Car Hire Split - Airport, Croatia

See: Diocletian’s Palace is where it all began, more than 1700 years ago, when Roman Emperor Diocletian decided to retire to his native Dalmatia. Today the historic centre of Split, a labyrinth of car-free stone alleys and proud Gothic Renaissance palazzi, lies within these magnificent ancient walls, and the entire complex is aUNESCO world heritage site. Check out the Roman Peristil (an internal square rimmed by an arcade) and the Cathedral with its elegant bell tower, then stroll along the palm-lined Riva (seafront promenade) for views across the Adriatic Sea. Attractions include the Ethnological Museum displaying folk costumes, the Gallery of Fine Arts exhibiting works by Croatian and foreign artist, the Vidović Gallery showcasing Split’s finest 20^th-century painter, and the Meštrović Gallery where you can see Ivan Meštrović’s wood, marble and bronze sculptures in his 1930’s seaside villa. To trace Split’s centuries-old connections with the sea and sailing, visit the Naval Museum housed in the 17^th-century Gripe Fortress. Before leaving Split, check out the towering bronze statue of Grgur Ninski, in front of the Zlatna Vrata (Golden Gate), and touch Grgur’s big toe for good luck.

Videos of Split

Shop: The Pazar (open-air market), just outside the Palace walls, is Split’s most-photographed shopping venue - join locals browsing the stalls for seasonal fruit and vegetables, cheeses, nuts and dried fruit. For souvenirs, check out the stalls lining the podrum (underground chambers) between the Peristil and the seafront.

Ideas for gifts to bring home include olive oil products from Uje and chocolates from Croatia’s best-loved sweet maker, Kraš.

For clothes, Hippy Garden stocks one-off pieces by Croatian designers, while Michal Negrin showcases the whimsical dresses and jewellery of Israeli designer Negrin. Football fanatics can pick up a red-white-and-blue chequered shirt at Hajduk Cro Fan Shop, which stocks both Croatian and Hajduk (Split) strips.

Eat: Seafood rules in Dalmatia and there’re plenty of great fish restaurants in Split.In the old town, for local classics such as crni rižot (black risotto made from cuttlefish ink) or frigane lignje (fried squid), try Konoba Varoš a rustic candlelit eatery with heavy wooden tables and benches, or the tiny Trattoria Bajamont (no website) hidden in a narrow stone side alley. Nearby, Apetit serves traditional dishes with a twist, such as tunjevina na pašticada (tuna stewed in wine with prunes), in a first-floor dining room with deep green walls and big modern oil paintings.

For a table with a sea view, check out the smart waterside restaurants on the coast. Adriatic Grašo does Dalmatian ‘slow food’ above the ACI yachting marina, while Bota Šare overlooking Bačvice Bay is famed for its oysters and mussels, which the owners grow themselves down at Ston. For a really special occasion, splash out at gourmet-restaurant Kadena.

Drink: Split’s lovely old town is packed with small bars and cafes. One of the most memorable venues has to be Luxor (no website) on the Peristil in the heart of the palace, where they put cushions on the ancient stone steps so you can sit out, Roman-style, while enjoying coffee or a glass of wine. Hike up to Vidilica (no website) on pine-clad Marjan for chilled beer on a terrace with amazing views over town and out to sea – don’t forget your camera. After dark, in the old town, Ghetto Klub (no website) stages art exhibitions and live music, and serves drinks in a romantic courtyard garden lit with flaming torches.

For exotic cocktails, DJ-music and views over the sea towards the islands of Brač and Šolta, try Tropic Club in Bačvice Bay. The see-and-be-seen vibe continues at

Hemingway and Vanilla Club both northwest of the centre, close to Poljud Stadium.

If you like live music with your drinks, O’Hara is the place for commercial pop and rock, overlooking the sailing boats in Zenta marina. Or check out the Croatian rock scene with a concert at Spaladium Underground.

Stay: On the edge of town, Le Meridien Lav is a big smart 5-star coastal resort complete with a spa, pebble beach and marina.  Overlooking the port, Hotel Luxe offers funky contemporary interior design and free parking.

 For maximum atmosphere, sleep within the Palace walls at a small boutique hotel, such as the 11-room Vestibul Palaceor the 12-room Hotel Peristil.

 On a budget? Book in at Split’s first design hostel Goli+Bosi or rent a self-catering apartment at Villa Matejuška.

Photos of Split

Walk: Wandering round Split’s car-free old town is a joy in itself. However, for a more serious walk and stunning sea views, climb the steps up through Varoš, a old quarter made up of quaint stone cottages, to Marjan, a green peninsular planted with pines, Mediterranean shrubs and agave, and criss-crossed by gravel footpaths. For more serious hiking, Biokovo Active Holidays organise half-day and one-day walking tours of Mount Biokovo, a dramatic rocky mountain rising behind the pretty seaside town of Makarska, 60km southeast of Split.

Get Out: The Dalmatian coast abounds with beaches – the best known beach in Split is Bačvice, with its warm shallow water ideal for kids. From Split’s port, regular ferries and catamarans sail to the nearby islands – visit Brač to bathe at Zlatni Rat beach in Bol, or Hvar to try skinny dipping on the pine-scented Pakleni islets opposite trendy Hvar Town. Drive up the coast to Šibenik to see the UNESCO-listed 15^th-century cathedral then spend some time exploring nearby Krka National Park with its thundering waterfalls. Or, for white water rafting down the River Cetina near Omiš, arrange a daytrip with Adventure Dalmatia.

Listen: While in Dalmatia, listen out for Klapa, a form of traditional plain song, unique to the region – to hear some of the best, attend the annual Dalmatian Klapa Festival, staged in Omiš each July.

Highly revered local musicians include Split-born singer-songwriter Oliver Dragojević whose "Galeb i ja" paints images of freedom and seagulls, while Split-based  rap-rock band The Beat Fleet are now acknowledged as one of the most innovative experimental bands in Croatia. If you’re here in summer, take in an open-air concert or opera performance. Check out the Split Summer Festival programme to see who’s performing - recent world class acts include French-born jazz guitarist Christian Escoudé and Dakar-based director Jean-Michel Bruyère.

Avoid: Touting waiters and bar staff. Luckily they’re still rare here, but if a restaurant or bar needs to employ someone to drag in passers-by from the street, it’s probably a tourist trap and best avoided.