2-Day Family Holiday in Split, Croatia
Croatia is a small country in the eastern part of Europe. It lies on the eastern shores of the Adriatic Sea. On the western shore is Italy. A large part of west Croatia lies along the sea. Apart from the lovely pebbled beaches and emerald green waters, the country is blessed with lovely rivers, waterfalls and many lovely historical sites which tourists can enjoy.
During one of the Easter vacations, we took a 9-day holiday in Croatia, Europe, in which we covered the Dalmatia region and visited the following places:
1. Dubrovnik
2. Ston
3. Mljet
4. Split
5. KRKA National Park
6. Zadar
In this article, I share our experience during the third leg of our holiday, two days in Split. This includes information about travel, accommodation, the places we visited, restaurant reviews, and some tips based on my experience. I hope my readers find this article helpful when planning their holiday in Split.
Look at the map below to better understand the locations and the plan. The areas marked in grey, blue, purple, and orange comprise the Dalmatian region, which includes all the places mentioned in the list above.
First, let’s look at the itinerary we followed in Croatia:
9 Days Holiday Itinerary in Croatia:
Day 1: Morning-Fly from Frankfurt to Dubrovnik; Explore Dubrovnik (Stay at Dubrovnik)
Day 2: Explore Dubrovnik (Stay at Dubrovnik)
Day 3: Drive to Mali Ston and Ston; Explore Ston Walls; Use ferry and car to reach Mljet island. (Stay at Mljet)
Day 4: Explore Mljet (Stay at Mljet)
Day 5: Use a ferry and car to reach Split (Stay at Split)
Day 6: Explore Split (Stay at Split)
Day 7: Drive to KRKA National Park; Spend a day; Drive to Zadar (Stay at Zadar)
Day 8: Explore Zadar (Stay at Zadar)
Day 9: Explore Zadar; Evening flight to Frankfurt
Looking at the map above, you will understand that Dubrovnik, where we landed, lies in the southern part of Croatia. We picked up a rental car from Dubrovnik Airport. We broke our journey into parts, drove towards the north for over eight days, and reached Zadar, which lies north of Dubrovnik. We returned the rental car at Zadar Airport and took a flight back home (to Frankfurt, Germany).
If I write about the entire holiday in one article, it will become too long, so I shall have split the itinerary into four parts:
- Leg 1: It includes arrival at Dubrovnik, Exploring Dubrovnik and leaving for Ston
- Leg 2: Exploring Ston, Mali Ston and Mljet Island
- Leg 3: Exploring Split
- Leg 4: KRKA National Park and Zadar
This article is about the third leg of our holiday.
Day 5: Drive to Split; Explore Split
This morning, we drove down to Sobra Port in Mljet. From there, we took a ferry and reached Prapratno Port in about 45 minutes. From there, we started our drive to our next destination: Split.
Sobra Port-Mljet
Sobra Port is one of the ports on Mljet Island, from where you can take a ferry ride to Prapratno Port if you want to exit Mljet Island. The port is big. It also houses a cafe where you can wait if you arrive early. Tickets for the ferry can be bought at: https://www.croatiaferries.com/sobra-ferry-port.htm.
After we alighted at Prapratno Port, we started our drive towards Split.
About Split:
Split is the second largest city in Croatia. It is located 180 km north of Prapratno port along the Adriatic Sea. It is a bustling city, a transport hub and a popular tourist destination. It was founded as a Greek colony, and later around the 4th century AD, it became the site of the Palace of the Roman emperor Diocletian. This palace still stands today and is one of Split’s most important places to visit. Like Dubrovnik, this city was also a free state for centuries, after which it came under Venetian rule. As Venice fell to Nepolean, Split became a French territory. Then, after being a part of Austria after the Second World War, it became a part of Yugoslavia. And finally, after the Croatian War of Independence, It became a part of the Republic of Croatia.
Split feels like a big city, and the hustle and bustle make the experience starkly different from Croatia’s quiet countryside locations and scenic islands.
Arrival at Split:
As mentioned in my previous articles, we booked a rental car through SIXT for the entire holiday in Croatia. We drove from south to north visiting various towns and cities on the way.
Split was the fourth place we visited after Dubrovnik, Ston, and Mljet. After alighting at the ferry at Prapratno port, we drove towards Split. It took about 2 hours to arrive at Split. The roads are great, but the traffic slowed after we entered Split.
Split also has an airport called Zračna Luka Split. You can check your flight options here.
Accommodation in Split
We stayed close to the city centre, just 7 minutes from the Riva Promenade.
Please note that Split is a crowded city, and finding a parking place for your car in the city centre is difficult. Even if you do, you must spend more because parking in the city centre is expensive.
So, we booked an apartment very close to the city centre. There was free parking right outside the apartment complex. After parking there, we didn’t use the car for the rest of our stay at Split. Because we stayed in the city centre, everything was within walking distance. The next day, we visited a couple of places on foot.
So, if you plan to reach Split by car, stay close to the city centre, preferably in an area that offers parking space. You can check out apartments in the city centre of Split here.
