Split, Croatia May 2026
Day One
Our scheduled Easyjet flight, allowed passengers to check in online thirty days prior to departure (most airlines only offer 24 hour check in). This was a bonus, so that outbound and inbound boarding passes could be sent electronically and/or printed out.
On arrival at Gatwick Airport North Terminal, we headed straight to Security. I was ushered via a short cut to the scanning area. The staffs were very helpful and aware and I was allowed to go through with my symbol cane folded up.
Once we had cleared security and were in the terminal, we headed to the Special Assistance area. I had requested this service a few weeks prior to our departure date. Here they handed me a pager that would alert me when they were ready to escort us to the gate.
After a nourishing brekkie, we headed back to the special assistance seating area and waited for them to notify me. When I was paged, and they were ready with other passengers too, we set off on one of the airport buggies to the gate.
Gatwick Airport is fully accessible with lifts, travelators, disabled toilets and priority seating. The special assistance team are always fantastic and happy to help.
On arrival at the gate, we were escorted to the front of the queues. It was very busy with passengers waiting to board. I was taken via a lift to the walkway to enter the plane first. The cabin crew escorted me to my seat and made sure that my comm-guide would be able to interpret the safety procedures for me.
After a fairly smooth two hour flight, we landed safely at Split- St. Jermone Airport. Special assistance was waiting for me as there was no walkway off of the plane. An assistant lift truck boarded me safely into the truck and took us to passport control terminal. At passport control, again, I was able to skip the queues and it was smooth sailing out of the terminal to the taxi rank.
Split airport is very accessible and all flat, with clean accessible disabled toilets. The special assistance team is very aware and helpful. I was very pleased with this service.
The taxi journey to the hotel was about thirty minutes due to traffic. The cost was quite pricey and unexpected so be aware of this. I would suggest getting a Bolt or Uber instead. You need to download the app prior to going on the trip, it definitely is worth it and much cheaper.
On arrival near the hotel, due to the fact that the taxi was unable to enter the old town square where our hotel was located, it dropped us off about a 5 minute walk away. It was a bit of a maze, through the old town, first time, and the phone reception/ Google directions didn’t like the old building. Hence it took a while to locate the hotel which was actually right in front of us!! However, it was through an old doorway, a beautiful tiled corridor and on the third floor above the shops. There was no sign outside for Central Square Heritage Hotel.
However, once inside it was a beautiful place. The hotel floor was very clean and in character of ‘the old-world rooms’ which featured chandeliers in all the rooms.
Nestled within centuries old stone building walls in the old town, Central Heritage Hotel blends Dalmatian architectural charm with contemporary luxury. It is steps away from the Dolcletian’s Palace, providing travellers an authentic connection to the history.
The standard double rooms at Central Square Heritage Hotel immerses you in elegance where city energy greets you day by day and a serene comfort at night due to the vibrant rhythm of Split.
The rooms were accessed via a keypad card located adjacent to the door. The rooms were equipped with all amenities and the air conditioning kept the rooms cool. There was also a complimentary bottle of Croatian red wine in my room, as the booking was made in my name.
The bathroom was laid out well, with adequate lighting. There was a shower which was accessed by one step up into the cubicle; unfortunately, there were no grab rails for support.
Due to the proximity of the hotel, there was no bar or restaurant at this property. The hotel is booked on a room only basis. However, due to the excellent central location of this hotel, there were plenty of cafes and restaurants a stone’s throw away. Additionally, there was a well-stocked minibar in the rooms.
The reception was staffed from 8am – 10pm. All the staffs at the hotel were amazing. They were all really helpful, polite and accommodating, to anything that was asked about or requested.
The first evening, we headed out for dinner to an Italian restaurant named Bepa. This was located within the central square. The menu was very authentic and I selected a delightful dish of Grilled Octopus. We chose to be seated outside, to soak up the Croatian atmosphere. It was nice, albeit a bit windy!
After dinner, we went for a stroll along the seafront promenade. It was already dark, but the area was well lit with a flat paved promenade. Please be aware that there are no barriers, therefore you could fall into the water if you become too drunk!
Day Two
We met at the agreed time for breakfast and headed to the recommended restaurants on the square, which were very close by.
The omelettes here were divine! They were cooked freshly to order and the ingredients were healthy. We came back to this particular restaurant every morning as it suited us perfectly. There was seating outside but in the shade, therefore we were able to take our time over additional coffee and contemplate our agenda for the day ahead.
