2 days in Split

Day by day

1. Day 1: Diocletian's Palace and Peristyle and Vestibule

   Diocletian's Palace, Peristyle and Vestibule, Cathedral of Saint Domnius and bell tower and Riva promenade, then Bačvice beach in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Diocletian's Palace

      Its roughly rectangular grid of lanes, entered through the Golden, Silver, Iron and Bronze gates, is still lived in and has been a UNESCO site since 1979.

   2. Late morning

      Peristyle and Vestibule

      Steps lead up to the domed Vestibule, open to the sky, whose acoustics draw klapa groups singing traditional Dalmatian a cappella harmonies.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Pašticada

      Konobas in the old town and Varoš; it is a traditional Sunday and wedding dish.

   4. Afternoon

      Cathedral of Saint Domnius and bell tower

      Its carved wooden doors by Andrija Buvina date from the 13th century, and the Romanesque bell tower, about 57 metres tall, can be climbed for views over the palace roofs, the harbour and the islands.

   5. Late afternoon

      Riva promenade

      It hosts concerts and festivals, and in the evening much of the city strolls along it.

   6. Evening

      Bačvice beach

      Come early with children, while the water is calm and the beach is quiet; evenings bring a younger, livelier crowd.

2. Day 2: Temple of Jupiter and Palace substructures (cellars)

   Temple of Jupiter, Palace substructures (cellars), Gregory of Nin statue and Pazar green market, then Prokurative (Republic Square) in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Temple of Jupiter

      Its coffered stone ceiling survives intact, a headless sphinx sits outside, and inside stands a bronze of John the Baptist by Ivan Meštrović.

   2. Late morning

      Palace substructures (cellars)

      They mirror the layout of the rooms above; the central passage holds a souvenir market, and side halls served as a filming location for Game of Thrones.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Black risotto

      Seafood restaurants and konobas across the city.

   4. Afternoon

      Gregory of Nin statue

      The big toe of his left foot has been rubbed shiny by visitors, as touching it is said to bring luck.

   5. Late afternoon

      Pazar green market

      Outside the palace's Silver Gate, Split's open-air market sells fruit, vegetables, cheese, dried figs, lavender and olive oil, much of it from the islands and the hinterland, along with clothes and household goods.

   6. Evening

      Prokurative (Republic Square)

      Look out for summer concerts here; the square fills with locals on festival nights.

Before you go

If it rains

• Swap in Meštrović Gallery (Meje): Combine it with a swim at Kašjuni beach, about 15 minutes' walk further west.
• Swap in Archaeological Museum (North of the old town): Combine it with Salona to see where many of the exhibits were excavated.
• Swap in Split City Museum (Old Town (Diocletian's Palace)): A short, cool stop between sights on a hot afternoon.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 11–13 hours of visiting over 2 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9 hours in December to 15.4 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

Getting between stops: Walking. The palace, the Riva, Varoš, Marjan's Vidilica viewpoint and Bačvice are all within about 20 minutes' walk of each other.

More or fewer days

• One day in Split
• 3 days in Split
• 5 days in Split

Questions travellers ask