Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Split?

Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Split?

Most people spend two to four days in Split during their visit. The historic city offers amazing highlights such as the nightlife scene, scuba diving and snorkeling, the beaches, and the famous sights and museums.

Split is the second largest city in Croatia and one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. It sits on the Adriatic Sea and is filled with water sports, beaches, historic sights, and nightclubs. The city is popular with backpackers for its fun social scene, but families and couples will appreciate the beauty and cuisine of the area as well.

Do you have one or two days to visit Split? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.


Is one day enough time in Split?

Split offers plenty of activities and attractions and remains a top choice for tourists. Given only one day, you will likely find yourself hurrying to experience the key highlights such as the nightlife scene, scuba diving and snorkeling, and the beaches. To truly savor all that the city boasts, a more generous amount of time is probably needed even though it's not a huge city. Many travelers opt for two to four days to thoroughly relish the wonders of the city. However, if your schedule is tight, we have a handful of recommendations for making the most of your visit.

How to spend a day in Split

Don't miss Diocletian's Palace during your trip to Split, as it's one of this destination's most well-known attractions. You should make sure to set aside enough time to see it.

This city is very popular for nightlife. After the sun goes down, head out to one of the many popular venues around town. It has some of the best nightlife on mainland Croatia. Backpackers and students flock to this city for its parties and nightclubs. There's a great live music scene as well as DJs who keep the party going well into the early morning.


A few tour suggestions include:

  • Tower Pub Crawl in Split ($31)

Split is a very walkable city. With only a day in the city, you'll have no trouble exploring the local sights. The city is laid out in a pedestrian-friendly way so it's easy to explore on foot, particularly in the old town. It's also easy to get lost, but that's all part of the fun.

Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Split?

A weekend trip is usually not enough time to experience the historic city of Split, so you may find yourself somewhat rushed. Or, perhaps you'll want to return another time experience everything that this medium sized city has to offer. You don't want to miss the main attractions such as the nightlife scene, scuba diving and snorkeling, the beaches, and the famous sights and museums. Many tourists set aside two to four days for their visit. However, if your schedule only gives you a couple of days, we have a handful of recommendations to make the most of your weekend adventure in Split below.

Split, Croatia Split, Croatia

How to spend 2 days in Split

Having a weekend (two to three days) in Split will provide you with more time to take in the best activities in the city.

Scuba diving and snorkeling around Split is very popular. Spend the day exploring the beauty of the surrounding underwater world. Some of the best snorkeling is found around the Kornati Islands. There are many boat trips that take visitors to some of the best snorkeling spots near Split.


A few tour suggestions include:

  • Kayaking and Snorkeling in Omiš ($46)
  • Try Scuba Diving in Split ($150)
  • Brac, Hvar, & Solta Day Trip: Snorkeling, Wine & Lunch from Split ($196)

You'll absolutely want to spend some time enjoying the food scene in this city, so make sure you spend time at one of the local restaurants where you can taste the delicious cuisine for a meal or two. It's the second largest city in Croatia and the food scene reflects this. You'll find a mix of Dalmatian restaurants and international options. There's also everything from fine dining to local taverns, so whatever your budget or food preference, you won't be disappointed.


A few tour suggestions include:

  • Private Krka Waterfalls Day Trip from Split including Wine Tasting & Lunch ($185)
  • Blue Lagoon & Wine tasting - 3 islands tour ($104)
  • Dalmatian wine tasting by Bottiglia wine & deli ($52)

Public transit in Split is easy and efficient. In just a few days, you should be able to get around the city quite easily. There are bus services that will help you get around town.

More Info

If you're looking for more information about Split, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.

Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.

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