The Croatian city of Split is a great place to chill out and see a few sights.  Many travellers treat the city as a stopover for going on to other places - but they are missing  treat. Why not take the time to enjoy a few attractions in and around the city when planning a cycling or walking tour in Croatia?

1. The old city of Split:  Old meets new in an amazingly well blended heart of Split. The most prominent landmark is the Diocletian Palace, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The palace was built by the Roman Emperor Diocletian as an elaborate retirement home. Split’s development as a prominent city was a result of his move. If you love the Game of Thrones, you can see where Daenerys Stormborn kept her dragons!

Other old city attractions include the courtyard of Perystile and the Cathedral of St. Dominus. 

2. Park life: Marjan hill peninsula and forest park is in the western part of the Split peninsula. It seems as though you are walking up and up forever from the city of Split but the views are so rewarding. You’ll take in fantastic vistas of the sea, islands and the expanse of Split city.

Visit in early morning (why not go for a run when the temperatures are lower?) or in the evening?

3. City beaches: Kastjuni beach is situated on the edge of Marjan park and is a lovely close-to-the-city beach to visit. Alternatively, and whichever way you walk from the harbour of Split, you’ll discover more great beaches. The further you walk the quieter and more picturesque the beaches seem to become.

4. Festival fun: Split Summer Festival takes place from mid-July to mid-August when the city offers open air entertainments including ballet, drama, music concerts and opera. It’s a wonderful city to hang out in especially during the evenings.

5. Shop til you drop: Split has the most shoe and eyewear shops in Croatia. If you are not taken by these there is a host more shops, boutiques and market stalls to wander around – and in and out. The old city is the place to go for indie shops and also chaos stores.

6. People watching: Choose a bar or restaurant, order drink or food and while away a few hours watching the people walk by. Split attracts people from across the world and everyone loves a spot of people watching!

7. Falls in love with...: Krka National Park is just an hour’s drive from Split and is a beautiful place to visit. For once, the tourist attraction looks as good as the brochures suggest. The star attraction of this stunning park is the waterfalls. The falls are created by a beautiful river that rushes through a deep canyon. There are also Roman ruins, watermills and monasteries to see.

Highly recommended is taking a boat trip from one of the entrances, at Skradin. You can then walk a 3km loop on boardwalks via stunning falls, pools of fish and a canopy of woodland.

8. Beautiful Brac: See the stunning tongue shaped beach of Zlati Rat beach at Bol. It is also a great place to learn to windsurf. Regular ferries depart Split for Brac.

9. Happy Hvar: The rich and famous love this island, which boasts the best sunshine record in Croatia, but regardless of wealth and fame it is a lovely place to visit. Wander the old city of Hvar town, visit the local beaches, go kayaking around islands or give Stand Up Paddle Boarding a try.

10. Superb Solta: The wooded island of Solta is a popular place for Split residents to go to. Join them and find out why they love this island of pretty villages, old harbours and beaches.

11. Solin surprises: The ruins of the ancient city of Solin are considered the most archaeologically important in Croatia. Immerse yourself in a history that goes back many thousands of years.

12. Terrific Trogir: You can enjoy wandering the maze like streets of tiny Togir or strolling the beautiful seaside promenade. The settlement is unusual because it combines both Romenesque and Renaissance architecture. A visit to the cathedral is also a must.

Macs Adventure offer a range of tours in Croatia. See Croatia Bike & Boat and Treasures of the Dalmatian Coast for example.