The summer buzz in the medieval town of Split is quite something. We arrived at Split after exploring Plitvice lakes. And had only one day in Split before taking off to the Croatian islands. So, if you are wondering how to spend 1 perfect day in Split, Croatia, this is the right place.
Split is the largest city on Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast. So many visitors use it as a base to explore nearby areas like Zadar, Trogir, and also do day trips to nearby islands like Brac, Hvar. It is the second-largest city of Croatia after the capital Zagreb. Croatia’s second largest city is definitely worth visiting. There are plenty of things to do in Split for visitors, both historical sites and natural attractions.
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Best time to visit Split
The best time to visit Split is the shoulder season: May, June or September, October. The weather is mild, and the peak summer crowds can be avoided.
The most popular time to visit Split is during the summer months of July and August. Obviously the hotel and tour prices at this time are the highest. We visited Split in early June and the crowds were manageable. The Dalmatian coast stretching from Split all the way to Dubrovnik is also a great European destination to visit in October for lesser crowds and pleasant weather.
Winter is not a good time to visit Split, because the weather is freezing and many attractions may have limited opening hours.
How to get to Split
We reached Spit after having rented our car in Zagreb to drive to Plitvice Lakes, and then dropping it off at Split town. Being a major city, Split is well connected via all other transport modes.
Air: Split International Airport is about 30 minutes from Split town and is served by many major airlines.
Bus: Split is connected via bus network to may large cities like Zagreb, Dubrovnik within Croatia and to neighbouring countries as well.
Ferry: Split is a major port city, so there are frequent ferry connections to other parts of Croatia, and Mediterranean Europe.
Train: Croatia doesn’t have an efficient train network across the country. You can take a train from Zagreb to reach Split, but the bus network is more efficient.
You can use Omio platform to look up bus, train and ferry schedules.
To move around Split, you can explore the historic old town on foot. There are taxis and buses available for longer distances within the city.
How many days to spend in Split Croatia
2-3 days is good to get a feel of Split town. You can easily spend a week in Split, using it as a base to do several day trips to nearby islands and cities. 2-3 days in Split gives you enough time to explore the city’s main attractions, such as Diocletian’s Palace, Riva Promenade, and Marjan Hill.
1 day in Split Croatia
We had just one day in Split before going to Hvar island and spent it largely roaming around the old town to soak in its atmosphere.
Take a guided tour of Diocletian Palace
Diocletian’s Palace is the oldest continuously-inhabited Roman palace in the world. This is the top attraction in Split. The best way to experience it is to take a guided tour with someone who can tell you about its history and culture.
The palace occupies a large area in the old town and blends in with the residential quarters, restaurants, and other buildings. Built as a military fortress, imperial residence and fortified town, the palace measures 215m from north to south and 180m east to west, altogether covering 38,700 sq metres. There are 220 buildings within the palace boundaries, home to about 3000 people.
The Diocletian Palace Cellars are one of the best preserved ancient complexes of their kind in the world. In the Roman times, their function was to elevate the Emperor’s chambers on the floor above, but they were also the storage area for the Palace.
Climb up the Saint Domnius Bell Tower
Within Diocletian’s Palace, you’ll find The Cathedral of Saint Domnius, one of the oldest cathedrals in the world. It dates back to the 7th century. There is a bell tower that rises out from the Cathedral of St. Domnius. The Bell Tower was constructed in the year 1100 AD, in the Romanesque style. We decided to give the Cathedral a miss, and instead climbed the bell tower to get brilliant views of the city and the bay.
At 57m, the tower wasn’t as tall as some of the others I have been to. There are huge gaps in the railing on the steps, and I would urge you to be cautious while taking a child up.
Spend the evening in the Peristil
The Peristil is the remarkable ancient Roman courtyard, in the heart of the Diocletian Palace. Sitting on the steps in the Peristil, sipping a lemon beer or a glass of wine and enjoying the summer buzz is my top experience in the old town.
Or you can explore Riva Promenade to end your one day in Split. The Riva promenade is the iconic pedestrian walkway on the waterfront of Split. It is lined with palm trees, cafes, restaurants, and numerous shops, making it a lively and popular spot.
Food and Hotel recommendations in Split
We chose to stay at Vestibule Palace, a luxury boutique hotel in the heart of Diocletian Palace. This was perfect to spend 1 day in Split Croatia, everything was walking distance from the hotel. There are several beach resorts in Split as well, but I think the old town is the best area to stay in if you are visiting Split for a short time.
Some excellent restaurants to be found in the old town. We ate a delicious meal at Makarun, this was recommended by our hotel staff. The tables here are set amidst a large courtyard with leafy trees. There is a good wine list and an interesting menu, a good choice for dinner.
We had lunch at BEPA, had fresh burgers, it was an excellent choice for families.
Itinerary for Split Croatia beyond one day
If you are spending 2-3 days in Split, you can use the second day to explore Marjan Hill. Marjan Hill is a picturesque park with panoramic views of the city, the Adriatic Sea, and the surrounding mountains. Take your pick from cycling, hiking, rock climbing here, and get some marvellous views of the entire city of Split.
Another day in Split can be used to head to the 2nd century Kliss Fortress, a historic castle located about 9 miles away from Split town. The fortress sits on a strategic hilltop overlooking the nearby town of Solin. GoT fans will recall this imposing fortress looming above the town, as the City of Mereen. This fictional city was introduced in Season 4. Klis Fortess is one of the prominent filming locations in Croatia for Game of Thrones series. You can take a Game of Thrones Tour from Split to Klis.
Or you can choose to spend a day at a beach instead. Bacvice Beach is a popular sandy beach located in the city of Split, Croatia.
Day Trips from Split
Split is a great town to base yourself to see some more of Croatia. And many choose Split over Dubrovnik as their base to explore more of the mainland and the islands because of the varied day trip options. You can do a long day trip to either of the national parks from Split: Plitvice Lakes or Krka national park. Or you can take a ferry to get to one of the islands close by.
Browse through these options for day tours from Split:
Planning a trip to Croatia?
Croatia Itinerary: See this 2-week Croatia itinerary, suited for a family trip
Inclined towards city sightseeing? Read how to spend one day in Zagreb and the best things to do in Dubrovnik. Do see the comparison between Split and Dubrovnik. Also a day trip to Ston and Mali Ston in Croatia.
You must visit one of the national parks in Croatia: Plitvice and Krka being the famous ones. See this travel guide on Plitvice Lakes.
Croatia is famous for its islands. Check out these posts on best things to do in Hvar island and Vis island Travel Guide.
There are over 1000 islands across the Dalmatian coast, here is a guide on the best Croatian islands for families.
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