Trogir in Croatia - what to do in one day

During our vacation in Croatia, we visited a wonderful city where impressive history and architecture are intertwined. This is Trogir, a small pearl on the Adriatic that can compete with the neighboring city of Split in coziness and pleasantness of recreation.

I strongly advise you not to avoid Trogir if you plan to travel to Croatia. Trogir is not a beach town, but it fits in well with beach vacations in neighboring resorts Primoshten and Rogožnice.

What to do in Trogir – what to see in one day

Trogir is a small museum town. In total, Croatia has 10 UNESCO heritage sites, and Trogir is one of them. This more than 2,300-year-old city emerged under the influence of the ancient Greeks, then the Romans and Venetians. Trogir is the best-preserved Romanesque-Gothic architectural city in all of Central Europe.

The 500-meter-long and 250-meter-wide islet where Trogir is located lies in a narrow sea passage between the mainland and the island of Ciovo. Trogir is sometimes called a museum city because of its rich cultural heritage and authentic architecture. There are also very good cafes and markets here (the fish market was a great treat for us).

Cathedrals and monasteries in Trogir

St. Lawrence Cathedral: its construction lasted 400 years, so the styles changed over time. The example of the bell tower shows the length of the structure. The first floor is made in the Gothic style, the second floor has features of the Venetian Gothic style of the century, and the third Renaissance floor of the bell tower was completed in the late 16th century. Of course, you have to climb the tower to see the best view of Trogir.

At the entrance, you will see the Radovan portal – two lions guarding both sides of the portal symbolize power and strength. Each side of the portal has different biblical motifs and events of the time. One of the most beautiful parts of the cathedral is the chapel of St. John with marble angels around the altar, where the sarcophagus with the remains of Blessed John, bishop of Trogir in the 11th century, is located. According to legend, after a shipwreck near Trogir, Blessed John walked on the waves and saved the lives of King Colman of Hungary and all the sailors of the ship.

The monastery of St. George. Dominika and its churchThe church was built in the second half of the 13th century, when the Dominican Order came to Trogir and promoted the ideas of equality, justice, piety, and voluntary renunciation of ties to property. The monastery was heavily damaged in 1944 during the bombing, but was later restored to its original appearance. The monastery served as a filming location for Game of Thrones.

Historic buildings and palaces

Clock tower and city loggia: the loggia on the main square of Trogir came to us from the Renaissance. The loggia was used as state property and was the place where the duke spoke to the people. The southern part of the loggia depicts the relief of Prince Petro Berislavych. Visitors can also see numerous emblems of the noble families of Trogir.

City Hall – the Duke’s Palace: The Duke’s court was the center of political power in Trogir and a place for various public discussions. Mostly built in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, it has retained the same purpose to this day as an administrative center.

Chipico Palace: Located opposite the Cathedral, the Chipico Palace is a series of several buildings combined into one. The oldest parts date back to the early Middle Ages, and some parts to ancient times.

Fortresses

Camerlengo Fortress: got its name from the city treasurer Camerlengo and was built after the Venetians captured Trogir in the early 15th century. Its main purpose was to accommodate the Venetian army fleet. Today the fortress is a multimedia center with an open-air cinema and a stage for various cultural events.

Fort St. Mark: in the form of a round tower was built in the 15th century and is located in the northeastern part of the island. Fort St. George. Marco was important for the defense of Trogir in Venetian times.

Trogir embankment

The Trogir promenade: palm trees, cafes and restaurants, yachts swaying on the water – a very pleasant place to walk. You can not only walk here, but also have a coffee, but I recommend another place closer to the entrance gate to the city. This is the Tinel Specialty Coffee Shop, a cafe that serves well roasted coffee with delicious pies filled with nuts.

I also advise you to visit the Trogirska ribarnica fish market, which is located across the bridge, opposite the Trogirska tržnica food and souvenir market, near the main gate to the Old Town. They sell fresh fish and shrimp every morning, and the prices are very reasonable.

Getting to Trogir

Trogir is located 5 km from Split Airport – in summer, planes take off and land over Trogir every half hour. Therefore, think carefully about whether to go straight to Split or stop for a day in cozy Trogir.

Find a hotel or apartment on Booking.com – Trogir≫

There are buses from Split Airport to Trogir – line 37, ticket price is 1.5 euros. The schedule can be found on the bus company’s website. Stop near the bridge leading to the Old Town of Trogir.
Taxi will cost about 10-15 Euros

If you decide to stay in Split, it is easy to get to Trogir from there:

By direct bus find the schedule here.
On the company’s boat Bura Line.

As the boats to/from Split do not run very often, check the boat schedule on Bura Line first and then decide on the route.

Useful articles and links:

Booking of hotels and apartments – Booking.com

Trogir – one day in the little pearl of Croatia