Split is a perfect gateway city to so many incredible day trips. With easy ferry access and its prime location right in the middle of Croatia’s coastline, there are countless easy day trips from Split so you can see a bit more of Croatia during your trip.

We’ve helped identify some of the best Split day trips with the help of some travel blogger friends – and you’ll find some of our favorites in here, too.

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Where to Stay in Split, Croatia

Here are our recommendations for where to stay in Split. You can also check our recommendations for Dubrovnik. It’s also a good idea to check out Booking.com as early as possible since this is a popular destination. Generally speaking, budget stays in Split start at $35. If you can extend your budget a little bit more, prices range from $40 to $60. A luxury stay in Split starts at $70.These are some of the places we suggest you to check.

Budget stays in Split: In the heart of the old town of Split, Adriatic Hostel is a good option that’s also close to the beach. Gravitas Hostel is also in the city center and has excellent reviews!

Mid-range hotels in Split: With a more flexible budget, we suggest you Klara Studio Apartaman, to enjoy a whole apartment for a small price. Instead, if you’d rather enjoy also a private garden, check prices for Apartment Fjaka.

Luxury places to stay in Split: There are several stunning places to stay in Split, and the earlier you book, the better fees you’ll find. One of those places is Garden Apartment Hotel. Another place we suggest you check out is Hotel As, which has very good reviews and is in a comfortable location.

The Best Day Trips from Split, Croatia

Krka National Park

Krka National Park covers over 100 square kilometers and is home to some truly beautiful nature. Although the park is best known for the stunning Skradinski Buk waterfall, there’s plenty more to see. Located just over an hour’s drive away from Split, it’s an ideal destination for a day trip!

Buses run from Split to the Skradin entrance of the national park multiple times a day. To make the most of your day it’s best to catch the 8 am bus or drive yourself or to take a guided tour that gets an early start.

Your first stop in the park should be the Skradinski Buk waterfall. On top of being an incredible work of nature, this waterfall is a brilliant place for cooling off as you can swim in the base of the falls.

It’s become such a popular attraction that the park has introduced a limit on the number of people that can visit at any one time. It’s best to arrive as early as possible if you want to enjoy the falls without crowds of other tourists!

Another spot to visit is the picturesque island of Visovac, which is home to a small monastery. The island can be visited on a boat excursion but if you rent a car you can drive to a brilliant viewpoint to admire the amazing scenery surrounding it.

It’s also worth making time to visit the Manojlovacki slap, the park’s tallest waterfall. Although it’s only accessible by car, it’s well worth going out of your way for! You can read more about the national park in our How to visit Krka National Park from Split on a day trip article.

»» Can’t drive? Take a day tour to Krka! ««

Omiš

Omiš is a dramatic coastal town located 25 kilometers south of Split. As you head south from Split, the mountains that lie inland gradually move closer to the ocean. Once you reach Omiš, you’ll notice the mountains practically meet the sea, with a large mouth where the Cetina river flows out. Along with the stunning natural beauty, this place provides it also holds significant historical relevance to the country.

Located along the ridgelines and on top of a peak are two forts that are waiting to be explored. Fortress Peovica is just above the main street and accessible to most – there are a few stairs. Fortress Starigrad is 303 meters above sea level and requires some fitness to make it to the top.

This hike is worth doing for the picturesque views over the Mediterranean and the valley of Omiš as well as for the fort itself. It will take between 45 minutes to an hour depending on fitness and the amount of photo stops you make along the way.

For the non-hikers, Omiš has a lovely bay where you can spend time basking in the sun or enjoying a coffee with the locals. Café Del Mare is right on the water and coming from Split has extremely reasonable prices.

Omiš is very easy to reach by bus or by car. From downtown Split, pay 20 kuna and take bus number 60 and enjoy a one-hour drive along the coast.

Zadar

Zadar is a quaint town on the coast of northern Croatia, about a 2-hour drive north of Split.  It is a beautiful port town with an amazing history and Roman ruins, and it is much less crowded than Split.

To get to Split, it is easiest to drive north along the toll road E65 from Split to Zadar, which takes roughly 1 hour 45 minutes. Travel by public transport is also possible via FlixBus. 

There are several things worth doing in Zadar on a day trip from Split; here are three of the best. The number one thing you must do is visit the Sea Organ. This is an amazing structure created alongside the water in Zadar that plays organ sounds when the water laps into it. It is a great way to hang out by the sea.

