Last updated on April 15th, 2026 at 01:13 am
If you’re visiting Split for the first time, three days is the perfect way to see the iconic sights, hidden gems and nearby Croatian hotspots of this wonderful coastal city!
Split is known as the gateway to the islands, with quick access to Hvar, the most popular Island in Dalmatia, and as well as a base for exploring, it has many attractions of its own, from Diocletian’s Palace to the vibrant Riva and secret wine bars, it’s somewhere I’ve always enjoyed spending time in!
With so many things to do in Split, I’ve put together this perfect, well-rounded itinerary full of incredible attractions, restaurants, history, and adventure for anyone looking to make the most of their time! Here’s your three day Split itinerary!
WHERE TO STAY FOR 3 DAYS IN SPLIT CROATIA
For your stay in Split, I recommend booking accommodation in the Old Town or within walking distance, such as Marjan Hill, which are ideal for beautiful settings, boutique hotels and convenience – you’ll literally be a few minutes’ walk to the city’s main sights and everything I’ve mentioned in this Split itinerary!
Top Hotel Picks In Split!
Planning your 3 day Split itinerary? Here’s my top hotel picks!
- Hotel Ambasador Split – luxe hotel in Split, rooftop pool & epic views!
- Heritage Hotel Santa Lucia – best overall boutique & rooftop in Old Town!
- Golden Gate Rooms – a great stay within the palace walls!
Read my full guide on where to stay in Split
3 Days In Split Itinerary: Day 1
Explore Diocletian’s Palace & History!
Start your first morning in Split exploring UNESCO Diocletian’s Palace in the Old Town, it’s the real cultural heart and soul of Split and for the best experience I recommend setting off early around 9.30-10am to avoid the midday crowds and hottest part of the day!
Diocletian’s Palace is like a small ‘living museum’ filled with shops, restaurants and attractive historic buildings such as the Cathedral (pictured above) – it’s the most recognisable spot in Split and an integral part of the Palace!
You can easily explore the main historic sights by yourself or take a short guided tour if you want to know the history, just don’t miss climbing up the Bell Tower for old town views and the Peristyle, a square with impressive Roman columns and arches – the ruins of the original palace!
Wander Split Old Town Lanes
Mid-morning is a great time to explore the rest of the old town, which extends way beyond the palace walls, and unlike Dubrovnik Old Town, Split is totally flat with shiny stone surfaces and narrow cobbled lanes to walk though, it’s very beautiful!
Wandering around, you’ll discover different architecture, from the crumbly stone houses with traditional green shutters and charm to elegant Venetian buildings with lots of pastel colours, there’s nooks to get lost in and nice places to stop for a coffee and people watch!
Have Lunch at Uje Oil
After a couple of hours exploring the old town and climbing up the bell tower, I recommend stopping for a fantastic lunch at Uje Oil, a family-run olive oil bar and restaurant in the heart of the atmospheric old town!
Split has a great restaurant and cafe scene and some of the settings are just as impressive as the food, Uje Oil Restaurant is in the middle of a picturesque cobbled street, I stumbled upon it on one of my wanders and every outdoor table was full!
If you can grab a table, order the fig and ricotta flat bread and local Croatian wine, it’s amazing and will be the perfect start to your 3 days in Split!
Stroll Along Riva Promenade
From Uje Oil, find your way back through Diocletian’s Palace and the Peristyle, where you’ll exit at the main Bronze Gate to the beautiful Riva, which leads to Marjan Hill, I love strolling along here with the sea breeze – and it’s less intense than the Palace!
Split’s Riva is super attractive and lined with grand Venetian buildings, palm trees and snazzy restaurant terraces, there’s always a real buzz in the air and aside from the restaurants, there’s also sunny benches to sit and gaze at the horizon – see the pic below!
Visit Colourful Republic Square
Before you reach Marjan Hill at the end of the Riva, take a walk around Republic Square to the right (also known as Trg Republike) you can’t miss this huge space, especially as the colourful buildings really stand out, it wouldn’t look out of place in Italy!
Walk Up Marjan Hill Viewpoint
At this point in your Split itinerary, you will have already done plenty of walking around the main sights, but the viewpoint at leafy Marjan Hill is well worth making the extra bit of effort for, it’s the best panoramic views over the city and harbour and also one of my favourite areas to stay in Split!
From the Riva, you can get to the top of Marjan Hill viewpoint in 10-15 minutes, depending on how many stops you make to take photos and there’s a restaurant, Vidilica Terrace, where you can reward yourself with a spritz – don’t miss this off your itinerary, it’s one of the best things to do in Split!
