Split is a city in the Dalmatian coast of Croatia. It is an old town with a lot of old attractions and ancient architectural wonders that are believed to have existed for 1700 years. There is a beautiful balance between the early designs for example St. Duje’s Cathedral with a mausoleum that is from the 4th century. There are so many beautiful locations that Hollywood has used a good number of them as sets for favorite movies. The Klis Fortress and a town called Trogir are a few examples of attractions film lovers can recognize. Tourists can enjoy the city through excursions from Split to many other gorgeous locations, some of which have been identified by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites. Some places that are worth putting on the itinerary when planning an excursion of Split include:

#1 Froggyland

For those that are interested in taxidermy, this is the perfect place to visit in Split. There is a shrine dedicated to the humble frog that has 507 stuffed and well-preserved frogs in the museum. What’s interesting is how they have been displayed to showcase day to day and unusual scenarios making it a sight to behold. There are frogs that have been displayed playing sports, going to school, painting, taking pictures, holding musical instruments, lounging among other scenarios. It is the attention to the smallest of details that make the museum really fascinating. The display is the 10-year long work of Ference Mere, a well-known Hungarian taxidermist in the 20th century. The collection changed hands many times before finally getting its final home in the museum. The museum is located in Ul. kralja Tomislava and is open every day of the week from 9am to 11 pm.

#2 Marjan Hill

Visitors who enjoy intense activities would enjoy visiting the 178-meter hill. It is popular for jogging, hiking, walks, rock climbing and cycling. At the top of the hill, there is a café bar called Vidilica that tourists can have a drink as they enjoy the view of the town below and the sea from the summit. There are numerous chapels and churches around the area that are worth checking out. Some of them were built as far back as the 13th century.

#3 Art Galleries 

Croatia is known for its fine art collection of modern and contemporary art pieces. Art lovers would enjoy the Split Gallery of Fine Arts that started in 1931 with about 500 pieces. The gallery has now expanded as it holds about 3500 pieces of art by popular artists like Dürer and Venetian Masters. The old art dates as far back as the 14th century but the gallery is known from its modern work. They have pieces from Vlaho Bukovac, Ivan Meštrović and the famous abstract, Sky Over New York by Edo Murtić done in the 1950s. The gallery also has a contemporary touch with some artworks being showcased in new media such as video. Other noteworthy galleries are Mestrovic gallery, the Jaman Gallery and family-owned galleries like Jaksic Gallery and Studio Naranca, all of which offer a wide variety of pieces.

#4 Poljudska ljepotica Stadium and a Game of Picigin

Soccer is a beloved sport for many Dalmatians therefore the Poljud Stadium is a popular destination for many soccer lovers. There is graffiti painted on most walls of the city paying tribute to Hajduk, a popular soccer club and the oldest club in the region started in 1911. The stadium has been in Spinut since 1979 when it was built for the Mediterranean Games. It is the home of Hajduk and costs 35 kn for adults and 20 kn for children under 12 years for a historical tour of the beautiful stadium. One can also catch a local game of Picigin that is popular at Bacvice beach. It is a ball game older than soccer and has been played since 1908 by the split people. The locals play in shallow water with a stripped tennis ball. The idea is not to win but to keep the ball from falling in the water. It consists of 5 players standing 6-7 meters from each other, hitting the ball with just their palms as they display acrobatic moves and jumps.

#5 Klis Fortress

Many people can recognize this old structure from the popular HBO series, Game of Thrones. Its old architecture and rich history make it appealing to many tourists. It is right at the edge of the hill with its walls high enough making it impenetrable during the wars dating as far back as 2500 years ago. It is believed that it was built by the Illyrians and was the home for many Croatian Kings. It was also offered a tactical advantage to whoever held it during the Ottoman wars.

#6 Salona

Croatia has a rich history dating as far back as the Roman Empire. Salona also known as Solin was once an administrative centre of Balkan, a province of the Roman empire in Dalmatia with over 60000 people calling it home in its glory days. It however fell and was ransacked and eventually abandoned but some of its structures still remain albeit in bad shape. There is an amphitheatre that is believed could hold close to 18000 people. Other ruins include a basilica, sarcophagi and run-down pillars.

#7 Krka Waterfalls

The natural beauty of Split is unrivaled across its eight national parks. Krka waterfalls are spectacular where tourists can swim in crystal clear waters at the base of the waterfalls. Nature lovers can enjoy hiking along designated trails in the park with views of a 22meter long waterfall named Roski slap, Skradinski Buk on river Krka, restores watermills, caves and old fortress ruins. On an island in the water called Visovac, there is a Franciscan Monastery and a church called Our Lady of Visovac believed to have been built n the 15th century.

Croatia is a beautiful country with many ancient and historical landmarks. It also has modern locations that people can enjoy.

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