Plitvice Lakes and Split: 3-Day Itinerary

Spend day one at Plitvice Lakes.

I recommend sleeping near the National Park the night before and the night after. This allows you the whole day to explore the park without the rush of getting somewhere next.

Plitvice tips

• Always visit the official park website before visiting and arrive as early in the day as possible. (Entry times vary depending on the season of the year).

• Buy tickets in advance and spend a couple of minutes looking at what entrance will be best for you.

Once you’re in Plitvice Lakes National Park, there is so much to explore and see. You will want the whole day to be there!

Enjoy dinner back at your accommodation before crashing into bed.

After having breakfast at your accommodation in Plitvice Lakes, drive your rental car to Split (approximately 2.5 hours). Take your time—the scenery along the drive is breathtaking and you might want to stop at one of the several rest stops along the way (to enjoy an espresso or a snack).

Afternoon in Split

Once in Split, drop off your rental car and grab some lunch along the boardwalk. At this point, there are so many options to choose from. Take the time to explore and enjoy an outdoor meal near the Adriatic.

Join a walking tour of Diocletian’s Palace in the late afternoon. This will be a great way to set the stage for your time in Split. Walking tours can teach you a lot about a place, and they will leave you with ideas for what you want to spend more time exploring.

After your walking tour, wander around the palace and/or the pedestrian-only zone (just west of the boardwalk). Here you will find numerous quaint restaurants and places to enjoy a pre-dinner drink.

Evening

Grab dinner at Ciri Biri Bela—reservations recommended.

After some breakfast at your accommodation and a slow morning, join an e-bike tour of Split. Whether you are an outdoor enthusiast or not, an e-bike tour is a great way to see the whole of the city. Split is a large city with appealing destinations too far to get to by foot.

• Tip: One of these places is Marjan Forest Park.

An e-bike tour will leave you with a really good appreciation for Split. I can recommend the perfect tour for you!

Local lunch & free time

After your bike ride, enjoy some well-deserved Cevapi (pronounced “chuh-vah-pee”) at Kantun Paulina. Cevapi is a traditional Balkan food: roasted meat and veggies in a freshly baked pita. It may sound simple, but it’s delicious and a staple food in Croatia.

Take the afternoon to explore at leisure, enjoy your hotel amenities, find a local beach, or relax at a cafe along the water. Free time to explore and make these choices is an important part of an itinerary!

Evening

Finish your last day in Split by enjoying dinner at the highly-rated, quaint restaurant, Cicibela Food and Wine Bar.

• Tip: As with most restaurants in Croatia during the busy season, reservations are recommended.