Strolling down Split’s iconic Riva Harbor feels less like sightseeing and more like slipping straight into the city’s daily rhythm. Imagine a wide, palm-lined promenade hugging the Adriatic, where every breeze seems to carry the scent of salt and roasted coffee beans. Locals call it simply “Riva,” but what it really is—Split’s living room: open-air, sunlit, and always buzzing.

Originally shaped by Marshal Marmont’s French-era urban redesign in the early 1800s, the Riva replaced defensive walls with a graceful promenade. Over a century later, it was pedestrianized in the 1990s, transforming it into one of Split’s most popular waterfront promenades.

Once upon a time, Emperor Diocletian himself had ships docked right at his palace walls, bringing exotic goods, fresh fish, and perhaps the occasional amphora of fine wine. Today, cruise ships glide into the Port of Split, which ranks as the largest passenger port in Croatia and the third busiest in the Mediterranean, handling around 5 million passengers annually. Visitors and locals alike sip espresso and watch the world drift by. The Riva is a living testament to Split’s soul as a port city shaped by centuries of trade, sea stories, and salty winds.

The first thing you might want to do here is claim a spot on one of the many benches. Watch as sunlight dances across the Adriatic’s deep blue surface, then wander past cheerful cafés and gelato stands. Feeling peckish? Fresh seafood, local pastries, or a quick espresso are always just steps away. And yes, you’ll be sharing your view with the city’s famously fearless pigeons.

Turn around, and you’ll see the ancient south wall of Diocletian’s Palace rising behind the promenade, a striking blend of Roman stone and lively modern façades. It is this collision of past and present that gives the Riva its vibrant energy.

As evening falls, don’t rush off. The sunset here is a nightly ritual. The sky shifts from rose-gold to deep indigo, street musicians begin to play, and the harbor seems to glow.

In Split, you don’t just pass through the Riva. You slow down, look around, and truly feel the heartbeat of the city.

Though everyone calls it People’s Square, its original name was Saint Lawrence’s Square, dating all the way back to the 13th century. What makes this place special is that it was the very first part of Split where folks dared to live outside the safety of Diocletian’s Palace walls, marking the city’s slow but steady expansion beyond the emperor’s ancient fortress.

Life here never stops. The city clock overlooking the square has 24 numerals instead of the usual 12, reminding everyone that in People’s Square, time flows on its own unique rhythm. This is where locals and visitors alike gather to rest, eat, drink, meet friends, and simply soak up the city’s lively atmosphere. Connected directly to the Peristyle of the old palace, the square blends the ancient with the everyday.

Surrounding the square, architecture tells its own story—Renaissance grace, Venetian elegance, and Gothic charm all line the streets. Dominating the north side is the Old Town Hall, a 15th-century building that today hosts art and history exhibitions. Legend has it that every building in Split holds a secret or a tale, and here those stories feel alive.

Among the gems you’ll discover in the square are the ornate palaces of former nobility, the Church of Our Lady of the Bell Tower, the Old Town Clock, the charming Old Town Café, and the historic Morpurgo Bookstore, welcoming readers since 1860.

At the base of the square’s flagpole, a quote from local poet Tonći Petrasov reads:
"One doesn’t need to travel anywhere,
nor does one have to search elsewhere,
what you are looking for is precisely here."

In People’s Square, those words ring true. This is where Split’s past and present meet, where stories are shared, and where the city’s spirit pulses strongest.

Tucked away on Bosanska Street, just a stone’s throw from actual filming spots, Split’s Game of Thrones Museum feels less like a gallery and more like a secret passage into Westeros itself. After all, it was right here, in the ancient Podrum cellars beneath Diocletian’s Palace, that Daenerys kept her dragons chained, turning centuries-old Roman stone into a set worthy of fire and blood.

Created by local enthusiast Luka Galik, the museum prides itself on authenticity, and it shows. Inside, you’ll find meticulously crafted replica weapons, costumes, and props echoing those used on set, alongside striking photographs captured during production. Each display is carefully arranged to draw you deeper into the world of noble houses, shifting alliances, and legendary battles.

Wander through themed rooms that bring fan-favorite characters to life: Khaleesi’s quiet resolve, Tyrion’s clever mischief, Jon Snow’s steadfast honor, and Hodor’s enduring loyalty. Dim lighting and raw stone walls create a mood that’s half medieval fortress, half cinematic set, reminding you this was filmed among real history, not just in a studio.

