Discover the numerous things and tours you can experience in Split. Explore and discover exciting things you can start doing in Split, Croatia!
What to expect in Split Croatia
Language: The official language is Croatian, but English is a mandatory subject in schools all across the country so most if not all of the residents know English to a certain degree.
Currency: Croatian Kuna. Whilst Croatia is in the EU, it has not yet adapted EURO (€) into its businesses completely. It’s best to have Croatian Kuna when you’re paying anywhere in Croatia, as most places will not accept euro.
Credit cards and ATM’s: Most if not all shops and restaurants accept payment with credit card. As for ATM’s, we recommend avoiding ones that aren’t affiliated to any banks (namely the ones that start with EURO).
Friendly tip: Whilst Summer time is the most popular time to visit Croatia, it is also the most expensive. If you don’t care much for enjoying the beach, you can always visit Croatia during the off-season, the season being Summer most of the time.
Where to eat: Croatia, Split has many restaurants that are scattered throughout the city so choosing a place to eat at can be troublesome. For the most part restaurants in the center of town tend to be more expensive than restaurants a bit further out; like for example “Konoba Kod Joze” which most of the time has more delicious food; or simply look up the reviews of the best restaurants to dine in. 🙂
Tour guide Split Croatia
Split is one of the most popular towns in Croatia, and it isn’t without reason. Sightseeing the historical architecture of the Diocletian Palace accentuating the modern beauty surrounding the palace, producing a pleasant mix of the old with the new. Whilst there are certainly several attractions all around Croatia, the Diocletian Palace holds a special place in my heart, after all, I live in Split. 🙂 Tour guide Split Croatia.
Whether you are arriving here for the first time, staying for one day or merely passing through, sightseeing Split isn’t a bad decision. The calming sights of nature along with the mesmerizing views of the islands making it a beautiful country to admire. Croatia is blessed to have the longest period of sunlight; rivaling even Sydney Australia! Tour guide Split Croatia.
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Exploring the Palace
Whilst certainly the most obvious choice once you set foot in the city, the giant palace attracts several thousand visitors every day during the Summer. Many shops, restaurants, bars finding their home inside the walls of the palace, offering it’s visitors a chance to enjoy a cup of coffee or a meal surrounded by history on all sides. Tour guide Split Croatia.
The Diocletian Place is gorgeous monument to see. The locals well verse in meandering through it’s maze like paths and big spacious plazas. Several interesting monuments being scattered inside the walls and in close proximity to the gorgeous palace, some of which being:
- Statue of Grgur Ninski (Gregory of Nin), this towering statue that’s placed just outside the Golden Gates is truly a sight to behold. The statue depicting the Croatia bishop holding a book and very menacingly pointing over head. A long standing legend surrounds the statue, the legends stating that anyone that touches his big bottom toe and makes a wish, the wish is going to come true; just keep in mind you will need to wait a while. 🙂
- Statue of Marko Marulić, widely considered to be the father of Croatian literature. The statue being located in Fruit’s square.
- St. Duje Cathedral & Bell tower, Located just outside the Diocletian Basements this towering monument is one of the most memorable things in Diocletian’s Palace. The bell tower offering visitors a chance to climb up to the top and see the whole palace from.
Basements of Diocletian
Some might immediately recognize the secluded basements as a familiar place where a certain Targaryan kept her dragons. Yes, this is the place where Queen Daenerys Stormborn of the House Targaryen, the First of Her Name, Queen of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men, Lady of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm, Lady of Dragonstone, Queen of Meereen, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, the Unburnt, Breaker of Chains and Mother of Dragons kept her precious dragons at bay (Phew! That’s a long title). Tour guide Split Croatia.
But in reality, as much as we all hope dragons were real; even if the idea sounds terrifying, the basements were used differently. Food and wine was stored in them along with being housing for soldiers during Emperor Diocletian‘s rule, the basements were indeed taken advantage of fully. The further down you go through the basements you are sure to encounter a room with a circular shape that provides quite amazing acoustics, well, this room served as a foyer to Diocletian’s bedroom, the echo’s warning the emperor if anyone tries to walk through at night. Apparently this was a huge success as emperor Diocletian was the only Roman emperor to die of natural causes. Tour guide Split Croatia.
Taking a hike up Marjan
If you’ve been curious what the towering forest/hill overlooking the Old Town of Split was, well, you guessed it. Marjan forest hill has a long lasting history with Split, being a natural beauty and protected by the Croatian Forest legislation. The forest being relatively easy to navigate even without a private tour guide helping you through.
During the second world war Marjan got a song about it titled “Marjane, Marjane” (Real original, I know) which lifted the spirits of the soldiers back then. The hill is a great place that many residents use as a recreational place, hiking, jogging and rock climbing being present all around the forest. Most water based tours also take place around the forest hill so you can easily go Kayaking or Stand up paddling, but we’ll talk about that a bit later. 😉
Marjan is a hill that has several entrances leading to it, along with being strictly pedestrian, cars not being permitted to enter. (Apart from the residents who live on this beautiful gem). The hill is also home to an observatory, several small historical churches and a city ZOO that sadly has fallen into decay.
