how to spend four days in split, croatia
There is something so special about spending time in a place where your family has roots. I was lucky enough to grow up with grandparents who were born in Croatia and went back every summer. As a kid, nobody - and I mean NOBODY - had heard of Croatia. Whenever I spoke about my Nana’s famous gnocchi or her savory gulaš, my friends could not relate. However, as I got older, my beautiful country of origin grew in popularity - and I was lucky enough to be able to brag about it.
My grandparents were born and raised on the island of Krk, which I was lucky enough to visit for the first time when I was nine years old. At this point in my life, my only understanding of Croatia was beaches, a language I did not understand, and the bags of flat, square noodle pasta my Nana and Dede would bring back to New York with them after every summer spent abroad. Upon my first visit, my understanding grew to encompass more: Orangina, salty bread (slanci), and a tight-knit, family oriented community.
As I got older and my desire to travel and see the world grew, my scope of knowledge of Croatia grew with it. When I went back with my family ten years later, I knew I wanted to see Split. So, that being said, my tight-knit family of cousins rented us a van and we drove down the Croatian coastline and spent the night in Split. Fast forward another eight years and I found myself back again.
Here’s my four day itinerary for Split, Croatia!
View from the marina
Day 1
Arrive in Split. If you are beginning your trip here, you can fly directly into Split. You may also fly into the other international airports, Zagreb or Dubrovnik, and rent a car. We started our trip visiting my family, so we rented a car in Zagreb and drove down from Krk. It is fairly easy to drive in Croatia!
Since we had a car, we made sure to stay at a hotel that offered parking. We ended up staying at Cornaro Hotel, which is the same place I had stayed with my family eight years prior. The convenient location and beauty just could not be beat! What I love about this hotel is that it is not only walking distance from Old Town, but has the most amazing rooftop view. I definitely recommend booking a table on the rooftop for drinks!
Depending on what time you arrive, take the day to get oriented and explore at your own pace. You can’t really go wrong, but here are some recommendations.
Sit down dinner at Lola - a quieter, local-feeling restaurant with delicious food
Street food at Ba!Čevapi - enjoy delicious traditional čevapi on the go
Pizza at Pizzaferaj City - a hidden gem in Old Town! Delicious drinks, pizzas, and overall good vibes
Drinks at Luxor - enjoy cocktails on the steps of Diocletian’s palace with live music and dancing
Gelato at Gelateria Emiliana - you will understand why the line is so long
Day 2
On our second day, we took a day tour to visit Krka National Park, the nearby town of Skradin, and a local winery! I have always wanted to visit the famous Krka waterfalls. In the past, swimming at the base of the falls was a huge draw to this national park. However, you are no longer allowed to swim at the park in order to preserve the wildlife. Be mindful that Krka is less grand than Plitvice Lakes National Park.
Both parks are well worth the visit, but I definitely preferred Plitvice. Although manageable to get to, it is a bit further from Split. Do your research and choose whichever works best for your schedule and your itinerary!
My favorite thing about guided tours when I am traveling is that I always end up learning something new or visiting a place I would not have gone to on my own. We had the pleasure of taking a boat from Krka National Park to the nearby town of Skradin, where we were able to explore and grab some food. We then stopped at a local winery to try some Dalmatian wines and cheeses. You can check out the tour linked below!
Day 3
On your third day in Split, take some more time to explore the Old Town and all it has to offer! My favorite thing to do in Old Town is to explore Diocletian’s Palace and climb the Saint Domnius bell tower for an incredible view of the city. You can explore the cellars and the cathedral, too.
Enjoy a stroll along the palm-tree lined Riva Walk. However, I don’t recommend stopping here for dinner. Instead, book a reservation at Teraca Vidilica. This restaurant and view are well worth the hike! Situated at the top of Marjan Hill, enjoy a panoramic view of Split while wining and dining.
Day 4
On your last day in Split, take advantage of being on the water. Whether that be visiting on of Split’s many beaches or taking a trip to a nearby island, you will definitely want to go for a swim and soak up some sun.
Many visitors take the ferry from Split to Hvar, which takes about one hour. Depending on your timetable, you can visit for the day or choose to continue your trip and stay a few nights in Hvar. We were getting ready to head to Dubrovnik, so with our limited time, we chose to book a Dalmatian Islands tour.
The tour we took brought us out to Biševo, where we spent the morning visiting the incredible Blue Cave (Think Capri’s Blue Grotto, but with no line!). From there we headed to explore Vis, one of the filming locations for Mamma Mia 2. We were fascincated by the views and the crystal clear waters on this peaceful, quiet island. Finally, we got to relax at one of the many beaches of Hvar and explore Hvar Town. We enjoyed an incredible lunch at Dalmatino with local wines, spirits and traditional Dalmatian dishes before heading back to Split.
I hope you found this itinerary helpful in planning your trip to Split! Živjeli!
