Staying inside Diocletian's Palace — a Roman imperial palace built in the 4th century AD that became the city of Split as the palace walls filled with medieval construction over centuries — is one of Europe's most extraordinary accommodation experiences. Streets and squares have evolved from Roman corridors and imperial halls; restaurants occupy spaces that were once the emperor's quarters; and the Cathedral of Saint Domnius was converted from Diocletian's own octagonal mausoleum, making it one of the oldest cathedral buildings in the world. Hotels and apartments inside the palace walls are compact but uniquely atmospheric.
The Peristyle, the palace's open-air ceremonial courtyard with its granite columns from Egypt, is the social centre of life within the walls. Cafés set up tables between the columns, and on summer evenings the space hosts opera performances and concerts. Walking the Peristyle at 2am, when the day visitors have gone and the ancient columns are lit against the night sky, is one of the most unforgettable experiences available to any European hotel guest. The palace's underground cellars — remarkably preserved substructures that mirror the layout of the imperial apartments above — house a market and exhibition space and are essential viewing for understanding the building's scale and engineering.
Practical considerations for palace accommodation include the complete absence of car access (all luggage must be carried on foot through narrow stone passages), noise from the bars and restaurants that operate until late in the palace's commercial streets, and room sizes that are constrained by the ancient walls. The best strategy is to book a property on the upper floors of the palace's residential sections — particularly the northeast quadrant near the Silver Gate, which is quieter than the busy Peristyle area — and arrange luggage assistance from your host. Most palace hotels and apartments will meet guests at an accessible drop-off point and guide them through the passages. Despite these logistical considerations, the experience of waking inside a Roman palace, stepping out onto streets that have been in continuous use for 1,700 years, and hearing church bells echo off the ancient walls is worth the effort.
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