Split, Croatia: Exploring a City Built Inside a Roman Palace

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Split, Croatia is one of those places that surprises you.

At first glance it feels like a classic Mediterranean coastal city — palm trees lining the harbor, boats drifting in the marina, and cafés stretching along the waterfront.

But once you start exploring, you realize something incredible:
Much of the city was built inside the walls of an ancient Roman palace.

The combination of everyday life and nearly 1,700 years of history makes Split one of the most fascinating cities to wander.

Panoramic view of a coastal city with red-roofed buildings, a marina with boats, and mountains in the background under a partly cloudy sky, framed by tall evergreen trees. — Coastal views just outside Split during our tour

Starting the Day with a Shore Excursion

We were visiting Split as a cruise port stop, so we wanted a way to see the highlights of the city while still leaving plenty of time to explore on our own.

Instead of booking through the cruise line, we chose a small eco-friendly city tour through Viator, which turned out to be a great way to get oriented.

The tour uses compact electric carts that move easily through the streets while the guide explains the history of Split and its landmarks.

Two small open tour vehicles drive down a paved street lined with yellow buildings, palm trees, and greenery under a partly cloudy sky. People are visible in the background near a park area. — Our eco tour tuk tuk ready to explore Split

Large red letters spelling SPLIT stand on a paved walkway, surrounded by palm trees and greenery. Outdoor seating with umbrellas and a marina with boats are visible in the background under a cloudy sky. — Quick stop at the iconic Split sign

What we liked most was that it wasn’t just a ride around the city.

The tour included several stops where we got out and explored on foot, making it feel more like a guided walking tour with transportation between the major areas.

It gave us a great overview of Split before continuing to explore the city on our own.

A pedestrian street with people walking and sitting on benches, flanked by modern shops on the right and older buildings on the left, with trees and a partly cloudy sky in the background. — Modern stores mixed well in the old town.

A narrow street in a European city is lined with stone buildings, shops, and balconies. People walk along the sidewalk. A large tree and a green pedestrian light are visible under a partly cloudy sky. — Streets were fairly empty this morning.

A narrow European street lined with old buildings, a wine bar on the left, and people walking or standing along the cobblestone path under a blue sky. — Our tour guide leads us through the old town.

People walk through a sunny plaza surrounded by historic stone buildings, including one with a large clock and bell tower. Outdoor café tables with umbrellas are on the right, and the sky is partly cloudy. — Views of Split’s old town from the tour

People walk and cycle along a sunny street lined with parked cars and vans. A leafy tree provides shade in the foreground, and stone walls and yellow buildings are visible in the background. — Driving through Split’s colorful local streets

Booking the Tour

Booking the tour was very straightforward through Viator and we received confirmation via the site chat directly from the tour operator shortly after booking, with their direct contact information.

RecommendedEco City Tour Split★ 4.8 · From $47.39/person

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The evening before the tour, we received confirmation along with clear instructions for the meeting location.

Then the morning of the tour, the operator reached out again via WhatsApp to confirm everything and make sure we were headed to the right place. They even gave us a quick call while we were walking toward the meeting point.

Pro Tip

If you’re traveling without phone service, WhatsApp is the easiest way to stay in touch with tour operators. Let them know ahead of time—Viator chat makes it simple.

Since the Split cruise port is located right next to the historic center, the meeting location was just outside the port area, making it incredibly easy to find them.

For a cruise stop where time is limited, that convenience made the whole experience feel smooth and stress-free.

Two large Jadrolinija ferries are docked at a harbor in Split, Croatia, with city buildings and mountains visible in the background under a partly cloudy sky. — View of the cruise port from our ship.

Views of the Adriatic

One of the first things you notice in Split is how closely the city is connected to the sea.

From different viewpoints around the city you can see the entire harbor stretching along the waterfront promenade.

Palm trees line the marina, sailboats fill the harbor, and the mountains rise dramatically behind the city.

The Adriatic Sea here has that deep blue color that almost looks unreal in photos.

It’s the kind of place where you immediately start thinking about grabbing a drink and sitting by the water for a while.

A view of a coastal town with red-roofed buildings and a hill in the background. Boats are anchored and moving on the water, and a Croatian flag is visible on a docked boat to the right under a cloudy sky. — Boats on the water in front of the old town.

View of a coastal city with red-tiled roofs, a harbor with yachts, and mountains in the background, under a partly cloudy sky, framed by trees and greenery in the foreground. — The beautiful coastline and palm tree-lined waterfront.

A smiling woman and man wearing sunglasses take a selfie outdoors with a scenic city, coastline, and mountains in the background, surrounded by tall trees under a partly cloudy sky. — Taking in the views along the coast

Walking Through Diocletian’s Palace

The historic center of Split is Diocletian’s Palace, originally built in the 4th century for the Roman emperor Diocletian.

But calling it a palace doesn’t really tell the full story.

