What to do in Split for a week: Split Itinerary

Last updated on March 27th, 2023 at 02:00 pm

Following my trip to Croatia, I want to share my honest recommendations on how to make the most of 7 days in Split. I will reveal the budget friendly ways of exploring Croatia from Split. After some mistakes along the way, I want to share my tips for a more comfortable and enjoyable trip. Keep reading because you don’t want to miss out! So, what to do in Split for a week?

Why not make it a 2 week holiday and get a 1hr 10 min flight to Venice? See my recent post on a 7 Day Rome, Florence, Venice Itinerary.

Or finish off your trip with 3 days in ancient Rome: What to do in Rome for 3 days?

Read my recent post to get inspiration for an Autumn trip Germany, Austria, Switzerland itinerary 7 days

Cash or card in Croatia?

Bear in mind that not everywhere takes cards, so be sure to have some cash taken out. Use bank owned ATMs and avoid independent ATMs for the lowest fees. Always complete the transaction in the local currency (kuna), if given the option, to avoid extra hidden fees. Use a card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees if you can. I always use Revolut.

What plugs are used in Croatia?

Don’t forget your travel adapter. Type C and Type F plugs are used in Croatia, basically the plugs with the 2 round pins. This is the same one used in most European countries. You can find more detail here.

What is the weather like in Croatia?

July and August will have the best weather, but it is the busiest time with all the tourists. If you want to go at a quieter time, June or September would be good. I went at the beginning of June and the temperature was around 30 degrees and we had 1 day of rain.

How to get to Split from the airport?

It is most convenient to fly into Split airport. Then get the bus from just outside the terminal. We used a Croatian airlines bus, it will cost 45 kuna each. More information found here. You pay the conductor on the bus. They only take cash, so be sure to have some, there are ATMs on the right just before you exit the door of the airport.

The estimated travel time is 30 minutes. This will bring you to the bus station in the centre of Split. If your accommodation is near the centre you can walk from there.

Now lets get into it & I will explain day by day what to do in Split for a week.

Day 1 – Diocletian’s Palace, Old Town & Riva Promenade

Diocletican’s palace is a UNESCO world heritage site and is probably the main attraction in Split. This is the heart of the old town and you will find many cafe’s, restaurants and shops located in the old buildings of the fortress along the narrow streets. 

These old buildings are unique and some of Game of Thrones was filmed in the cellar. It was where the dragons were kept. Nowadays, there are stalls in the cellars where items such as jewellery and souvenirs are sold. 

The Riva Promenade located beside the old town is beautiful to walk. There are more stalls to browse through here. Also, you will most likely see some massive cruise ships parked up.

There is a great atmosphere on the street. A few of the days when we were there, events were taking place. One day there was a basketball event on and another day there were supercars lining the street – Mclaren, Porsche and Ferrari’s which drew a nice crowd.

It is worth going to the palace at night also as there is live music, where people gather with a drink or ice-cream and sit on the steps to enjoy the atmosphere.

Day 2 – Plitvice Lakes Day Trip from Split

The oldest and largest national park in the Republic of Croatia and a UNESCO world heritage site is a must see. It is situated among the mountains and is a natural beauty.

A guided tour from Split is a great option. The tour starts at 7 am from the Gray Line office located on the Riva Promenade. You take a 3-4 hour bus trip. The tour guide explains the history of Split and Croatia along the way.

Once you reach the park, you start off with a bus ride to the upper lakes and you walk with the guide down through the lakes. Then a boat takes you to the lower lake. Here you can walk around and take in the nature of these stunning lakes and waterfalls. The duration you will be at the park will be around 5.5 hours. 

It was raining when I visited but it meant that crowds were much smaller than usual. The rain gave it a more green and luscious feel. It meant that there were more waterfalls to see than during a dry spell. My advice is to go even if the weather is not great. The climate in Plitvice is a little different and gets more rainfall than down the coast. 

After you leave the park, the bus stops at a local restaurant which does good food and is reasonably priced. The area was previously ruled by Turkey, which can be noticed in the food options at this restaurant (mainly meat). There are little to no vegetarian or vegan options. 

We paid €87 each for the tour. This includes the entry fee for the park also. You can book this tour here. 

Tip: Bring rain gear, warm clothes, snacks and water.
If you have dietary requirements, bring extra food.

Day 3 – Kliss fortress & Bacvice Beach

Part of Game of Thrones was filmed here. It was introduced in Season 4 as the streets of Mereen, where Daenerys Targaryen and her army marched towards Meereen to free the slaves. 

Rather than getting a city tour, you can get to Klis Fortress quite cheaply by getting bus number 22, from HNK bus stop, outside the national theatre (6 minute walk from Diocletican’s Palace). A return trip costs about €3. The entrance to the fortress costs 60 kuna or €8. Tickets can be bought onboard and it takes about 20 minutes.

Bacvice beach is a 15 minute walk from the old town. It is a nice spot to relax and sunbathe. It is also ideal for swimming and you can jump off the Pier. There are many restaurants along the promenade to enjoy dinner and cocktails. Some have deals for 1 litre of cocktail for 140 kuna which is about €20.

Day 4 – Attend the Split 5 island boat tour ft blue caves, & Hvar

This is a must do for the thrill seekers out there. You get on a small speed boat and travel out to some of the islands, stopping at each to explore. 

