Why visit
Why visit Diocletian's Palace
Emperor Diocletian retired here in 305 AD to grow cabbages, and 1,700 years later around 3,000 people still live and work inside his palace walls. This isn't a museum — it's the beating centre of Split, an entire Roman quarter of shops, apartments, cafés and churches wedged between the original imperial masonry.
At a glance
Estimated visit
Half a day
Best season
Early morning or evening (avoid midday cruise-ship crowds)
Where
Split, Croatia
Category
UNESCO
History
Emperor Diocletian retired here in 305 AD to grow cabbages, and 1,700 years later around 3,000 people still live and work inside his palace walls. This isn't a museum — it's the beating centre of Split, an entire Roman quarter of shops, apartments, cafés and churches wedged between the original imperial masonry. Stand under the peristyle at dusk to hear klapa singers, then descend into the vast basement halls that Game of Thrones used as Daenerys's throne room.
“Diocletian is the only Roman emperor who ever voluntarily gave up the throne — and he built this palace specifically so he could retire and garden.”
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No other landmarks within a short walk from here.
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