THE PERFECT 2-DAY ITINERARY FOR SPLIT, CROATIA

Searching for the perfect 2-day itinerary for Split, Croatia? This one has everything you need!

Split is the second biggest city in Croatia, immediately after Zagreb. While I wouldn’t choose Split as my main reason for coming to Croatia, it’s one of the key tourist destinations in the country and it’s definitely worth a visit.

As the biggest coastal city in Croatia, Split has a lot to offer. The city and the people of Split are quite relaxed, and coffee and food play an extremely significant role in Dalmatian culture. You also have a lot to see, from history to natural beauty.

This blog post is going to tell you everything you need to include in your 2-day itinerary for Split, so if this interests you, keep reading!

HOW TO GET TO SPLIT?

If you fly directly into Split Airport, you have a few options: a car, a taxi/Uber, or a bus. If you want to rent a car you can do it directly at the airport and then just take a 30-45 minute drive to the city centre. Here’s a guide to Split parking which can also help you out once you get to the city.

You can also call an Uber or a taxi but that’s going to be at least 30 euros. I’d definitely recommend using Uber as your first choice, since taxis can sometimes be a bit scammy. If you do decide to take a taxi, make sure to agree on the price in advance.

However, if you want to use the cheaper option, you can use the bus. Split’s public transportation has a direct bus going from Trogir to Airport and continuing to Split (no. 37). The ticket is only 2.5 euros for 2 rides, but be mindful that it does not drive all the way to the old town of Split, so check where you’re staying.

WHERE TO STAY IN SPLIT?

Split has everything from hostels to luxurious villas, so you won’t have any problems with accommodation, no matter the budget. Here are a few of my recommendations where to stay in Split or you can use the map below to check out some of the options:

DAY ONE IN SPLIT: OLD TOWN, DIOCLETIAN’S PALACE, AND SPLIT’S RIVA

OLD TOWN OF SPLIT

The old town is fairly small and it’s a perfect place for a walk full of history and unique medieval buildings. The historical importance of Split is visible through its ties to the Greeks, Romans, Venetians, and Byzantines.

The cobbled streets make Split’s old town incredibly inviting and unique. Obviously, keep in mind that Split is a popular tourist hotspot, therefore it’s quite crowded during the high season. If you want to avoid the crowds, choose to walk in the mornings, but I do have to mention that the old city core has a special charm during sunset.

DIOCLETIAN’S PALACE

While walking through the old town of Split, find your way to the Diocletian’s palace. The palace is an ancient building made for the Roman emperor Diocletian and it’s one of the best-preserved Roman ruins in Europe.

The palace was the emperor’s residence but it also housed the military at that time. The Entrance to the Diocletian’s palace is free of charge as it’s the core part of the city centre, but if you want to visit the palace’s basements, the ticket is around 7 euros. I’d highly recommend booking a tour guide for the sightseeing in the old town. These tours are not expensive, but you get a lot more knowledge out of one!

SPLIT’S RIVA

You should spend your evening on a lovely stroll during sunset on Split’s promenade – the Riva. The Riva is Split’s most important public space which brings the whole city together. The incredibly lovely promenade is the soul of the city, housing the city’s most popular bars and restaurants.

DAY TWO IN SPLIT : THE BEACH AND MARJAN

MARJAN HILL

Use the morning to hike up the Marjan hill, Split’s most amazing viewpoint of the city. It’s quite close to the Old Town. People of Split often head to Marjan when they want to spend time in nature. The hill has many hiking and running trails, tennis courts, and even the ZOO. In 2025, a huge thunderstorm hit Marjan, so while some parts are open, others are still closed. Hopefully, everything will be open again by the time summer arrives. At the foot of the hill, you can also find incredible beaches where you can take a dip in the Adriatic sea. The most popular beaches are beach Kaštelet and beach Kašjuni.

