Evolving Itinerary Review: 8 Nights Around Split
 

Traveling as three adults and four kids (ages 9-12) in early-April. Having done international trips with this crew for the past three years, we've learned we prefer one home base from which to do daytrips (will have a vehicle) and we do best with an activity from morning into the late afternoon, lunches out, then back to the house by evening for dinner and down time (and wine for three weary moms!). That said, we've rented a home for eight nights on Čiovo Island which is walkable to Trogir.

These kids are super active, and love being outside (hiking, snorkeling, biking, farm visits) and hands on experiences. They're less interested in just strolling towns/cities although we can hold their attention with shorter guided tours, outdoor markets, some museums, etc. Sounds like the water will be a bit too chilly (for us) but we love exploring beaches no matter the temperature.

Trying to be flexible for weather but also know from experience if we don't have a loose plan for each day, we won't leave the house before noon! Would love feedback on our evolving itinerary and any not-to-be-missed gems within an hour or so from the Split area (we're saving Dubrovnik for a future trip). Good food and wine experiences for us moms also welcome!

Day 1: Travel from U.S.

Day 2: Arrive SPU, settle into house.

Day 3: Trogir, maybe drive up to Klis Fortress.

Day 4: Šolta--not sure what this day looks like once we're off the catamaran/ferry in Rogač. Tried to find bikes but none are sized for our smaller kiddos. Bus to Maslinica? Chose this island due to the frequent ferry service in April and we'll visit Hvar later in the week. I'm not fully committed to an island day and open to an entirely different plan.

Day 5: Split--private walking tour around the Palace, Pazar/market, maybe Diocletian’s Dream VR experience, maybe Marjan Hill, maybe St. Domnius bell tower.

Day 6: Full day private boat/island hopping--Biševo (Blue Cave), Vis (Komiža), Hvar (Hvar Town).

Day 7: Omiš--boat ride up the Cetina River with stop at Radmanove Mlinice, old town, Mirabela Fortress. Not fully committed to Omiš but it keeps hitting my research radar.

Day 8: Krka NP via Lozovac--focus is Skradinski Buk, not sure we'll do Roski Slap, should we do the boat ride to Visovac Island? Stop in Primošten or Šibenik on the drive home or do one/both of those towns instead of Šolta or Omiš?

Day 9: Ston/Mali Ston--walls, boat ride to oyster farm, maybe salt pans.

Day 10: Travel back to U.S.

Omis and Ston are too far to visit as day trips from your base. Even Hvar is a stretch, and definitely not three islands on the same day.

Agreed that Ston is too far but Omiš is not, it is an hour away from Ciovo. It is beautiful there but maybe not really worth going to if the other days fill up. Weather can be volatile. so maybe your boat tour will have to be switched - best to be flexible. I would think another day in Split exploring a bit more, perhaps just some time to chillax at the beach or on the Riva. And please do not miss the outdoor market in Split...

Up by Klis Fortress is Stella Croatica, where they produce sweets, infused oils etc and they do tours and tastings of their facility. It is a nice place to visit if you are at Klis anyway but they may not be open for the season yet; if you are interested you can write them and ask. https://www.stella-croatica.hr/en/

Sibenik, (an hours drive) and Skradin/Krka Waterfalls would make an ideal day trip. Sibenik is a gem, with some decent sites, a beautiful ocean promenade and loads of shops, cafes, restaurants. Skradin is a beautiful riverside town with easy ferry access to the falls, which are spectacular. Another quick drive (20 min) is Kastel Stari which is en route to Split. It’s a small, beautiful village, which is walkable to other similar villages known as the “Seven Kastela. It runs along some nice beaches and features some interesting back alleys and paths with some great restaurants, bakeries, and outdoor produce markets. Good luck trying to find one tourist!..Authentic 🇭🇷

mike1728 , thanks for your feedback! The Seven Kastela previously hit my radar as a potential option for a bike ride--thanks for mentioning, I'll take another look at how we can best spend some time in the villages. Re: Krka--if we add stops in Sibenik and Skradin, seems we don't need too much time in Krka? And you'd recommend entering the park via Skradin vs. Lozovac?

rialtogrl , great intel on Stella Croatica--thank you, will look into a visit!

I don't understand this question. Sibenik is a city (underrated, IMO); Skradin is a small town, Krika a National Park. I enjoyed a day in Sibenik, an hour in Skradin, and about two hours in the park. I would have liked more time in the park to explore the upper lakes, but I didn't have time.

Agree with kja, although doable in a long day, seeing Sibenik, Skradin, and the falls in one day might be a bit too much. We were based in Sibenik so it was an an easy full day in Skradin and the Krka Falls. I would allow at least 2 hours for Skradin (with lunch) and then 2-3 hours in Krka park. (Add almost an hour for ferry from Skradin…30 min each way). We parked in Skradin, plenty of free parking and took the ferry from there. Also a decent medieval fortress (remnants) that is a nice climb to explore in Skradin, a beautiful marina and small beach. We walked the Seven Kastela villages, but did see a lot of folks exploring by bike. Sibenik is as kja states, underrated and deserves a full day. But if you got an early start in Skradin/Krka, you could do late afternoon in Sibenik.

OR a very pleasant, nearly flat, also about 1/2 hour IIRC.