Roman ruins and a pretty coastline
Croatia's second largest city is one of sharp contrasts. It lies halfway between the country's two leading holiday destinations, Dubrovnik and Istria, echoing appealing mountain backdrops and glittering Adriatic waterfronts. Split houses some of Europe's finest Roman remains, as well as modern trimmings that are about as metropolitan as Croatia gets. The city was founded by the Roman Emperor Diocletian, who built its atmospheric walled palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the empire's finest gifts, along with a collection of Roman baths, a cathedral and an amphitheatre.
On the flip side of the coin is a buzzing drinking and dining scene, with cafés, bars and restaurants reaching the length of the Riva, Split's palm-lined seafront promenade that acts as the city's stage. It fills with festivals and events come summer, in particular the vibrant summer festival held through July and August.
Flights from the UK to the Split Riviera take around 2 hours 20 minutes.
Transfer time from Split airport to Split is approximately 40 minutes.
July and August are the hottest months (temperatures can reach into the mid-30s) and attract the most visitors. June, September and October are great months to visit, as crowds are smaller but the weather still tends to be warm and dry (spot on for sightseeing).
Tipping is becoming more commonplace in Croatia, especially in more upmarket establishments where around 10% has become the norm. In bars and more casual restaurants, just leave the coins in your change. At your hotel, tip porters and maids 15 kuna or so. Taxi drivers don’t expect a tip, but it’s a nice gesture to round up the fare.
The official language of Croatia is Croatian. English is widely spoken too, so getting by is easy.