Over the centuries, the palace gradually became a living neighborhood.

Homes, restaurants, shops, and cafés were built directly into the Roman walls, transforming the structure into the heart of the modern city.

Walking through the palace feels like stepping into a place where history and daily life exist side by side.

A man in a blue shirt stands near a flower box on a narrow, stone-paved street with historic buildings. A WC sign hangs above. In the background, people walk and look at shop displays. — Jeff stopping in old town to smell the flowers.

A narrow stone alleyway with arched passages between tall, historic buildings. A weathered stone statue is set into the wall on the right. Several people walk down the sunlit street. — Historic details carved into palace walls

A view looking up at an old stone building with weathered walls, green and brown wooden shutters, and small windows. Some windows are open, and plants grow on the wall near the roof. — Looking up at the palace’s inner courtyard

People walk through an ancient stone archway with weathered walls under a partly cloudy blue sky. The structure appears historical, with plants growing from some sections. — Entering Diocletian’s Palace through the Golden Gate

A historic stone cathedral with a tall bell tower stands under a bright, partly cloudy sky. The sun shines above, casting light on the ancient architecture and a wooden fence in the foreground. — Cathedral of Saint Domnius and its bell tower

Ancient stone ruins with arches stand beside a modern building labeled Hotel under a blue sky with wispy clouds. The scene includes weathered columns and old stone walls. — Remains of Diocletian’s Palace structures

A narrow stone alley leads to a sunlit square where a group of people stands. An overhead maroon sign reads “Zlatna Vrata Kinoteka” in yellow letters. Stone walls and greenery are visible above the archway. — Walking toward the Golden Gate entrance

A stone plaque set into a rough stone wall, inscribed in Latin with text about Porta Aurea, mentioning restoration in 1824 and Ioanne Comite dBratti, Prefect of Split. — Ancient inscription near the Golden Gate

Tourists gather outside an ancient stone gate with arches and columns under a sunny sky. Some people are dressed as Roman soldiers, and the building features weathered white stone walls. — Outside Diocletian’s Palace walls

A tall stone bell tower stands next to a large bronze statue of a robed figure holding a book with one hand raised, set against a blue sky with wispy clouds and surrounded by greenery. — Statue of Gregory of Nin beside the cathedral tower

The Peristyle Courtyard

One of the most impressive spaces inside the palace is the Peristyle, the main ceremonial courtyard surrounded by towering Roman columns.

Standing in this open square really gives you a sense of the scale and grandeur of the original palace.

While we were there, something unexpected was happening.

A film crew had set up a giant green screen in the courtyard, turning the ancient Roman square into a modern movie set.

Seeing production crews working among the Roman architecture was a strange but fascinating contrast.

It was a reminder that Split isn’t just a historic site — it’s still a vibrant, evolving city.

People gather in a historic stone courtyard with arches and columns, while a film crew sets up equipment and cameras. The scene is busy with actors, crew, and onlookers beneath a bright blue sky. — Film crew setup in the Peristyle courtyard

A group of people gather on stone steps near ancient ruins, surrounded by large green screens for filming. Some sit, others stand or take photos. The sky is blue with scattered clouds. — Behind the scenes filming inside the palace

A film crew works among ancient stone arches and ruins, with camera equipment and green screens set up. The sky is partly cloudy and the historic site has worn stone walls and columns. — Filming near the palace arches

Ancient stone columns and arches of a Roman-style building, with people walking below. A black sphinx statue and a lion statue sit among the architecture, and a white decorative umbrella is visible in the foreground. — Roman columns in the Peristyle courtyard

Exploring the Palace’s Hidden Passages

Some of the most interesting areas of Diocletian’s Palace are the narrow corridors and underground passages beneath the complex.

These vaulted stone halls once served as storage spaces and substructures supporting the palace above.

Today they form part of the pathways visitors walk through while exploring the old town.

The brick arches, cool air, and dim lighting make these spaces feel dramatically different from the sunlit courtyards outside.

It’s easy to imagine how massive and complex this palace must have been nearly two thousand years ago.

A group of tourists stands and walks inside an ancient stone corridor with arched ceilings and walls, illuminated by small lights. The scene depicts historic architecture and sightseeing. — Walking through the palace’s underground chambers

Entrance to the Substructures of Diocletians Palace in Split, Croatia, with a lit sign above a metal gate and stone walls visible inside the historic site. — Entrance to Diocletian’s Palace substructures

Marjan Hill and the Park Above the City

Part of the tour also brought us toward the green areas around Marjan Hill, which offer a completely different perspective of Split.

Instead of stone streets and Roman ruins, the landscape changes to tall cypress trees, shaded walking paths, and quiet viewpoints overlooking the Adriatic.

Locals walk, jog, and relax here while enjoying the sea breeze.

It’s a peaceful contrast to the busy energy of the old town below.

