A Great 4 Day Split Itinerary For First Time Visitors

So you’re going to spend 4 days in Split in Croatia? You’re going to have the best holiday and this Split itinerary showcases the best things to do in the city centre and beyond.

Split is a wonderful city full of history and culture. Nearby, there are islands with gorgeous beaches and coves and countryside to explore via horseback. The best part is that Split is only a 2 hour flight from the UK so it’s perfect for a long weekend away!

Located on the coast of Croatia, in between Zagreb to the north and Dubrovnik to the south, Split looks out onto the Adriatic Sea. 4 days is the perfect amount of time to explore this city and with this Split itinerary, you’ll discover magnificent castles, delicious ice cream, and islands which are just a short ferry ride away.

To make the most of your time in Split, here’s a 4 day Split itinerary for your time in this gorgeous city on the coast of Croatia.

A 4 Day Split Itinerary Perfect For A Long Weekend

Where Should I Stay In Split?

To be centrally located, staying in Split is the best option to have everything on your doorstep. You’ll be within walking distance of all the delicious ice cream shops and historic sights. And if you want to go over to one of the islands for a day, you can easily walk down to the ferry port. 

However, you can also stay outside Split in places like Trogir or Podstrana. Both places are just a few miles away from Split so it’s worth looking at these destinations if you don’t mind staying slightly further afield. It’s easy to get taxis from both Trogir and Podstrana so you’re within easy access of Split if you’re struggling to find central Split accommodation.

It’s worth noting though, if you stay in Podstrana, traffic can get backed up on the main road going into Split. Keep this in mind and allow around 30 minutes extra during morning and evening rush hours.

Day 1

Start your trip to Split off as most people do with a tour of the city’s most historic sights…

Tour Of Diocletian’s Palace and The Old Town

Acquaint yourself with Split by taking a tour of Diocletian’s Palace and the Old Town. Whether you’re a history buff or not, it’s hard not to find Split’s history fascinating. 

The Diocletian’s Palace was built in the 4th Century between the years 295–305 CE, in other words a REALLY long time ago. It was built on the orders of the city’s former emperor who wanted a grand place for his retirement, although half of the building was used for the military.

Not only is the Diocletian’s Palace a must visit in the modern day to understand the history of Split, but its vast size creates most of the city centre itself. 

In fact, the Diocletian’s Palace is the world’s most complete remains of a Roman palace. Make sure you see the cellars of the Diocletian’s Palace and the Peristyle, the central square of the palace where the main entrance to the Dicoletian’s Quarters are located.

Food Tour Of Split

If there’s one way to really know the soul of a place, it’s through its food. Split’s cuisine is heavily influenced by Italian culture and you’ll see a lot of gelato around the city because of this. 

On the food tour, you’ll taste true Dalmatian food including salted anchovies, rafiol cake, traditionally made prosciutto, chocolate, and Dalmatian Peka. I’d recommend doing a food tour as early as possible on your trip. That way, you can get some recommendations for other places to eat during your holiday in Split.

Walk The 100 Steps Up To Marjan Hill

Later in the day, it’s time to see Split from a completely different view point. Head up the 100 shallow steps to Marjan Hill for the most rewarding views of Split. 

From the promenade along Split’s waterfront, find a street called Senjska ul. It might look like a residential street but keep walking uphill and you’ll eventually come to a view point with great views of the city. There’s a bar up here too for a refreshing drink after the walk!

Day 2

Brac Island

On Day two of your Split itinerary, it’s time to go see some of the islands off the coast of Split. Brac, Hvar and Vis are super easy to get to but one of the quickest to get to is Brac. It’s only an hour away from Split by ferry and there’s a lot to explore on this island. 

If you hire a car you can explore the island under your own steam. Here are some things you MUST do: Enjoy an Olive Oil tasting and tour, get a birds eye view of Brac from Vidova Gora and spend some time on Golden Horn Beach, one of Croatia’s most famous stretches of sand.

