Why You Should Visit Trogir, Nicknamed "Little Venice"

There are no canals in tiny Trogir. No gondolas. No bridges over meandering waterways.

Never mind. It’s still nicknamed “Little Venice” for its labyrinth of narrow cobbled streets.

And if you visit Croatia, you might wonder – is Trogir worth visiting?

Short answer? Yes!

Is Trogir worth visiting in Croatia? Absolutely!

If you can, try to make it to the medieval island town of Trogir.

One of Croatia’s prettiest beach towns, it’s an easy day trip from Split (and its fabulous Diocletian’s Palace)…

And a day trip to Trogir is one of the top things to do when you visit Split.

Why you should visit Trogir!

Visit Trogir, and you'll be struck by its red rooftops

Its rich history dates back 2,300 years ago. Founded by the Greeks, it was occupied by the Romans and later the Venetians.

Today, Trogir is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, gorgeously set within medieval walls – like a fairy tale town dreamed up by Hans Christian Andersen.

Look here! Look there!

Trogir is a lovely muddle of stone palaces, homes, shops, cafés (serving delicious Croatian cakes and sweets) and other buildings from the Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque periods.

Cathedral of St. Lovro, Trogir

Don’t miss the Cathedral of St. Lovro (St. Lawrence).

A highlight is the amazing Romanesque doorway carved by Master Radovan (one of Croatia’s finest builders) in 1240.

On the outer edge of the doorway are two lions, upon which two nude statues of Adam and Eve stand.

Also be sure to climb to the top of the cathedral’s 150-foot (47-meter) tall bell tower (but only if you’re not afraid of heights).

The views are awesome from up here!

Is Trogir worth visiting?

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So, are you still debating whether to visit Trogir?

Have a look at these other photos of Trogir. And then you can decide…

Have you wandered about Trogir?

Did you feel butterflies in your stomach as you climbed the cathedral’s bell tower?

More Croatia travel information

See our other Croatia travel guides:

Our top travel tips and resources

Hotels: Booking.com is great for scoring a “wow” hotel – or at least a decent one – at lower rates than the hotel’s own website. We especially like Booking’s flexible cancellation policy!

Vacation homes, condos and rentals: We prefer and use Vrbo (Vacation Rentals by Owner).

Flights: To book the cheapest flights, search on Google Flights or Expedia. (Just be aware Expedia tickets may be non-refundable.)

Airport lounge access: We love (and have) Priority Pass for comfy lounge seats, free snacks and drinks, complimentary WiFi and sometimes even showers and spa services!

Tours: For the best local food, walking and other guided tours, plus skip-the-line tickets to attractions, check out Viator (a TripAdvisor company) and GetYourGuide.

Car rental: Renting a car is often one of the best ways to explore off the beaten path. Discover Cars searches car rental companies so you get the best rates.

Travel insurance: SafetyWing is designed for frequent travelers, long-term adventurers and digital nomads. It covers medical expenses, lost checked luggage, trip interruption and more. We also have and recommend Medjet for global air medical transportation.

Travel gear: See our travel shop to find the best luggage, accessories and other travel gear. (We suggest these comfy travel sandals for city walking, the beach and kicking about.)

Need more help planning your trip? Check out our travel tips and resources guide for airline booking tips, ways to save money, how to find great hotels and other crazy useful trip planning info.

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Photo credits: 2, 3, 5 to 7, 9 to 11, 13, 15 © Janice and George Mucalov, SandInMySuitcase

About the authors

Luxury travel journalists and SATW, NATJA and TMAC “Best Travel Blog” award winners, Janice and George Mucalov are the publishers of Sand In My Suitcase. Between them, they’ve traveled to all 7 continents. See About.

Find destination guides, global food-and-wine stories, luxury hotel reviews, articles on cultural explorations and soft adventure trips, cruise reviews, insanely useful travel tips and more!

frank

Monday 16th of November 2015

Wonderful photos, guys! Trogir is lovely. We've got friends from Trogir who also have a small beach house in Krknjasi, on the nearby island of Drvenik. If you come back to Trogir, make sure to visit it - it has the most beautiful turqoise waters to find anywhere in Croatia. Happy travels!

Janice and George

Drvenik? Ok, now you've got us intrigued :-).

Frank

Saturday 24th of October 2015

We were there earlier this year and I went up the bell tower - and almost fell through the hole below! (as you know, it has no barriers of any kind). But the views are great. Frank (bbqboy)

Oh, that's funny! NOT :-). It is kind of scary at the top of that bell tower. But worth it! (Unless you don't do well with heights - then it would be kinda dangerous.)

Kathryn Burrington

Sunday 20th of September 2015

I was in another Little Venice yesterday but that one was in London and does have a canal. Very pretty.

Would really love to visit Croatia one day. I'd never heard of Trogir but it's now on my wish list. Looks wonderful.

Sounds like there are quite a few "Little Venices" around the world :-). Yes, do put Trogir on the list when you visit Croatia - you won't regret it...

Alana

Monday 14th of September 2015

We're just beginning to plan for our time in Croatia next month. Your photos have sold us, we'll definitely make time for beautiful Trogir.

Tuesday 15th of September 2015

Good idea! You'll love Trogir :-). In fact, you're going to love Croatia. Have an awesome trip!

Amy Lynne Hayes

Wednesday 9th of September 2015

They call Fort Lauderdale the "Venice of North America" too lol. But it looks absolutely gorgeous there - love the contrast of the red tiles against the light walls and blue water. A real gem!

Saturday 12th of September 2015

Now it's a teeny bit harder to think of Fort Lauderdale as like Venice :-). Actually Trogir should be appreciated on its own, without any Venice-like references.