We chose to visit Diocletian’s Palace as it’s a very popular tourist attraction and we were conscious that the crowds would build up quickly. Diocletian’s Palace is a spectacular 4th century Roman fortress and UNESCO World Heritage Site that forms the vibrant heart of Split.
Peristyle Square is the central courtyard to the palace, flanked by Roman columns. There are large marble stone steps down into the square on all four sides. Due to the nature of the old site there are no hand rails or ramps. I did manage to access the square by holding onto the walls and stepping down the steps. This was quite precarious though.
The Cathedral of St. Domius was part of this courtyard too. The cathedral was originally built as Emperor Diocletians mausoleum.
After this, we headed to the outdoor market to explore further. On the way to the market, through the old town, there were a number of large wide concrete steps. A very kind Croatia man held my arm with my com-guide and escorted me up the steps. I did not ask him to help so this just shows how aware and kind the Croatian people are.
The market had a wide variety of goods and souvenirs to purchase. Some catering for the tourists and other stalls were authentic such as wines, spirits and cheeses from Croatia. I treated myself to a holiday shirt which was in the style of a Hawaiian shirt. The stalls holders were very disability aware and made sure that I was able to navigate any steps into their stalls. They also gave me complimentary gifts which were lovely gestures of their kindness. These gifts were a fridge magnet and a key-ring.
The market was located on the edge of the old town and accessible either through the old town or you could get to it by walking along the promenade, right to the end of where the restaurants were.
There were plenty of souvenir shops in the old town and because of the nature of the historic town and buildings, as anticipated; these all had large stone steps at the entrances to these establishments.
We had lunch along the promenade at one of the many restaurants situated adjacent to the sea front. There are plenty of options available. All have similar menus and fish is the recommended meal due to it being freshly caught.
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I decided to enquire about a boat trip around the coastline of Split, which is located by the Adriatic Sea. As this was my first time on the Adriatic Sea, I thought I would tick this off the list, with a glorious outing on the water.
The boat trip was at 4pm and was a ninety minute journey around the coastline of Split town. The boat ventured out to the football stadium and back again pointing out tourist attractions along the route. Split is synonymous for filming Game of Thrones therefore there was plenty of reference to where scenes were filmed.
A complimentary drink was included in the ticket price, which cost thirty euro each. This included a choice of either alcohol; beer or wine, or soft drinks/water.
The boat staff assisted me onto the boat due to having to step over onto the boat. Obviously this was a large step and the boat was slightly rocking as it was in the sea! The seating on the boat was either inside or out in the open. As the weather was glories, I chose to sit at the stern of the boat in the sunshine. Here, I was able to take wonderful photographs and of course enjoy the stunning scenery and views across the mountains of Mosor.
After we were back on shore, we headed back for a rest before dinner that evening. I decided to go back to the same restaurant, Bepa again for the Octopus as it was truly amazing. The octopus was succulent and delicious. Definitely worth another try!
The atmosphere in the town square was riveting and it was a pleasure to sit and absorb the surroundings and cultures of Croatia. It was a Friday and the start of the weekend so there were some Stag and Hen parties around; as expected at this time of year. There were very well behaved though!
Day Three
The next morning after a nourishing brekkie, we decided to visit Klis Fortress. This fort is an attraction as it’s famous for filming scenes from Game of Thrones. The filming location is epic. The fort is located around a thirty minutes Bolt drive from the centre of Split. Our Bolt driver was so friendly and helpful; therefore, we politely requested to be picked up at 3pm by the same driver.
When arriving at Klis, I noticed a café next to the drop off point. The cafe had toilets, not accessible unfortunately; they only sold drinks too so you weren’t able to buy food there. There was a pizza restaurant located opposite though.
As there are no toilet facilities located in the fortress, I would recommend using the café facilities before you embark on the climb. Also, it is advisable to bring bottled water to keep hydrated!
Klis Fortress was constructed by the ancient Illyrian tribe, Dalmatae. The fortress dates back to over two thousand years. It was built to be the seat of many Croatian Kings, and became a fortress during the Ottoman wars in Europe.
