Split blends Roman ruins with Mediterranean energy. It all begins inside Diocletian's Palace, a UNESCO maze of lanes, squares and cellars dotted with cafés and galleries: the peristyle, the Cathedral of St. Domnius set in the emperor's former mausoleum, and the vaulted substructures. Facing the sea stretches the Riva, a long palm-lined promenade of terraces, perfect at sunset. To the west, the wooded Marjan hill, a vast pine park, offers trails, coves and views over the islands. Beaches such as Bačvice extend the day, while Klis Fortress, perched above town, leads toward the hinterland. A lively port city, Split is also the gateway to the Dalmatian islands (Hvar, Brač, Vis).
🎬In Game of Thrones, the basements of Diocletian's Palace in Split serve as the dungeon for Daenerys's dragons from season 4, while the nearby Klis Fortress plays the city of Meereen. These very real ancient sets have since drawn fans and film crews alike.
✨The heart of Split is no ordinary old town but the very inside of a Roman palace: Emperor Diocletian had it built around 305 AD for his retirement, and residents moved in over the centuries. Today shops, bars and flats fill walls, columns and cellars seventeen centuries old.
🧭For a local moment, head to Bačvice beach and watch (or try) picigin, the Dalmatian ball game played standing in shallow water and said to have been born here. A data eSIM lets you check bus times to Klis and share your palace photos in real time.
ℹ️High season (June to September) is hot and busy; May and September offer pleasant seas and fewer crowds. The centre is walkable, the palace entirely pedestrian; local buses serve Marjan, the beaches and Klis, and the port links the islands by ferry. Tip: visit the palace early in the morning to avoid the heat and cruise crowds. 4G/5G coverage is reliable in town and along the Riva, free wifi common in cafés; a data eSIM is valuable for ferry schedules and navigating the lanes, where the signal can weaken under the palace vaults.
