Split

Split is Croatia's 2nd-largest city — population 180,000 on Adriatic Sea coast (Dalmatian region southern Croatia). Founded 305 AD by Roman Emperor Diocletian as his retirement palace. **UNESCO World Heritage 1979** — Diocletian's Palace + medieval Old Town built INSIDE Roman palace walls.

Famous for **Diocletian's Palace** (305 AD — Roman emperor's retirement palace + 220m × 180m walls + 4 gates + 4 streets + entire Old Town built inside the palace + most photographed Croatia), **Riva Promenade** (Split's iconic 250m palm-lined seafront promenade + cafes + ferry terminal), **Marjan Hill** (178m hill west of Old Town + 360° Adriatic + Dalmatian islands views + cafes), **Croatian island day trips** (Hvar party island + Brač Bol's Zlatni Rat beach + Vis military island + Šolta + Trogir UNESCO town 25min north + best Adriatic island tours from Split), **Krka Waterfalls National Park** (1h drive northwest + cascading waterfalls + swimming permitted in some sections + Plitvice alternative), and **Game of Thrones filming** (Diocletian's Palace = King's Landing + Klis Fortress = Meereen + iconic GOT tour).

**Diocletian's Palace** is unique in the world — 305 AD Roman emperor Diocletian's retirement palace + entire medieval Old Town built INSIDE palace walls 7th century AD when refugees fled barbarian invasions. Today's Old Town has 220m × 180m walls + 4 original Roman gates + Cathedral of St Domnius (built INSIDE Diocletian's mausoleum 7th century — pagan emperor became Christian church) + Peristyle Square + cellars (Game of Thrones filming).

**Best Croatian island day trips from Split**: - **Hvar** (1h ferry — most popular Croatian island + Hvar Town nightlife + Pakleni Islands snorkeling + lavender fields) - **Brač** (50min ferry — Bol's Zlatni Rat 'Golden Horn' beach + most iconic Croatian beach + windsurfing) - **Vis** (2h ferry — former military island + Blue Cave + Stiniva Beach + quieter) - **5-Island Tour** (Vis + Hvar + Pakleni Islands + Stiniva + Blue Cave $130 day tour) - **Trogir** (25min north — UNESCO 1997 medieval town on tiny island + cleaner alternative)

**Krka Waterfalls National Park** (1h drive northwest) is Croatia's #2 waterfall park after Plitvice + cascading waterfalls + 800m wooden boardwalk + Skradinski Buk waterfall + swimming permitted in some sections (depending year + 2024 swimming may be restricted). $30 entry. Day tour $60 from Split.

**Plitvice Lakes National Park** (3h drive north) is Croatia's #1 attraction — UNESCO 1979 + 16 cascading lakes + 80% photographed Croatia + day trip $120 from Split.

**Game of Thrones filming**: - **Diocletian's Palace cellars** = Daenerys's dragon dungeon (Meereen) - **Klis Fortress (10min north of Split)** = Meereen - **Diocletian's Palace** = King's Landing exteriors - **Trogir** = Qarth gates

Iconic Dalmatian + Croatian food: **Pasticada** (Dalmatian beef stew with prunes + Mediterranean herbs €15-30 — Dalmatian classic), **Crni rižot** (Dalmatian black risotto with cuttlefish + squid ink €15-25 — most photographed Croatian dish), **Pršut** (Croatian prosciutto from Drniš + cheese + olives €10-25 — Dalmatian appetizer), **Peka** (meat + vegetables baked under bell-shaped lid + 3-hour slow cooking €25-50 — Dalmatian tradition), **Buzara** (Dalmatian seafood stew with shrimp + mussels + tomato + wine €25-50), **Brodet** (Dalmatian fish stew €20-40), **Fritule** (Dalmatian fried doughnuts + raisins €5-10 — dessert). Drink: **Croatian wine** (Plavac Mali Dalmatian red + Posip white €10-30/bottle), **Rakija** (Croatian fruit brandy + most popular plum + grape + walnut €15-30/bottle), **Karlovačko + Ozujsko Beer** (Croatian national lagers €3-5).

**Best Split restaurants**: **Konoba Marjan** (traditional Dalmatian + grilled fish + black risotto €25-50), **Bokeria Kitchen** (modern Croatian + Dalmatian classics + craft beer €30-60), **Apetit** (modern Croatian + Old Town + tasting menu €40-80), **Zinfandel Food + Wine Bar** (modern Croatian + extensive wine list + tasting €60-120), **Hemingway Bar (Riva Promenade)** (iconic cocktail bar + Riva views €8-15 cocktails).

Bottom line: Split is canonical Croatian Adriatic + UNESCO Diocletian's Palace + Hvar/Brač islands + Krka Waterfalls + Game of Thrones filming + cheaper Dubrovnik alternative. 3-4 days hits Diocletian's Palace + Hvar day trip + Krka Waterfalls + Trogir + departure.