When I visited Split, Croatia this last summer, it was one of those places I wasn’t particularly fond of at first, but then it slowly grew on me.
The problem is that Split is mostly a transit town. Droves of people arrive on busses and trains but stay only long enough to catch the first boat out of town. I was almost part of this crowd as well, but due to some logistical challenges, my girlfriend and I ended up staying the night in Split and ultimately, quite enjoyed the place.
Alex Crevar, writing for the New York Times, had a similar experience of slow appreciation for the port town. He too grew to appreciate this oft-overlooked gem after wandering through the ruins of Diocletian’s Palace and partaking in some fantastic Italian food at Sperun–a fantastic restaurant we discovered as well.
So, if you ever find yourself in Split and are planning to catch a boat out of town, be sure to take a few days to enjoy it first. You’ll be happy you did.