Next, be sure to visit the Cathedral of St. Anastasia, located in the center of Zadar’s old town, snug between the old buildings. The interior is amazing and well worth a visit.

Finally, be sure to check out the Roman ruins. Zadar has an expansive area where visitors can see ruins from the times of the Romans across a large area right off the main walkway in the old town. 

Vis

A beautiful island along the Dalmatian coast, Vis island is steeped in history and natural splendor. Better yet, it is still relatively off the beaten path making it a perfect stop as a day trip from Split.

It is a small island, yet it is filled with things to do and beautiful places to discover. Getting to Vis from Split is pretty simple. There are two direct ferries and catamarans running regularly between the islands. Tickets can be booked in advance or on the day of travel and the journey takes about 2 hours.

Vis island has a multitude of beautiful beaches worth exploring. My recommendation would be a visit to the white-pebbled Srebrena beach located on the south coast of the island or Stončica with its calm water and anchoring lighthouse. Another stop worth making is Stiniva Bay, a striking inlet in the Adriatic.

»» See the best of Vis (& Hvar) on an easy day trip «« 

Trogir

Of all the medieval towns in Europe, Trogir is one of the best-preserved and most beautifully situated. The town is perched on a small island and is enclosed by defensive walls that were built in the 15th century. If you’re interested in architecture or history, you must take a wander through Trogir’s narrow alleyways.

Trogir is just 25 kilometers north of Split, and to get there you have two options by public transport. The first option is to jump on one of the buses leaving Split’s main station and heading to Šibenik or Zadar, as most of these go through Trogir. There are many different companies running these routes, but in high season they do sell out, so it’s a good idea to buy your tickets in advance.

The second option is to take the local bus No. 37. This bus leaves every 20 minutes, is slightly cheaper, and doesn’t sell out. However, it leaves from Sukoisan station in Split, which is a bit further away from the city center than the main station.

While there are many beautiful buildings in Trogir, the most impressive has got to be the Cathedral of St. Lovro. It was built from the 13th to the 15th century, so you’ll notice a mix of both Medieval and Renaissance in its art and architecture. The Romanesque portal at the entrance was sculpted by Master Radovan in AD 1240 and is indeed a masterpiece.

You’ll also want to go for a wander along the top of the Kamerlengo Fortress walls. From up here, you’ll have glorious views out to the Mediterranean Sea. And if you’re up for more walking, take a stroll along the seaside promenade, which ends at a port full of sailboats waiting to take you out to the picturesque islands of Drvenik Mali and Drvenik Veli.

If you stay for dinner, Konoba TRS is a good choice. When the weather is nice, you can eat outside in the shady garden. Konoba TRS can also provide meals for vegetarian and vegan visitors to Croatia.

»» Check out tours of Trogir & the Blue Lagoon here «« 

Brač

If you want to visit a charming island with old Croatian towns and one of the most famous beaches in the country, then a day trip from Split to Brač is something to include in your itinerary. You can arrive at either Bol or Supetar.

Brač is one of the islands that you can easily reach from Split on a day trip. There are numerous ferries departing daily, and the travel time is approximately 1.5 hours

There are lots of things to do in Brač, but 3 things that you shouldn’t miss are to visit the beautiful beach of Zlatni Rat, go wine-tasting and try the Mali Plavac wine, and visit the old town of Pučišća, where they have a stonemason school.

The town of Bol itself is lovely as well. Other than that, there are numerous beaches to explore, and if you want to get a nice view of the island, drive up to the highest point Vidova Gora at 780 meters.

If you’re going to Bol, I would recommend eating at Mali Raj or Konoba Mendula. 

»» Take a cruise to Zlatni Rat & Brac here! «« 

Plitvice Lakes

Admittedly, Plitvice is a good distance from Split, but let me assure you, it is worth it! Plitvice Lakes is nothing shy of breathtaking and is an absolute must for any Croatia traveler.

The park hosts two sets of lakes, the upper and lower. These sixteen pristine blue lakes are surrounded by seven different hiking trails that range from short and sweet to more vigorous for those looking to explore every inch of the park.

As for tips on visiting Plitvice Lakes, I highly recommend arriving at the lakes as early as possible to beat the crowds that flock to the park. I also advise renting a rowboat if you do get caught up in the crowds and want to escape to some peace. 

As mentioned before, getting to Plitvice from Split is a bit of a journey. By car, the drive is approximately 2.5 hours. However, when we went, we stopped overnight in Zadar to break up the trip and then took a bus to Plitvice Lakes. Here you can read more to better organize a day trip to the lakes.

