3 days in Split

Day by day

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

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

   1. Morning

      Diocletian's Palace

      Built around 295–305 AD as the retirement residence of the Roman emperor Diocletian, the palace was later settled by refugees from nearby Salona, who built homes, churches and shops into its walls.

   2. Late morning

      Peristyle and Vestibule

      Listen for klapa singers in the Vestibule during the day, and look out for open-air performances on the Peristyle during the summer festival.

   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

      Diocletian's octagonal mausoleum was turned into a church in the 7th century, making it one of the oldest cathedral buildings still in use.

   5. Evening

      Riva promenade

      Sit for a coffee in the morning, when locals read the papers here, or join the evening walk at sunset.

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

   Temple of Jupiter, Palace substructures (cellars) and Gregory of Nin statue, then Bačvice beach in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Temple of Jupiter

      It is tiny, so visit in the morning before the lane fills, ideally with a combined cathedral ticket.

   2. Late morning

      Palace substructures (cellars)

      The vaulted basement halls beneath the emperor's former apartments survive almost intact because they were used for centuries as storage and a rubbish dump.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Black risotto

      Seafood restaurants and konobas across the city.

   4. Afternoon

      Gregory of Nin statue

      Pair it with the Golden Gate and Strossmayer park just beyond, a shady place to rest.

   5. Evening

      Bačvice beach

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

3. Day 3: Marjan Forest Park and Meštrović Gallery

   Marjan Forest Park, Meštrović Gallery and Pazar green market, then Prokurative (Republic Square) in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Marjan Forest Park

      The pine-covered hill at the western tip of the peninsula has been protected as a park for more than a century.

   2. Late morning

      Meštrović Gallery

      Combine it with a swim at Kašjuni beach, about 15 minutes' walk further west.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Brudet

      Konobas, especially around the fish market and in Varoš.

   4. 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.

   5. 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 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

With 3 nights, Old Town (Diocletian's Palace) keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Varoš ($$$) suits couples, food lovers and quiet stays. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 14–19 hours of visiting over 3 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.

More or fewer days

• One day in Split
• 2 days in Split
• 5 days in Split

Questions travellers ask