If you're looking for a villa near Split Old Town and Diocletian's Palace, start by answering one honest question: do you want to stay in the old town – or just be able to get there easily? Our three villas are in Kaštel Stari, around 25 minutes by car from the centre of Split. You can't walk to the palace from here. What you get instead: your own heated pool, peace and quiet in the evening, and transport links to Split that are unusually good by Dalmatian standards.
Who it suits – and who it doesn't
A good fit if you …
- want to see Split properly on two or three days, but don't want to sleep in the middle of it
- are travelling as a family or group and need space, a garden and your own bathrooms
- want peace in the evening rather than noise in the lanes
- also want to explore Trogir, Krka or the islands
Not a good fit if you …
- want to wander the old-town lanes spontaneously every evening and walk home
- want to manage without any travelling at all
- want nightlife on your doorstep
In the second case, an apartment in Split is honestly the better choice. For everyone else, the short journey is well worth it.
Getting from Kaštel Stari to the old town
| Transport | Time (approx.) | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Car | 25 min, often more in summer | Parking in Split is zone-based, partly with time limits |
| Train from Kaštel Stari | 10–15 min | €1–2, station within walking distance, no hunting for parking |
| Uber | – | reliable and usually cheaper than a traditional taxi |
| Passenger boat | – | seasonal in the bay in summer; timetables change every year |
Our tip: for Split itself, leave the car behind. Especially after an evening in the old town, the trip back by train – or, when it's running in season, across the water – is the more pleasant option. Ask us beforehand what's currently running.
Parking in Split: what you should know
If you do drive, it helps to know the system. From our guides Insider Tips and Day Trips:
- Split uses colour-coded parking zones. The most expensive zone around the old town is limited to two hours – after that, you really do have to move the car.
- Pay by text message: send your number plate without spaces to the zone's number. With a non-Croatian SIM, dial with +385. Alternatively, download an app such as Bmove or PayDo in advance.
- More relaxed is the large car park at Žnjan beach or a shopping centre with good connections, then the bus into town.
- Parking costs around €1 to €3 per hour depending on the zone, and in high season add time for finding a space.
Planning your day: visiting Split cleverly
Diocletian's Palace isn't a museum but an inhabited part of the city – cafés in ancient vaults, washing lines strung over Roman masonry. To avoid seeing it at its most crowded:
- Early for the market: the Pazar green market is right by the palace's east wall. The best time is between seven and ten in the morning. On the west side is the Ribarnica, the fish market.
- Home at midday: between 12 and 4pm, your own pool is almost always a better decision than the next sight.
- Back from 5pm: by then the cruise passengers have gone and the parking spaces are free. Split works best as an afternoon and evening destination.
- Combine: Salona and Klis Fortress are almost on the way – history in the morning, old town in the evening.
- A green break: Marjan, the wooded peninsula west of the old town, has a loop trail shaded by pines.
An example day: the market in Split in the morning, back to the pool at midday, Trogir in the afternoon (around 10 minutes), a barbecue in the outdoor kitchen in the evening. Or the other way round: a morning on the beach in Kaštel Stari, the train to Split from 5pm, dinner in the old town.
Which villa suits you?
- Villa Just be Alive – sea views, the lights towards Split and Trogir in the evening, gym, 4 parking spaces
- Villa Just be Light – partial sea views, five king-size bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, 4 parking spaces
- Villa Just be Happy – views over the bay, quiet cul-de-sac, 4 parking spaces
All three have a heated saltwater pool (end of March to October), a hot tub, air conditioning in every room and self check-in from 4pm.
Frequently asked questions
Can I walk from the house to Split Old Town?
No. The old town is around 25 minutes away by car. Within walking distance in Kaštel Stari are the beach, promenade, restaurants, supermarkets and the train station.
Do I need a car for Split?
No. By train from Kaštel Stari, you're in Split in about 10–15 minutes, with no hunting for parking. For excursions in the surrounding area, though, a car is useful.
Where's the best place to park in Split?
For longer visits, outside the most expensive zone, for example at the Žnjan car park, then onwards by bus.
How far is the airport?
Around 10 minutes – Split Airport isn't actually in Split at all, but in Kaštela. More under Villa near Split Airport.
Check available dates on the availability calendar or ask us on WhatsApp.