Diocletian's Palace: Visitor Guide, Split

This isn’t a roped-off ruin — it’s a functioning neighbourhood built inside a Roman emperor’s palace. Diocletian had it built between 295 and 305 AD as his retirement home, and 1,700 years later people still live in the apartments above, drink coffee in the courtyards, and hang laundry from medieval windows.

What to see

The palace covers about 30,000 square metres in the centre of Split. The main features are the Peristyle (central courtyard), the basement halls (underground vaulted chambers), the Cathedral of Saint Domnius (originally Diocletian’s mausoleum), and the four gates — Golden (north), Silver (east), Iron (west), and Bronze (south, facing the sea).

Basement halls

The best-preserved Roman structure in the palace. Entry €8. The vaulted chambers mirror the layout of the imperial apartments that once sat above them. Cool, atmospheric, and surprisingly large. Allow 30 minutes.

Peristyle

The open courtyard at the palace’s heart. Colonnaded on three sides, with the cathedral entrance on the east and the vestibule (a domed entry chamber) to the south. Morning coffee at one of the café tables here, surrounded by Roman columns, is one of Split’s great pleasures.

Cathedral bell tower

The bell tower of the Cathedral of Saint Domnius (€7) gives you the best elevated view of the palace, the harbour, and Marjan hill. The climb is steep and narrow but manageable. The cathedral itself (originally Diocletian’s mausoleum) is one of the oldest cathedral buildings in continuous use.

Tips

The palace streets are open 24 hours — come at night when the stone is floodlit and the crowds disappear. The basement halls and cathedral have set opening hours (generally 8am–7pm in summer). Watch for pickpockets in the busy Peristyle area during cruise ship days.

Nearby

Riva promenade — Split’s seafront, directly south of the palace’s Bronze Gate.

Green Market (Pazar) — morning produce market behind the palace’s east wall.

Marjan Hill — 20-minute walk west for hiking and viewpoints.

Getting to Split

Split connects to Dubrovnik (3.5h), Mostar (2.5h), and Zagreb (4h) by private transfer.