Filling a peninsula jutting into the Adriatic, Croatia's second largest city boasts one of the sunniest settings in Europe. If you've only got a few days to spare, it's a great destination for a short break, with plenty to see and do in the city itself.
If you've got a little more time for adventure, though, it's the ideal starting point for a trip down the Dalmatian coastline and a sojourn on gorgeous Croatian islands.
A magnet to sun seekers and historians alike, Split's a popular holiday spot, and you can expect to rub shoulders with other inquisitive visitors at any time of year. They come to absorb the bustling, atmospheric Old Town, particularly its spectacular Diocletian's Palace. Built in AD305 as a retirement abode for the eponymous Roman emperor, it's one of the most astonishing classical remains on Earth.
While you're bound to lose hours among the ancient cathedral, subterranean halls, Egyptian sphinxes and café-thronged central courtyard of the palace area, try to leave time for Marjan Forest Park, the city's treasured haven covering the west of the Split peninsula, with marvellous views from its peak.
Below, lapped by astonishingly blue waters, the sand and pebble beaches in and around town are popular with locals and visitors alike.
Split's nightlife is bustling, with plenty of wine cellars, cafés, restaurants and theatres to choose from. After you've tucked into a meal from a konoba (a traditional family eatery), or had a drink on the seafront, you might wish to perform what's known as the 'Splitski Sir'. No, it's not a traditional dance - it's the locals' nightly jaunt through the Old Town to hunt down the busiest watering hole. Well, when in Rome...
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