Split, Croatia: Midlife Nomad's Guide to Hidden Gems & Historic Charm in Dalmatia
Tips, tricks and recommendations for making the most of your time in Croatia's second-largest city, home of Diocletian's Palace and Game of Thrones memorabilia galore
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Some friends and readers of mine despise my use of the terms “midlife” and “middle-aged.” 😆 Sorry, not sorry, because listen, we travel a little differently, and there has to be a category for that.
I won’t impose the “midlife” label on you, but I wear it as a badge of honour. It’s a small miracle that I got this far in one piece and continue waking up on the right side of the dirt each morning – sometimes in beautiful places, like Split, Croatia.
Plenty of “complete guides to Split” are already available online, so you don’t need me to write another one.
My shared experiences and stories are for the 30s- to 60-somethings and beyond.
We’re not into low-budget backpacking or staying in hostel dorms (singles with ensuite baths are a different story). But we’re not retired, either – many of us are still working remotely or running online businesses.
Few of us are independently wealthy. We’re not likely traveling the world on a luxury budget. (Kudos to you if you are! Colour me jealous 😉)
Some of us have mobility issues and have to consider things like how a bed leaves our back the next morning, whether we have access to an ergonomic workspace, and the quality of healthcare available to us.
Recommended reading: Remote Work Is Not a Life Plan (And What To Do When the Hustle Creeps In)
We may have children, but many do not. By midlife, they’re probably not traveling with us, either way… at least, not as dependents.
What you’ll find below are my recommendations, tips, and need-to-know info from my perspective as an unapologetically midlife nomad. We’re talking about how to get to Split, which neighbourhoods you might like, activities you won’t want to miss, and of course, how to stay connected and productive if you’re working remote.
And let me just start by saying…
Split, Croatia has me hooked.
There’s something about that first glimpse of a city as you roll your luggage across cobblestone streets that makes you feel like you've truly arrived. It’s quintessentially European, in the best possible way.
You know those postcard-perfect streets lined with ancient stone buildings, the kind that look like they’ve been frozen in time for centuries? That’s Split.
As a Canadian, I find the historical scope here mind-blowing. Back home, if something is 200 years old, we slap a plaque on it and call it a heritage site. In Split, you’ve got buildings that have stood for over a thousand years!
One of the most famous examples is Diocletian’s Palace, which dates back to Roman times. I mean, how often do we get to say that where we’re from? The palace isn’t just a monument either; it’s the beating heart of the old town.
Cafés, shops, apartments, and restaurants are all woven into the original Roman walls, arches, and narrow passageways. It’s like stepping into a living museum, where the locals and tourists alike are strolling through history.
It’s easy to lose yourself wandering through the maze of narrow streets, each one somehow more charming than the last. You’ll find quaint back-alley coffee shops where locals sip espresso as if they’ve got all the time in the world.