Split travel guide
Exploring the Underground Palace Cellars
Under Diocletian's Palace lies a maze of vaulted stone halls that most visitors walk straight through. This page explains what the cellars are, which part is free and which is ticketed, how they show the palace's original plan, and where Game of Thrones fans should look.
While figuring out your cellars visit is a critical piece of the puzzle, you will need to plan the rest of your itinerary, dining slots and sightseeing routes. Before you set out, make sure to read our definitive Split travel guide to map out your entire stay.
The palace cellars at a glance
| Where | Under the palace; the entrance is from the Riva |
|---|---|
| Time | About 45 minutes |
| Central passage | Free, lined with craft and souvenir stalls |
| Side halls | Ticketed |
| Run by | The Split City Museum |
We could not confirm this year's ticket price or opening hours on an official site, so we leave them out rather than guess. The Split Tourist Board lists the cellars' phone number as +385 21 360 171.
Why the cellars matter
The emperor's apartments stood on the sea side of the palace, over sloping ground. The vaulted halls below were built to keep his floors level, and they were also used for storage. Because the town built over the rooms above, the cellars now show the original layout of the palace better than anything above ground.
Walk the side halls and you are tracing the floor plan of the rooms Diocletian lived in, with the same walls, pillars and vaults.
Game of Thrones in the palace cellars
Game of Thrones fans will recognise the cellars as the place where Daenerys kept her dragons chained. Other Split scenes were filmed around the palace, and Klis Fortress, on the ridge above the city, stood in for the city of Meereen.
- Walking tours: guided walks of the old town cover the palace's history and its filming spots.
- Klis Fortress: about 20 minutes by car, or a local bus or taxi from Split. Avoid midday in summer, as the walls have little shade.
Tips for your visit
- Walk through: the central passage runs from the Riva up towards the Peristyle, so it is also the quickest way into the palace from the waterfront.
- Rainy days: the cellars, the cathedral and the Temple of Jupiter are all under a roof.
- Hot days: the halls stay cooler than the lanes above.
- Underfoot: the stone is old and uneven; watch your step in the dim light.
What to plan next for your trip
Once you have sorted out your cellars visit, it's time to explore the rest of Dalmatia - Split. Then climb up for the view from the cathedral bell tower. For the whole palace, read our guide to Diocletian's Palace.