10 great things to do in Split, Croatia

I have twice enjoyed a holiday to Croatia. The first time, the G-Force and I cycled the islands between Dubrovnik and Split. Last year, we were accompanied by Little Miss and her friend M on a multi-destination holiday to Croatia including Split, Hvar and Zadar. Read my blog about holidaying in Croatia with teenagers.

Croatia is a warm and friendly country and easy to reach from the UK. The beautiful and vibrant city of Split has a wealth of historical highlights to see, as well as many outdoor activities and scenic tours. Here I reveal 10 great day trips from Split to visit beautiful attractions and destinations in and near the city.

10 of the best day trips from Split

1 Take a Blue Cave tour from Split to experience the excitement of a speedboat tour and to see six nearby islands.

The island hopping adventure includes the chance to see the wonderful Blue Cave on the island of Vis, swim and snorkel in the clear and warm sea, dine on authentic Croatian cuisine and sightsee in the popular town Hvar. See what TripAdvisor visitors said about this trip.

2 A must-see attraction from your base in Split is the Plitvice Lakes National Park. As well as being home to Croatia’s tallest waterfall, Veliki Slap, the park offers a chance to visit no less than 12 interconnecting lakes and Plitvice canyon. It’s a beautiful place to enjoy a boat tour and various walking trails.

3 If you enjoy swimming and especially snorkelling, a trip to the Blue Lagoon and Trogir offers a very special outing. The crystal clear water of the lagoon, between the island of Drvenik and Krknjasi, boasts many opportunities for spotting marine life. It is well-known a hotspot for dolphins.

4 The Diocletian Palace, in the heart of Split, is an ancient palace built for the Roman Emperor Diocletian. It was constructed at the turn of the fourth century AD and today forms around half of the old town of Split.

The building is huge and resembles a fortress, with a section that was reserved for the Diocletian’s personal use and the rest being utilised by the military at the time.

5 For those with a bit of energy to burn there are plenty of walking and running possibilities in Marjan Forest Park in Split. The hilly nature reserve has trails that wind through pine forests to reach scenic viewpoints, small medieval chapels and caves that were formerly inhabited by Christian hermits.

6 Join a rafting outing from Split for an adventure amid the natural beauty of the Cetina River canyon. The tour is led by qualified instructors and includes a thrilling downstream paddle, as well as a chance to jump from rocks and relax in the lakes of Cetina.

7 Take the time to relax and sit back to enjoy a coffee, a cool beer or an ice cream on the main promenade of Split. It’s a busy pedestrian area, whether in the daytime or evening, which makes it the perfect place for a spot of people watching.

8 The city of Split boasts many beaches. These include beaches closest to the city, such as Bacvice, Ovcice and Firule; beaches on the north side of Marjan, such as Prva Voda, Bene and Institut; and beaches on south side of Marjan, including Zvoncac, Jezinac and Kastelet.

9 Take in a spot of retail therapy with a range of shopping options. There are lots of wonderful shops and stores to discover in the winding streets of the old city or head to one of the newer shopping malls, including the City Center, Mall of Split or Joker.

10 To find out more about the history, culture and archaeology of Split, you should plan to see one of Split’s many museums. Well worth a visit are the City Museum of Split, the Ivan Mestrovic Gallery and the Archaeological Museum of Split. Klis Fortress, located above a village near Split, is a stunning medieval fortress, which has also been used as a film location for Game of Thrones.

With so much to do in Split, you might want to think about booking a two-week holiday, rather than just a week.