Early Evening Drinks At Olive Tree
At the end of this busy sightseeing day I recommend relaxing with an early evening drink on the lush Mediterranean terrace of Olive Tree on the Riva, with perfect sea views and a great vibe!
Olive Tree has lots of style and atmosphere and is best known for its cocktails and cool decor, this spot should be on everyone’s Split itinerary and if you’re lucky, you might also get a spectacular sunset!
Dinner At Restaurant Zoi – Amazing Rooftop Terrace
For the first evening of your 3 days in Split, I recommend Zoi restaurant, which is also on the Riva and has a romantic rooftop terrace and is one of the few in town – compared to Dubrovnik Old Town, there’s hardly any rooftop space at all!
But as it’s your first night, an elegant terrace is the perfect place to enjoy a bit of Split hospitality and quality Mediterranean and Croatian dishes (and incredible risotto) away from the bustle and usual tourist restaurants. You’ll have to reserve a table on the terrace, this restaurant is popular!
Walk The Old Town & Enjoy The Peristyle
After your meal, don’t rush back to your hotel, take some time to walk around the old town at night, it totally transforms after dark and it’s worth re-tracing some of your steps from earlier in the day, the lanes and square are completely magical and lit up with romantic lanterns.
And one of the best places is the Peristyle, which hosts nightly classical music shows at Luxor Kavana, in the middle, you can sit on little red cushions all around the ancient columns and be served drinks from your waiter, or you can stand by and absorb the atmosphere!
3 Days In Split Itinerary: Day 2
Blue Lagoon & Island Hopping Boat Trip
For the most part of the second day, you’re going to head straight out on the water and explore the Blue Lagoon and smaller islands – it’s the easiest and most picturesque half-day trip, the hours are typically between 10-3pm and a must-do if you have three days in Split, trust me, it will be the highlight of your stay!
Blue Lagoon and the Azure-like waters are spectacular to see and swim, the natural islands are full of bays and hidden coves, it’s one of the more tranquil and scenic boat trips, away from the crowds and leaves directly from Split’s harbour, in summer I recommend booking 1-2 weeks in advance on this popular Blue Lagoon boat tour!
A boat trip is a must-do during 3 days in Split Croatia – see all my favourite private boat tours from Split
Relax At Split Beaches In the Late Afternoon
From the boat trip, I recommend checking out Split’s local beaches around Marjan Hill, or by the pool if you have booked a hotel in Split on the beach or the Hotel Ambasador with the best pool on the Riviera, now would be an excellent time to use it!
Marjan Hill offers some of the best beaches in Split, just on the other side of the viewpoint, with an attractive backdrop of the nature park. Kasjuni Beach is the best, with a small beach club and sunbeds for hire – you can get there easily in a taxi, the journey is only 5 minutes!
Evening Wine & Tapas At Bokeria
At the end of this adventurous and relaxing day, spend your evening at the delightful Bokeria Kitchen, a wine and tapas bar in the heart of the old town with lots of atmosphere and style!
Bokeria has an eye-catching outdoor terrace with enormous arched windows, and inside is just as cool, with an impressive Aperol Spritz wall and inviting decor, the building is just beautiful. It’s a great spot in Split to while away the hours!
3 Days In Split Itinerary: Day 3
Breakfast At Brasserie No 7 – Seaview Terrace
On day three of your Split itinerary, enjoy a leisurely breakfast in the prettiest setting at Brasserie No 7, right along the Riva with seaviews and a flower-filled terrace, I’ve always loved this spot (see the image below)!
Brasserie No 7 is popular, but if you go early, around 9.30-10am, the city is just waking up, which means it’s the perfect time of day to enjoy a coffee and all the healthy breakfast items you could wish for, which sets you up nicely for a more leisurely day ahead!
Take A Half-Day Trip To Gorgeous Trogir!
After spending the first two days ticking off all the highlights in and around Split Old Town, it will be the perfect time for visiting the UNESCO Heritage Town of Trogir, which is only 40 minutes away by bus or taxi and one of the most rewarding and easiest day trips from Split!
Trogir offers a more relaxed small-town vibe and gorgeous sights, including the beautiful Venetian town, Cathedral and prom, which rivals Split’s Riva, it really is the most idyllic place you’ll see along the coastline!
Trogir Old Town is compact enough that you can see it all in half a day and stop for lunch – there are some great spots! Read my full Split to Trogir guide.
If you’d rather explore further afield, I’ve also rounded up more wonderful day trips from Split, including Krka National Park and the islands.
Tip! If you’d prefer a quieter base, consider staying overnight – here are the best places to stay in Trogir Croatia, including Old Town hotels and beachside options.
Finish With Drinks At Marvlvs Library Jazz Bar
To finish your 3 days in Split, I recommend popping into the Marvlvs Library Jazz Bar hidden in the old town, where there’s a small sign and a large oval door entrance, it’s the sort of cosy gem you hope to find along the cobbles!
