Three days is just right for Split. Spend one day exploring the old town and Marjan, another day out on the water visiting the islands, and your last day inland for waterfalls or adventure. This mix of city, sea, and river lets you see the best of Split without feeling rushed. The plan works from May to October and can be tailored for families, couples, or adventure lovers. We’ve been helping guests plan these three days since 1999, and this is the itinerary we’d recommend to a friend, step by step.
Have a morning coffe at Split's Riva
Day 1: Diocletian’s Palace & Marjan - the classic Split day
Morning: visit the Palace. Start by 08:30, when the old town is still quiet. Diocletian’s Palace isn’t just a museum. It’s a living neighborhood built inside a Roman emperor’s retirement home, and you can feel that in the early morning. Walk through the Peristyle, explore the cellars, climb the bell tower of St. Domnius before the lines start, and let yourself wander. The palace has four gates and 220 buildings packed into just 3 hectares, so every wrong turn leads to a discovery.
Midday: enjoy the Riva and have lunch. Having coffee on the Riva is a classic Split tradition, so plan to spend a full hour there. That’s what makes it special. For lunch, avoid the front row of restaurants and head two streets back, where prices are about a third lower.
Afternoon: explore Marjan, by wheels or by water. The pine-covered peninsula west of the center is Split’s playground. You have two great options: rent a bike or e-scooter and ride the car-free coastal loop to the viewpoints. Or try our favorite first-day activity, the 3-hour sea kayaking tour along Marjan’s southern cliffs (€50, beginner-friendly, for ages 8 and up). You’ll swim in a cove, see the old town from the water, and work up an appetite for dinner. Our Marjan guide includes the full loop, beaches, and viewpoints.
Evening: enjoy sunset the best way. On land, go to the Prva Vidilica viewpoint on Marjan with a glass of wine. On the water, take a 2-hour sunset cruise on a wooden boat, which includes dinner, drinks, and live music for €60. If you’re celebrating something special, this is the night to make it memorable.
Day 2: the boat day – island
Day two is the highlight of your Dalmatian trip. Decide how adventurous you want to be and pick your preferred level:
The classic (half day): Blue Lagoon & Trogir, €75. Waist-deep turquoise water over a sandbar at Krknjaši, snorkeling, a surprise third stop, and an hour in UNESCO-listed Trogir. Morning departure leaves your afternoon free. Afternoon departure catches the lagoon after the crowds thin. Ideal with kids or as a gentler sea day.
The epic (full day): Blue Cave & 5 Islands, €140. This ten-hour trip visits five islands: the glowing Blue Cave on Biševo, Stiniva cove on Vis, Budikovac lagoon, the Pakleni Islands, and gives you free time in Hvar Town. It’s our most ambitious itinerary. (Blue Cave entry, €18–24, is paid on the spot.)
The private version: your own speedboat. If you have a group of 6 to 12 people, consider a private boat with a skipper. The cost per person often matches a group tour, but you can choose your route and schedule without following anyone else’s timetable. Not sure which island to pick? Our Hvar vs Brač vs Vis comparison helps you decide based on your travel style.
Evening: take it easy. You’ll come back from the boat feeling salty and happy. Have dinner in Varoš, the old fishermen’s quarter, just a ten-minute walk from the Riva.
Explore the town's streets
Day 3: Head inland for waterfalls or adventure
Option A: Krka National Park, €35. This is the best-value full-day tour on the coast - walk the wooden boardwalks at Skradinski Buk, take a boat ride past Visovac island and its 500-year-old monastery, and enjoy swimming in Skradin town. The tour lasts eight hours and includes skip-the-line tickets. It’s our top pick for first-timers and often the reason guests decide to stay longer.
Option B: the Cetina canyon, three ways. About forty minutes south in Omiš, you can pick your adventure: rafting (€60, with rapids and cliff jumps, always a crowd-pleaser), canyoning (€90, swim and jump through the canyon to a 50-meter waterfall), or the Omiš zip line (€100, eight wires 150 meters above the river, exciting but safe, for kids from age 6).
Option C: self-drive freedom. With a rental car (from €60/day, city or airport pickup), you can make the most of day three. Explore Klis fortress and try local wines, or relax on the Makarska Riviera’s beaches. Our best-beaches shortlist can help you choose.