A fourth-century emperor's retirement palace with a living town built inside it — shops, flats and bars in the Roman walls. Also the ferry hub for the Dalmatian islands, which is the real reason to base here.
Split is a working city; Dubrovnik is a walled museum that empties when the ships leave.
Dubrovnik is spectacular and small — two nights and you've seen it. Split has a Roman palace at its centre, a market, a beach, hundreds of restaurants that locals actually use, and ferries to Hvar, Brač and Vis leaving all day. It's also considerably cheaper. If you want a week in Dalmatia rather than a photograph, base in Split and island-hop from it.
A palace, a hill, and a ferry terminal.
Not a ruin — a living quarter of the city, with bars in the cellars and flats above. Free to walk into; the cathedral and cellars are ticketed.
A forested peninsula at the end of the old town, with paths, viewpoints and small swimming coves. Free, and the best hour in Split.
The city's sandy beach — genuinely sand, which is rare in Croatia. Shallow, and where locals play picigin in the water.
Hvar in an hour, Brač in fifty minutes, Vis in two. Catamarans all day, and the reason to base here.
An hour north. Waterfalls in a national park, less crowded than Plitvice and reachable as a half-day.
Thirty minutes west, near the airport. A tiny UNESCO island town, and a good first or last stop.
Inside the palace, along the water, or out at the beaches.
Inside or beside the Roman walls. Atmospheric, walkable, and noisy at night in summer.
East of the centre. The city's sandy beaches, a ten-minute walk in, and calmer at night.
Under the forested hill. Residential, with coves for swimming and a walk into town.
Thirty minutes west. A walled island town, quieter and often better value.
May, June and September are the best. July and August are hot and full.
Peak summer reaches 32°C and the old town fills, with ferries and accommodation both stretched. May, June and September give warm sea, comfortable walking and much lower prices — September has the warmest water of the year. Winter is quiet and mild, with many island ferries reduced and coastal restaurants closed.
2h 30m to Split (SPU), seasonal from most UK airports and year-round from London.
About 30 minutes from the airport, past Trogir. Buses and taxis both straightforward.
Euro — Croatia adopted it in 2023.
Jadrolinija and Krilo run to the islands from the town harbour. Book ahead in July and August.
We'll base you in Split with island days, or split the week with Hvar, and write the payment plan out in full.
Dubrovnik for two nights and the walls. Split for a week — it's a real city with ferries to the islands and half the prices.
Three for the city, a week if you're using it as an island base. That's how we'd book it.
Bačvice is sandy and shallow, which is unusual for Croatia. The rest are pebble, and Marjan has small rocky coves.
Yes — about three hours by road or a catamaran up the coast. Two nights in Dubrovnik and five in Split is the shape we'd suggest.
Flights, accommodation and transfers as one package. Every one can be reshaped — different dates, different board, a different airport, or a stopover on the way.
Guide prices, per person, based on two sharing, including return flights, accommodation and transfers. They indicate what a holiday of this type has typically cost and are not an offer or a quotation. Your price depends on dates, party, board basis, departure airport and availability, and is confirmed in writing before any payment is taken.
Ready-built itineraries with flights, transfers and internal hops booked as one package, ATOL protected. Every one can be reshaped around your dates.
10 nights · May–Jun, Sep–Oct · from £1,449pp
11 nights · May–Jun, Sep · from £1,149pp
10 nights · Mar–May, Sep–Nov · from £849pp
11 nights · Apr, Oct · from £2,699pp
12 nights · Jun–Oct, Jan–Feb · from £3,399pp
12 nights · Jul–Oct · from £3,099pp
11 nights · Jun–Oct, Dec–Feb · from £1,799pp
11 nights · Nov–Apr · from £2,199pp
