Marjanski Đir has been held every year for the last 18 years and is a triathlon that is separated into 3 categories: Olympic, Super Sprint, and Aquathlon. The triathlons take place at SRC Bene, Marjan Forest Park in Split.

As the temperatures are surely beginning to rise on the Croatian coast this summer, giving us 30°+ days with scorching sun and sweat filled clothes, we know we are in for another heater. Luckily for those of us living in or visiting Split, we have many options to cool down when we’re feeling that we’re really in need of a freezer.

Ultra Europe: Three days of explosive headliners, mind blowing visuals, intensive dancing and 40,000 of your best friends. Poljud Stadium in Split has created the perfect atmosphere to sweat it out under the hot summer heat in a pristinely ancient European city. Although we know the festival will take up most of your time in Split, it would be a shame not experience the plethora of built in amenities the city has to offer. Understanding your tired bodies will be in need of some daily R&R, here is a list of activities for you, whether you’re nursing a hangover or resting your tired legs. We promise we aren’t asking too much of you to fully imbibe in the Dalmatian experience.

Last week we introduced you to one of the coolest Game of Thrones tours in Croatia, custom made by travel agency Vetus Itinera. We wouldn’t want you to miss out on the extensive selection of unparalleled non Game of Thrones tours they offer in addition, ranging from Split to Hvar to Brac, up and down the Dalmatian coast.

We’d like to start by showing you their tour options in Split, and trust us, we’re aching to get our hands in one of these soon!

Split, being the second largest city in Croatia, has an incredible amount to offer. From Diocletian’s Palace, to idyllic isles, and maybe most importantly: street lined restaurants selling succulent seafood.

It’s hard enough to decide where your next meal will be in Split, with a plentitude of options and a cheerful maître d' awaiting your arrival, it can get increasingly overwhelming. Because we encourage you to live like Dalmatian’s do when you’re in our city (all about relaxing) and because we know Split like the back of our hands, we’re here to narrow this down for you simply. Here are two of the best seafood restaurants in Split, for those nights you’re in Split and well, you want seafood!

Marjan Forest Park covers the westernmost tip of Split Peninsula. It is a green oasis, which has been cherished by the citizens of Split for generations and is considered the ‘lungs of the city.’ It covers a vast area, the size of New York’s Central Park and offers a myriad of activities and sites. There are countless paths what wend through the forests and along the coast, revealing a well-tendered landscape, jagged beaches, vista points, ancient chapels, and even a zoo.

You can take an easy stroll or a jog to the peak of Marjan hill, Telegrin, marked by the Croatian flag at 178m above sea level offering breathtaking views over Split and the Adriatic horizon. Alternatively, conduct your Marjan discovery on bike, which you can rent from the Northern Entrance to the park (a.k.a. Marjanska Vrata) for 15KN per hour; there are plenty paved roads and off-road routes to chose from.

Other than endless greenery, some hot spots to discover include:

Sustipan: A peninsula that closes off the city harbor to the west is an old cemetery nestled on a cliff face. It is a popular rock climbing spot for if you have the gear.

Sv. Jere Church: This magnificent little church was constructed into the rock face in 1500; a Croatian version of the Petra of Jordan if you will.

Vidilica Café: Found at the summit of a flight of stairs from taken from the Varoš neighborhood, here you can sip your coffee while taking in the best city panoramas.

The Zoo: Probably one of the smallest animal havens in the world but a great visit for kids.

Kašjuni Beach: Located on the southern foothills of the Marjan, this no-frills beach provides a quiet city getaway in pristine nature. A short walk takes you to Split’s only dog friendly spot dogs. This beach is also a nudist beach. 

Bene Beach: Located along the northern shores of this pine-dotted peninsula, this jagged beach is a popular recreational destination with tennis courts, football, playgrounds, and a restaurant.

Getting to Marjan

It is prohibited to drive through Marjan Forest Park but you can park by the Northern Gate (a.k.a. Marjanska Vrata). Get to the Northen Gate on foot by heading up Plinarska Ulica directly behind the National Theatre of Split, cross Prilaz Vladimira Nazora Ulica and continue west down Mandalinski Put. 

You can also get to Marjan from the city by climbing the stairs to Vidilica from the Varoš neighborhood west of Riva.

Alternatively, you can access from the southern side by passing through the Marjan tunnel to the Meje neighborhood and turn right at the t-junction and continue west along Šetalište Ivana Meštrovića until a ramp stops you from driving further. Park nearby and walk the rest of the way.