This is the only Jazz Bar, that I know of in Split, and I loved it the minute I entered, there’s a real grown-up feel about it – in comparison to some of the other nightlife bar choices and you’ll get a proper cocktail or gin here and if you’re lucky, a live jazz band!
WHERE TO STAY IN SPLIT CROATIA
If you’re wondering where to stay in Split, there are some fantastic boutique hotel options within the charming walls of Diocletian’s Palace and just outside along the vibrant Riva with stunning sea views! Here’s my top picks:
Heritage Hotel Santa Lucia – is the best boutique hotel in Split Old Town, combining style and elegance, there’s also a wonderful rooftop terrace for drinks and stunning views!
Hotel Ambasador – top hotel in Split, featuring modern and spacious rooms along the stunning Riva offering a fantastic rooftop terrace and pool with epic views!
Golden Gate Rooms – beautiful, affordable-luxury rooms set within a unique UNESCO location – right within the walls of Diocletian’s palace!
For a full breakdown of boutique hotels, beach resorts and best areas, see my complete Where to Stay in Split Croatia guide.
Is 3 days in Split Croatia enough?
Yes! Three days in Split is enough time to see the main highlights and include a day trip without feeling completely rushed – it’s the sweet spot between sightseeing and relaxation, but if you can stay longer – great! You’ll have time to relax by the hotel pool or sea and visit more of the beautiful Croatian Islands and relax!
3 DAYS IN SPLIT CROATIA – USEFUL TRAVEL TIPS!
When To Visit Split Croatia
Split is best from May until September, when the weather is glorious, and Riva is at its most vibrant! And there’s more to do in the summer, from alfresco dining to boat trips and beach days! July and August are the peak – super crowded months! AVOID the Ultra Festival, this is for loud music and teenagers.
Book your hotel in advance
Split is the most popular destination in Croatia, and the best boutique hotels often sell out months in advance – especially from June to August. I highly recommend booking early for the best choice, rates, and to be close to the old town for your 3 days in Split. See my full guide to where to stay in Split.
Book boat tours and day trips ahead in summer
From June to September, the best boat tours and day trips book out quickly. If island hopping or waterfalls are part of your plan, it’s worth securing spots in advance (I share my favourites in my Split day trips guide).
How To Get To Split Croatia
Split Airport is around 35 minutes from the Old Town by taxi, Uber or airport bus – or for a quick and easy journey, book a private transfer ahead of time, it will save you time and money!
How To Get Around Split Croatia
Everything in and around the Old Town, such as the Riva and Marjan Hill, is completely walkable; buses, taxis and cheap Ubers cover the beaches in Split easily. The bus station is at the end of the Riva opposite the port, for going slightly further afield.
3 DAYS IN SPLIT CROATIA – FAQ
Is Split Croatia worth visiting?
Yes absolutely! Split is worth visiting, especially for first-time visitors to Croatia. Split combines coastal scenery, beautifully preserved history, and a wonderful atmosphere; it’s the perfect base for exploring Dalmatia and the popular islands! Your Split itinerary (shown above) reflects all of this!
Is Split in Croatia nice?
Yes! Split is a very nice coastal city in Croatia! It is a wonderful mix of history, charm and elegance! I have stayed in Split many times enroute to the islands of Hvar, Korcula or Vis and wouldn’t hesitate to stop again!
Is it better to stay in Split Old Town?
For 3 days, the most convenient place to stay in Split is the Old Town, where you will be within walking distance from the main sightseeing spots, including the beautiful Riva, Marjan Hill, Diocletians Palace, beaches and the harbour for boat trips!
Still planning your trip to Split?
If you’re mapping out your 3 days in Split Croatia and want to fine-tune the details, here are a few more guides to help you plan the perfect Split Croatia itinerary – from where to stay to the best beaches and unforgettable boat trips!
- Where to Stay in Split, Croatia – best areas, boutique hotels & sea-view stays
- Hotels in Split on the Beach – luxury beachfront picks for 2026
- 13 Unmissable Things to Do in Split Croatia – don’t miss the highlights for first-time visitors
- Best Beaches in Split, Croatia – hidden coves, beach bars & local favourites
- Day Trips from Split – islands, waterfalls & historic towns
- Private Boat Tours from Split – the ultimate island-hopping experience
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Michelle Trudie, is the founder of Little Wanderblog, a luxury boutique travel site. She has travelled to over 30 countries in the last 15 years. Michelle share’s her passion for stylish and affordable luxury travel experiences in Europe and beyond! Her goal is to make travel planning easier to hidden gem places!