Due to the age and historical significance, the hike up to the fortress is ‘no walk in the park’ with a very steep incline. The terrain consists of cobblestone and uneven terrain, which was quite tricky to navigate. However, with the excellent encouragement of my comm-guide, I had gathered the confidence and step by step, I conquered the walk of walls of the fortress, taking in the breathtaking scenery along the way.
In some areas there are small walls to hold onto, whereas in other there is nothing to hold onto and there are no hand rails for support. This is due to the age and nature of the fortress.
When we had completed the mammoth task and reached the top, we were rewarded with astonishing views.
I felt proud of myself for surmounting this challenge, “If you put your mind to it, you can do anything.” (Well almost!)
There was a very small museum located about mid-point. This exhibited details of the nature, culture and history of the fortress. To enter the museum, it required stepping up four steps up with no hand rail. Once inside it was flat to roam, however, there was a metal staircase with hand rails, if you wished to explore the upper level.
After spending over an hour exploring the fortress, we decided to start our decent down. As I suffer from Ataxia (walking condition) it was a struggle to descend the steep parts. However, with sheer control and my comm-guides fantastic sighted guiding, I returned safely.
Due to this attraction being more than two millenniums old, I felt that wheelchair users would struggle to reach the top. An ‘All Terrain’ wheelchair would probably be the best option. However, someone pushing a wheelchair would need to have a very strong back.
I decided to treat myself to a pick me up in the form of a strong coffee, whilst we waited for the Bolt to arrive for the return journey. The journey back to Split centre took about thirty minutes and had to drop us near the port as the cars cannot access the pedestrian areas along the marina or town centre square.
As we hadn’t eaten we stopped for cheeky nachos in a Mexican restaurant at the end of the port. We only needed a light meal and this was perfect to keep us going until dinner. After this we headed back to the hotel, (about a ten minute walk) for a well-deserved rest and shower.
That evening we met about 7pm and strolled down to the marina promenade. Here there is an array of restaurants to choose from. We decided that locally caught fish would be good to try so finding a family run restaurant with ‘fish of the day’ as their speciality. We both ordered this and it was delicious.
After dinner, we went for a stroll along the promenade to take in the sea air and beautiful scenery. Split promenade coastline is renounced for its scenery and one of the most photographed views. It is also mooring for super yachts; however, we weren’t able to see who was on board any of these. Understandably, most has ‘private’ in clear writing!
As the sun went down the scenery changed and the ambiance of the nightlife kicked in. Split seems to be where groups of friends, families, stag / Hens or celebrations head to. However, it is fine for couples and the above parties were not noisy or out of control.
After a drink in a bar, we headed back to our hide-away hotel for the night. I had a cheeky nightcap of brandy, why not?
Day Four
The next morning after the usual breakfast, we decided to go on a sightseeing ‘hop on hop off’ bus around Split. However, as it was a Sunday and with many attractions closed, there was only one bus line running.
As we boarded the bus, we headed straight to the top to take in the best views. This excursion is around a twenty minute journey and we disembarked at the last stop. You have the option of staying on the bus for another twenty minutes as it heads back the way it came to the starting point. Unlike the buses of London, I did not notice any wheelchair spaces on the hop on hop off buses in Split.
The last stop was near St Francis Church. We arrived just in time for Sunday mass! We didn’t stay for too long and headed out for a coffee at one of the nearby cafes.
The church is not accessible for wheelchair users and is only accessible via several steps. Seating is limited as it’s a small church at the end of the promenade and was very popular with the locals.
I had contemplated the idea of getting an evening boat out to sea to capture the sunset as it was a very sunny day. So we decided, and then headed to book a sunset cruise for later that evening. When we arrived at the Kiosk, we were advised that they were almost booked up, but there were some places on another boat which was a small galleon! My comm guide was a bit concerned of this option as there appeared to be lots of nets and ropes; however, I decided to go for it. Also they were concerned that it was the classic party boat for youngsters!
After a late lunch, we headed back to the hotel for a rest before meeting again at 6.30pm ready to ‘sail the seven seas in ninety minutes’!
On arrival at the ‘Pirate ship’, my comm guide got on first and a nice ‘mate’ assisted me on to the ship. This way I realised how deep the step was to get on it. Once I was on, we had to climb several steps and were allocated seats right at the front. A complimentary drink was included, beer was my poison. Shame there was no rum!
