Which one to choose in Croatia
Two ancient sites in Croatia. Diocletian’s Palace has 31 tickets and tours to book; Salona has 17 tickets and tours to book. The table and the two notes below put them side by side; the full pages have what to see, the ticket and the timing for each.
Split, Croatia
Diocletian's Palace is the retirement residence that the Roman emperor Diocletian built on the shore at Split around AD 300, and it now forms half of the city's old town. Its walls, gates, colonnaded courtyard and vaulted cellars are still standing, with homes, shops and cafes built into them. It has been on the UNESCO list since 1979.
Solin, Croatia
Salona is the ruined capital of the Roman province of Dalmatia, in the town of Solin 6 km from Split, and one of the largest cities of the late empire with perhaps 60,000 people. Its walls, amphitheatre, early Christian basilicas and cemeteries spread across open fields and olive groves, rarely crowded.
| Diocletian’s Palace | Salona | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Palace, Villa & Baths | Ancient City |
| Civilisation | Roman | Roman |
| Founded | AD 295 | 250 BC |
| Entry | Free to walk in; cathedral, bell tower and cellars ticketed | EUR 8; children and students EUR 4; under-6s free |
| Hours | Streets open at all times; cathedral and cellars open in the daytime, longer in summer, shorter in winter | 9 am to 8 pm June–September, 9 am to 6 pm October–May |
| Time needed | 2 to 3 hours | 2 to 3 hours |
| Booking | Pay at each ticket desk; book guided tours ahead in summer | Pay at the gate; tours from Split usually add Klis fortress |
| UNESCO | yes | — |
| Tickets and tours on GetYourGuide | 31 | 17 |
| Official website | yes | — |