How to spend 4 days in Split

Hello! I’m Sam, I’m from London and I’m here to give you the lowdown on one of my favourite European spots. I travelled solo through Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, but Split was by far the highlight. The city has the perfect combo of history, nightlife and ways to relax, plus it’s super easy to island-hop around Dalmatian Islands from here. I’ve brought back all my picks, so you can save time on research if you’re considering your own trip here.  

Here’s how I spent 4 days in Split, Croatia…  

Day 1 – exploring the Old Town 

I arrived in Split around lunchtime and headed straight out to wander around the Roman Old Town. I stopped at one of the many gelato spots then visited Diocletian’s Palace, one of Split’s biggest attractions. The ancient palace and fortress complex was built by Emperor Diocletian as a retirement residence. I asked them if I could reserve a place for my own retirement but, as you can imagine, my joke left the staff a bit confused…  

I also visited the Bell Tower at the top of Saint Domnius Cathedral. The stairs are quite intense, but it’s totally worth it for the views over Split. I was pretty impressed that the ticket office lets you pick which parts of the complex you want to see, so you don’t have to pay for all of it.  

In the evening, I walked along the promenade by the Old Town and soaked up the holiday vibes. The bars were playing music and lots of people were sat outside the many restaurants eating dinner, which gave it that classic Mediterranean feel. Food-wise, Croatia’s cuisine is a mix of flavours from the Med, Italy and the Balkans, so there’s plenty to pick from on menus. It also feels quite affordable compared to other destinations in Europe.  

Interested? Join this walking tour of Split and Diocletian’s Palace.  

Day 2 – a day in Hvar  

I took the ferry over to Hvar, one of the most popular Dalmatian islands. The ferry takes around an hour and runs frequently in the summer. I spent most of my time in Hvar Town, the island’s main attraction. I walked along the promenade around the harbour, then trekked through the back streets, heading uphill to Fortica Fortress. The climb’s short but steep, and you’re rewarded with amazing views of the Adriatic. After a rest at the top, I walked down past Krizna Luka beach and followed the quieter sections of the coastline to relax by the rocks. I grabbed an iced coffee by the water before heading back to Split, where I grabbed dinner.  

Day 3 – Solta, shipwrecks and the Blue Lagoon 

I got up and headed out for a half-day boat tour. The first stop was the shipwreck of Kontesa on the island of Solta. We were given snorkelling gear and swam a few hundred metres over to the wreck of a small ship that sank in a storm back in the eighties due to a storm – thankfully, everyone onboard survived.   

Next, we visited Maslinica, a peaceful village on Solta with a small beach, cafés and a few shops. The final stop was the Blue Lagoon, on a small island near Solta. We were served lunch a short walk from the lagoon, then had some free time to swim in the turquoise water.  

After returning to Split, I chilled at a café and later walked down to Bačvice Beach, one of the closest beaches to the Old Town. If you go further along the coastline, you’ll find more beaches lined with resorts.  

Visit the Blue Lagoon and Solta on this All Inclusive tour from Split.  

Day 4 – Marjan Forest 

On my final day in Croatia, I visited Marjan Forest Park. The views are unreal and it’s a must if you’re into hiking. It takes around two hours to complete the entire loop, so bring plenty of water – there are refill fountains, but I didn’t reach one until 90 minutes in). Exhausted after my adventure, I spent the afternoon in a local pub watching football.  

The next morning, I caught a bus to Bosnia and Herzegovina. I was excited for the next part of my journey, but the bar is high after an amazing 4 days in Split.  

If Split sounds like a bit of you, check out our Croatia deals.  

Looking for more articles? You’ll find them on the Inspire homepage.  

Author: Samuel Bromley (he/him)
Last updated: 22/08/2025