Split Central Dalmatia
5
Day Itinerary •
Croatia
Five days in Split and Central Dalmatia reveal the full extraordinary sweep of Croatia's finest region, from the remarkable living Roman palace of Split and the extraordinary UNESCO medieval island of Trogir to the famous Zlatni Rat beach on Brac, the lavender island of Hvar, the remarkable Renaissance cathedral of Sibenik and the extraordinary Krka waterfalls. This route covers the complete Central Dalmatia experience. Split's Diocletian's Palace and Meštrovi n Gallery, the extraordinary Trogir UNESCO old town and Brac's Zlatni Rat, the remarkable Hvar island with its lavender fields and Pakleni Islands, the fine Sibenik and Krka National Park, and the extraordinary Omis canyon and Klis fortress.
Best Time To Visit
May to Jun and Sep to Oct. Best combination of weather and manageable crowds.
Getting There
Split Airport (SPU). Many direct European flights. Ferry connections from Italy.
Getting Around
Split walkable. Car for Omis, Klis, Sibenik and Krka. Ferry for islands.
Budget Per Day
Approx EUR 100 to EUR 230 per person per day
Difficulity
Easy to moderate. Some walking on hills.
DAY 1
SPLIT PALACE
MORNING
DIOCLETIAN'S PALACE UNDERGROUND AND CATHEDRAL
Diocletian's Palace is the most extraordinary living Roman monument in the world, the remarkable 4th-century imperial complex whose extraordinary walls, towers and gates house an entire city. The remarkable underground cellars, the extraordinary Peristyle courtyard where Diocletian addressed his court, the fine Cathedral of St Domnius built within the imperial mausoleum and the remarkable Golden Gate give the finest Roman heritage morning in Croatia. Cathedral entry approx EUR 5. Travel: 10 min walk
MIDDAY
SPLIT RIVA AND THE GREEN MARKET
Split's extraordinary Riva promenade and the remarkable Green Market at the eastern gate of Diocletian's Palace give the finest combination of people-watching and local produce in Dalmatia. The extraordinary array of local herbs, lavender from Hvar, figs, olives and local cheeses at the market and the fine palm-shaded Riva with its harbour views give the finest midday in Split. Travel: 30 min walk
AFTERNOON
MARJAN HILL AND MEŠTROVI n GALLERY
Marjan Hill forest park above Split gives the most extraordinary panorama over the city, the harbour, the Dalmatian islands and on clear days the mountains of Italy across the Adriatic. The remarkable Meštrovi n Gallery in the sculptor's extraordinary seaside villa housing his finest monumental works and the extraordinary Crikvine chapel with its remarkable carved interior give the finest afternoon in Split.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Salona Roman ruins 5km from Split are the most extraordinary undiscovered Roman site in Croatia, the former capital of Roman Dalmatia with vast amphitheatre and forum ruins explored by almost no visitors despite being larger than Pompeii's forum area. Entry approx EUR 5. The finest hidden Roman site in Central Dalmatia.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe inside Diocletian's Palace Unique breakfast inside 1,700-year-old Roman walls. | Lunch: Zinfandel's, Split Outstanding Split restaurant. Local seafood and Dalmatian produce. | Dinner: Dvor, Split Outstanding Split fine dining. Local Adriatic fish and Dalmatian wine.