Exploring Split:
By the time we reached Split, it was lunchtime, and we all were quite hungry. We parked in the city centre and ate at an Indian restaurant named Rooh. My review of the restaurant is posted here.
Then, we checked into our apartment. After resting and relaxing for a while, we stepped out to explore the city. The first thing we did was the Walking Tour of Split.
Split-Walking Tour
Our tour started at a park near the Golden Gate of Diocletian Palace. It lasted about 1.5 hours, during which our guide showed us the palace and explained the history of Split and its important landmarks.
Our tour guide also recommended food and drinks to try in Split, as well as restaurants and other places to visit. I highly recommend this tour as it gives a good understanding of the town and its stories. It helps to get acquainted with the surroundings and appreciate them better. Moreover, if you plan a longer stay, the tour helps you get tips from a local guide on foods to try, hidden gems to explore etc.
The tour can be booked here.
After the tour, we explored the town on our own and headed back to our apartment.
Day 6: Hike to Marjan Hill; Explore Diocletian’s Palace and Riva Promenade
Our day started with a walk to the base of Marjan Hill and then a hike up to the 2nd viewing platform.
Hike to Marjan Hill
Marjan is a 178-m tall hill in Split, Croatia. It offers a view of the entire city, the surrounding islands, and the nearby mountains. It is covered in a dense pine forest and surrounded by the city and the sea, making it a unique sight. Originally used as a park by the citizens, it is a favourite weekend excursion destination and a recreational centre for the city.
Since we stayed very close to the city centre, the Trumbićeva Obala Waterfront was a few minutes’ walk for us. From there, we took a flight of steps to reach Solurat Street, from where we climbed another series of steps to reach the first lookout point called Prva Vidilica.
You can get excellent views of the city and harbour from here. Also, there is a restaurant, a couple of benches to relax, and a Jewish cemetery.
A few steps further, you can also visit St. Nikolas Church.
Behind St. Nikolas Church, a path with steps leads up the hill. The climb is a bit steep. If you take this path, you will reach the area with the Meteorological office, a play area for kids, an open amphitheatre, a science museum, etc. This is an excellent point for taking a short break, filling up your water bottle, etc.
Here too, there are a couple of points from where you can get lovely city views.
Continue uphill to reach the second lookout point called VH Telegrin. The views from this point are even better.
After relaxing, clicking pictures etc., we started our downhill hike.
Visiting Marjan Hill was a lovely experience. We spent about 4 hours on this hill, and after all the walking, we were pretty tired too.
The owner of the house where we stayed suggested this book, which we used as a guide at Marjan Hill. When you are in Split, try getting this book. It can be your guide to Marjan Hill.
Alternatively, you can book a Secret Marjan Park Hiking Tour in Split. In this 3-hour tour, you can spend a relaxing day walking and hiking in Marjan Park Forest and discover the history and culture behind the medieval churches and hermit settlements hidden in the rocks with the help of a tour guide.
If you want to make it even more active, you can go for the Old Town and Marjan Park Bike Tour. This tour involves biking through Split’s ancient streets, landmarks, and Marjan Park, experiencing the local vibe, and taking in breathtaking views of the palace and Riva Promenade!
After spending about 4 hours in Marjan, we were quite tired and needed to refuel 🙂 We stopped by for lunch at a restaurant one of our Croatian friends recommended. The name of the restaurant was Lučica. My review of the restaurant is posted here.
Now, it was time to head home for some rest.
Explore Diocletians Palace and Riva Promenade
In the evening, we stepped out again. We checked out Diocletian’s palace on our own. Because of the walking tour that we had taken the previous day, we understood what we saw better.
We bought souvenirs, explored the palace’s nooks and corners, enjoyed the sunset at Riva Promenade, and called it a day.
Day 7: Drive to KRKA National Park; Visit KRKA National Park; Drive to Zadar
After breakfast at home, we started our drive to KRKA National Park, about 84 km northwest of Split. It took us about 1 hour to get there.
I will soon post about the fourth leg of our holiday in Croatia. So, watch this space for more.
Other Experiences in Split:
If you have more days in Split, you can include the following in your itinerary:
- Explore the nearby islands of Hvar, Brač, and Pakleni: From Split, you can take this 9-hour tour and discover secluded locations along the Adriatic Coast, which includes these three islands. This trip includes the catamaran ride with lunch and drinks on board.
- Explore Blue Lagoon, Shipwreck, & Šolta: This is yet another popular tour in Split. This 8.5-hour tour includes swimming and snorkelling around the shipwreck on Šolta island, food and drinks.
- A Day trip to Plitvice Lakes: This is a 12-hour tour of the Plitvice Lakes. You depart from Split on a guided day trip to the Plitvice Lakes National Park, a site with UNESCO World Heritage status. Explore all 16 lakes and wander around the lush forests and waterfalls.
You can check out many more pictures from Split in my photo gallery.
To read about other holiday destinations that we have visited as a family, click here.
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