As we set sail, there were plenty of dramatic views followed by a stunning sunset on the horizon. The nets and ropes rarely got in the way of the magnificent view. Once we had docked back at Split harbour, the same man assisted me off the boat.
Being a big beer enthusiast, I had searched online for a craft beer bar, and found one called Lepoids, I was looking forward to going there. My comm guide used Google to locate where it was, but it was really tricky to find. It was located behind one of the squares and up a very wide stepped walkway. Navigating the steps was incredibly hard but a waiter from an adjoining restaurant assisted us.
The seating for Lepoids was rather strange; there were about five small tables situated against a tall brick wall and another tall brick wall opposite! Inside, it was very dark so not ideal. However, they did make a nice tapas board of local cheeses and olives for a good price. This was just a snack to accompany the beers. We didn’t stay there long as it was an uncomfortable seating. We headed back to the square to grab another drink. The square was vibrant and buzzing as expected so our night ended with a good atmosphere.
Day Five
This was our last day in Split and with our flight scheduled for 14.10; I had a Bolt car booked for 11.30. We checked out of the hotel at 08.30 which was about ninety minutes earlier then requested. This was to make the most of the last morning. The staff at the hotel said they would keep our luggage locked away safely as we headed out for a few hours, making the last few special moments count in beautiful Split.
We went out for breakfast at the usual restaurant as this was now familiar and the food was delicious. Why change a habit when it works?
After brekkie, we made a quick trip to the, market to change a shirt which I had bought the day before. They were happy to exchange for a larger size. We had a last look around to see if there were any bargains and souvenirs. We wanted to take a nice walk so had a lovely morning stroll along the stunning promenade.
After we had maxed out our step count for the morning we went for a cold drink in a café called The Dock Bar. My comm-guide had the suggestion that she go back to the hotel and collect the bags to save me the trip of going back and forth, which I was happy with. When she arrived at the hotel the very kind receptionist offered to help. This was such a kind and thoughtful gesture. On reflection, I should have given her a tip!
The Bolt to the airport was collecting us just along from the café. It was actually the husband of Karla who had taken us to Klis Fortress. We had arranged this earlier in the week with her so it worked perfectly and relieved stress. We arrived in perfect time at the airport for our departure flight back to Gatwick.
On arrival at Split Airport, we headed to check in. I had already printed out the boarding passes, and the check in staff allowed us to check in our luggage; a service I hadn’t paid for. This enabled my comm guide and me to walk more freely than struggle with wheeling the cases around!
A lift was provided to access the Security level. They were very aware and patient. There wasn’t much of a queue. After screening was complete, we were in the terminal. We were tempted to check out the Duty Free and found that the shop floor was flat and is well spaced out for all passengers to access.
After purchasing some goodies, we went through Passport Control and used the priority seating for disabled passengers. There was a very spacious disabled toilet located nearby.
With a bit of a delay, we were called by special assistance and were escorted down to the tarmac via a lift. We were then shown onto a special lift truck. Split Airport is quite small and there are no walkways to planes.
We boarded the plane, which was an EasyJet flight, and were shown to our seats by a member of the cabin crew. The flight duration time was around two hours and during this time we were able to purchase drinks and food if required. You could also purchase duty free fragrances etc.
On landing at Gatwick, we were asked to disembark when all the other passengers had left the plane. There was a special assistance truck waiting for me and several other passengers too.
Once we had left the truck after being escorted to the terminal. We waited for the ‘beep beep’ buggy and were able to go through Passport Control as there is a wide area for the buggies. They then drove us to Baggage Claim to collect our cases and then on to Arrivals.
Once through the ‘anything to declare area’ and out into arrivals, I had a taxi waiting to collect us. This made life so much easier to pre-book a taxi rather than using an Uber. The drive home was smooth and there was little traffic on the motorway which was good after a long day.
Overall
Split is a beautiful city; however it wasn’t very disability friendly due to it being an old city.
The good aspects were that the city squares where the restaurants, hotel and bars are situated were all flat paved walkways and also the promenade along the seafront. This was definitely disabled and wheelchair friendly. Also, the locals were very kind and helpful assisting me up and down steps.
I would rate Split a 5/10 for disabled accessibility, I did not notice a single disabled toilet in the city, only at the airport. Lots of shops and some restaurants had step to enter. However, it is a beautiful place to visit with amazing sunsets. There is something magical about a stunning city by the sea.