We visited Brac, Sveti Klement (one of the Pakleni Islands), Hvar and Carpe Diem (part of Hvar but a separate island). As the wind was strong on the day we went, we couldn’t get to see everything on the itinerary.

The highlight for me was swimming and snorkelling in the blue lagoon (just off Sveti Klement). It was an ideal location for snorkelling and we spotted lots of fish in the crystal clear water. 

It is €115 each – this does not include food or drink. You can book this tour here.

Tip: Book this trip for the day with the lowest forecasted amount of wind for the best chance of doing the blue cave

Day 5 – Explore Marjan Forest Park 

If you want to go for a hike, this is a good place to do so. It is a 4.1 mile walk, that is of moderate difficulty and will take about 2.5 hours.

You can reach the park by using the Marjan hill stairs, which is a 10 minute walk from Diocletian’s Palace along the Riva promenade. It is near the Church and Monastery of St. Francis.

If you don’t fancy a long walk, it is about 20 minute walk up steps and there is a stunning view of the city from here. There is also a restaurant here which is a great location for a drink and to watch the sunset.

Day 6 – Day trip to Dubrovnik from Split

Day Trip to Dubrovnik from Split by Car

We rented a car at the last minute and went to Dubrovnik for a day. The total cost for the trip with the car was €200 (€100 rent, €20 insurance, €50 for fuel and €30 to park in Dubrovnik for the day). It is a 3 hour one-way drive. Insuring 2 people in the car is a good idea if possible to share the driving.

While we were there, we booked a Game of Thrones tour. This is interesting for those that watched the show. We were shown the different locations in Dubrovnik that were used in the series and given interesting facts. The tour guide featured in the series as one of the unsullied. The tour costs €20 each. You can book this tour here.

If you are not too interested in Game of Thrones, another good option is to book a free walking tour here. This will take you to the most famous attractions in Dubrovnik. But entrance fees to certain locations will be extra.

We also walked the city walls. The entrance fee is €33 per person/ 250 kuna. But the views from it were amazing. You do not need to pre purchase tickets and can just buy them on the day. We had no queue in June when we went but it can get busy in peak times. In this case, early morning or late evening is a good time to go in peak summer months of July and August especially.

It will take about 1 hour to walk, and is roughly 2km long. If you want to book a guided tour to get to know the history, you can book here (this does not include entry ticket to the walls).

Split to Dubrovnik Day Tour 

It is actually cheaper for a group of 2 to get a day tour from Split so I would recommend this. You don’t have to worry about driving for a 6 hour round-trip. It costs €67 in total each and this includes a guided tour of Dubrovnik’s historic monuments and time to yourself to explore. You can book a day tour from Split here.

Tip: When travelling from Split to Dubrovnik ensure you have your passport as you pass through border control as you enter a section of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Dubrovnik is more expensive than Split. We were advised by a local that some places are known to charge tourists more than what is advertised on the menu, so be careful. 

Day 7 – Relax at the Beach

Before you go home or continue on your journey, it’s time to relax! The choice of beach is up to you. You could opt for Bacvice again which is closest to the centre. Or maybe you want to try Kasjuni beach which is most known for its spectacular views.

You can get a bus to Kasjuni beach which will cost less than €4 return. It is bus no.12 and will take 12 minutes. The bus leaves from Trg Franje Tudmana 1. This is on the Riva Promenade at the right side, near to Fabrique pub.

Where to stay in Split?

Stone Rose Apartments

Stone Rose Apartments are very close to the beach and around 500m from the old town so an ideal location, it was a 10/10 for us. When we arrived, we were met at the door with the keys. The host was very accommodating and friendly. We had a 1 bedroom apartment, perfect for a couple or 2 friends.

The location was centrally located between Bacvice beach and the old town (10 min walk from the beach, 5 min walk from the old town). The air conditioning was a blessing after a day in 30 degree heat. The total for 8 nights was €447, a very reasonable price. 

Cosy Rooms in the Center of Split

If you are 2 friends spending 7 days in Split, this is a good option for you. It has a rating of 9.1 on booking.com and great reviews. It is a 19 minute walk to Bacvice beach and 5 minutes walk to the palace (old town).

The Twin rooms have bunk – beds and access to a shared bathrooms. This room is priced between €250 and €300 for 7 nights. You can book here.

Backpackers Fairytale Hostel

If you are travelling alone or prefer a hostel vibe, then Backpackers Fairytale Hostel looks like a good choice. It has a rating of 8.9 on booking.com and really good reviews. The hostel is just 5 minutes from the old town and about a 17 minutes walk to Bacvice beach. A dorm room can be is as little as €14 per night.

Where to eat in Split?

During our 7 days in Split, we spent many evenings at Bacvice beach and tried a couple of the restaurants along there. The food we had was good, reasonably priced and convenient when you don’t fancy walking to the centre. But, I do have some recommendations we got from a local for some of the less expensive restaurants that serve good food based in the centre.

Split is a great base to explore Croatia while on a budget. A final tip if you are looking for cheap alcohol, is to opt for the local beer – in most bars it will cost between €2 and €3. Now, are you on the way yet? I hope you enjoyed this guide on what to do in Split for a week. Bookmark this so you can refer to it later.

Let me know in the comments if you have any questions. Thanks for reading.

Lisa