Split, Croatia: #Splitislit

Split, first and foremost, is a beach town. It has tons to do, and it has a reputation of being relaxing and wonderful. I scheduled five nights here, and I’m so glad I did. There is so much to do, and I really needed to rest after the action-packed adventure that was Dubrovnik.

 

The Main Street in Split, lit up at night.

While I was in Split, I went hiking, swimming, enjoyed sunsets, and met loads of incredible people. It’s not as expensive as Dubrovnik, but offers up incredible sites like Diocletian’s Palace, another beautiful limestone city, and incredible views. additionally, there are open-air markets that sell fresh fruits and vegetables. There are ferries going out from the port of Split to several of Croatia’s majestic islands, as well as multiple buses leaving for the National Parks.

 

Dos and Don’ts of Split, Croatia:

 

Do:

Shop in the local markets. The food is fresh, the vendors are inexpensive, and it’s a great way to stock up on snacks.

Don’t:

Be lured into spending a lot of money in restaurants. If you stay somewhere with a kitchen it is easy enough to cook delicious food from the markets.

But, if you have to go out:

Check with your hotel or hostel to see if they are partnered with any local restaurants. I scored a delectable free breakfast at CokArt which was pretty close to my hostel. Additionally hotels and hostels offer discounts on tours, pub crawls and transit.

 

Watching Sunset over the Cliffs from the beach at Park Suma Marjan

 

Do:

Hike the cliffs around Park Suma Marjan. They are beautiful, it is absolutely free, and there are buses from the Main town to take you there. Additionally, you can walk there if you are really trying to save money.

Don’t:

Go to the first beach you see. The beach closest to Park Suma Marjan is surrounded by cliffs and is absolutely worth the extra travel time.

But if you really don’t want to walk that far:

Ubers are actually available in Split, and do not cost very much. See if you can share the transit costs with a friend.

 

One of the Churches built into the Mountainside at Park Suma Marjan

Do:

 

Take advantage of the day trip opportunities available from Split. I was able to ferry to Trogir, and carpool to Krka. Both places are worth a day to explore, and have a blast.

Don’t:

Worry to much about booking Day-trip tickets online. In my experience all were available at the harbor.

Always:

Carry Cash in Kuna and Lipa around in Split. Several places don’t take card, and it is so much easier if you have the cash on you to enjoy the scenery without worry.

 

An old staircase we found exploring.

 

Personally, I found it incredibly exciting to follow paths and try to explore on foot. The last day I was there, my friend and I found several old abandoned staircases that seemed to lead to nowhere, and ended the trip with some bushwhacking about the park. Split should definitely be on your radar for Croatia.

 

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