DAY 2
TROGIR
MORNING
TROGIR UNESCO MEDIEVAL ISLAND
Trogir's extraordinary UNESCO old town is the most complete medieval island city in the Adriatic, the remarkable Radovan Portal of the Cathedral of St Lawrence from 1240 being the finest piece of Romanesque sculpture in Croatia and the extraordinary Kamerlengo fortress, the fine Cipiko Palace and the remarkable Benedictine monastery of St Nicholas with its extraordinary 3rd-century relief of Kairos giving the finest UNESCO heritage morning in Central Dalmatia. Travel: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
BRAC ISLAND AND ZLATNI RAT BEACH
Zlatni Rat on Brac is the most extraordinary beach in Croatia, the remarkable shifting golden shingle promontory extending into extraordinary turquoise water beneath pine forests giving the finest single beach scene in Dalmatia. The remarkable clarity of the water, the extraordinary kite and wind surfing off the tip and the fine Bol village of stone buildings behind the beach give the finest island beach afternoon in Central Dalmatia. Travel: 1 hour ferry and drive
AFTERNOON
BOL VILLAGE AND BRAC STONE
Bol on Brac is the most extraordinary small island town in Central Dalmatia, the remarkable stone buildings, the fine Dominican monastery on the headland and the extraordinary local Brac stone that built Diocletian's Palace and the White House in Washington giving the finest village afternoon near Zlatni Rat. The remarkable sunset from Bol's waterfront looking back towards the mainland mountains is outstanding.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Benedictine monastery of St Nicholas in Trogir contains the most extraordinary ancient Greek relief in Croatia, the remarkable 3rd-century BC relief of the god Kairos hidden in a tiny convent museum visited by almost no tourists despite being one of the finest Greek antiquities in the Adriatic. Entry approx EUR 3.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe in Trogir Morning coffee inside the UNESCO medieval walls. | Lunch: Restaurant in Bol, Brac Outstanding island lunch. Local fish and Brac lamb with sea views. | Dinner: Restaurant in Split on return Outstanding Dalmatian seafood dinner.
DAY 3
HVAR DAY TRIP
MORNING
HVAR ISLAND DAY TRIP
catamaran
MIDDAY
HVAR TOWN SQUARE AND THE FORTRESS
Hvar Town's extraordinary main square dominated by the Cathedral of St Stephen and the fine Venetian loggia gives the finest piazza in Dalmatia. The remarkable Fortica fortress above the town with its extraordinary panorama over the Pakleni Islands and the lavender-covered Hvar hinterland and the fine old town lanes with their extraordinary Renaissance palaces give the finest single island morning in Central Dalmatia. Travel: 1 hour catamaran back
AFTERNOON
PAKLENI ISLANDS BOAT TRIP
The Pakleni Islands off Hvar town are the most extraordinary small island group in Central Dalmatia, the remarkable boat trip through the pine-forested islands to the extraordinary crystal-clear swimming coves of Marinkovac and the fine Palmizana bay with its remarkable restaurant and botanical garden giving the finest island hopping afternoon near Hvar. Boat rental approx EUR 15 per person.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Stari Grad Plain on Hvar is the most extraordinary ancient agricultural landscape in the Mediterranean, a UNESCO World Heritage Site preserving the remarkable Greek field system from 384 BC entirely intact with extraordinary dry-stone walls dividing the lavender and olive plots. Entirely free to walk. The finest hidden UNESCO landscape on any Croatian island.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe in Split before catamaran Early departure for the Hvar catamaran. | Lunch: Restaurant in Hvar town Outstanding Hvar island lunch. Local lobster and Hvar wine. | Dinner: Restaurant in Hvar or Split Outstanding Dalmatian seafood dinner.
DAY 4
SIBENIK
MORNING
SIBENIK CATHEDRAL OF ST JAMES UNESCO
The Cathedral of St James in Sibenik is the most extraordinary Renaissance cathedral in Croatia and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the remarkable 15th to 16th-century building remarkable for being built entirely of stone without mortar or wood and the extraordinary frieze of 74 stone portraits of contemporary Sibenik citizens around the apse giving the finest single Renaissance monument in Dalmatia. The remarkable old town and the fine St Michael's Fortress are outstanding. Cathedral entry approx EUR 5. Travel: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
SIBENIK OLD TOWN AND THE FORTRESSES
Sibenik's extraordinary old town climbing the steep hillside above the Krka estuary is the most remarkable medieval city in Central Dalmatia outside Split and Trogir, the remarkable St Anne's Fortress at the summit giving the finest panorama over the Sibenik channel and the Dalmatian islands, and the extraordinary Barone Fortress being a remarkable example of 17th-century Venetian military engineering. Fortress entry approx EUR 7. Travel: 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
KRKA NATIONAL PARK SKRADINSKI BUK
The Krka National Park's extraordinary Skradinski Buk waterfall cascade of 17 connected travertine falls and pools gives the finest waterfall landscape in Croatia. The remarkable boardwalk through and beside the falls, the extraordinary old mills and the fine swimming area below the falls give the finest national park afternoon in Dalmatia. The remarkable drive through the Krka canyon to the park entrance is outstanding. Park entry approx EUR 30 in summer.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Visovac island monastery within Krka National Park is the most extraordinary island monastery in Dalmatia, a remarkable 15th-century Franciscan friary on a tiny lake island with an extraordinary library. Boat trip from Skradinski Buk included in park entry. The finest hidden experience at Krka.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe in Sibenik Before the cathedral visit. | Lunch: Konoba in Sibenik old town Outstanding Sibenik food. Local seafood and Dalmatian wine. | Dinner: Restaurant in Split or Sibenik Outstanding fresh Dalmatian seafood dinner.