Whatever you do, please don’t let the distance deter you from this truly magical place! 

»» Check out tours to Plitvice National Park here «« 

What to Pack for Croatia

We have an entire Croatia packing list, but make sure you don’t leave these items behind!

A Guidebook – While travel blogs are great, we also definitely see the benefit of having a good paper guidebook in hand to refer to in your on-the-ground travel. We recommend the Lonely Planet Croatia book.

Mosquito repellent: Mosquitos in the summer can be nasty! You can bring ones with DEET or without DEET, or I love having some of these mosquito repellent wipes that I can keep in my bag in case I suddenly start to get swarmed and don’t have my regular repellent with me.

Sunscreen: You can buy sunscreen in Croatia, but it’s likely cheaper at home or bought online in advance. I love this solid Neutrogena sunscreen. Who doesn’t love a good solid for liquid swap? Great to keep in your bag without worrying about sunscreen explosions.

Water shoes: Pebble beaches in Croatia are a double-edged sword. On the one hand, the pebble seafloor is what creates that gorgeous deep turquoise-colored water that is hard to beat, as the lack of sand means you have incredibly clear water. However, on the other hand, pebble beaches and rocky shores can be downright painful!

Our friend recently cut his foot on a rocky beach in Croatia; had he been wearing water shoes, he’d have avoided such unpleasantness! We suggest these unisex water shoes. They’re not sexy, but they will make your trips to the beach far more pleasant!

A secure backpack: We both carry the CitySafe backpack by PacSafe not only on our travels but in our day-to-day lives. It’s cute, it’s functional, it’s comfortable, and it’s secure. We’re talking about interlocking zippers (which you can then put through a second clasp for two layers of security), slash-proof wire mesh construction, and RFID blockers to keep your data safe.

It’s neutral enough to be unisex, it’s roomy enough to fit a small laptop, a large camera, and tons of odds & ends, and it fits under the plane seat in front of you. We’re obsessed. Check it out for yourself!

Grayl Water Filter: Tap water is generally safe to drink in Croatia, but if you’re not used to drinking tap water from other countries, the typically harmless bacteria found in all water can cause some gut irritation. To both be safe and not buy dozens of plastic water bottles, you can get a reusable water bottle that comes with a water filter so that you can stick to the tap water and reduce your plastic waste. If you’ll be traveling outside of the major tourist centers, check if the water is potable locally.

Sea bands: If you get seasick easily, pack some Sea bands or seasickness pills so you don’t miss out on the best parts of Croatia – being on the water! A trip to Croatia isn’t complete without a quick boat trip, so make sure you’re prepared to enjoy it to the fullest!

Read more: Essential Croatia Packing List: What to Wear & Pack for Croatia

More Croatia Travel Resources

Headed to Croatia? We have some great travel resources to help you with your trip. First read our guide to planning a trip to Croatia, which covers visas, budgets, vaccines, and much more. We also have a Balkan currency guide that explains how money works in Croatia and local tipping customs.

If you’re still putting together your itinerary, here’s a great list of places to visit in Croatia, our Croatian Islands Guide, and Croatian Waterfalls Guide to help you choose. We also have a day trip guide for Dubrovnik, if you’re visiting there as well.

Next, you’ll want to read our guide to shopping in Croatia so you know which souvenirs are truly local gems.

If this will be one of your first trips in the Balkans, check out our massive list of things to know before traveling the Balkans as well as our Balkan bus, road trip, and itinerary guides. 

We publish new articles and trip advice nearly daily! For more information about traveling to Croatia and the Balkans, bookmark our Croatia and Balkan travel pages, where you’ll find our entire archive plus anything new we publish before you leave for your trip. 

Finally, Don’t Forget Your Travel Insurance!

I’m sure you’re aware that travel insurance is a good idea for Croatia and for travel in general! This is especially true when you’re talking about traveling with your camera and smartphone because you don’t want your trip ruined if they get lost, stolen, or fall in the sea!

Allison and I have both been paying customers of World Nomads for the last three years. We love the peace of mind it gives us in case of emergencies, accidents, illnesses, theft, or trip cancellation or disruption.

While Croatia is perfectly safe to travel around, there’s always a risk inherent in everyday travel, so it’s better to play it safe.

Get a travel insurance quote for your trip here.

Pin These 7 Fantastic Day Trips from Split for Your Next Vacation in Croatia!