Diocletian's Palace and Historic Trogir Tour from Split
Dive into Croatia’s history at the famous Roman Emperor’s palace and an ancient maritime island
Looking to soak up a little ancient history while you’re in Split? Croatia may be a young independent country, but its story goes all the way back to Roman times. On this fascinating small group tour, you’ll join a passionate local guide to explore the great Emperor Diocletian's seafront palace and other historic sites of the city, before traveling to nearby Trogir—a UNESCO-listed island and port town that dates back to the 3rd century B.C.!
- Discover Croatia's Roman history
- Tour Emperor Diocletian's villa
- Ancient temples and monuments
- The Grand Palace Gates
- The World's Oldest Cathedral?
- Old Town Split
- UNESCO-listed Trogir Island
- Architecture through the ages
You'll meet your friendly local guide by Diocletian's Cellar Entrance on the harbor side of the palace, and after a quick introduction you'll skip the line to start exploring this beautiful slice of Roman history. Your guide will tell stories of the great Emperor Diocletian's vital role in the Empire and the construction of this opulent retirement villa.
You'll explore more of Split's historic temples and cathedrals on a city walking tour before taking the short drive to Trogir, where your guide will lead you around this ancient port town and island. Your driver will drop you back in central Split at the end of the tour.
Diocletian's Palace and Trogir Tour Description
Your 1.5-hour tour includes:
Admission to Diocletian's Palace
Guided tour of Underground Cellars, Temple of Jupiter, Cathedral of Saint Domnius, and more
Short walking tour of Old Town Split
Comfortable, round-tip transportation to Trogir
Guided walking tour of Old Town Trogir
Friendly, English-speaking local guide
Maximum group size of 15
Diocletian's Palace
Would the Roman Empire have survived without the overhaul conducted by the Illyrian-born Emperor? The man who stabilized the Empire changed the role of the Emperor in countless ways.
Back in 284 A.D., Rome was a far cry from the greatness of Augustus, or even Hadrian and Marcus Aurelius just a century before. Diocletian came to power determined to return Rome to its ultimate greatness.
From the development of the Tetrarchy to the complete overhaul of the Roman bureaucracy, Diocletian's reforms brought the Empire out of the doldrums. An extremely practical man, after 20 years of rule Diocletian took a step never before taken in Rome—he retired.
Returning back to his hometown of Spalatum (now Split), he built his great palace for the ultimate life of luxury.
At the palace your guide will show you the grand Emperors Apartments where Diocletian would live out his final six years. Leaving the apartments you'll head through the Peristyle—wonderful atrium reminiscent of all Roman luxury, and home to the Temple of Jupiter. You'll also visit the Cathedral of St. Domnius, built on the Imperial Mauseoluem. Consecrated in the 7th Century CE, the Cathedral is the oldest Catholic Church still being used in its original structure.
Old Town Split Walking Tour
After exploring the grand palace, your guide will take you on a stroll through the Old Town to see some of the other historic sites the city has to offer. Built on the same roads that Diocletian himself once traveled, this part of the city is now the vibrant beating heart of modern Split, home to great bars and restaurants that sit between atmospheric building that date back centuries.
Trogir, the Tiny Island Full of History
After visiting Diocletian's Palace and the Old Town of Split, a driver will be ready to take you to the ancient port of Trogir—just a short drive along the coast.
Founded in the 3rd Century B.C., Trogir was known as Tragurium in ancient times. Though most of the city dates back to the middle ages, the Roman influence is certainly clear to see.
Exploring the entire island where the Old Town of Trogir sits, imagine the effectiveness of the 15th-century grand walls protecting the city. your guide will show you the Kamerlengo Fortress, Cathedral of St. Lawrence, and more. Immerse yourself in the wealth of Romanesque, Renaissance and Baroque architecture that make Trogir so special.
After exploring Trogir, your driver will be waiting to take you back to Split. Your also welcome stay in Trogir for longer and arrange your own transport back when you're ready.
What you get with this tour

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Leave a reviewPerfect if you love Roman History
Unverified Review
There is so much history in the Palace. We learned about Roman History, Medieval history and more. Crazy how the building developed, I've seen many ancient sites across Europe and this was one of the most interesting by far. Our guide was great and taught us much about the area. Very good tour if you are in Croatia
Frequently Asked Questions
What to bring?
Wear some comfortable shoes, and bring water and a camera. In the summer, we recommend sunscreen too.
What to bring?
Wear some comfortable shoes, and bring water and a camera. In the summer, we recommend sunscreen too.
Where does this tour end?
Return transportation to Split is included, with drop off in the center of the city.
How long is the drive to Trogir?
Depending on traffic, the drive to Trogir takes around 30 minutes each way.
Is this tour run by The Tour Guy?
No, but it's run by one of our trusted and vetted partners in Split.