Ultimate 2 Days in Split Itinerary

Split is a must-see on a trip to Croatia, the coastal city offers stunning sunsets, rich history, vibrant nightlife, and is perfectly located for taking day trips to some of the best areas of Croatia. Split is fairly small and can be seen in a day if you’re short on time, but I recommend staying for at least two days, so you can add a day trip.

I’ve compiled my recommendations for a two day itinerary in Split that includes all of the best things to see in Split itself and my recommendations for a day trip. Keep reading below for details!

Disclaimer: This article contains some links where I earn commission through booking. There is no extra cost to you, and I only recommend things I’ve used and love or places I’ve stayed and enjoyed!

Day 1 in Split

For Day 1 I recommend taking the day to explore Split and the surrounding area, while leaving some time to relax and catch an amazing Split sunset!

Wander Diocletian’s Palace

Diocletian’s Palace comprises most of the downtown area of Split. The palace was originally built by Diocletian for his retirement. He is famous for being the only Roman emperor to abdicate his power. Over the centuries Split has grown in and around the palace, meaning the shops, restaurants and hotels of the Old Town are intermingled with some of the original palace structures.

You’ll want to devote a few hours to exploring this area, so you can see the main highlights. I recommend getting out and exploring as early as you can as the winding alleyways become crowded as the day goes on, particularly if there are cruise ships in town.

Diocletian’s Palace Highlights:

• The four main gates of the palace (Gold, Silver, Bronze & Iron)
• Cathedral of St. Domnius & the Bell Tower – the Bell Tower can be climbed, but I find that there are better views in other areas of Split, so I don’t recommend climbing the bell tower.
• The basement of the palace, which is where the scenes of Game of Thrones are filmed where Daenerys keeps her dragons while in Meereeen

Explore Riva & Have Lunch with a View

Riva Promenade is the main street on the harbor in Split, and is right next to the Diocletian’s Palace area. Riva is home to a strip of lounges/restaurants with large outdoor patios. Riva is the perfect spot to grab some lunch and drinks with Adriatic views after a morning of exploring Diocletian’s Palace!

There are tons of options on Riva, but my top recommendation for lunch would be Brasserie on 7.

Spend the Afternoon at Klis Fortress

Klis Fortress is about 20 minutes from Split and is a great spot to check out after lunch if you’re a Game of Thrones fan, a history buff, or just like a good panoramic view!

Klis Fortress has become more popular recently after serving as the primary filming location for Meereen in Game of Thrones. In reality, the fortress has existed for thousands of years and has served as a fort for Roman Emperors and Croatian Kings.

Klis Fortress can be reached by car if you’ve chosen to rent one. Otherwise, I recommend taking an Uber or Taxi. The prices were reasonable and I found the busses to be totally unreliable and I lost a ton of time waiting around for busses that never showed up or were super late, and wish I had just opted to take an Uber.

Tickets to explore the fortress cost about $10 for adults and can be purchased on arrival.

Sunset Dinner at Teraca Vidilica

My absolute favorite part of Split were the sunsets! They were honestly unreal. I highly recommend heading to Teraca Vidilica for sunset dinner and drinks. If you’re not able to get a table at the restaurant, there is a viewpoint right next door where anyone can watch the sunset.

If you can get a table you’ll have epic sunset views with your dinner/drinks!

Day 2 in Split

After a jam packed day one, you’ll have seen all of the main highlights in Split, and I recommend using your second day to take a day trip to one of the many amazing places that make for great day trips from Split.

My top recommendation is Plitvice Lakes, which is what I’ve written about below, but you can check out my alternate day trip recommendations (like Hvar or Krka) from Split here.

Take a Day Trip to Plitvice Lakes National Park

Plitvice Lakes National Park is one of the most beautiful places I’ve visited in my life! It’s a bit of a long day trip from Split, but if you’re up for an adventure I could not recommend it more! You have the option to either rent a car and tour Plitvice on your own or take a guided tour.

Plitvice Lakes National Park is comprised of 16 lakes that are connected via cascading waterfalls and is one of the most unique and stunning places I’ve visited.

I took a guided tour since I didn’t feel like driving the 3+ hours both ways. The tour left right from downtown Split, took you on Trail C which takes you on a path through both the upper and lower lakes with a boat ride as well! It’s a long day with quite a bit of walking, so be prepared for that.

If you’d prefer to drive and do a self guided tour see my full Plitvice Lakes guide here with details on tickets, parking, and the various walking paths depending on how long you have and how much you want to see!

Dinner & Drinks in Diocletian’s Palace

After a long day trip I recommend dinner at one of the many great spot in Diocletian’s Palace. I went to To Je Tako, a Mexican restaurant right in the heart of Diocletian’s palace. I was so excited to find Mexican food in Split, Croatia after traveling Europe for weeks I was craving a burrito!

This place is small and vibe-y. They don’t take reservations and they’re cash only. Expect to find lines outside, but it’s worth the wait if you don’t mind! If you’re in a larger group this is probably not the place for you as you’ll have a hard time getting a big table.

The food and margaritas were great. I definitely recommend checking this place out if you can. But there are tons of great options in Diocletian’s Palace if you don’t want to wait!

Check out Split’s Infamous Night Life on a Bar Crawl

Split is known for it’s vibrant nightlife and it does not disappoint. It’s filled with younger travelers looking to party. It’s also a great place to meet people if you’re traveling solo. There are great organized bar crawls if you don’t want to explore on your own. This is a great way to meet other people.

Some of the best spots to check out:

• Charlie’s Bar (great starting spot)
• Inbox Club – beach bar at the end of Riva
• Vanilla Club – if you’re looking for something indoor and less casual thana beach bar
• Trop Club – another beach bar great for late night after Inbox Club

Croatia is one of my favorite countries & there are so many areas to explore outside of Split. Check out my full Croatia Travel Guide here!