Alternatively, keep things easy and book a tour which takes you to Brac and Solta. On this boat trip you’ll dock in Brac for a couple of hours to swim in the blue Adriatic Sea. Then you’ll sail along to Solta to relax some more in the sun or you can explore the port. It’s then an hour back to Split after a day of island hopping.

Evening Drinks In The Palace

After landing back in Split, refresh at your hotel or accommodation and get ready for some evening drinks! 

Head back to the Peristyle, the historic square at the entrance to the Diocletian’s Palace. By day, this place is a living piece of history. By night, the Peristyle turns into a lively hub where tourists and locals listen to live music and drink wine sat on historic steps. 

We stopped off here after dinner one night, looking for a cute wine bar. Instead we saw people enjoying a balmy evening, dancing with their partners and friends. We knew we had to be a part of it and a core memory was created that night. I can highly recommend stopping by one evening, even if just for one drink. People working at Cafe and Restaurant Lvxor come and take your drink order and have a huge range of wines, beers and cocktails to choose from.

Day 3

Biokovo National Park and Skywalk OR Trogir

On day three, you have the choice of two trips. Either a trip towards Makarska and the Biokovo National Park or a visit to historic Trogir.

I loved visiting Makarska and Biokovo Nature Park. Biokovo is actually the name of the mountain where visitors can enjoy hiking and cycling trails as well as the lookouts. The main attraction here is the Skywalk Biokovo. At 1228 metres above sea level, you need a head for heights for this view point. Also, the floor is made of glass. Yes, it’s unnerving but what an experience – and the views are just so amazing looking out to the sea.

Makarska is another beautiful coastal town along the Dalmatian coast. One thing you must see here is the Malacological Museum Makarska, or to put it plainly, a shell museum. 

Opened in 1963 in the Franciscan Monastery, this museum contains over 3000 shell specimens from all around the world. Founded by Dr. Fra. Jure Radić, built a magnificent collection over the years which includes donations from Grace Kelly and the Prince of Monaco.

The only downside to this day out is that it’s about 90 minutes from Split. I would recommend hiring a car to do this trip. That way you have full flexibility to enjoy Biokovo National Park and Makarska. Just make sure you buy tickets for Biokovo National Park in advance.

Explore the City Of Trogir

Another option for Day 3 of your holiday in Split, is to explore Trogir. Personally, this would be my recommendation, purely for the proximity. There are plenty of organised tours here so it’s easy to get to. A tour is also a good option if you want to learn more about the history of Trogir. 

Trogir is an island connected to the mainland by one small bridge and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997 because of its Venetian architecture. The best places to visit in Trogir include the centre which contains around 10 churches, the city gate and walls, and the Cathedral. 

Even if you don’t take a tour here, it’s great to wander the narrow streets or stroll along the waterfront while enjoying an ice cream. It’s an extremely pretty place that could easily be a city break on its own.

There are tours where you can combine a visit to Trogir along with a snorkelling stop at the Blue Lagoon. These tours also combine a visit to the fishing village of Maslinica on the island of Solta. This is a great option to see a few places in one trip. 

Doing a tour specifically just to Trogir though will give you a real insight into this medieval city. Another option is to get a taxi or bus and explore Trogir under your own steam.

Day 4

Horse Riding in Podstrana 

Horse riding in Podstrana was one of the most incredible things I did in Split. I’d highly recommend adding to your Split itinerary! This activity only takes a few hours out of your day, around 3 in total. So you can either do horse riding in the morning, or book in for a sunset ride in the hills. This activity is around 30 minutes from Split and is a wonderful way to enjoy the countryside of Split with views of the coast.

Read more: The Best Horseriding Adventure with Horseback Riding Podstrana, Split

Evan your guide will take you through how to ride the beautiful horses before you embark on a scenic journey on the trails.

This 4 day Split itinerary will give you a good idea of what the city has to offer. If you want to spend more time in the city, leave out the day in Makarska and just relax in Split. You are on holiday after all!