Things to Do in Dalmatia

Built in the fourth century as a retirement complex for the Roman Emperor Diocletian, this vast, fortress-like compound still dominates Split Old Town. After the palace was abandoned in the sixth century, locals flooded into it. Now, the 220 Roman-era buildings within the palace boundaries house homes, shops, bars, and other businesses.

Once a powerful fortress in the Venetian Republic, Zadar’s old town remains encircled by remnants of its defensive walls, some of which date back to ancient Roman times. Six different city gates provide entry into the walled section, each with a distinct architectural style and motif.

Constructed in 1537, this sturdy gate on the west wall of Dubrovnik’s Old Town was once locked nightly—and the wooden drawbridge leading to it was raised—to prevent intruders from gaining access to the city. More recently, the gate served as a filming location for Game of Thrones, as the site where King Joffrey was unceremoniously pelted with cow dung.

Overlooking the Adriatic Sea from a cliff-top perch, the St. Lawrence Fortress (Fort Lovrijenac) is a Dubrovnik icon. Thought to be around 1,000 years old, the 121-foot (37-meter) fortress was used to defend the city for centuries. Today, the fort is better-known for its theatrical shows, coastal views, and starring role in HBO’sGame of Thrones.

Flanked by two Corinthian colonnades, Peristyle Square (Peristil) is the central plaza of the town of Split and part of Diocletian's Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. An 187-feet (57-meter) eye-catching belfry towers above the square; climb to the top for a stellar view of the sea.

Go for an evening stroll along the Riva Promenade, a waterfront walkway lined with palm trees in the town of Split. This stretch of glazed white tiles runs the length of the Old Town, offering harbor views and shady benches for watching residents stroll by. Restaurants and cafes line the promenade as well.

Stretching from Old Town’s western entrance at the Pile Gate to the harbor in the east, the Stradun (or Placa) was once a shallow sea channel that divided the small island on which Dubrovnik was built from the Republic of Ragusa on the mainland. In the 12th century, the Stradun was filled to create the main street in Dubrovnik’s Old Town.

As you glide into Hvar’s port, you cannot miss the imposing Spanish Fortress that crowns the island’s main settlement. Today’s facades date back to the 16th century, though the defensive site itself reaches back much further. From the top, visitors can enjoy views far across the Adriatic, making it one of Hvar’s most treasured landmarks.

Located inside the gates of Diocletian’s Palace, the Cathedral of St. Domnius ((Katedrala Svetog Duje) is a massive octagonal cathedral built in Roman times as the Mausoleum of Diocletian. The structure was converted to a church in the 7th century and mass is still held here today, making it one of the oldest Catholic cathedrals in the world still in use in its original structure.

Built into the limestone bluffs outside of Split, the imposing Klis Fortress(Tvrdava Klis) was once an important defensive stronghold between the Mediterranean and the Balkans. It housed the seat of many Croatian kings, though nowadays it’s better known as the film location for the fictional city of Meereen in the seriesGame of Thrones.

Inland from Zadar, Croatia, the emerald-green Zrmanja River is a whitewater playground for rafters and kayakers. Originating in the Velebit Mountains, the Zrmanja flows for 43 miles (69 kilometers through spectacular limestone canyons before emptying into the Adriatic Sea. Visitors are drawn to the rivers’s crystal-clear water, hidden swimming holes, and picturesque waterfalls.

Dubrovnik’s 15-century, Gothic-Renaissance–style Rector's Palace (Knezev Dvor) contains the rector’s office and private chambers as well as public halls, courtrooms, and a former dungeon. Interestingly, the rector’s term was for only one month, during which time he was confined to the palace and allowed to leave only on official republic business.

Revered for its endless beaches, idyllic coves, scenic valleys, fine wines, and seafood, Croatia’s Pelješac Peninsula juts out of the center of southern Dalmatia. Without the tourist-oriented resorts and the crowds of other coastal Dalmatian destinations, the Pelješac Peninsula is the perfect spot for a relaxing holiday.

The cliffs and lush forests of Krka National Park serve as a dramatic backdrop to the the waterfalls of Roski Slap. Located along the Krka River and peppered with historic water mills, Roski Slap features small cascades that make for pretty photo opportunities.