Picturesque islands, rivers perfect for rafting and a real life Game of Thrones set… Seven reasons to visit the Dalmatian Coast
This Croatian region is not all about the town of Split, although that's the perfect place to start
LIKE your holidays to pack a punch?
Trust us, Croatia's Dalmatian Coast has got it all...
1 Cobbled streets
Sitting on Croatia’s Dalmatian coast, Split – the country’s second largest city – is seriously pretty, with UNESCO-protected architecture and views of the Adriatic.
Spend an afternoon wandering the cobbled streets to the sound of the nuns singing at St Dominic’s Church. Grab a pre-dinner Ozujsko, £5 (Croatia’s favourite beer) at , across from the steps of Peristil square and take in live guitar music.
Spy the 20ft statue of Gregory of Nin outside the gate of Diocletian’s Palace, too. Legend has it that rubbing his big toe brings good luck!
2 Beach stays
Bavice is the closest beach to the city centre – and Split’s only sandy stretch.
Here you can watch people play Picigin, a Croatian game that involves stopping a ball from hitting the water.
Set just off the sand and only a 10-minute walk from the city centre is .
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Lounge by the pool with a mojito, £9, and awake to sea views.
Five-star service means sweets on your pillow and slippers by the bed each evening.
Make sure you grab breakfast and soak up some rays on the patio, too – with hot dishes as well as a buffet of dreams, you certainly won’t starve. Doubles cost from £120 a night B&B.
A 15-minute walk down the coast are Split’s finest – and quietest – beaches. Perch on the rocks of Zvoncac and watch the swimmers in the clear waters.
3 Island Hopping
Bra, the largest of the Adriatic islands, is a 50-minute from Split, £4.50.
Take a hike up Vidova Gora mountain for breathtaking views then visit the ancient town of krip, where the Island of Bra Museum sits on a Roman mausoleum and has ruins worth exploring.
Zlatni Rat is a pebbly beach that changes shape with the winds.
West of Bra lies Solta island, £3.30 for a 60-minute from Split. Feast on a cheese board, £12.50, at luxury hotel while watching the sailors come and go.
4 Grape expectations
To really understand the life of a Dalmatian lady, you need to drink like one.
That involves a lot of white wine.
Posip, Dalmatia’s most popular local grape, produces a rich, full-bodied white.
Head to winery on Bra to experience the region’s best, £3 a glass, or if you’re more into red, try the Plavac Mali, £3.
And grab a beer for £2.50 at Split’s cool new hang-out , where you can dance the night away with local hipsters.
5 Saints and Legends
Calling all Game of Thrones fans!
To tour the backdrops of scenes from the show, check out , £5 – Daenerys trained her dragons here.
Head up the bell tower of the Cathedral of Saint Domnius for perfect views of Split for just £2.50, or go to nearby town Trogir and visit Saint Lawrence to see saintly artefacts and biblical icons sculpted all over the ceilings and walls, entrance £3.
6 Croatian carpaccio
The seafood is special here and the fish carpaccio, £10.50, at Brac based is not to be missed.
With Mediterranean influences, experience modern Dalmatian food at its finest at Split’s restaurant du jour – the oxtail and chateaubriand risotto, £13.50, melts in the mouth.
But book ahead as its old-town location and quirky interior make for lengthy queues.
Want to go traditional? Head to rustic for peka, a hearty sharing dish where meat or fish is roasted for hours under a bell, £15. So good!
7 Adrenalin kicks
Are you a thrill-seeker?
Hit nearby town Omis and hop on a on the Cetina river to see Croatian nature at its finest, £30.
Or try the 150m-high to carry you over the canyon, £48.
Closer to the city, Marjan hill looms over Split’s peninsula at just under 180m.
You can spend hours hiking the parks in Marjan, or for the day, £17 – but be prepared for all the hills.
FYI
Average temperature: 25°C
Flight time: 2.5 hours
Time: +1 hour
Currency: Kuna
Plan your trip at .
flies to Split from £21.24 each way.
If you're more of a home bird, take a look at the top-rated UK hotels.