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Best Day Trips from Split, Croatia (2026): Krka, Hvar, Blue Cave, Trogir & More

Jan 24, 2026

Split is one of the best-positioned cities in the Mediterranean for day trips. Within a couple of hours — by ferry, car, or organized tour — you can be standing inside a waterfall, sailing to a hidden blue cave, or wandering a UNESCO medieval town. This guide covers the 7 best day trips from Split, with honest advice on how to get there, what it costs, and how to book.

1. Krka National Park

Why go: Krka is the most popular day trip from Split for good reason. The park's cascading waterfalls, turquoise pools, and wooden walkways through lush forest feel almost unreal. The main attraction is the Skradinski Buk waterfall area — a series of 17 interconnected falls that you can walk around on elevated boardwalks.

How to get there:

By organized tour: The easiest option. Tours pick you up in Split, handle parking, and often include a boat ride on the Krka River. Expect around €40–60 per person.
By car: About 1.5 hours from Split via the A1 highway. Park entry is paid separately at the gate (around €30 in peak season).
By bus: Buses run from Split to Šibenik, then a connecting bus or taxi to the park entrance.
Best time: Early morning arrivals beat the crowds significantly. Avoid peak midday in July and August.

How long: A full day (6–8 hours including travel).

👉 Book a guided Krka day trip from Split

2. Hvar Island

Why go: Hvar is Croatia's most glamorous island — lavender fields, a stunning Renaissance main square, crystal-clear bays, and a nightlife scene that draws visitors from across Europe. As a day trip it gives you a taste; many people wish they'd stayed longer.

How to get there:

By ferry: Catamarans run from Split's Riva promenade directly to Hvar Town. Journey is about 1 hour. Buy tickets at the harbor or in advance online.
By organized tour: Many combine Hvar with nearby Pakleni Islands for swimming — a great option if you don't want to navigate ferries yourself.
What to do: Walk up to the fortress above Hvar Town for panoramic views, explore the Old Town, take a water taxi to the Pakleni Islands for swimming, and have lunch at one of the harbor restaurants.

Cost: Ferry tickets are around €10–15 each way. Tours run €50–80 including boat transfers and a swim stop.

Best time: Start early — last catamarans back to Split are in the evening and fill up fast in summer.

👉 Book a Hvar island day trip with Pakleni Islands swim stop

3. Blue Cave & Five Islands Tour

Why go: The Blue Cave on the island of Biševo is one of Croatia's most iconic natural wonders. At midday, sunlight refracts through an underwater opening and fills the cave with an electric, glowing blue light. It's genuinely spectacular and unlike anything else in the Adriatic.

How to get there: You can't visit independently on a normal day trip — access to the cave itself is by small wooden boat only, and it's managed by local operators on Biševo. The practical way to see it is via an organized speedboat tour from Split, which typically combines the Blue Cave with stops at the Green Cave, Stiniva beach on Vis, Hvar, and Pakleni Islands.

Cost: Around €70–100 per person for a full-day speedboat tour. It's worth it.

Important: Entry to the Blue Cave itself costs extra (around €15) and is paid on-site. The cave can be closed in rough weather — check conditions before booking.

How long: Full day (9–10 hours on the water).

👉 Book the Blue Cave & Five Islands speedboat tour

4. Trogir

Why go: Trogir is the easiest and cheapest day trip from Split — just 27km away. It's a tiny island-town connected to the mainland by bridges, with a remarkably preserved medieval old town that's a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Cathedral of St. Lawrence alone is worth the trip.

How to get there:

By bus: Line 37 runs directly from Split bus station to Trogir every 20–30 minutes. Journey is about 40 minutes, costs around €3. This is the best option.
By car: 30 minutes, easy parking available outside the old town.
By organized tour: Usually combined with other stops; not really necessary given how easy it is to reach independently.
What to do: Walk the city walls, visit the Cathedral, get lost in the narrow marble-paved streets, and have a coffee on the Riva waterfront.

