Split travel guide — where to stay, what to do, and where to eat in Split, Dalmatia, Croatia.
Top day trips
Handpicked excursions within easy reach.
Hvar Island
Hvar Town is the busiest island stop from Split - a harbor lined with stone townhouses, a hilltop fortress, and a reputation as the country's summer nightlife hub. The appeal for a day trip is the combination of a walkable historic core, a swim option a short boat ride away in the Pakleni Islands, and one of the fastest ferry connections of any island on this list. It gets crowded and prices run higher here than on Brač or Vis.
Highlights: Fortica (Spanish Fortress) - the fortress above town, reached by a steep path, gives the clearest view over the harbor and the Pakleni Islands · St. Stephen's Square and Cathedral - one of the largest squares in Dalmatia, with the cathedral's bell tower marking the old town center · Franciscan Monastery - a quieter cloister and small museum at the harbor's edge, away from the main square crowds · Pakleni Islands - a cluster of pine-covered islets a 10-15 minute water taxi from the harbor, the main reason to bring swimwear
Brač Island & Bol
Brač is Split's nearest large island, but the reason people make the longer trip specifically to Bol on the south coast is Zlatni Rat, the shifting spit of pebble beach that is the most photographed beach in Croatia. It's a legitimate full day given the ferry-plus-bus or direct catamaran journey to reach Bol, so this suits travelers who want one solid beach day rather than sightseeing.
Highlights: Zlatni Rat - the horn-shaped pebble beach at Bol whose tip shifts with wind and current · Vidova Gora - the highest peak on any Adriatic island, reachable by a marked trail or road above Bol, with a view down over Zlatni Rat · Blaca Hermitage - a former monastery built into a ravine on Brač's south side, reachable by a hike from the Vidova Gora side · Bol old town - the small harbor and stone lanes behind the beach, with a handful of konobas for lunch
Trogir UNESCO Old Town
Trogir is a small island town connected to the mainland by bridges, with a medieval core dense enough to see properly in half a day, which makes it the easiest and least committal day trip on this list. Its old town is on the UNESCO World Heritage list for its well-preserved Romanesque-Gothic street plan, anchored by the Cathedral of St. Lawrence.
Highlights: Cathedral of St. Lawrence - the town's centerpiece, notable for the carved west portal by master Radovan and the bell tower you can climb for a view over the rooftops and channel · Kamerlengo Fortress - the waterfront fortress at the town's southwest tip, with open battlements to walk · Riva promenade - the waterfront walk along the channel separating the old town from Čiovo island, lined with cafes and moored boats · The old town's narrow stone streets - a compact medieval grid you can walk end to end in under 30 minutes, which is the point of visiting
Krka National Park
Krka is a river canyon park built around a series of travertine waterfalls, the best known being Skradinski buk, reached by boat from the town of Skradin. It's a nature-focused day trip rather than a historic-town one, and the walking is done on wooden boardwalks that loop around and above the falls.
Highlights: Skradinski buk - the park's largest and most accessible waterfall system, seen from a boardwalk loop that takes you right along the cascades · Visovac Island - a small island monastery in the middle of the river, visited on a short boat excursion included with some park tickets · Skradin - the small riverside town where the park boat departs, worth a slow walk if you arrive early · Roški Slap - a quieter, less crowded set of falls further upstream, worth the extra boat leg if you want to get away from the Skradinski buk crowds
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik's walled Old Town is one of the best-preserved medieval city centers on the Adriatic, but from Split it is a genuinely long day trip - roughly nine hours of round-trip bus travel for a city that rewards a much longer stay. It only makes sense as a day trip if you have no other opportunity to see it, and it works better as an overnight.
Highlights: City Walls - the full circuit around the Old Town, with views down into the streets and out to sea, and the single best orientation for the rest of your visit · Stradun - the main limestone-paved street running the length of the Old Town, lined with shops and cafes · Rector's Palace - the former seat of the Ragusan government, now a museum, just off Stradun · Cable car to Srđ - a short ride up the hill behind the city for a view over the entire walled town and the coastline
Salona / Solin Roman Ruins
Salona was the capital of the Roman province of Dalmatia and the largest Roman city on this stretch of coast before Diocletian built his retirement palace at what is now Split. Today it's an open archaeological site just outside Solin, with far fewer visitors than Split's own Roman remains, so it works well as a short, quiet half-day addition rather than a full day on its own.
Highlights: The amphitheater ruins - the partially preserved foundations of Salona's amphitheater, once one of the larger arenas in the Roman provinces · Manastirine necropolis - an early Christian burial ground and basilica ruins linked to local martyrs, one of the site's better-preserved areas · The city walls and gates - stretches of Salona's fortification walls still traceable across the site · Tusculum - a small on-site building housing early excavation finds and information about the archaeologist who led the digs here
Vis Island
Vis is the furthest inhabited island from the mainland in this group and was closed to foreign visitors as a military zone until the 1990s, which is part of why it has stayed less developed than Hvar or Brač. The draw for a day trip is Komiža's fishing-village character and the boat trip out to the Blue Cave on the nearby islet of Biševo, though the long crossing means you need to plan the return sailing carefully.
Highlights: Vis Town - the main harbor town, with a quieter, more residential feel than Hvar's harbor · Komiža - a working fishing village on the island's west side, the departure point for boats to the Blue Cave · Blue Cave (Modra špilja) - a sea cave on Biševo, a short boat trip from Komiža, known for the blue light effect inside on sunny mornings · Stiniva Cove - a narrow pebble beach enclosed by high rock walls on the island's south coast, reachable by boat or a short hike down
Makarska Riviera
Makarska is a beach town backed directly by the Biokovo mountain range, which gives it a different character from the islands - a proper resort promenade with pebble beaches a short walk from the bus stop, and mountain scenery as a backdrop rather than something you have to travel further for. It's the simplest beach day trip on this list because it's on the mainland and needs no ferry.
Highlights: Makarska town beach and promenade - the main pebble beach curving around the harbor, backed by cafes and restaurants · St. Mark's Church and the main square - the town's central square just behind the harbor · Biokovo Nature Park - the mountain range rising straight up behind the town, with a road up to viewpoints for those with a car or booked excursion · Nugal beach - a smaller, quieter cove a walk south of the main town beach, backed by pine trees and cliffs
Klis Fortress
Klis is a fortress on a limestone ridge controlling the pass between the Dalmatian coast and the interior, held in turn by Illyrian tribes, Romans, medieval Croatian kings, and the Ottomans before Venice took it in 1648. It is a working defensive structure, not a restored showpiece: narrow gates, tiered walls, and a long, exposed climb rather than a single building. Most of a visit is spent walking the walls and looking at the terrain that made the site worth fighting over for centuries.
Highlights: Fortress walls and gates - climb through the stacked medieval defenses built on top of the Roman and Illyrian fortifications · Views over the Split coastline and Kaštela bay - the strategic reason the fortress sits where it does · Small museum inside the fortress with weapons and uniforms tied to the site's Ottoman-era and Venetian history
Trips by distance
How far you can go in a day.
Items
Getting there
Transport options for day trips.
Multi-day tours from Split
If you have longer than a day, these are organised multi-day trips that start here.
Browse multi-day tours from SplitWe may earn a commission from bookings made through this link.
Day trip tips
Make the most of your excursions.
Start early — most popular day-trip destinations get crowded by mid-morning.
Check return transport times before you leave — missing the last train or bus can be costly.
Carry water, snacks, and layers — weather and food options can be limited at smaller destinations.