SPLIT’S BEACHES

After active vacationing by walking up the Marjan hill, find your way to Split’s famous beaches. The most popular one is beach Bacvice, the main city beach, and it’s almost always crowded with people. The beach is also famous for the game Picigin, a game with a ball which the people of Split play on the sand beaches. I’d recommend this one only if you’re traveling with small children and want them to enjoy a sandy beach. Otherwise, I’d skip it, since there are better beaches nearby.

Another beach in Split is Trstenik. Trstenik is managed by the  Radisson Blu Resort, which makes it the best-maintained beach. It’s not as crowded as Bacvice and it’s completely free. The Resort has its private part of the beach but most of it is public. There’s beach Kastelet, located only 20 minutes away from the city centre, and it’s the best option for young people! The beach is the youth hotspot and it’s not as crowded as Bacvice.

I personally really like beach Kasjuni, which is the one in the photo below. It’s beautiful, it’s got parking, and you can really enjoy yourself. Here’s a guide to beaches in Split I’d recommend, so check it out.

IF YOU HAVE MORE TIME IN SPLIT…

If you manage to squeeze in one or more extra days in Split, make sure you take one of many incredible day trips Split offers.

TROGIR

Trogir, a small city built by the Greeks, is only 25 kilometers from Split. The old town of Trogir is incredibly charming and definitely worth a visit. The two cities are so well connected that Split has a direct public bus no. 37 on a route SPLIT-AIRPORT-TROGIR, which allows you to visit Trogir for only 2.5 euros!

Read more >>> BEST DAY TRIP FROM SPLIT TO TROGIR

KRKA NATIONAL PARK

Krka National Park is the closest national park to Split and one of the most popular ones to visit. Its powerful waterfalls are absolutely stunning and will definitely impress you, and the best part is that you don’t need to travel far to reach them. Because of its easy access and natural beauty, Krka is one of the most popular day trips from Split. Here’s my guide to KRKA NATIONAL PARK.

PLITVICE LAKES

Plitvice Lakes is Croatia’s oldest, largest, and most beautiful national park. It’s situated in central Croatia, and it will take you a few hours to get there (2.5 hours) but trust me, it’s worth it! If you’re planning on visiting Plitvice, check out my ULTIMATE PLITVICE LAKES GUIDE FROM A LOCAL.

DUBROVNIK

If you’re visiting Split, Dubrovnik is probably already on your itinerary. If it’s not, consider visiting it for a day (or two!) Dubrovnik is probably Croatia’s most beautiful town and definitely the most popular one. It’s in southern Croatia, a few hours away from Split. If you’re interested in visiting Dubrovnik here’s my ULTIMATE DUBROVNIK TRAVEL GUIDE for any help you might need.

ISLAND HOP!

Split is geographically really close to many incredibly beautiful islands, so island hopping to one or more of them could be a great day trip from Split. Brac, Hvar, Vis, and Korcula are all fairly close and all offer incredible experiences for you. You can reach them by ferries or private boat tours.

Read more >>> ISLAND HOPPING FROM SPLIT

Hvar is extremely beautiful, but equally as popular so it’s going to be gorgeous but crowded. It’s the most popular day trip from Split. I’d highly recommend checking it out at least for a day. Brac is home to Bol, a place with the most unique beach in Croatia. The beach, Zlatni Rat, changes shape according to wind, which makes it a very sought-after location. Vis and Kocula are a bit calmer and more peaceful, so choose whatever you want your experience to be like.

If you want to visit more islands but only have one day, I’d recommend booking a boat tour. The most popular option takes you to the famous Blue Cave and also includes stops at Hvar, Brac, Vis, and a few other islands. It’s a great way to see a bit of several islands in just one day.

CONCLUSION: 2-DAY ITINERARY FOR SPLIT

Two days is enough to explore Split itself, but if you want to see the surrounding area, you’ll need at least a few more days. Use these two days to explore Split properly, and if you have extra time, try to include some nearby destinations as well.