Split in 2 Days: everything you need to know

There are many things to see and do in Split that you can enjoy during your two-day stay in the city. Split is Croatia's second most populous city and is home to one of the best preserved Roman buildings in the world: Diocletian's Palace.

If you visit Split in two days, you can explore the interesting Old Town, stroll through lively squares and cobbled streets, or set sail for the surrounding islands teeming with nature. Here is a 2-day itinerary for you to immerse yourself in the Mediterranean spirit and culture of Split.

On your tour of Split, you can start at Diocletian's Palace, which includes the Vestibule, the Peristyle, the Ethnographic Museum, the Temple of Jupiter, the Cathedral and the cellars. Later you can go to the Town Square, the Game of Thrones Museum and Marjan Hill, one of the most beautiful viewpoints in the city. To end the day, you can go to one of the restaurants on the Riva, or waterfront promenade.

To start the tour, you should go to the south gate of Diocletian's Palace, also called Porta Aenea or Copper Gate, which will lead you to the Peristyle Square. Touring Diocletian's Palace is one of the best things to do in Split.

Diocletian's Palace

The Old Town of Split corresponds to Diocletian's Palace, one of the most amazing ancient buildings in the city. It was built by the Roman Emperor Diocletian between the 3rd and 4th centuries AD, and still retains many of the original buildings, including much of the surrounding walls.

Although it is known as Diocletian's Palace, it is actually the remains of what used to be a kind of fortress. Inside there are squares, churches and cobbled streets that connect to the city, and even markets, shops and restaurants. The gates are open all day, but the attractions inside have set opening hours.

You can enter the Palace through any of its 4 gates, although the most popular is the Aenea Gate, which connects to Split's Coastal Promenade. Although you will have to return to the starting point at the end of your tour of the Palace, this is the most traditional route. Alternatively, you can enter through the Golden Gate and go the other way round. In any case, the Palace is not very extensive (it is about 180 metres wide and 215 metres long), so it can take you between 2 and 3 hours to walk around it.

• Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 8am to 7pm, and Sundays from 12.30pm to 6.30pm. In winter they close at 3pm.
• Price: about 6 EUR entrance to the Cathedral, Temple of Jupiter and museum; and about 6 EUR to the underground galleries.

The Ethnographic Museum and Foyer

About 50 metres from the Aenea Gate is the Ethnographic Museum, which houses a large collection of objects such as pottery, textiles, basketry, jewellery and sculptures from the traditional heritage of the Dalmatian region. It also houses a large collection of traditional costumes and ancient weapons.

Further on, less than 20 metres from the museum, is the Vestibule, a vaulted circular construction without a roof that used to be the entrance to the palace halls.

The Peristyle

About 30 metres from the Vestibule is the Peristyle, the main square of the palace, which is surrounded by a gallery of granite columns. Around it there are restaurants and cafes where you can sit and have a drink, and there are often people dressed as centurions posing for visitors' photos.

From this square you can walk to the Cathedral of San Dominus, which is located to the east.

Cathedral of St. Domnius

At 150m from the Peristyle, up a flight of steps guarded by sphinxes, is the Cathedral of St. Domnius or St. Duje, which was built in the 7th century, where the Imperial Mausoleum of Diocletian used to stand. It has an octagonal shape and magnificent ornamentation, although the most striking feature is its 57-metre-high bell tower, which offers one of the best panoramic views of Split. You can climb it by means of a staircase.

Temple of Jupiter

The Temple of Jupiter is located to the west of the Peristyle, about 50 metres down a small alley. It was converted into a baptistery in the 13th century and has the statue of St John the Baptist inside. Most interesting, however, is the original Egyptian sphinx guarding the entrance, which is 3,500 years old.

Next to the Temple is the narrowest street in Split, called Pusti me da prodjem, which means "let me pass".

People's Square

About 70 metres from the Temple of Jupiter is the Iron Gate of the Palace, through which you should exit and walk about 50 metres to the Town Square. This is the city's central square, where there are often street markets and cultural events.

The surrounding area is home to the Gothic-style Cambj Palace and the old Renaissance-style Town Hall, which houses the City Museum. There is also a culturally important café, Café Central, which used to be a meeting place for artists and intellectuals.

Also, in front of this square is the town clock, which displays 24 hours instead of 12. It is an ideal place to have lunch or a coffee while watching the lively life in this part of Split.

Game of Thrones Museum

About 120 metres from the Town Square is the Game of Thrones Museum, a place of special interest to fans of the series, as it contains 5 themed rooms with sculptures of dragons and characters from the series, and all sorts of objects that will take you back to the medieval atmosphere of the series. It's a small museum, so it won't take you long to get around.

• Location: Bosanska ul. 9, 21000, Split.
• Opening hours: Sunday to Thursday from 10am to 10pm, Thursday to Saturday until 11pm.
• Entrance fee: around €15 per person.

Gregory of Nin Statue

140 metres from the Game of Thrones Museum is the Gregory of Nin Statue, opposite the Golden Gate. It was made by sculptor Ivan Meštrović and is the subject of a curious local tradition. It is said to bring good luck to touch the big toe of this sculpture, so many people come here to seek good fortune.

Underground galleries

After touching the statue, you should return to Porta Aenea and take a gallery on the left to reach the Underground Galleries of the Palace. It is one of the best preserved Roman constructions, and is also famous because it has been the setting for the acclaimed series Game of Thrones.

These galleries, by replicating the layout of the imperial rooms that were on the upper floor, allow you to imagine what these buildings were originally like. Today it is a venue for art exhibitions, plays, fairs and other cultural events.