What makes this museum different? Beyond what you see, there’s what you smell: subtle hints of cedarwood, jasmine, and lavender float through the air, blending memory, imagination, and atmosphere. It’s a small detail, yet it transforms your visit into something immersive, part exhibition and part sensory journey.

And if you’re wondering, yes, the Podrum wasn’t the only filming site. Several courtyards and corridors of Diocletian’s Palace also became streets of Meereen, where unsullied marched and conspiracies simmered.

Step back outside into the sunlit streets of Split—and you’ll carry a bit of Westeros with you.

On the western side of Diocletian’s Palace stands the West Gate—better known as the Iron Gate—one of the four original entrances into the emperor’s fortified retirement dream. Today, it opens straight into the lively fabric of Split, where the palace walls blend seamlessly with People’s Square. Around you rise the old City Hall, the clock tower, and a lineup of aristocratic residences—the Nakić, Karepić, Cambi, and Cipriani palaces—proof that prime real estate has always been in demand...

But don’t let the cafés and chatter distract you. The Iron Gate still carries traces of its defensive past. Look closely, and you’ll notice the ancient rampart and what was once a double-door security chamber—an early version of “authorized personnel only.” Above the passage sits the Church of Our Lady of the Bell Tower, a narrow, almost hidden sacred space tucked into the thickness of the walls. Like the chapels above the other gates, it makes impressive use of very limited square footage. In the 11th century, a bell tower was added, giving the structure a new vertical accent and a fresh medieval identity layered onto its Roman bones.

And here’s a detail many pass by without noticing: on the northern wall of the rampart, behind what was once a sealed medieval niche, a sculpture was discovered—hands holding a crown. Carefully restored and returned to its original position, it now quietly watches over the gate once more.

So, as you step through the Iron Gate, remember—while entering this square, you’re crossing a threshold guarded by emperors, nobles, and a pair of stone hands still holding on to their crown...

Let Me Pass Street, also known as Pusti me proć, is a unique and narrow street located in the old town of Split, Croatia. This iconic street is just a few meters long and is often considered one of the narrowest streets in the world, with a width of just over a meter in some places.

Despite its small size, Let Me Pass Street has become a popular destination for visitors to Split, who are drawn to its charming and picturesque atmosphere. The street is lined with historic stone buildings and has a steep incline, making for a unique and memorable experience as visitors navigate their way through its narrow passage.

The origins of Let Me Pass Street are shrouded in mystery, with many legends and stories circulating about its creation. Some say that the street was built as a way for residents to quickly and easily transport goods between the harbor and the upper part of the city, while others believe it was created as a way to escape the heat and provide shade during the hot summer months.

Regardless of its origins, Let Me Pass Street remains a fascinating and charming part of the city of Split. Its narrow passage and historic architecture offer a glimpse into the rich cultural heritage of Croatia, and make it a popular destination in Split.

Call it a palace if you like, but Diocletian’s masterpiece is really part imperial retirement villa, part military fortress, and part living city. Built at the end of the third century AD for the Roman emperor who gave up power in favor of peace (and yes, cabbages), it’s a place where stone walls once sheltered soldiers, emperors, monks—and today, generations of Split’s residents.

Perched on a peninsula near Salona—then Dalmatia’s Roman capital and Diocletian’s birthplace—the palace originally served as a seaside sanctuary for the emperor’s final years. When he died in 312, the complex remained under Roman control and occasionally offered refuge to members of the imperial family who needed to lay low.

In the 7th century, when Slavic and Avar invaders destroyed Salona, survivors escaped behind these formidable walls, founding a new settlement right inside the palace. And here’s the surprise—they never left. Today, Split’s Old Town literally lives within those ancient foundations: temples transformed into churches, courtyards became vibrant squares, and homes sprang up between columns.

Later transformations added layers of history. The emperor’s mausoleum was converted into what is now recognized as the world’s oldest Catholic cathedral still in use in its original structure—the Cathedral of Domnius. In the 18th century, Scottish architect Robert Adam studied the palace ruins and helped inspire the elegance of Neoclassical architecture across Europe.

The palace’s layout originally formed an irregular rectangle, once fortified by 16 defensive towers. Its southern façade opened directly to the sea, with ships docking at what is still known as the Sea Gate. Three other gates connected the city walls to external routes: the Golden Gate to the north, leading toward Salona; the Silver Gate to the east, facing Stobreč; and the Iron Gate on the west, reserved for military access.

