Divota Apartment Hotel

Rooms

Gleaming hardwood floors, clean lines and sophisticated white-on-white spiked with bold splashes of modern art make for eye-popping interiors - very unexpected inside Divota's restored cottages, which between them house 18 rooms, 9 studio-style apartments (each sleeping 2, with the option of an extra bed in many) with sitting areas and kitchenettes, and a self-contained 3-bedroom home. Conservation restrictions challenged the owner to make do with existing structures, so the sloped ceilings and squeezed-in bathrooms can feel cramped, but they’re enchanting nonetheless.

The Deluxe Studios feel the most spacious, both indoors and out - 301 has exposed stone walls and a access to a shared courtyard, 302 a sunny balcony with a table, chairs and potted plants, and 402 (spread over 2 floors) a private terrace. The Standard Duplex Studios are also a decent size and split over 2 levels. Some Superior Studios are a little smaller but fine for couples - one (902) has a terrace. The smallest apartment is the ground-floor Standard Studio. It shares a courtyard with the Superior Double Room (602) - convenient for couples travelling together.

There are also several Cosy, Deluxe and Superior Rooms clustered around the main reception. They’re cosy inside and have no sitting area or kitchenette, but some have small balconies; a couple can interconnect. There are also newer rooms in a more recently refurbed house which we haven't seen, but which look clean and white and contemporary.

The 3-bedroom house (800) is a good option for families and groups of friends. It sleeps up to 7 in 3 double bedrooms and a rollaway bed, with 2 bathrooms, a large living area, a dining room, a full kitchen, and terraces with tables and chairs.

Features include:

• Bathrobes
• Hairdryer
• In-room treatments available
• Safe box
• WiFi

Eating

Breakfast (included in the rates) is served at a local restaurant a short walk from the hotel. We're yet to try it ourselves, but guests rave about the waterfront location and delicious menu.

For other meals, you have the option to self-cater or head out. With fridges, hobs, ovens, dishwashers, a few supplies (sugar, salt, pepper etc) and dining tables or breakfast bars, the apartment kitchenettes are basic but have all you need for creating simple dishes using fresh ingredients from Split’s fruit, vegetable and fish markets. The 3-bedroom house has a full kitchen and a dining room on its first floor, as well as a little kitchenette off the ground-floor living area. The rooms only have coffee- and tea-making facilities, a few bits of cutlery and crockery and minibars stocked with drinks, but there's enough space in the latter for storing light snacks. A selection of excellent Croatian wines and olive oils are available to buy from Divota’s reception, and there are supermarkets scattered throughout Veli Varoš.

Split has plenty of restaurants to choose from, though many tend to be packed during high season so it’s worth booking ahead. Our recommendations include Konoba Matejuška, which serves fresh fish and traditional Croatian specialities, and a wine bar called Zinfandel, both in the centre of town. Beyond the bustle, Dvor is popular for its menu of seafood and pasta and its romantic setting overlooking a small beach. Paradox, a wine and cheese bar located a block from Divota's reception, is a great place to sample Croatian wines.

Features include:

• Breakfast
• Coffee maker
• Fridge
• Restaurants nearby

Activities

• Settle into the neighbourhood. Cook up the day’s catch from the fish market, and watch the comings and goings as you relax with a glass of wine on your balcony. Massages in your room/apartment can be arranged
  
• Take a class or session in Divota's purpose-built yoga and meditation centre, sited at one of the apartment clusters
  
• Wander through Split’s historic centre, set inside the walls of the Unesco-listed Diocletian's Palace. Built in 293 AD by the emperor Diocletian, it’s one of the best-preserved Roman structures in the world. It’s now Split's shopping, dining and tourist hub and, along with 2 Egyptian sphinxes, you’ll find stylish boutiques, restaurants and cafés housed in Gothic and Renaissance buildings
  
• Climb the bell tower of the Cathedral of St. Duje (the oldest cathedral in the world, dating to AD 305) for a stunning panorama of Split, nearby islands and the peninsula of Marjan
  
• Hike or bike (reception can arrange bike hire). When you're tired of the crowds, set out for the forested hills of Marjan, a few hundred metres from Split's main promenade. Its high point is Telegrin, which has magnificent views. The peninsula’s southern cliffs are popular with alpine climbers
  
• Take to the sand and water. Marjan is home to Bene, a beautiful pine-backed beach, and its coastline is a favourite kayaking spot
  
• Spend an evening with the throngs of people along Split's beautifully lit harbour front (riva)
  
• Catch a ferry over to Hvar, Brac or Vis. Catamarans connect Split with these Adriatic islands, where you can swim in aquamarine waters, visit historic castles or rent a scooter
  
• Visit the impressive ruins of Salona, 6km from Split and also once home to Diocletian

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Birdwatching
• Boat trips
• Cycling
• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Kayaking
• Mountain biking
• Museums / galleries
• Nightlife
• Shopping / markets
• Snorkelling
• Swimming
• Well being

Kids

Children of all ages are welcome, and some rooms and apartments have space for an extra bed or baby cot. Deluxe Studio 302 and Superior Twin Studio 303 share a main door and are ideal for families with older children. The 3-bedroom house (800) is another great option - suitable for up to 7 people, it has 3 double bedrooms (no twins), a full kitchen, a dining room, terraces and a living area with space for a rollaway bed.

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years), Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Divota Apartment Hotel is spread across several renovated stone cottages in the neighbourhood of Veli Varoš, close to the centre of Split on Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast.

> Google map showing all locations (new window)

By Air:
Fly into Split (Resnik) Airport, 35km away. Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving it.

From the Airport
Staff can arrange a transfer (see Rates), or you can take a taxi. There's also a bus from the airport to the harbour, which is within walking distance of Divota. Note that surrounding streets are pedestrianised, so you’ll have to walk the last few hundred metres.

By Sea:
If you are arriving from Italy, Jadrolinija and Blue Line operate daily overnight ferries to Split from Ancona. In addition, through summer (June-September) SNAV run daily catamarans from Ancona to Split.

By Public Transport:
Regular bus services cover most of Croatia. There are also trains between Split and Zagreb - generally slower than buses but slightly cheaper. Divota is less than 1km from the train station.

By Car:
You won’t need a car to explore Split as restaurants and the main sights are within walking distance. If you want to hire one for driving around the wider region, see our car rental recommendations. Note that Divota is located in a pedestrianised zone; public parking (some metered, some free of charge) is available nearby, but you won’t be able to drive right up to your door.

Detailed directions will be provided when you confirm a booking through i-escape.com.

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