HOW I WOULD SPEND AMAZING 5 DAYS IN SPLIT CROATIA AS A LOCAL: MY SPLIT 5-DAY ITINERARY

You have 5 days in Croatia, and you’re thinking of making Split your base? Well, in this itinerary I’ll show you how I’d spend 5 days in Split as a local Croatian, and you can use it to plan your own trip!

Split is a fantastic base for exploring this part of Croatia, and one of the best things about staying here for several days is that you can combine the Old Town with day trips, islands, beaches, and some of my favourite places along the coast.

I’ve spent a lot of time in Split, and this is how I would plan five days if I wanted to see the highlights of the city and surrounding area without feeling like I was constantly rushing from one place to another. I think this itinerary lets you experience a lot, while still keeping things relaxed and easy!

IS SPLIT WORTH VISITING?

Absolutely! Split is one of the most popular cities in Croatia, and there’s obviously a reason for that. I think it’s especially worth visiting if you want to combine a city break with exploring the rest of the Croatian coast.

Split’s Old Town is lovely, but that’s definitely not the only thing you’ll get to see here. Split is the perfect base for island hopping, inland day trips, and even visiting neighbouring countries. It has relaxing beach clubs and exciting adrenaline activities, so you can really experience a bit of everything without having to constantly move from one place to another!

IS 5 DAYS IN SPLIT TOO LONG?

If you’re only interested in seeing the main sights of Split, then yes, five days would probably be too much. You can see the Old Town and Diocletian’s Palace in a day or two.

But I actually think five days is a great amount of time if you use Split as a base and want to explore more of Dalmatia. You can take your time in the city and still have enough days for Hvar, Trogir, Krka National Park, and a boat trip!

Five days also gives you something I think is really important when visiting Croatia, and that’s time to slow down. You don’t have to rush from place to place or spend your entire trip packing and unpacking. So if you’re looking for an enjoyable 5 days in Croatia, I’d definitely recommend using Split as your base!

HOW TO SPEND 5 DAYS IN SPLIT  AND SEE EVERYTHING YOU NEED

DAY 1 – SPLIT OLD TOWN

I would make your first day all about getting to know Split. Split’s Old Town is not that big, so you can easily explore it in one day. Start in the heart of the Old Town and explore Diocletian’s Palace and the Cathedral of Saint Domnius. This is the most important part of the Old Town, and I’d definitely recommend getting there early in the morning if you’d like to explore it peacefully, because people start crowding here during the day.

The Palace is part of the Old Town, so you’ll see people going about their day, going to work, sitting down for coffee, and opening their shops. I actually really like that about Split because it makes the Old Town feel much more alive and local.

Then, get lost in the narrow streets of the Old Town, and once you’ve explored it, head down to the Riva for a coffee and a walk by the sea. In the afternoon, go for lunch (I recommend Fig or Bokeria) and try some meals made with local ingredients!

I love spending my evenings at Marjan, so that’s what I’d recommend if you still have the energy. Since this is your first day, you can just climb to the first viewpoint to see the beautiful view of Split during sunset, and then head back for dinner at Makarun or Sug.

DAY 2 – TROGIR AND KRKA NATIONAL PARK 

On day two, we’re already leaving Split. This is the day to explore two of the most popular places near Split, Trogir and Krka National Park.

I’d recommend going to Krka National Park first. If you have a car, this will be super easy for you because Krka is only about an hour from Split. If you don’t have a car, you can also arrange a private transfer or join a guided tour.

You’ll need around 2–3 hours to see the highlights of Krka around Skradinski Buk, and you can buy your tickets here. After Krka, drive to Trogir. Trogir is a small historic town where you can have lunch and then spend a couple of hours wandering through the stone streets, seeing the Cathedral of St. Lawrence, and walking along the waterfront.

Both Krka and Trogir are excellent day trips from Split because Krka gets you into nature, while Trogir gets you away from the Split crowds. Although Trogir is very popular, it’s not quite as overrun with tourists as Split. I think Trogir is one of the most charming towns near Split, and I love visiting it, especially during shoulder season, so I highly recommend adding it to your itinerary!

If you’re driving and want to add some beach time, check out the beaches in Kastela between Split and Trogir, as well as the beautiful Ciovo Island, which is connected to Trogir by a bridge. If you don’t have a car, check out the tours below:

DAY 3 – HVAR DAY TRIP

Now, it’s time for your best day! I may be a bit biased because I absolutely love Hvar, but no five-day Split itinerary would be complete without a day on an island, and Hvar is probably the easiest choice for a first visit.

