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Offered languages
- English
- English
This is the only tour in Split where you actually see and hear the ancient palace come back to life. Put on a VR headset and watch Roman soldiers appear in front of you, Emperor Diocletian address the crowd, and the ancient walls rebuild themselves around you in real time, all while immersive sounds of the Roman era surround you through the headset speakers. When the headset comes off, you are still standing on the same 1,700-year-old stones where it all really happened. Two VR scenes, one full guided walk, and one experience you cannot get anywhere else in the world.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
Meet at the Gregory of Nin statue near the Golden Gate of Diocletian's Palace. Look for the guide with a red equipment cart carrying the VR headsets.
Itinerary
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1Grgur Ninski Statue
This is your meeting point. Your guide welcomes the group at the famous statue of Gregory of Nin, a 10th-century bishop known for fighting to hold church services in the Croatian language. Rub his golden toe for good luck, as local tradition says, before the tour begins
5 minutes • Admission ticket free -
2The Golden Gate
Your guide begins with the fascinating story of Emperor Diocletian, a commoner from nearby Salona who rose to become the most powerful man in the Roman Empire and then voluntarily gave up his throne. After the storytelling buildup, your guide personally fits each guest with a Meta Quest 3 VR headset. The ruins dissolve around you. The Golden Gate appears as it looked in 305 AD with towering marble walls, red Egyptian granite columns, and massive wooden doors reinforced with iron. Roman soldiers in full armor stand guard as Emperor Diocletian arrives at his newly completed palace. You stand safely in one spot while navigating the scene using handheld controllers. The real ancient stones remain visible beneath your feet through mixed reality passthrough. After the scene, headsets come off and your guide answers any questions before leading the group on foot into the palace.
18 minutes • Admission ticket free -
3Cathedral of Saint Domnius
Standing before the Cathedral of Saint Domnius, you are looking at the oldest Catholic cathedral in the world still in use in its original structure. It was built as Emperor Diocletian's personal mausoleum, which makes for one of history's greatest ironies: a man who violently persecuted Christians now rests inside a church dedicated to Saint Domnius, one of his own victims. Notice the Roman columns and Egyptian sphinxes flanking the entrance, remnants of the original mausoleum that survived seventeen centuries of transformation from imperial tomb to place of worship.
9 minutes • Admission ticket not included -
4Diocletian's Palace
Welcome to the Peristyle, the grand ceremonial heart of Diocletian's Palace. For centuries, this is where the Emperor addressed his people. Take a moment to look around at the ancient columns and arches that have stood here for 1,700 years. Now headsets go on for the second VR scene. The Peristyle transforms into its full Roman glory. Marble columns rise to their original height. The Protiron entrance stands complete with its triangular pediment and flanking Egyptian sphinxes. Citizens in Roman dress fill the courtyard. Empress Prisca watches from the colonnade. Emperor Diocletian himself steps forward to address his people as the crowd chants "AVE DIOCLETIANE" around you. You stand in one place and navigate using handheld controllers while the real Peristyle remains visible beneath your feet. Headsets come off and there is time for questions before continuing.
18 minutes • Admission ticket included -
5Diocletian Palace Substructures
Descend into the palace underground chambers, one of the best preserved Roman interiors anywhere in the world. These massive halls are a mirror image of the imperial apartments that once stood directly above, giving you a rare sense of the true scale of Roman architecture. Walk through rooms where goods were stored, servants worked, and the palace machinery kept the Emperor's life running above. While everything upstairs was destroyed and rebuilt countless times over seventeen centuries, these chambers survived almost fully intact, hidden beneath the city until their rediscovery in the 20th century.
11 minutes • Admission ticket free -
6Riva Harbor
The tour ends on Split's iconic Riva waterfront promenade. This is where your guide wraps up the story of Diocletian and Split, connecting everything you have seen from the Golden Gate to the Peristyle to the underground chambers. Take in the views of the palm-lined promenade, the Adriatic Sea, and Marjan Hill in the distance. Before saying goodbye, your guide shares personal recommendations for restaurants, beaches, and hidden spots around the city.
9 minutes • Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Not recommended for travelers with epilepsy
- Not recommended for travelers with recent eye surgery
- Not recommended for travelers with severe motion sickness
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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