Indeed, there are few places like this, where centuries layer so vividly in stone—Roman ambition, medieval resilience, and Venetian finesse all mingle beneath your footsteps...

In 305 AD, Emperor Diocletian, known for his brutal persecution of Christians, retired to sunny Dalmatia to cultivate cabbages and built himself a magnificent mausoleum at the heart of his new palace. A few centuries later, that same mausoleum was transformed into a cathedral dedicated to one of the very martyrs he had executed. What a dramatic irony of history...

The structure we see today was expertly crafted from white marble, limestone, and brick around the late third century. By the seventh century, refugees from destroyed Salona, who settled in the palace walls, consecrated it as a Christian church dedicated to the Virgin Mary. A choir was later added, and by the 12th century, the elegant bell tower honoring Bishop Domnius rose above the ancient stone.

Saint Domnius himself was the Bishop of Salona, born in Antioch and beheaded in 304 alongside other Christians, ironically dying just a year before Diocletian abdicated. Today, this cathedral is still in use within its original structure, making it the oldest Catholic cathedral in the world still used in its primary form.

As you approach the cathedral, you’ll walk along the same main north-south and east-west streets that guided pilgrims through the palace centuries ago. At their crossing lies the Peristyle, a grand courtyard that serves as the main entrance to the cathedral.

Cross the threshold, and you’re stepping into over 1,700 years of layered history: from an emperor’s resting place to a medieval choir loft, through the Romanesque tower, and into a treasury. The latter is filled with numerous masterpieces such as the 13th-century Madonna and Child panel, intricately crafted reliquaries, ceremonial chalices, and manuscripts spanning from the 6th to the 19th centuries.

It is fair to say that nowhere else do imperial power, medieval devotion, and contemporary faith converge so elegantly, especially when viewed through the lens of fate’s own historical twist...

Four gates guard the Old Town of Split, and the Romans, never ones to miss a directional detail, named them appropriately. The Silver Gate faces east, toward the ancient Roman town of Epetia, so they called it Porta Orientalis—literally, the “eastern gate.” Straightforward, efficient, and very Roman. The other entrances' names are all about metals and practicality: Golden Gate, Iron Gate, and Bronze Gate. Diocletian may have retired from power, but he certainly didn’t retire from branding...

After Salona, the nearby Roman capital, was destroyed by Avars and Slavs around the 7th century AD, refugees took shelter within the sturdy walls of Diocletian’s Palace. The space inside was tight, so what they did was build upward. Above the Silver Gate, in a narrow corridor, they tucked in a mini-church dedicated to Saint Apolinar. Yes, a chapel above a gateway. And since good ideas travel fast, similar little churches eventually appeared above other gates, too. Medieval multitasking at its finest...

By the 18th century, the Venetians decided the Silver Gate needed a sidekick. So, they added a “small gate” next to it—because, apparently, even ancient Roman entrances benefit from a practical shortcut.

Stepping outside the Silver Gate, you can’t help noticing a lively market scene. Just opposite stands the 17th-century monastery and church of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, built by the Dominicans. From imperial fortifications to monastic calm, all within a few steps.

And history doesn’t stop there. In the year 2000, Pope John Paul II passed through the Silver Gate in his Popemobile en route to visit the Cathedral of Saint Domnius. Indeed, not every Roman gate can say it has welcomed both an emperor and a pope.

So, as you walk through, don’t just pass under the arch—listen closely. These gates have seen empires rise, refugees arrive, Venetians renovate, and popes roll through. Not bad for an old doorway...

Nestled beside the east wall of the UNESCO-listed World Heritage site of Diocletian's Palace, Split's vibrant green market, affectionately known as Pazar, immerses you in the essence of everyday life in the city. Here, you can seamlessly blend in with the locals and truly embrace the authentic atmosphere of Croatia. Tourists seeking a genuine Croatian experience are increasingly drawn to this lively outdoor market.

Previously situated at Fruit Square, the market's relocation became a necessity due to the city's rapid growth and development. Now, in its new central location, it has become the beating heart and soul of Split. It serves as a gathering place for both residents and visitors, all eager to indulge in the array of colors, flavors, aromas, and sounds that encapsulate the vibrant essence of life in Split.