You can have a perfect day on the island, and you can either go as a passenger and spend the day in Hvar Town, or take your car with you and explore more of the island.

In Hvar Town, I suggest starting with the historic centre and St. Stephen’s Square, then seeing the arsenal with its incredible views over the port, exploring the narrow streets of the Old Town, and checking out the beautiful monastery nearby. Then sit down for lunch at Fig, Dva Ribara, or Dalmatino, and spend the afternoon wandering around before climbing up to Fortica Fortress for some of the most incredible views of Hvar.

If you have a car with you, drive to Stari Grad, where you can explore the second most popular town on the island, or head to Jelsa and enjoy a wine tasting. In the evening, return to Split by ferry or catamaran!

DAY 4 – BOAT TOUR DAY

After a full day on Hvar, I’d make day four a completely different kind of day and get out on the sea! There are plenty of boat tours from Split, so this is where I’d suggest choosing the experience based on what you actually want from the day.

The two most popular options are Blue Lagoon for a quicker, half-day experience with less time on the boat and more time in the sea, and the famous Blue Cave tour, where you have quite a bit more time on the boat but get to see one of Croatia’s most iconic natural sights. 

I am personally more of a Blue Lagoon fan, because I don’t think the Blue Cave is worth all the time you have to spend on the boat. However, you choose what you prefer! If seeing the Blue Cave is something you really want to experience, then I’d definitely go for it rather than skipping it just because it’s a longer day.

I personally think a boat day is one of the best things you can do while staying in Split because you get to see the coastline from a completely different perspective. You’ll see islands you otherwise wouldn’t, get to enjoy some really stunning swim spots, and trust me, this will be the day you’ll never forget. Check out the recommended tours below:

DAY 5 – MORE OF SPLIT 

Your final day should be flexible. By day 5, you can be sure you’ve seen the main sights and done a couple of big day trips, so this is your chance to experience more of Split in a relaxing way.

You can grab breakfast or brunch at Ciri Biri Bella and then take a walk through the Green Market, where you can try some local delicacies like soparnik. You can also go back up to Marjan and spend more time exploring the park, because honestly, you can be there for hours.

If you want to fully relax, go to the Firule or Kasjuni beach, or go to Znjan if you want more of a beach club experience. You can also have a fancier dinner at Portofino or Dvor, try some really great ice cream at Emiliana or Ela’s, grab a glass of wine through the Italian-inspired wine window at DEC, and just walk around and enjoy your last day in Split.

WHERE TO STAY IN SPLIT

For a first visit, I think staying close to the Old Town makes the most sense because you can walk almost everywhere and you’ll be close to the Riva, restaurants, cafés, and the ferry port.

However, that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to stay just steps away from Diocletian’s Palace. Varos, just under Marjan, is one of my favourite areas if you want to be close to everything while still having a more local neighbourhood atmosphere. It’s charming, quieter than the heart of the Old Town, and still an easy walk to all the main sights. Bacvice is another good option if you want to stay near the beach, although I personally don’t love Bacvice itself. The good thing is that you can easily walk to some of the other beaches nearby while still being close to the Old Town. 

Here’s my guide to the best hotels in Split for every budget, so check it out if you need help deciding where to stay!

WHERE TO EAT IN SPLIT

One of my biggest tips for eating in Split is not to simply pick a restaurant because it happens to be on the Riva or directly beside Diocletian’s Palace. You’ll often find that you’re paying for the location, while the food isn’t necessarily anything special. 

There are definitely some really good restaurants in the historic centre, but I’d also walk a few streets away and look for places where locals actually go. I have a whole guide on the best restaurants in Split, so check it out before reserving your tables!

CONCLUSION: SPEND 5 DAYS IN SPLIT AND SEE EVERYTHING YOU NEED

As a local Croatian who has visited Split many times, I think five days is the perfect amount of time in Split if you want to see the best of the city while also exploring some nearby places.

You can visit Trogir and Krka, spend a day on Hvar, and get out on the Adriatic for a boat trip, all while keeping Split as your base. I love visiting Split, but honestly, after a day I already want to move on and explore somewhere else. Luckily, there are so many incredible places nearby that you can explore during the day and simply return to your hotel in Split in the evening.

And Split itself has great nightlife, restaurants, and bars, so coming back each evening still gives you plenty of ways to enjoy the city, even if you spent most of the day somewhere else. 5 days in Split is one of the best ways you can spend your time in Croatia!