8 historic sites to see in Split

Historic sites in Split

Historic site · Old Town (Diocletian's Palace)

1.Diocletian's Palace

Its roughly rectangular grid of lanes, entered through the Golden, Silver, Iron and Bronze gates, is still lived in and has been a UNESCO site since 1979.

Time needed

Half a day

Cost

Free

• Iconic
• History
• Free
• Architecture
• After dark
• Photo spot

Landmark · Old Town (Diocletian's Palace)

2.Peristyle and Vestibule

Steps lead up to the domed Vestibule, open to the sky, whose acoustics draw klapa groups singing traditional Dalmatian a cappella harmonies.

Time needed

30 minutes

Cost

Free

• Iconic
• Free
• History
• Architecture
• After dark

Religious site · Old Town (Diocletian's Palace)

3.Cathedral of Saint Domnius and bell tower

Its carved wooden doors by Andrija Buvina date from the 13th century, and the Romanesque bell tower, about 57 metres tall, can be climbed for views over the palace roofs, the harbour and the islands.

Time needed

1–1.5 hours

Cost

Low cost

• Iconic
• History
• Views
• Architecture
• Rainy day

Historic site · Old Town (Diocletian's Palace)

4.Temple of Jupiter

Its coffered stone ceiling survives intact, a headless sphinx sits outside, and inside stands a bronze of John the Baptist by Ivan Meštrović.

Time needed

15 minutes

Cost

Low cost

• History
• Architecture
• Off the beaten path

Historic site · Old Town (Diocletian's Palace)

5.Palace substructures (cellars)

They mirror the layout of the rooms above; the central passage holds a souvenir market, and side halls served as a filming location for Game of Thrones.

Time needed

45 minutes

Cost

Low cost

• History
• Rainy day
• Kids
• Architecture

Landmark · Old Town (Diocletian's Palace)

6.Gregory of Nin statue

The big toe of his left foot has been rubbed shiny by visitors, as touching it is said to bring luck.

Time needed

15 minutes

Cost

Free

• Free
• Art
• History
• Kids
• Photo spot

Castle · Klis

7.Klis Fortress

Its ramparts look down over Split, Salona and the islands, and it stood in for the city of Meereen in Game of Thrones.

Time needed

1.5 hours

Cost

Low cost

• Views
• History
• Kids
• Photo spot

Historic site · Solin

8.Salona

Its amphitheatre, early Christian basilicas, city walls and cemeteries spread across fields and olive groves, with few crowds.

Time needed

1.5–2 hours

Cost

Low cost

• History
• Off the beaten path
• Outdoors

Grouped by area

Booking and timing

Of these 8, 3 free, 5 low cost. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Diocletian's Palace; group the rest by area to save travel time.

How to fit them into 3 half-days

Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.

• Half-day 1 (Old Town (Diocletian's Palace)): Diocletian's Palace → Peristyle and Vestibule, at least 4 hours.
• Half-day 2 (Old Town (Diocletian's Palace) and Klis): Cathedral of Saint Domnius and bell tower → Temple of Jupiter → Palace substructures (cellars) → Gregory of Nin statue → Klis Fortress, at least 4 hours.
• Half-day 3 (Solin): Salona, at least 2 hours.

The quietest months for queues

• February: highs of 12°C (54°F), about 8 rainy days, very quiet crowds. Quiet with low prices; Carnival brings masked parades to the Riva.
• January: highs of 11°C (52°F), about 9 rainy days, very quiet crowds. Mild but often windy and wet; the bura wind brings cold, clear days, and island services run reduced timetables.
• November: highs of 16°C (61°F), about 10 rainy days, very quiet crowds. Wet and quiet; the jugo wind brings mild, humid weather and rough seas.

The neighbourhoods they are in

• Old Town (Diocletian's Palace) — Roman walls, marble lanes and bars inside a 1,700-year-old palace
• Lučac and Manuš — Old suburbs just outside the palace walls with local cafés and lower prices

More of Split

All things to do in Split · Where to stay · When to go.

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