CROATIA-SPLIT
Croatia – Split
The next day we took a flight to Split, Croatia on Easy Jet. It was a very easy process. Be sure to check in online, or you will have to pay additional fees. You can check in as early as 30 days before your flight. Once inside the terminal my priority pass gave me free entrance to 3 different lounges. We went to the Horizon Lounge, which was a great choice, so we stayed there until our flight. This lounge offer meats and cheeses, wine, champagne, beer, and other treats, all complimentary.
We were staying at an 1 bedroom Airbnb right near the city for $120/night (here is the link to the property) , and our host arranged a ride for us from the airport for a fee of $40 US. We spent the first day walking around the city and exploring. The beaches were very crowded. At Bacvice Beach, you could rent a beach chair and umbrella for $15. For dinner we went to Perivoj, which was absolutely wonderful. They have a lovely setting in a garden with a water fountain. The service was exceptional, and the food was incredibly delicious.
The next day we did the Blue Cave and Havar Island tour with Mayer Charter. We met at the Matejuska Pier located in town. They broke us up into groups of 12 people and loaded us on their incredibly comfortable and fun speedboats. I had never been on a boat like this before, and it was such a thrill. It went really fast and at times we were flying up and down along the water, but it was a fun ride and not scary at all. It was actually quite thrilling. They also played great music throughout the day, and I was surprised to find out that the skipper and guide on our tour (Petra and Mario) actually created this playlist for their tour. If you are taking this tour I highly recommend you request Petra and Mario, as they truly made the day spectacular. We started out on a 1½-hour ride to the Blue Cave on Bisevo Island. You have to get off of the speedboat and are then taken on a smaller boat into the Blue Cave. The way the sun hits inside the cave radiates this incredibly blue color in the cave. After the cave we visited several islands including Vis, Stiniva Bay--voted the best beach in Europe in 2016 –for a quick swim, and then Smokova Bay where we spent some time swimming and snorkeling in the water. We then went to Hvar Island where we spent a few hours walking through the town, having lunch, and going on a steep climb to visit the Town Fortress where you see incredible views. It costs approximately $7.50 to enter the fortress, and they only take cash. We met at 7:30 AM and returned at 6:00 PM. It was a fun-filled day and I would highly recommend this fun and exciting tour.
The next day we woke up very late so we had to come up with a new plan. We decided to visit Trogir. We did some research and found a boat (Bura Lines) that would take us there. The boat only cost around $5.00 one-way per person. It took one hour and was a beautiful boat ride. Get there early as a line forms to get a seat. You pay in cash when you board the boat. It stops at one place before going to Trogir, so be sure you don’t get off on the first stop.
Once we arrived in Trogir, we walked around the city, which was so quaint and beautiful. It was especially nice to walk behind the buildings down small alleyways. We had lunch at a restaurant called Mirkec Pizzeria and enjoyed our margherita pizza and caprese salad. We then visited the Fortress Kamerlengo. We climbed a lot of steps and finally reached the top with beautiful views of the city. It cost $3.50 per person to enter.
The timing of the boat did not work for us for the return, as it would get us back too late for dinner, so we took the bus back to Split. There is the number 37 bus, which takes about an hour and makes stops along the way, and another bus that goes direct and takes about 30 minutes. We happened to be there when the 37 bus was departing in a couple of minutes so we took that bus. It cost around $3.50 person. It was very hot and crowded, so if you can take the boat back I would certainly do that instead of the bus.
For dinner we ate at Brokeria. Several people recommended it, and we really enjoyed it. We enjoyed the marinated Adriatic Sea scampi with orange and lemon oil, the sea bass filet, and the filet mignon. The truffle mashed potatoes that accompanied the steak were to die for. We finished it off with a lovely dessert. After dinner we took a walk to Prva Vidilica Na Marjanu to see the most incredible view of Split. Walk up Sperun Ulica to Senjska Ulica and take the stairs to the viewpoint. It is truly worth the climb.
The next morning we got up early to meet with Split Walking Tour to visit Krka National Park, one of Croatia’s most famous national parks. We met them outside the Golden Gate of the Diocletian’s Palace at 8:30 and we were on our way by 9:00 AM. They provide the transportation to and from the Krka Park in a double decker air-conditioned bus. The bus takes you to a little town called Skradin where you take a short boat ride down the river to Skaradinski Buk waterfalls. Once you enter the park it is a short walk to the waterfalls. You can swim in the lower part of the falls, and I suggest you bring water shoes as there are large rocks in the water and it is not so easy getting in and out of the water. When you have finished swimming the falls there is a trail you can walk along to explore the entire park. It is a loop, so you can’t get lost. There are a number of stairs to climb, and each set of stairs gives you another incredible view of the waterfalls. There is a wooden walkway that takes you around the falls. You can bring in your own food and have a picnic, or you can purchase food there. There are a variety of stands set up to get food and two restaurants where you can sit down to eat. These two outdoor restaurants serve burgers and hot dogs, as well as other items, but if you pass both of these places you will see another restaurant on the left that says “buffet” (not sure what the name of the restaurant is). Here you can enjoy a variety of options while enjoying the view of the waterfalls. We discovered this restaurant after eating at the previous outdoor restaurant, so we missed out on this. If you need to use the restroom there is one when you first enter the park that cost money, but further up there is another restroom that is free. They also have lockers you can rent if you want to store your valuables while you are in the water. After we walked the loop and swam in the water we just relaxed in the shade under a tree until it was time to depart. After spending 5 hours at the park, we met everyone at the bus and headed back to Split. This was an incredibly beautiful, relaxing, and easy day thanks to the www.splitwalkingtour.com company.
That evening we had dinner at Chops Grill Steak and Seafood. We were seated outside in the non-smoking section, which was perfect for us. The ambience was lovely. We thoroughly enjoyed everything. We started with a Caesar salad, and then we shared a monkfish and a filet with a blue cheese butter. The side order of truffle mashed potatoes was amazing. We finished off our dinner with the chocolate soufflé (our version of the lava cake). It was a perfect evening.
My last day in Split I spent at Joe’s Beach Bar and Lounge. This is a popular beach with the locals. I did not arrive until 11:30, but I was lucky as there was one lounge chair and umbrella remaining. It cost me $22 and was well worth it, as the chair was comfortable and they provide bar service for food and drinks. The ground is full of small rocks, so you should bring water shoes. The water was lovely. I took an Uber to and from my apartment in the city center and it only cost $6.00.