DAY 5
KRKA FALLS
MORNING
OMIS PIRATE TOWN AND CETINA CANYON
Omis at the mouth of the Cetina canyon is the most extraordinary pirate fortress town in Croatia, the remarkable medieval stronghold from which Omis pirates terrorised Adriatic shipping for centuries and the extraordinary Cetina River gorge beginning directly behind the town giving the finest combination of medieval history and dramatic landscape in Central Dalmatia. The remarkable Mirabella fortress climb gives the finest view over the canyon mouth. Travel: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
CETINA CANYON ADVENTURE AND RIVER WALK
The Cetina River canyon offers the most extraordinary natural landscape accessible from Split, the remarkable crystal-clear river flowing through extraordinary limestone gorges and the fine walking path along the river bank giving the finest canyon walk in Dalmatia. The remarkable river trout konobas and the extraordinary natural pools give the finest lunch setting in Central Dalmatia. Travel: 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
KLIS FORTRESS AND SPLIT PANORAMA
Klis Fortress above Split is the most extraordinary medieval fortress in Dalmatia, the remarkable strategic stronghold that resisted Ottoman siege for 25 years perched on a sheer rock above the Klis pass and giving the most extraordinary panorama over Split, the harbour, the Dalmatian islands and the Adriatic beyond. The remarkable Game of Thrones filming location and the fine fortress interior are outstanding. Entry approx EUR 8.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Radmanove Mlinice mill restaurant in the Cetina canyon is the most extraordinary restaurant setting in Central Dalmatia, a remarkable working watermill converted to a konoba on the crystal Cetina river with extraordinary trout and freshwater crayfish from the river. Approx EUR 20 per person. The finest hidden lunch spot near Omis.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe in Split Before the Omis drive. | Lunch: Konoba Kaštil Slanica, Omis Outstanding Cetina river trout and local Dalmatian lamb. | Dinner: Farewell dinner in Split Outstanding final Dalmatian dinner. Local fish, oysters and Posip wine.
Where To Stay
Split, Nights 1 to 5 Hotel Vestibul Palace or Cornaro Hotel. Old town. Approx EUR 100 to EUR 300. Hvar, Night 3 optional Hvar Town Hotel Adriana or Riva. Stay overnight for evening atmosphere. Sibenik, Night 4 optional Hotel Jure or D-Resort. Central. Approx EUR 80 to EUR 200.
Top Tips
1. Diocletian's Palace is most atmospheric at 8am before tour groups. The underground cellars are essential.
2. Book Krka National Park tickets online at np-krka.hr well in advance. Entry fills in July and August.
3. The Hvar catamaran from Split takes 1 hour. Book at Jadrolinija. Daily departures from Split harbour.
4. Trogir Radovan Portal is finest in morning light. The Benedictine convent Kairos relief is unmissable.
5. Klis Fortress is most extraordinary at sunset when Split and the islands are visible 100km in each direction.
6. The Omis canyon Cetina river trout konobas are best at lunch. Book Radmanove Mlinice in advance.
Total Budget
Approx EUR 100 to EUR 230 per person per day