CROATIA mightn’t be on most people’s bucket-list, but there are plenty of good reasons to go there.
My travel buddy suggested it when we were designing our itinerary and it proved to be one of our trip highlights.
Split in Croatia is where Game of Thrones was shot and for that reason alone its become more popular as a tourist destination in recent years.
One of the drawcards for our visit was the opportunity to put away our coats and trade them in for swimmers.
We investigated taking part in Croatia’s famous sail week, but the cost of the few remaining tickets of $3000 each was prohibitive and we also didn’t have the time to stay for a seven day party.
Instead we did a taste test of what sailing on the Mediterranean was like and spent a day in the sun on a large sailboat.
The water was pristine and the day was perfect making us think about one day we might save up and return for the big party.
Our accommodation was at Riva Luxury Rooms which was in the heart of Split’s Old Town.
Other than the hot-water not working on the first day it’s a recommendation.
Walking out the door we stumbled on Diocletian’s Palace where they were staging a street theatre performance.
The palace was built in the fourth century and forms about half of the Old Town of Split.
Wandering the streets we came across markets, restaurants and bars all built into the ancient walls of what was once a mighty palace.
Seeing actors walking past dressed as Roman guards made visiting this UNESCO site seem like a trip back in time.
The Old Town was a great home base from which to step out and explore Split.
A day trip on our second day took us to Krka National Park which is home to a series of seven stunning waterfalls.
We were lucky to get to see it as the park had flooded just days prior and had only just reopened.
The day tour we went on only cost us a little over $50 and lasted for 10 hours.
The weather was against us though, which meant instead of going for a swim we huddled under a shelter for hours.
One memory I will take back from our stay in Split is the way locals interacted with us and welcomed us to their city.
It was unlike other cities such as Paris where we felt like we were imposing.
Split relies heavily on tourism and its no doubt they now have a new appreciation for tourists after the painful COVID years.
Rating
Split 8/10
Riva Hotel 8/10
Local Food 6/10
