Split Travelers Recommend

Plitvice Lakes National Park is of Croatia’s most popular natural attractions. Little wonder why it has visitors swooning: this UNESCO World Heritage Site is packed with enchanting forests, cascading waterfalls, and gem-toned lakes. Here are your options for exploring the park from Split.

Group Tours

Group tours offer a great-value way to experience the national park’s star attractions. After traveling to the park by bus, explore in the company of a guide. Group tours often include guided hikes around the Upper Lakes (Gornja Jezera), a cruise on the Lower Lakes (Donja Jezera), and a train ride. One-way Plitvice Lakes transfer tours, beginning in Split and ending in Zagreb (or vice versa), are also available.

Private Tours

If you want a personalized and flexible tour tailored to your needs, consider a private tour of Plitvice Lakes from Split. Guides can concoct customized itineraries that allow for a deep dive into the park, so you can tackle hiking routes tailored to your fitness abilities and take as much time as you need to frame your photographs of the stunning park.

Things to Know

• The Plitvice Lakes are 155 miles (250 kilometers) from Split, about a 2.5-hour drive.

• Day tours from Split to Plitvice Lakes typically last eight to 12 hours. 

• Entrance fees are included in most group and private tours.  

• Wear comfortable, thick-soled shoes, as some of the park’s boardwalk trails are uneven. 

• The park’s train and boat rides do not run from November through March. 

Split’s unique blend of natural scenery, historic landmarks, and vibrant culture makes it a popular destination, but ticking off its highlights can be tricky in just two days. Here are our top tips for optimizing your 48 hours in the city.

Day 1: Sightsee in the City

**Morning:**Begin by familiarizing yourself with Split’s streets and landmarks, starting early to beat the crowds. Tours typically combine Old Town highlights, such as Diocletian’s Palace, with outlying attractions, such as Marjan hill. Whether you prefer fatigue-free bus transfer, active bike exploration, or an immersive walking experience, you have options.

**Afternoon:**After lunch, it’s time to personalize your itinerary. If you’re into history and culture, Split’s galleries, museums, and churches are a must. Photographers can climb the cathedral’s bell tower or explore the harbor for unique panoramas, while alternative sightseers can take a stroll around the less-touristic Varoš suburb. 

**Night:**Sunset cruises are ideal for unwinding after a busy day on the mainland and often include a complimentary aperitif. Alternatively, after-dark tours of the Split coastline provide a different perspective of the city, with opportunities to night swim, snorkel, kayak, or cliff jump typically included.

Day 2: Explore Beyond Split

**Morning:**Spend your morning exploring the Adriatic, zipping between islands by speedboat or taking it easy on a sailing trip. Alternatively, gain insight into Dalmatian culture on a tour of a nearby island. Land lovers can head inland for canyoning or 4x4 safari experiences. Tours typically include round-trip transfer.

**Afternoon:**Most tours continue into the afternoon, often with lunch included. If you find yourself with time to spare, set off on foot or bike to discover Split’s scenic beaches. Trstenik and Kašjuni are both easily accessible from town, and offer a relaxed alternative to the often-crowded Bačvice.

**Night:**Conclude with a glimpse into Split’s nightlife, taking advantage of evening tours to discover local bars in the city suburbs or explore the center’s lively pubs and clubs. Be aware that after midnight, the party tends to continue outside the Old Town, so bring change for a taxi.

Croatia’s second city is known for its unique culture, history, and landscape, as well as for its ease of access to other Croatian highlights. With some planning, it’s possible to experience the best of Split and beyond in just three days. Here’s how.

Day 1: Hit the Highlights

Begin with an overview of the city as you familiarize yourself with Split's historic landmarks. Bike tours allow you to zip between highlights hassle-free, while walking tours offer a more intimate perspective. Hop-on hop-off bus services are also available, and make transportation worry-free. Either way, an early start is key, as Old Town tends to fill up during the day. Once you’ve taken in attractions such as Diocletian’s Palace and Marjan hill, head to the waterfront to unwind on a city beach, or set sail on a sunset cruise. Absorb views of the Adriatic over dinner or drinks on board, and then round out your evening exploring Split after dark, taking advantage of nightlife tours, which guide you to the city center’s liveliest spots.

Day 2: Discover Dalmatia

The port city is a prime departure point for wider exploration of the Adriatic. Transfer by speedboat to view several highlights in one day, or enjoy a more active excursion as you kayak along the coastline. Kornati National Park isn’t far by boat, and offers an relaxed alternative to the mainland. Full- or half-day tours typically include round-trip transfer, and some also include lunch. If you’d rather stay on dry land, you can get a taste of authentic Dalmatian cuisine on a food tour. Come evening, take a stroll along the Riva promenade, or visit local wine bars to sample rich Croatian flavors among Split natives.