Cost: Almost free if you go independently. Cathedral entry is around €5.

Best time: Morning, before the cruise ship crowds arrive. Trogir can get very busy midday in summer.

👉 Search car rental deals for exploring the Split region

5. Brač Island & Zlatni Rat Beach

Why go: Zlatni Rat (Golden Horn) is Croatia's most photographed beach — a distinctive horn-shaped shingle spit that extends into turquoise water and actually shifts shape with the currents. The island of Brač is also home to the famous Pučišća stone quarry, whose limestone was used to build Diocletian's Palace in Split and the White House in Washington D.C.

How to get there:

By ferry: Car ferries and passenger ferries run from Split to Supetar on Brač regularly (about 50 minutes). From Supetar, take a local bus or taxi to Bol and Zlatni Rat (about 30km).
By organized tour: Some tours go directly to Bol by speedboat — faster and more scenic.
Cost: Ferry is around €6–8 each way. Tours start from €40.

Best time: Zlatni Rat faces south and gets a lot of wind (bura and maestral) — it's actually ideal for windsurfing, and the conditions make it refreshing even in peak summer heat.

👉 Book a Brač & Zlatni Rat day trip from Split

6. Makarska Riviera

Why go: The Makarska Riviera is a 60km stretch of coastline backed by the dramatic Biokovo mountain range. It has some of the most beautiful beaches in Dalmatia — long, pebbly, clear-water bays with the grey limestone cliffs of Biokovo rising behind them. The town of Makarska itself is lively and charming, and from there you can take a cable car up into Biokovo Nature Park for extraordinary views.

How to get there:

By car: About 1 hour from Split along the coastal road. Having a car lets you stop at multiple beaches along the riviera — highly recommended.
By bus: Buses run regularly from Split to Makarska (around 1.5 hours, €8–10).
What to do: Swim at Punta Rata or Brela beach (often rated among Europe's best), walk the Makarska promenade, and take the Biokovo Skywalk if you're feeling adventurous.

Cost: Very affordable. Biokovo Nature Park entry around €10; Skywalk €5 extra.

👉 Find the best car rental deals for a Makarska road trip

7. Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina

Why go: Mostar is the most unique day trip on this list — a different country, a completely different culture, and one of the most beautiful old towns in the Balkans. The rebuilt 16th-century Stari Most (Old Bridge) arching over the turquoise Neretva river is stunning. The bazaar streets, mosques, and Ottoman architecture make it feel a world away from the Dalmatian coast.

How to get there:

By organized tour: Strongly recommended. Tours handle the border crossing (bring your passport), include a guided walk of the Old Town, and take care of logistics. About 3 hours each way by coach.
By car: Possible — about 2.5 hours from Split. You'll need your passport and car insurance valid for Bosnia.
Cost: Tours run €35–60. Budget extra for lunch and the Old Bridge area.

Important: Bring your passport — you're crossing an international border.

How long: A long full day (typically 12–14 hours with travel).

👉 Book a guided Mostar day trip from Split

Practical Tips for Day Trips from Split

Book tours in advance in summer. July and August are extremely busy. The Blue Cave tour in particular sells out days ahead — don't leave it until the morning you want to go.

Start early. Split gets hot and crowded by midday. Most of these destinations are better experienced in the morning. Ferries to Hvar fill up fast on summer afternoons.

Get a rental car for flexibility. If you're spending a week in Split and want to explore the region at your own pace — Trogir, Makarska, and the coastal road toward Dubrovnik are all dramatically better by car than by bus.

Pack water and sunscreen. Particularly for Krka and any boat trips — shade is limited and the Croatian summer sun is intense.

Getting Around — Useful Links
🚗 Compare car rental prices in Croatia
🎟️ Browse all Split day trips & tours
✈️ Find flights to Split (SPU)
📱 Stay connected with a Croatia eSIM

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