If you are travelling to Split this summer and you want to explore the area, as well as go on day trips in the surroundings, yet you are still not sure about where to go, take a look at our suggestions for the best day tours from Split!
1) Trogir
Just a 30-minute drive from Split, Trogir is a hidden gem located on the UNESCO World Heritage list. This small, yet romantic coastal town that also includes Ciovo island which is connected by bridge will surprise you with its history and heritage. Trogir can easily be reached from Split, read further to see some options:
Take a direct bus line that departs every 30 minutes from the main bus station in the harbor or the local bus number 37, that makes several stops along the way, in the town of Kastela and at the airport. The local bus is a bit cheaper option, but not significantly; it departs every 30 minutes from the second largest bus station in Split, and it takes approximately one hour to reach Trogir.
By car: You can drive to Trogir along the coastal road from Split and the ride might take 25 to 40 minutes, depending on the traffic (during summer months, you might expect traffic jams on the highway so it’s sometimes better to go along the old road through the Kastela towns).
However, there is another interesting option to reach Trogir from Split, and it is by a boat which departs from the Split harbor and will take you to the center of Trogir in just 1 hour (and for the same price as the bus), plus you will be able to experience a small sailing trip!
2) National Park Krka
This is a day trip that is definitely worth taking from Split! Take a boat tour around the NP and enjoy nature at its finest with the added bonus of even being able to swim in specific places inside the park (Skradinski buk and Roški slap waterfalls!).
Getting from Split to Krka NP:
The best and cheapest option is to take the bus from the main bus station in the Split harbor. It takes about one and a half hours to get to the National Park.
If you would like to go there with a guide, you can always find organized excursions to Krka, and they sometimes even include a visit to Šibenik.
By car: Drive along the highway (following the signs for Šibenik) until you see the exit sign for Šibenik and then take the road following the signs for the Krka park, until you reach the main entrance Lozovac. There you will find the parking lot and the NP reception desk.
3) Plitvice Lakes National Park
Plitvice Lakes National Park is the most famous among all the national parks in Croatia and it’s the one on the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Sites list since ‘79. The park is connected with 16 lakes (divided into Upper and Lower lakes), two waterfalls and some endemic species. It is not allowed to swim in the lakes, but you can still enjoy the amazing nature, hikes and boat rides around the park.
Getting to Plitvice Lakes from Split:
The cheapest option to reach Plitvice Lakes is by bus from the main bus station in the Split harbor. It takes about 4–5 hours to get there. Although it may sound like a long trip, it is definitely worth taking the ride to see everything this park has to offer.
By car: Drive along the highway until you reach the exit for Plitvice National Park (you will see a large sign so you can’t miss it).
There are also guided day excursions from Split if you rather prefer organized tours.
4) Hvar
The Hvar town on the Hvar island is an increasingly popular destination for tourists. Beautiful beaches, the crystal-clear blue sea, vibrant nightlife, romantic sunsets, gourmet seafood… the list is endless.
You can reach Hvar by catamaran from the Split harbor, but try to book your tickets in advance since they sell out really quickly. Another option is to take the ferry from the Split harbor to Stari Grad town on the island Hvar, and then take the local bus to the town of Hvar. The ferry ride takes about 2 hours and the bus ride is another half hour.
5) Dubrovnik
Although it is almost unbelievable to be able to go there and back in the same day, a lot of people that don’t plan on staying the night in Dubrovnik decide to explore this famous Croatian city at least for few hours.
Getting from Split to Dubrovnik:
You can use the bus service to reach Dubrovnik, from the main station in Split in just 3:45 hours. It is the cheapest and relatively fastest way to get there.
If you are travelling by car, you can drive along the highway following the signs for Dubrovnik. You will have to pass through the Croatia-Bosnia border which crosses through Neum city, so make sure you have all necessary documents to cross.
Although all of the mentioned places are easily reachable by bus and/or catamaran, you can always rent a car.
From Split, you additionally have day trip options to Blue Cave on the island of Bisevo and Blue Lagoon on the island of Drvenik Veli. These options can usually be found at travel agencies that offer these day trips by speedboats from Split harbor.
You can also go to the island of Solta (by ferry from Split harbor), or if you prefer to visit some interesting inland areas, there is the beautiful river Cetina where you can do whitewater rafting, extreme canyoning, zipline, etc.