Day 3: Croatia and Beyond

Reserve your final day for exploring further afield, taking advantage of full-day tours that travel to Croatia and beyond. Nature fans and hikers head to Plitvice Lakes National Park or Krka National Park for a day in scenic surroundings, while history buffs and city lovers gravitate to the coast and the historic city of Zadar on a day of urban sightseeing. The neighboring Balkan state of Bosnia and ‎Herzegovina is another popular day-trip destination, and round-trip transfer from Split makes international exploration easy. Wind down back in town with a classic peka dinner, before making your way back up to the Marjan summit for final views of the coastal city by night.

Famously nicknamed the “Pearl of the Adriatic” and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Dubrovnik is one of Croatia’s star attractions. At about three hours by road from Split, it’s a popular choice for a day trip. Here’s everything you need to know about how to visit Dubrovnik.

Group Tours

Budget travelers looking for a fun, affordable, and hassle-free day can opt for a small-group excursion. Drive along the scenic Dalmatian Coast and enjoy a walking tour of Dubrovnik, taking in highlights such as the Old Town city walls, the magnificent Rector’s Palace, Franciscan Church and Monastery, Sponza Palace, the limestone-paved Stradun, and the striking baroque Dubrovnik Cathedral. Those pressed for time can combine a visit to Dubrovnik with a stop in the medieval town of Ston, famous for its oysters.

Private Tours

There’s a lot to see in Dubrovnik (and on the coastal drive). A private tour to the walled city gives visitors the flexibility to customize the ideal itinerary, which might include visits to Game of Thrones filming locations, free time to tour the city’s architectural wonders, or even a stop in Ston or another of the beautiful towns along Croatia’s Dalmatia coastline.

Things to Know

• Full day tours last upward of 12 hours, depending on the option chosen.

• Choose between the value of a small-group tour or the intimacy and flexibility of a private tour.

• Most guided tours include hotel pickup and drop-off in either Split or Trogir.

Gaining an overview of Split’s colorful history, striking landscape, and rich culture can be tricky in just one day, but it is possible. Here are our top tips on how to optimize 24 hours in Croatia’s second city.

Morning: Explore the Old Town

Start early to beat the crowds and find your bearings in Croatia’s second-largest city. Learn about Split’s ancient history as you stroll through the labyrinthine Diocletian’s Palace or marvel at Saint Domnius Cathedral. Walking tours typically offer a more intimate experience, while Segway or bike tours ensure swift, seamless transfer, ideal for avoiding fatigue with a busy day ahead. Alternatively,Game of Thrones tours can match fictional landmarks with their real counterparts on a themed excursion, while independent travelers can take advantage of hop-on hop-off services to explore the Old Town and wider city at their own pace.

Afternoon: Enjoy the Landscape

After a spot of lunch in one of the trendy cafés dotting the Old Town, it’s time to cool off on the Adriatic. Whether you’re wild for water sports or serious about sailing, you have options. Private tours typically offer more-flexible departure times, which can be tailored to your individual needs; aim for late-afternoon departure to guarantee the best sunset views. Alternatively, land lovers can still enjoy an exhilarating afternoon adventure, with options including rock climbing on the Marjan hill or ATV exploration of the hinterland beyond.

Night: Experience the Culture

If you didn’t manage to catch sunset views on your afternoon excursion, you can always unwind on a sunset cruise, absorbing coastal vistas with an aperitif in hand. If you’re keen to tick off more Dalmatian highlights, take advantage of the city’s close proximity to Trogir, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, or other UNESCO-listed towns, with some tours offering round-trip transfer for an evening excursion. However, Split’s own nightlight is worth experiencing. After dark, the city’s restaurants, bars, and clubs come into their own. From lively pub tours to fine-wine experiences, Split hosts something for everyone.

The many charms of Split and the surrounding region were not lost on the production team for Game of Thrones, which utilized Croatia’s second-largest city as a key filming location. Here are a few sites that shouldn’t be missed by fans.

Diocletian’s Palace

This sprawling complex, built for Roman emperor Diocletian in the fourth century, houses a unique mix of houses, restaurants, shops, and ancient palace buildings. It starred on Game of Thrones as the filming location for the fictional city of Meereen, where Daenerys Targaryen and her army of Unsullied take up residence.

Fortress of Klis

Not far from Split, this medieval-era fortress has helped safeguard a rotating collection of Croatian kings over the year. During the production of GoT, this imposing defensive structure served as a key exterior shot location for Meereen.

Zrnovica

The small village of Zrnovica, along the river of the same name, is known for its longstanding connection to the area’s grain industry. In fact, the village has long been home to a collection of ancient grain mills, some of which were included in scenes from the show’s fourth season featuring Missandei and Daario Naharis.

Want to explore all of the Thrones' seven kingdoms? Other spectacular filming locations can be found in Iceland, Northern Ireland, Spain, and Malta.