Split is the second largest city in Croatia (the first is Zagreb) and it is often overlooked by tourists. This makes it an excellent place to visit, in my mind (although Croatia in general is not too toursited, which is nice). I visited in early May, the weather was warm and sunny but not quite warm enough for a swim. But I got to take advantage of off-season prices!

What I like about Split is that it's a very lived-in city. The old city, centered around Diocletian's Palace, is lived in and wandered through by the locals as much as it is admired by tourists. The more modern city center that surrounds the palace area is beautiful and clean and bustling. The food here is great and inexpensive. People are incredibly nice and welcoming, and it makes a great base for day trips to little towns like Trogir and nearby islands such as Brac or Hvar. If you arrive by bus, don't let the industrial outskirts fool you, the center of Split is wonderful.