Split Hotels and Attractions

You may not be familiar with Split, Croatia, but it's been a popular getaway since 305 A.D. The Roman Emperor Diocletian grew up in the region so when it was time to retire, this is where he built his palace and wielded what remained of his power. The palace is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Today, Split hotels are some of the best in Croatia, and it's once again a popular holiday destination.

Considering that its more than 16 centuries old, parts of the palace are remarkably well preserved, and the old town is centered around it. In addition to the palace, the Croatian Archaeology Museum and the studio of sculptor Ivan Mestrovic are worth a visit. Not far from the old Roman center of town, the waterfront promenade known as the Riva has lots of restaurants and shops. There's a popular cultural festival here each summer that has concerts, plays, and live theater.

Split is a main ferry hub along the Dalmatian coast, so it's easy to get here from Dubrovnik or to continue on to the outer Croatian Islands. Most Split hotels are just a few years old and many of them offer modern amenities like high-speed Internet access.

The main piazza is known as the People's Square, and it's the heart of the Old Town. Hotels that are within the Old Town, or within walking distance are the most desirable. And many of them do a good job of blending the ancient with the modern.

Split hotels in the Old Town.

A new, boutique hotel, Hotel Marmont has just 22 large, modern rooms. It's located right in the Old Town, in fact, it's within the walls of Diocletian's palace. One of the best features is the roof terrace overlooking the city -- a perfect place for a pre-dinner drink. There's wireless Internet access throughout the property, and the big, modern bathrooms are a nice bonus.

Just inside the Silver Gate to the palace, the Peristil hotel opened in 2005. The location here can't be beat, and given how good it is, rates are pretty reasonable. Several of the dozen rooms here share the palace walls. Many have views of the Cathedral or the Old Town. And all are beautifully furnished and outfitted with mini bars and other nice extras. The highly acclaimed Tifani Restaurant serves updated Dalmatian cuisine and the open-air terrace is a wonderful spot for dinner.

The 7-room Vestibule Palace is also within the palace walls. When it opened in 2005, it was one of Split's first boutique hotels. And great care was taken to preserve the Roman, Gothic, and Renaissance buildings that were adjacent to the hotel. The lobby is flooded with light from a clerestory, and there's a popular terrace in front of the hotel. Each of the rooms here have an LCD TV, minibar, wireless Internet access, and a sleek, updated bathroom.

Split hotels outside the Old Town.

About a 15-minute walk from the palace, the 99-room Atrium Hotel has more amenities than most of the Old Town hotels, including a Comfort Zone Spa and Wellness Center. The parking garage is convenient if you have a car. And the swimming pool, which overlooks the city, is welcome in summer. The Atrium is a modern, design hotel with professional service, a good restaurant, and a nice lounge. It doesn't have a lot of local character and could be almost anywhere. But if you want the amenities of an international hotel, it's a good bet.

If you're earning or redeeming Starwood reward points, the 381-room Le Meridien Lav is the only big brand-name hotel in the area. It's not in Split proper, but in Podstrana, about five minutes south of town. This isn't a problem because the hotel offers shuttle service into Split. The big draw here is the ocean-front location next to a marina and seaside promenade. There are almost a dozen restaurants and bars a couple of minutes away. And with indoor and outdoor pools, a spa, fitness center, water sports rentals, and tennis, the facilities are the best around. As a result, Le Meridien is one of the most expensive hotels in Split. Many of the rooms have ocean-front balconies.