I quickly discovered that Split is not exactly a hidden gem when I stopped there on an Adriatic Sea cruise.
Like bees to honey, cruise passengers and day trippers swarm this area. The sheer volume of people can become overwhelming.
But how can you avoid these crippling crowds? To help you get off the beaten path in Split, here are some quiet corners of the city and hidden gems to explore.
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How to Get Off the Beaten Path in Split, Croatia
1. Visit Frogglyland
Welcome to one of Europe’s most deliciously bonkers experiences. Maybe its weirdness keeps visitors at bay, but when we visited Froggyland there was a grand total of six visitors. A proven way to avoid the crowds in Split!
The life work of enthusiastic taxidermist Ferenc Mere, 507 stuffed frogs are arranged in inventive dioramas, representing life in early 20th Century Croatia. Although undeniably eccentric, Mere’s handiwork is remarkable.
Descend a set of dimly lit steps, accompanied by the soundtrack of ribbiting, to view carefully arranged groups of frogs in glass cases lining the museum’s walls.
There’s a frog convict on chains awaiting the verdict of his fate in a packed courtroom. Drunken revelry is portrayed with stuffed frogs carousing over barrels of wine. An angry teacher tries to maintain control over a classroom of naughty froglets.
My favourite diorama was ‘The Village Party’. Frog couples dance to the strains of a band on the stage. In one corner, an intense game of poker is underway whilst, in the opposite corner, a small group of frogs are getting seriously sloshed. It’s wonderfully imaginative stuff.
2. Shop at a UNESCO-protected supermarket
It’s not often you can select your smoked cheeses from a chiller cabinet nestled amongst Corinthian columns. But then again, Split’s SPAR store isn’t your run-of-the-mill supermarket.
This supermarket is housed on what was the ground floor of the 13th-century Mala Papalićeva Palača. This historic building sits within the larger complex of the Roman Diocletian’s Palace, which comprises Split’s historic centre.
The area covered by Diocletian’s Palace became a UNESCO site in 1979. Therefore, technically speaking, the SPAR store is also protected by this World Heritage Site designation.
The choice of location of the supermarket has been controversial. Split’s locals and officials have argued against the choice of location and the effect of its presence on the conservation of the building.
However, the combination of a modern supermarket housed within a historic building is compelling. Spilt’s SPAR supermarket is well worth a visit, if only for the great deli counter. You’ll find it on Ul. Pavla Šubića.
3. Walk along the Majan Peninsula
The best way to get off the beaten track in Spilt is to take to the hills.
Walk 10 minutes west along Riva, Spilt’s café-lined, seafront promenade, towards Trg Republike, an elegant square, lined on three sides by porticoed Neo-Renaissance buildings.
At Sv. Frane church you’ll see a sign for Marjan. From here. it’s an easy uphill walk along stone steps through shaded parkland to the viewpoint at the Vidlica Café.
Bag a table on the café’s sun-kissed terrace and soak up the view over a glass of refreshing Ožujsko beer before continuing the climb to Telegrin, the Marjan Peninsula’s highest point. Look out also for the 13th Century St. Nichols’s Chapel with its one-sided belfry.
4. Take a stroll through Split’s Varoš neighbourhood
When you have finished exploring the Marjan Peninsula, head back towards the Vidlica Café. Continue past the café and down Senjska which will take you back to the harbour.
This walk takes you through Varoš, Spilt’s first real neighbourhood, dating from the 12th Century. It’s a delightful, crowd-free area, boasting lovingly restored stone buildings with red-tiled roofs.
5. Take a day trip from split
Another way of escaping Split’s cruise crowds is to take a day trip.
Your cruise operator will offer shore excursions but you can often do better booking these independently. Just make sure that you will be able to make it back to the ship before she sails. Better still, find a tour operator that guarantees to get you back in time.
Here are a few day trips from Split that are worth considering:
MOSTAR & MEDJUGORJE | Click here for more information and to book
KRKA NATIONAL PARK |Click here for more information and to book
BLUE LAGOON & TROGIR |Click here for more information and to book
How I Visited Split on a Cruise
I visited Split on a cruise on MSC Sinfonia. The ship was in port from 7 am until 5 pm.
Cruise ships berth at Split’s port, a ten-minute walk along the quayside from the old town, which lies within the area once occupied by Diocletian’s Palace, the jewel in Spilt’s crown. Built by the eponymous Roman Emperor in the 4th Century, this is now the seductive tangle of churches, chapels and houses that form the city’s old town. As Split’s main attractions are scattered over a relatively compact area, everything is walkable.
I braved Diocletian’s Palace before the crowds built up – this area was rammed by lunchtime – and then escaped to the Marjan Peninsula. Before getting back onboard the cruise ship, I returned to Diocletian’s Palace. By late afternoon, Split’s old town was considerably quieter.
Getting your hands on a good guidebook to help you plan your Greek islands & Adriatic cruise, and to make the most of your time onshore, is a wise move. I’m a big fan of Rick Steves and his guide to Mediterranean cruise ports is packed with useful information.
If you have found this article helpful, take a look at my guides to the other stops on this Adriatic Sea cruise:
- Exploring Diocletian’s Palace in Split Old Town
- A War Walk in Dubrovnik: A Scarred Beauty
- A Day in Urbino: A Renaissance Gem
- Should You Visit Santorini on a Cruise?
Finally, if you are a cruise rookie, I also have advice on how to plan your first cruise and which cruise staterooms to avoid, as well as on solo cabins if you are cruising alone.
About Bridget
Bridget Coleman has been a passionate traveller for more than 30 years. She has visited 70+ countries, most as a solo traveller.
Articles on this site reflect her first-hand experiences.
To get in touch, email her at hello@theflashpacker.net or follow her on social media.