Split Day Trip from Kaštela: Palace, Riva & Marjan

Split is only about 20 kilometres from our front door in Kaštel Stari, around 24 minutes by car, and it is the day trip almost every guest takes. It is a real city built inside a Roman emperor's palace, and it can feel either magical or overwhelming depending on how you plan it. Here is how we would spend a day in Split from Kaštela.

Getting from Kaštela to Split

There are a few ways to get there, and for Split we usually recommend leaving the car behind.

• Bus: the local bus line between Trogir and Split runs along the Kaštela coast road, and the nearest stop is about 800 metres from Villa Marina, around 11 minutes on foot. Buses are frequent in summer and arrive at a bus station a short walk from the old town. Buy tickets from the driver or at a kiosk, and check the current timetable with the operator, Promet Split, as it changes by season.
• Car: easy on the way in, harder once you arrive. Parking in central Split is limited and expensive in summer. Public garages and paid zones exist, but the closest ones fill early.
• Taxi or ride-hailing: convenient for the return trip in the evening, especially after dinner in town.
• Boat: in summer there are usually seasonal passenger boats between Trogir and Split. They are a lovely way to arrive by sea, but schedules vary from year to year, so check before you plan around them.

Diocletian's Palace

Built around the year 300 as the retirement home of the Roman emperor Diocletian, the palace is not a ruin behind a fence. People live in it, hang laundry in it and run cafés and shops inside its walls. The whole area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the best way to explore it is to wander.

Start at the Peristyle, the central square with its columns and the sphinx that has been sitting there since Roman times. From there, visit the Cathedral of St Domnius, originally Diocletian's mausoleum, and climb the bell tower for a view over the rooftops to the islands. The palace basement halls below the Riva give you a sense of the original layout. Leave the palace through the Golden Gate to see the huge statue of Gregory of Nin; locals say rubbing his big toe brings luck.

Entry to the squares and lanes is free. The cathedral, bell tower and basement halls have tickets, and prices and opening hours change by season, so check on arrival.

The Riva and the Green Market

The Riva is Split's wide seafront promenade, lined with palms and cafés along the southern wall of the palace. It is where the whole city comes to sit, drink coffee and watch people. Coffee on the Riva is slightly pricier than elsewhere, but it is part of the experience.

Just east of the palace is the Green Market, known locally as Pazar, where farmers from the surrounding villages sell fruit, vegetables, cheese, honey, dried figs and lavender. Go in the morning when it is liveliest. Near the western side of the old town, the fish market is a short walk away and worth a look even if you are not buying.

Marjan hill

When the old town gets hot and crowded, head west to Marjan, the forested peninsula at the edge of the city. Stone steps from the Varoš neighbourhood lead up to a viewpoint café with a panorama over the harbour, the old town and the islands of Brač and Šolta. Keep going and you will find walking paths through pine forest, small chapels and beaches such as Kašjuni and Bene along the shore. It is an easy way to feel far from the city without leaving it.

Timing: avoiding crowds and cruise ships

Split is a busy cruise ship port in summer, and when several ships are in, the narrow lanes of the palace fill up from mid-morning to mid-afternoon. A few habits make a big difference:

• Arrive early. Before 9:00 the palace is quiet, cool and beautiful in the morning light.
• Spend the middle of the day on Marjan or at a beach, away from the old town.
• Come back for the evening, when the cruise passengers have gone and the Riva and the palace squares come alive.
• Check the port's cruise schedule online if you want to pick a quieter day.
• Visit in May, June or September if you can; July and August are the busiest months.

After a long day in the city, it is a real pleasure to come back to somewhere calm. From Villa Marina in Kaštel Stari, Split is close enough for an easy day trip or a spontaneous dinner, and far enough that your evenings end with a quiet swim in the pool. We would be happy to help you plan your day in Split.