Stone steps lead up to a path lined with tall, green cypress trees on both sides. The sky is bright and blue, and shrubs fill the space between the trees. — Stone steps leading through Marjan Hill park

Stone steps descend from a gravel path to a seaside walkway bordered by a stone wall. Tall pine trees provide shade on the left, and calm blue sea stretches to the right under a partly cloudy sky. — Seaside path along Marjan Hill

A stone walkway with a wall runs alongside a large, calm body of water. Trees line the path on the left, and mountains are visible in the distance under a partly cloudy sky. — Views of the Adriatic from Marjan Hill

A stone ruin stands among tall pine and cypress trees in a sunlit park with green grass and a partly cloudy blue sky. — Peaceful green space in Marjan Hill

A small stone building with a red-tiled roof stands among trees, next to a low stone wall and a paved courtyard with a round stone well. Bushes and greenery surround the area under a partly cloudy sky. — Small stone structure in Marjan park

Old stone ruins and a low wall on grassy ground, with tall trees, a small stone building with a red roof, and the sea visible in the background under a partly cloudy sky. — Remains of old structures in the park

A small stone pavilion with columns stands on a gravel path, surrounded by tall trees. The pavilion is covered in colorful graffiti and sits on a grassy area in a park. — Historic pavilion along Marjan Hill trails

Two tall cypress trees stand side by side in a grassy park, surrounded by other green trees and bushes under a blue sky with scattered clouds. — Cypress trees towering over the park

Split’s Beaches

Along the coastline near the city you’ll also find small beaches where locals and visitors swim in the Adriatic.

Even close to the city center, the water is clear enough to see straight to the bottom.

Rows of beach chairs and umbrellas line the shore while people relax or cool off in the sea.

It’s one of those places where the pace of the day slows down and the Mediterranean lifestyle really starts to sink in.

A sandy beach with rows of empty lounge chairs and closed umbrellas facing the sea. A few people walk along the shore, and two palm trees stand near the water. The sea appears slightly wavy in the background. — Beach with lounge chairs along the Adriatic

A small, curved beach juts into the calm blue sea, lined with palm trees. The water is clear and turquoise near the shore. Trees frame the foreground and distant mountains are visible under a partly cloudy sky. — Curved beach and coastline in Split

Wandering the Old Town

After finishing the tour, the best part of the day was simply wandering through the old town.

Split is full of narrow stone alleyways, hidden wine bars, small restaurants, and quiet courtyards tucked between centuries-old buildings.

Some streets are lively and full of people, while others feel almost secret.

Getting a little lost here is part of the experience.

And honestly, it’s one of the best ways to discover Split.

A pair of stone hands in a praying position emerge from a small alcove in an old, weathered stone wall with ornate details and rough textures. — Stone niche detail in the old town

A narrow stone passageway with an arched entrance in an old stone building. The walkway is paved with worn stones, and theres a blue metal gate on the left. A closed wooden shutter is above the passage. — Small stone passage through the old town

Two people stand outside Froggyland, a specialty museum with an awning that advertises “World’s Unique Collection of Stuffed Frogs,” located in a stone building with flags on the roof. — Entrance to the Froggyland museum

A narrow stone alleyway with old buildings, green shutters, and arched entrances. A few people are walking, and a person is taking a photo. Sunlight brightens the passage, and greenery is visible above the archway ahead. — Exploring quiet streets inside the old town

A narrow stone alleyway between old buildings with shutters and modern windows, leading to an archway. Several people are walking in the distance under a partly cloudy sky. — Walking through Split’s narrow alleyways

Narrow alley lined with old stone buildings, small windows, wall-mounted lanterns, and an air conditioning unit, with weathered, textured surfaces and a glimpse of the sky overhead. — Aging stone walls throughout the city

A City Where History Feels Alive

What makes Split so unique is that it doesn’t feel like a preserved historic site.

It feels lived in.

People live in apartments built into Roman walls. Restaurants operate inside ancient stone buildings. Shops sit beneath arches that have stood for centuries.

History here isn’t something you observe from a distance.

It’s simply part of everyday life.

Four adults sit at an outdoor restaurant table under a large tan umbrella, smiling at the camera. Menus and scratch-off lottery tickets are on the table. The restaurant signs read LATE NIGHT FOOD and COCKTAILS. — Ending the day with food and drinks by the water

If You Go

Split is a great destination whether you’re visiting Croatia for several days or stopping for a cruise port visit.

Starting with a short guided tour can help you understand the city’s layout and history before exploring the old town on your own.

If you’re interested in the tour we used, you can check it out here:

Eco City Tour Split★ 4.8 · $49.37

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After that, give yourself time to wander.

Some of the best moments in Split happen when you’re simply exploring the streets with no particular destination in mind.

Planning a cruise stop here? Check our Split Cruise Port Guide — terminals, maps, tips & more.