You can also hop on bus 12 from Riva and get off at the last stop, directly by Bene beach. Alternatively, take a little choo choo train that departs every hour in front of the National Theatre of Split in the summer from 8am to 8pm; a real popular mode of transport for the kids for just 10kn. 

www.marjan-parksuma.hr

Split has many nice views, but sitting anywhere on the south slopes on Marjan gives an oportunity for some real spectacles. Depending on the weather, just an easy hike brings a view that sometimes reaches most of the islands in front of Split, as far as Vis. This, the proximity of park-forest Marjan, just an easy walk to the city center, and the sheer luxury of villas based there, makes the southwest side of Split peninsula a really interesting choice as a vacation base.

These area is divided into few neighbourhoods, locally known as Meje (pron. Maeyae), Zvončac (Zvonchats), and simply Marjan (Maryan). It includes also the area around ACI marina with the newly renovated Western seaside promenade, and former cemetery, now park Sustipan.

As a place to stay, southern Marjan offers not so many possibilities as the old town or Varoš, but it's possible to find a range, from rooms to luxury villas in the residential area. a random search over AirBnB.com for early June gives about 60 facilities, but there are even more not listed. Unlike previously described neighbourhoods, this area is car-friendly, with a lot of places to park right in front of your accommodation, usually with a private parking space. It's easily accessible through Marjan tunnel, but our suggestion would be to leave your car there when going sightseeing, because it's not so easy to find a parking spot in the old town. Unfortunately, there are no hotels around. A few of them might be opened in the future, but right now Marjan Hilton is still under construction, as well as Ambasador, and the former residence of late Yugoslav president Josip Broz Tito was never returned into its original hotel assignation, being still a state-owned residence.

Restaurants are also rare, except for a few in and around the marina, one of the recent additions is very well received Zrno soli (Grain of Salt). It is also the same story with cafés, there are no many of them, but sipping coffee on a West Riva (locally Zapadna obala) is a nice experience, another great view on Split and surrounding mountains. Check out the plaques laid on West Riva, they mark all Split-native Olympic medal bearers.

Marjan itself doesn't give a lot of café oportunities, it's dedicated to different sorts of enjoyment, hiking, rock-climbing, biking, sightseeing, etc. The same kind of nature-bound enjoying provides park Sustipan, just above marina, once a cemetery and coronation site for old Croatian kings. One of the most attractive features are beaches around Marjan - the sea is everywhere very clean, and the most popular beaches like Kaštelet, Ježinac or Bene have nice cafés.

Don't expect much nightlife, this is another residential area, but whenever the weather is fine, West Riva will be packed with by-walkers, and those just enjoying sitting by the sea. Of course, as with Varoš - other, more party friendly areas are easily reachable.

Most tourists believe that there is not so much to see outside of the old town, but south Marjan has a few excellent museum experiences. The best known Split museum, Ivan Meštrović Gallery dedicated to the most famous Croatian sculptor is based there, as well as the adjacent Crikvine Kaštilac, also once owned by Meštrović.

A little bit closer to a city, lies Museum of Croatian Archeological Monuments, with early medieval treasures. Unfortunatelly, its permanent collection is in preparation, but the museum is worth visiting. This area is also a good staring point for a tour of Marjan churches.

Downsides of south Marjan is not so good public transportation connections with the city center. We have already said that it's not a very good idea to drive to the old town, so walking is probably the best option. It's an easy half-an-hour walk from Meštrović Gallery to Riva. Even though some parts of this area are pretty dark in the night, and Marjan forest is so close, it's pretty safe.

To be continued

PREVIOUSLY IN WHERE TO STAY IN SPLIT

Choose Neighbourhood By Your Needs

City Within The Imperial Palace

Quiet Labyrinth On Marjan

Are you in for a blood pumping physical challenge? The 1st Marjanska Skalinada takes place on April 1, 2013 starting at 11 am. This running event is a vertical marathon on the Marjan peninsula where you will start at 1m altitude and ascend 819 steps, spanning 1320m, reaching the summit of Telegrin at 178m about sea level.

The race starts at the bottom of the Tomica Stine stairs near Matejuska west of Riva. Runners will start at 30 second intervals in order to avoid crowding. Arrows will guide you on your route, first past Prva Vidilica, the belvedere by the Vidilica Cafe and Jewish Cemetary. You will continue up the steep path and climb ancient staircases wedged into the side of Marjan hill leading you to the flagged summit of Marjan at the finish line.

If this sounds like a challenge you are up for, you need to fill out your application latest by March 22, 2013 on www.maraton.hr and get to Prva Vidilica four days prior to the race, on Thursday March 28 to pick up your number and chips at 19:30. If you are unable to come on this day, you can collect them on race day between 9:00-10:30.

In a nutshell:

What: Marjanska Skalinada, a vertical marathon on the Marjan Peninsula of Split, Croatia

When: April 1, 2013 at 11:00

Where: Tomica Stina Steps to Telegrin Summit

register latest 22 March 2013 on www.maraton.hr

For more information, what this video with English subtitles