Croatia Travel Guide 2019 - part II: Must-do things in Split/Dubrovnik

Split

Split is by far one of my favourite places I've visited. It really does have something for everyone, if you're looking for something cultural or relaxing or wanting to party Split has a bit of everything. I could honestly see myself living there and I can't wait to visit again!

Old town

The old town in split has a number of attractions the biggest being Diocletian's palace. This was a palace built for the Emperor Diocletian to retire in. This was also a filming location for game of thrones! There is a market inside which is free to visit however to access the rest of the palace costs 40 kuna.

There is also the Cathedral of Saint Domnius which is the oldest remaining Catholic cathedral. It is stunning really stunning! You can buy a ticket for 25 kuna which also includes the temple of Jupiter, Crypt and bell tower. We didn't really care for the temple or crypt and the bell tower was closed when we visited. You can also pay extra to visit the treasury if you wish.

Grgur Ninski is a statue located just outside the town walls - a short walk from the Peristyle. This is a really cool statue of a Croatian bishop made by Ivan Mestrovic. Apparently, it’s good luck to rub his golden toe lol.

Photo from google

This is just a few of our favourite attractions in old town. The town has such a great atmosphere and we could have spent hours exploring all the alleyways. There are lots of cute shops, restaurants and pubs - which I will talk more about in my final Croatia post!

Mestrovic gallery

This building was the home of Ivan Mestrovic who was a Croatian sculptor from the 20th century. This gallery is dedicated to his artwork which I love! The building and garden itself are also stunning to walk around and the balcony has a beautiful view of the sea. It cost 40 kuna and also includes entry to a nearby chapel however we didn't get a chance to visit it. You should also check out some of the beaches nearby! It took us around 25 mins to walk to the gallery however I would recommend just getting the bus or taxi as I didn't enjoy walking in the heat lol.

Marjan hill

This is a huge park located just outside the old town and has by far the best view of split! There are a lot of stairs so be prepared and bring plenty of water. There is a cafe which was a nice place to have a drink and enjoy the view however could get a little pricey.

Bacvice beach

This is one of the more popular and touristy beaches in Split however was still really nice! There was a little stony beach which was super crowded so we bought sun loungers instead. Ours cost 100 kuna each - overpriced I know:/ We spent most of the day in the water which was super clear and blue – ugh I wish I was still there:( Btw mibby bring swim shoes as the seabed is kinda rocky.

Froggyland

Quite possibly the weirdest place I've been lol. Inside is a collection of stuffed frogs displayed in human settings – its hard to describe so I’ve included photos from google. It’s a super small exhibit but really fascinating and weird and only takes 15 mins to walk around so worth checking out! Tickets cost 40 kuna.

Photo from google

Dubrovnik

Old town

There is so much to see in old town so I will just mention a few of my favourites. Before going we bought a Dubrovnik card online which gave us access to all the sights and public transport. This costs 225 kuna for a day pass which seems like a lot but is totally worthwhile! Must-see sights include fort lovrijenac, the city walls and Friars Minor Franciscan Monastery Museum.

If you are a Game of Thrones fan definitely download this virtual tour as there are so many filming locations to check out!

Walking around old town feels like stepping into another world it really is an amazing place to visit and explore, we even found a basket of kittens one day lol! We didn't eat out here as it was pretty steep pricing but we did go for a drink by the city walls which is a must do!

Gradac park

One morning we went for a walk around Gradac park - another GOT filming location. The park is pretty small but has some stunning views! There is also a small local beach worth visiting!

Lokrum

This island is a must-do day trip! There is a ferry from old town port every 30 minutes which costs 40 kuna. Once there you can explore the gardens, relax on the beach - there is a nudist beach if you're into that lol and visit the monastery which has an iron throne where you can get a free photo with! There are also peacocks which roam the island which is pretty cool lol.

Fun fact - in the 12th century King Richard the lionheart got shipwrecked on the island.