Three Full Days in Split

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Split…yes, it’s a verb, and also a noun…but did you know it’s also a city in Croatia??

If you’re looking for the perfect vacation spot that has a mix of historic architecture and crystal clear waters, then Split would be the destination for you. Since Split is located near popular Croatian islands, it is a prime location for fun in the sun.

Perfectly situated along the Adriatic Sea, Split consists of the traditional ‘old town’ that most European cities seem to have. While it reminded me somewhat of Dubrovnik, it didn’t seem as crowded and the heat didn’t seem as intense.

Where We Stayed In Split

As I researched where to stay in Split, I came across a penthouse on AirBnb that would be perfect for our party of six. The view of the ocean was superb on the outdoor terrace, and the three bedrooms provided just enough space. You can find our AirBnb here.

Note: Use this link to book your next AirBnb travel!

The location of the penthouse was outside of the main old town and ports, but with Uber and readily available taxi cabs, we managed to get around just fine. A small grocery store and some restaurants down the hill meant that we could even cook our own dinner one night and have enough space in the pantry for snacks.

 

Although our rooftop terrace had lounge chairs to tan, a beach was just down the hill. Additionally, a fifteen minute walk down the road brings you to Radisson Blu’s beach and pool, which could be used also for a fee. It’s a nice alternative if you’re looking to have some down time to relax.

What We Did In Split

On our first full day in Split, we ventured to Old Town to do some exploring. We were dropped off at the Riva Harbor (the main promenade along the sea) and encountered numerous shops and stands. My first impression upon entering Old Town was one of awe. I had no idea how beautiful the buildings would be with green shutters on the windows. We spent the day getting lost amongst the alleys, which provided much needed shade. After eating lunch at a restaurant called “No Stress,” we ate some ice cream while people watching at the Diocletian palace.

For our second day, while my cousin and her family visited the Radisson Blu beach and pool, my sister and I ventured out for a pre-booked excursion on a catamaran that would take us to Bol island. We were the first to arrive on the boat, so we were able to obtain a prime seat near the front. The majority of the people on the tour were our age or younger (mostly younger) and the fun began right off the bat with orange juice and vodka.

The boat leisurely made its way to Bol for an hour long journey. From there, we all loaded a bus that would take us to the top of the island for spectacular views of the famous Zlatni Rat beach. After, we were dropped off at the same beach for over two hours of free time. My sister and I ended up renting some lounge chairs since the beach is pretty rocky. I recommend wearing water shoes if you want to venture out into the ocean. I desperately wanted to linger in the water, but it was too uncomfortable for my feet.

The catamaran met us by the beach and we proceeded to dock at two more lagoons to go swimming and enjoy unlimited drinks. Combined with the music reminiscent of summer time parties, it was the perfect way to relax. Finally, after hours in the sun, we arrived back in Split at about 7:00 pm. This was probably one of the most fun days I had in Croatia and I’m so glad we did it! Go here if you want to book the same tour that we did.

On our third day, we joined our cousin and her family on a motor boat for a full day journey to the blue caves near Vis island. We all were able to take morning naps on the boat, since it took two hours to get to the caves, and at our first stop were greeted with many other tourists wanting to go. This part of the tour reminded me of a ride; we all had to disembark our boat, get tickets to wait in a queue, and then board another smaller boat. After ducking our heads to get into the cave, our ‘captain’ of the small boat maneuvered expertly around the other boats in the cave and we enjoyed the beautiful blue caves.

After the blue cave tour, we had several other stops to swim before heading to Hvar island for lunch. Our guide recommended a restaurant at Hvar, but I wish we had gone directly to the beach area so that we had more down time. Instead, we only got about an hour at the beach before we needed to be back on the boat. In all, it was a wonderful day spent on the beautiful Adriatic and it was the perfect way to end our stay in Split.