But if you decide to take a hike up Marjan, fortunately there are benches littered all across the forest hill, offering a place to rest easy along the way. The park famous for being a great place to walk around in, along with offering some respite with a plethora of beaches that surround Marjan forest hill. There’s also an opportunity to take a private tour guide to show you all the interesting points of Marjan; along with telling you the history of the place. So don’t worry too much about not seeing enough of the forest hill during your time in Split.
There’s also a legend that Marjan is a dormant volcano. The theory beginning to take place from discovering sulfuric water near the base of Marjan; which is characteristic to volcanic areas.
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Tasting Dalmatia
One of the most important parts of any travel experience is to taste the cuisine a country has to offer, and Croatia doesn’t fall short from the challenge. Croatia, in particular the Dalmatia region is home to the best seafood you can taste. Ranging from fish, oysters to octopi, Split has everything to offer even for the most pickiest of eaters.
If sea food isn’t to your liking, don’t worry, Split offering a range of restaurants offering anything from Chinese to American style cooking. Some of the foods you might encounter during your vacation would be:
- Peka, a method of cooking used by covering a metal dome like plate in ash and letting meat slow cook underneath, usually veal or lamb. It’s one of Croatia’s most notable meals that goes perfectly with a batch of potatoes and some wine.
- Black Risotto, a typical high-class meal served on special events or restaurants. The meal mixing rice and squid, making the white rice black.
- Fritule, one of the many desserts in Croatia which you can find on Split’s Riva sold by a vendor. These small doughnut like balls are a perfect and delicious treat that can be served with a wide range of condiments.
- Uštipci, also a delicious dessert sold on the famous Riva of Split. Similar to flat buns of sorts that can be served as an appetizer to the main dish.
- Burek, if you are a fan of cheese or meat you surely will enjoy this filled dessert. Consisting of dough that has been filled with either cheese, meat or spinach. It’s easy to say that you will enjoy this treat in any bakery you come across. 🙂
There’s a wide range of dishes and peculiar tastes you might find in a Croatian diet. It’s only a matter of taking a step and following your sense of smell to somewhere delicious, whether alone or with a gourmet guided tour. 🙂
Notable restaurants & bars
But which places do you need to visit to taste some of the traditional Croatian cuisine. Croatia having a long history with various cultures influencing its cuisine due to them invading the country in the past. Well you won’t have to look far as there are multiple restaurants in short proximity to one another. But don’t worry as we will highlight our favourites so your stomach can thank us later.
Restaurants aren’t the only thing that Split has to offer, having a dozen or so bars/pubs that offer a relaxing spot to enjoy a morning or afternoon drink at. Both restaurants and bars sometimes merging into one at times, offering both a place to enjoy a nice meal at or solely a drink.
The restaurants and bars we recommend are:
- Bakra Steak & Pizza bar – Set in a quiet street and decorated in a modern design that entices you inside. Bakra has grown in popularity not because of the decor. The food they serve ranging from grill dishes to pizzas as the name suggests, it’s a great place to dine at if you’re searching for something familiar.
- Konoba Kod Joze – Any time anyone asks us where they can enjoy some traditional Croatian cuisine, we can’t help but always recommend this restaurants. Located in a secluded street that is well hidden, the restaurant has a rustic old design to it that has withstood the decades. Konoba Kod Joze being a favourite among locals due to its delicious food, great prices and rustic design.
- Pizzeria Gušt – Those of you that want to taste something familiar, there’s no better dish than pizza. Gušt having been a local favourite for several decades now, nestled in a sidestreet that can be easily missed if not paying attention. This pizzeria has a rustic interior that always carries the smell of pizza and charcoal. The pizzeria being founded by a true Italian that has blessed the city of Split with the fresh taste of pizza!
- Vege vegan street food – Split may be a town that is popular with meat eaters, but there are some places that specialize in vegeterian and vegan cuisine. Whilst the place isn’t necessarily large, it is placed near a main street just up a flight of stairs. The take-out restaurant being a blessing for any vegeterians and vegans alike as the food there is both affordable and delicious!
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Tours to go on
Split is a beautiful city to see and explore, but it’s not everything you can get yourself up to during your visit. The town being a hub of adventure, offering a spectacle of activities to go on during your stay. Whilst Split is known for its serene clean beaches, historic architecture and Dalmatian beauty, it is also one of the best connected towns for tours. Whether you want to get a private tour guide in Split to help guide you through Split, or simply taking a leap in seeing what other tours there are. Tour guide Split Croatia.
Whether you enjoy adrenaline tours that will get your blood racing or relaxing boat excursions to relax you. There’s a tour that’s perfect for anyone that would like to spice up their trip to Split. Make your Vacation exciting as you enjoy the wide range of sights we can offer you! So don’t worry about not being able to see everything on your own or with a tour guide in Split.
Accommodations to stay in
Spending an entire day walking around and going on excursions can take a toll on you. So one of the first things you usually do when planning a trip to another country is finding a place to stay in during your Vacation. Luckily for you, we have several accommodations fit for everyone, from small quaint studios to large villas. After all, it’s important to have a place to rest at during your stay in Split or the surrounding area.
Split in particular being one of those locations that are easy to get around, even if you take an accommodation that is a bit outside the Dalmatian city. Get acquainted with the cities layout with a private tour guide in Split that speaks any language from english, spanish, french, etc. So take a look at some of the accommodations we have to offer!