Kaštela – Seven Castle Towns Between Split and Trogir
If you're heading to Split or Trogir, please don't just drive past Kaštela. It isn't one town but seven historic seaside settlements strung along the northern shore of Kaštela Bay, with Kozjak Mountain rising behind them. In the 1400s and 1500s, as the Ottomans pushed toward the coast, the Church and noble families from Split and Trogir built fortified castles here. A village grew around each one, and over the centuries they merged into the town you see today.
Each Kaštel has its own character. In Sućurac, the oldest, the archbishop's former residence now houses part of the town museum. In Gomilica, the Kaštilac fortress sits on a tiny islet, reached by a stone bridge, and it served as a Game of Thrones filming location for Braavos. Kambelovac is quiet and lovely, with Baletna Škola beach and a restaurant of the same name under the pines. In Lukšić you'll find Vitturi Castle and the legend of Miljenko and Dobrila, Croatia's Romeo and Juliet. Kaštel Stari and Kaštel Novi, the Old and New Castles built by the Ćipiko family, are perfect for slow waterfront walks. Štafilić, at the western end, is home to a 1,500-year-old olive tree and the gorgeous Bile beach.
I love Kaštela as a base. Split Airport is right here in Kaštel Štafilić, apartments cost a fraction of what you'd pay in Split's old town, and regular buses link all seven settlements with Split and Trogir. With a car you can see all seven in a single day. If you only have half a day, pick two.
- 🏰 Kaštilac, Gomilica: a sixteenth-century islet fortress and Game of Thrones location. Come early for the best photos.
- 💕 Kaštel Lukšić: Vitturi Castle, its eighteenth-century park and the Church of St. John, where the legendary lovers are said to rest.
- 🏖️ Bile beach, Štafilić: 600 meters of white pebbles. Bring water shoes.
- 🫒 Ancient olive tree, Štafilić: about 1,500 years old and protected as a natural monument.
- 🐟 Baletna Škola, Kambelovac: a shady bay with clear water, plus grilled fish and black risotto steps from the sea.
- 🪞 Circle of Mirrors, Kaštel Stari: one of the best photo stops along the waterfront.
- 🚌 Easy base: Trogir is about 15 minutes away, Split is close by, and buses run along the whole coast.
