Here’s how to spend a day in Split if you visit Croatia.
I suggest stopping there for at least two days because there are many things to see, plus the atmosphere is really enjoyable, you will spend hours wandering in the charming little streets.
Split is a historic coastal city in central Croatia, located on the Adriatic Sea. The town is small and you can truly enjoy it in a day, but Split is also a perfect stopover for many day trips nearby. To get some inspiration on Split day trips, check out my other article here.
Here’s the ultimate Split itinerary, from the Diocletian’s Palace to the Riva Promenade, including the charming Old Town !
Start your day by exploring the Diocletian’s Palace before it gets too hot and too crowded. This UNESCO World Heritage site is basically the ruins of a huge Roman palace, built by Emperor Diocletian in the 4th century as his retirement residence, forming over half of the old town !
Opening Hours: Open 24/7 as those are open air ruins.
Right at the entrance to Diocletian’s Palace, make sure to check The Vestibule, a grand circular structure, now often used for traditional a cappella performances (see picture 3 above).
The Cathedral of Saint Domnius is a Roman Catholic cathedral in the heart of Diocletian’s Palace. When it was originally built in the 4th century, it was Diocletian’s mausoleum, and later became a church dedicated to Saint Domnius, the patron saint of Split.
You can climb to its bell tower to admire the panoramic views of Split.
You can also visit the Baptistery, dedicated to Saint John the Baptist. It used to be the Temple of Jupiter, a Roman temple dedicated to the Roman god Jupiter.
Entrance Fee: Entrance to the cathedral only is 5€, 3€ for the baptistery and an additional 7€ for the bell tower.
Travel Tip : They have combined tickets if you want to visit both or more areas of the Cathedral such as the Crypt, Treasury or Baptistery and it will be significantly cheaper !
Opening Hours: Vary by season, typically 8am-7pm in summer, and 8:30am to 4pm in winter. Closed on Sunday.
After a well deserved mediterranean lunch, you can wander in Split Old Town. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a real maze of countless narrow streets !
The Riva Promenade is the waterfront walkway, along the Adriatic Sea. It is a bustling but pleasant area to stroll, enjoy a coffee in the morning or dine in front of the Adriatic Sea at night.
Matejuška is a small port, perfect to catch a beautiful view of Split (see picture 1 below). You can also follow the walkway along the sea to Uvala Zvončac, where you can enjoy a swim without the crowds ! (see picture 3 & 4).
That’s it for my Split recommendations !
I hope this article gave you a better idea of what to expect from a day in Split, it’s definitely worth to stop by if you are coming to Croatia !
If you plan on coming to Croatia soon you can check out my other articles such as the Day Trips from Split or my Two days itinerary in Dubrovnik.
If you need more information about what to know before going to Croatia, you can check out this article.
If you need a custom itinerary, you can fill this form and I’ll make your own personalised itinerary.