Marjan Hill

From Porta Aenea, where you started this tour, you should walk about 6 blocks along the Riva to Marjan Hill, from where you will have one of the most beautiful panoramic views of the Palace, the sea, the islands and the city of Split.

The hill is about 160 metres high and has 3 viewpoints which can be reached by a flight of stairs. However, if you find the climb too tiring, before you reach the main viewpoint, the Telegrin, there is the Vidilica viewpoint, which also offers a nice view. It is an ideal place to watch the sunset, have a snack in a café at the top or walk along one of the paths of varying lengths.

The Riva

On your way back from Marjan Hill, past the Porta Aenea, you can take this 250-metre long coastal walk. It has a marble floor and is surrounded by palm trees. It is a very lively part of the city, where concerts, plays and various cultural events are often held. It is also a good place to dine, as there are restaurants and cafes in the surrounding area.

On your second day in the city you can take a tour from Split to see the surrounding islands and their beautiful beaches. One of the most beautiful islands to visit is the island of Hvar, where you'll find medieval walls, unspoilt beaches and a charming village. Hvar is an island about 60 km long, the longest in the region, and is connected by winding roads.

The most common route is first to Stari Grad, the oldest town in Croatia, and then to the town of Hvar and its beaches.

How to get to the island of Hvar

To get to the island of Hvar you must take a ferry from the port of Split, which will take you to the port of Stari Grad. There is one every one and a half hours from 9am from Split, and it takes about 50 minutes to get there. The last one returns at around 7.30pm, with a shorter timetable in winter. You can also cross by taking your car on the ferry.

Another way to get there is to book a day tour from Split. This option is highly recommended as it will also take you to the Pakleni Islands and the Blue Cave, which can only be reached by sea.

The oldest town: Stari Grad

The ferry will drop you off at the port of Stari Grad, an ancient town founded in 384 BC. It is a very small fishing village where you will see cobbled streets, arched passages, remains of ancient walls and stone houses. The town has been declared a Unesco World Heritage Site and is ideal for wandering through its narrow streets and discovering the historical treasures within its walls.

One of the must-see buildings in Stari Grad is the castle of Petar Hektorović, who was a famous local Renaissance poet. The castle is located about 250 metres from the harbour and is open from May to October. Inside, it houses collections related to life on the island.

• Location: Priko b.b, 21460, Stari Grad.
• Opening hours: daily 10am-1.30pm and 5-8pm.

Town of Hvar Grad

20 km from Stari Grad is Hvar Grad, a charming town with old buildings, where you can stroll through the old town centre, climb up to a lookout point and visit the nearby beaches. If you take a bus, you can reach Hvar in half an hour. You can then return directly to Split by ferry from Split harbour.

St. Stephen's Cathedral

About 250 metres from the port of Hvar is St. Stephen's Cathedral, a picturesque white church with a beautiful bell tower. It was built between the 16th and 18th centuries on the foundations of a 6th-century church, and houses valuable works of art inside dating back to medieval times. It is located on St. Stephen's Square, the city's central square. Admission is free.

Spanjola Fortress

From St. Stephen's Cathedral, you should walk about 700 metres to the road leading up to the Spanjola Fortress, and then climb for about 20 minutes to the top, where you will see this magnificent building that was begun in 1278.

The Spanjola Fortress houses amphorae and other objects from medieval times. In addition to its interesting architecture and history, the fortress offers the most beautiful panoramic views of the island and the Pakleni Islands. After touring the site, you can have a refreshing drink or herbal tea in a café in the fortress.

Arsenal Theatre

160 metres from the Cathedral is one of the oldest theatres in the world: The Arsenal. This theatre was built between 1292 and 1331, although it was remodelled and rebuilt several times until 1611. Its façade dates from the 19th century. Today it is an important cultural centre of the city and a landmark building, which also houses the Gallery of Contemporary Art.

Pokonji dol Beach and Duvonica Beach

About 2 km from the Arsenal Theatre is Pokonji dol Beach, a beautiful beach where you can swim and enjoy the sun. Another option is Duvonica Beach, which is the most popular beach on the island, about 10 km from the theatre. It is best to take a taxi, so that you can make the most of your time on the island.

Another option: Stari Grad and the Pakleni Islands

An alternative to the town of Hvar is to visit the Pakleni islands, which are about 20 islets and islands where there are beaches with transparent waters surrounded by pine forests and scented by lavender fields. The beaches are ideal for swimming and snorkelling, and many are nudist beaches. All the islands have their own charm, although the most visited are San Clemente, Marinkovac and Jerolim.

To get there, you can take a boat taxi or hire a small boat. Depending on how long you spend on Stari Grad (and what time you arrive), you may or may not have time to cross to the other island. A good option is to join one of the tours that depart from Split and take you to visit Stari Grad as well as the Pakleni islands, the Blue Cave (located on Vis Island) and the town of Hvar Grad.

Return to Split

If you decide to go to the town of Hvar, you can take the ferry from the harbour back to Split. However, if you decide to visit the Pakleni Islands, you will have to return to Stari Grad and take the ferry from there.

Once in the city, you can choose a restaurant on the Riva and try the delicious Croatian dishes such as kulen (a sausage), Strukli (stuffed puff pastry), Mlinci (a kind of pasta) or Orehnjaca (a puff pastry and walnut dessert).

Itinerary summary: 2 days in Split

This is the end of my suggested itinerary for your 2-day visit to Split, but there are plenty of places to see in the surrounding area if you are staying longer. For example, Plitvice Lakes National Park, Krka National Park, or Dubrovnik, a city that has also been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.