nature

After staying with family in the area, I had one day in Split to visit the sites and experience as much of the city as possible. I had no expectations; I just wanted to explore and see what I could find by following whatever direction piqued my curiosity.

Morning Walk to Diocletian’s Palace

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Kirk Fisher

To start my day, I left my hostel and walked to the ruins of Diocletian’s Palace. Though the palace is far from its original grandeur that used to house ancient Emperors, what remains is a mix of massive stone walls eroded with time and salt water that protect a series of alleys ways, and courtyards that have been updated to house shops, restaurants, cafes, and museums.

Traveler Tip: Buy a ticket for the museum that also features a pass to climb the Saint Domnius Cathedral tower and get a bird’s eye view of the palace.

Grabbing a Snack at the Market

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Tupungato

After exploring the palace, I walked out of the eastern palace entrance. I found a massive street market just outside the palace walls set up for Saturday mornings. A wide variety of booths were set up for the morning, featuring things like fresh fruit, local commodities, and even handmade clothing.

Traveler Tip: Look at the booths offering local spices and herbs for fresh and authentic Croatian lavender.

Walking through Varoš

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Quaoar

Once I finished grabbing a snack, I walked west to the forest Park Marjan because I could see the green hill overlooking the city and coast and wanted a better view of the sea around me. From the palace, there is a winding series of rustic roads connecting dense neighborhoods filled with old stone houses in the city known as Varoš. Even though I just walked through the area briefly, the feeling of walking through a labyrinth of alleyways lost in time sticks with me to this day.

Traveler Tip: Don’t be afraid to go inside the stores you find along the way! Many less-assuming businesses offer unique foods and souvenirs from the local culture.

Sunset at Marjan

Image Credit: Shutterstock / FabrikaSimf

After walking through Varoš, I finally found myself at a series of steps that led up the hill to the forest Park Marjan. Then, I followed the path up the hill with a beautiful view of the bay on my left and the lush mountain foliage on my right. As I kept walking, I passed by a tiny stone Church of St. Nicholas, a graveyard filled with stones, graves covered in ivy, and even a large park with play structures and performance areas. Then, I finally ended my day by reaching the Vidikovac lookout spot that let me breathe in the sea’s fresh air and watch the sunset on the beautiful Dalmatian coast.

Marble Streets

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Matyas Rehak

The area around the palace is quite lavish, and many of the more high-end stores were closed for the tourist season. However, what struck me the most was how beautiful the sidewalks were. I walked across massive slabs of glistening white marble everywhere I went outside the palace. I didn’t know this at the time. However, the nearby mountains are full of marble, so this beautiful stone can be found regularly in the architecture and jewelry.

Traveler Tip: Wear shoes with some decent grip because the marble can be pretty slippery.

Top Takeaways

Image Credit: Shutterstock / kudla

If you’re visiting the older side of Split (the area surrounding the palace), don’t be afraid to walk around and explore because so much of Split’s beauty is found in the smallest corners and alleys. Split is also a hub for great seafood. Even though I’m not usually the biggest fan of fish, I loved everything I tried simply because of the freshness. Overall, I loved my time in Split for many reasons, but the thing that sticks with me the most is how the feeling of walking through history stayed with me every step of the way.

Tourist information: https://visitsplit.com/en/