Private Walks & Storytelling - the best small group tour in Split
Description
If you’re tired of tours full of numbers, names you can’t pronounce, and facts you forget by the next morning—this one’s for you. This walk is about stories. The kind you remember. I’ll tell you about the man who built this city—Diocletian. Not as a statue, but as a person. One of the most powerful emperors in Roman history, and one of the most complicated. You’ll hear about the people who lived inside these walls long after the empire fell—fishermen, traders, widows, workers, families. People like mine. People like yours. This isn’t a history class. It’s a walk through time with someone who lives here. No scripts. No umbrellas in the air. Just a conversation about a place I know well. It’s a slower, more personal way to learn about Split—with space for questions, stories you’ll actually remember, and honest local tips on what to see, eat, and skip while you’re here
Tour Options
Itinerary
Let’s begin on the Riva — where life in Split really happens. People here don’t rush. They sit in the sun, drink coffee, talk, and watch the sea. Every corner has its own rhythm, its own group of regulars, its own story. From there, we’ll wander into the old town and Diocletian’s Palace. I’ll show you how locals still live among Roman walls, where laundry hangs between centuries and life continues in the same streets emperors once walked. We’ll stop for a bite, share a few stories that rarely make it into guidebooks, and see the city the way people here experience it — slowly, through taste, sound, and everyday moments
Leaving the waterfront, we’ll step below the city — into the basements of Diocletian’s Palace. Down here, time feels close. You can almost sense the hands that shaped these stones 1,700 years ago. Each wall holds a trace of life built into it — stories of work, trade, and quiet endurance. This is where the city began, and where its pulse still echoes.
Leaving small narrow streets we are now at Peristil, the open space of the imperial square. I will share intriguing stories that happened behind the city walls, stories about traditional and modern Split and our slow way of life (pomalo = take it easy, way of life).
Standing on the only square within the palace - Peristil, you can not miss seeing the beautiful and tall bell tower. Almost hidden behind it, protected, is the Cathedral of Split. One of the smallest and oldest cathedrals in the world.
Leaving the waterfront, we will enter the Substructures of the Palace and walk towards the Temple of Jupiter. The location was chosen to signify the divine connection between the emperor Diocletian and Jupiter. The Ancient Roman God of the sky and thunder & king of the Gods. During the Middle Ages, the Temple was converted into a baptistery dedicated to St. John the Baptist
On our way to see the temple of Jupiter, we will walk through a small street, placed between the ancient temple and medieval building - now a hotel. Local people believe this is the narrowest street in town. The local name is "The let me pass street".
When the ancient city walls could no longer contain life, Split began to grow westward. This area became known as the “new old town” — a place where northern and southern Europe meet in stone. Every street here shows a mix of influences, layered over time, yet still unmistakably Split.
The day is better if we add a bit of chocolate to it. Walking towards the end of our tour, we will stop at one of my favourite chocolate places- Nadalina. I will share some stories about food production, while we have samples of locally flavoured chocolate.
The Golden Gate (Latin: Porta Aurea) is one of the four main Roman gates into the Diocletian's Palace. The gate is on the road to the north, towards Salona, the capital of the Roman province of Dalmatia and Diocletian's birthplace. You will hear about the antique military strategy in the Palace and discover some hidden buildings nearby.
The northern wall of the Place, in front of the sculpture of Grgur Ninski, is where we will end our tour. Here, we are surrounded by the 4th-century antique wall, 20th-century art and modern life today. We will respect the local tradition here and make a wish. Thank you for walking with me and allowing me to share my love for my town with you.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(207)
This tour was excellent! Mirjana was a delight and so full of knowledge about the history of Split and all things Diocletian. This wasn’t just a tour full of facts and figures, it was true storytelling which made the information so much more intriguing and relatable. Mirjana is professional, warm and friendly and offers a very personal approach to her tours. We can’t recommend her highly enough!
Oh my goodness! If you are lucky enough to find this tour and meet Mirjana you have hit the jackpot. Mirjana is a truly amazing storyteller and we loved every minute of our time with her. She tailored our tour to things we were interested in, including explaining my family history better than any of my actual family members ever did. Best experience in Split.
Our tour with Mirjana around the Palace and Old Town of Split was truly one of the highlights of our trip. She shared the history of this incredible city with such heart and depth that you didn’t just 'hear'the stories — you 'felt' them. Through her personal anecdotes she made the history of Split come alive as if it were our own. What makes this tour special is Mirjana is the way she connects everything — weaving together tales of humanity across time, cultures, and beliefs. In a world that can often feel divided, her gentle, truthful approach was both refreshing and deeply moving. She doesn’t shy away from the realities of the past, yet she delivers them with a sense of peace and understanding that stays with you. We came away with such a rich understanding of the people who lived, struggled, and thrived here under different rulers — and a real appreciation for the magic of Split itself. you MUST take this tour with Mirjana as soon as you arrive. It will completely transform your experience of the city. We’ve eaten in hidden local spots, met true Croatian merchants, and discovered parts of Split we never would have found without her. If you want to fall in love with Split — start your journey with Mirjana. Anouska
Excellent old city walking tour with Mirjana in Split. She explained the complicated history of this region of the world in easy to understand concepts. The way she told the story of the end of the Roman Empire was impressionable! She also explained local lives in Split now and took us to a jewelry shop and a chocolate shop.... letting us try the local chocolates. Afterwards she also sent her recommendations of what to do and where to eat! I'm glad I went with Mirjana as it gave me a deeper knowledge and understanding of Split 🙏
AMAZING tour! I have been on several tours around the world and this was the best tour guide I have ever had. There were 9 in our group ranging in age from 22-62 and we all agreed. It was informative and full of history but it felt as if she was telling a story- the story of Croatia and how this area came to be. Highly recommend!!!!!
I totally enjoyed this story telling walking tour with Mirjana in Split. She has deep knowledge about history of the city and great communication skills, friendly and gave us valuable information about this beautiful place. We love to come back
Mirjana is a great tour guide. She explained very clear the map before the tour starts; very knowledgeable, informative and fun. walked us through the entire trip with clear explanations about arch architecture to support the group well. Thank you. I appreciate Croatia more because of her
From the very start, Mirjana made our Split walking tour unforgettable. With quick wit and humor, she instantly created a group atmosphere. Her ability to connect people made the experience lively, engaging, and fun. Her storytelling was equally remarkable. As we explored Diocletian’s Palace and Split’s old streets, she brought centuries of history to life with vivid detail and anecdotes. She didn’t just describe landmarks—she told the human stories behind them, making history feel alive. What stood out most was how she placed Split within the broader context of Croatia and the fascinating Balkan history. She explained complex history clearly and with passion, always tying local details to the bigger picture. Questions were encouraged, and her thoughtful, often humorous responses added even more depth. By the end, it wasn’t only Split that left a lasting impression but Mirjana herself. Knowledgeable, funny, and inspiring—her tour is absolutely unmissable.
Mirjana's Diocletians Palace tour is not to be missed! It's not just another city guide tour full of historical facts and dates. Mirjana is a gifted storyteller and brings the palace to life with humour, fascinating observations, insider knowledge and an obvious passion for what she does and for the tourism of Split. Doing the tour in the evening added a whole new layer of magic. I'm only sorry we didn't do this tour the first time we visited Split a few years ago! I'd highly recommend for anyone looking for the ultimate introduction to the palace and the city.
We loved our tour with Mirjana. She was very knowledgeable, interesting and very responsive. Our time getting an intro to Split and its history was terrific.
