What are the best day trips from Split?

Krka Waterfalls (1.5 h, easy) and the Blue Cave with Hvar (2.5–3 h speedboat) are the two most popular. Plitvice Lakes is a long but rewarding full day (2.5–3 h drive). Trogir by local bus takes 30 minutes. Brač and Hvar are 50 min–1.5 h by ferry and work well as island day trips.

How far is Krka from Split?

About 80–90 km by road, roughly 1–1.5 hours depending on route. The main entrance to Krka National Park is at Skradin — tours from Split often also include the village of Šibenik. It is genuinely easy as a day trip: depart at 8 am, arrive by 10 am, spend 4 hours in the park, return by late afternoon.

Is Plitvice Lakes doable as a day trip from Split?

Yes, but it is a long day. Plitvice is roughly 240 km north of Split — 2.5–3 hours each way by road. Most organised tours depart around 7 am and return by 9–10 pm, giving 3–4 hours in the park. It is entirely worth doing — Plitvice is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Europe's great national parks — but arrive prepared for a 14+ hour day.

How do I get to Hvar from Split?

There are two routes. The car ferry (Jadrolinija) runs from Split to Stari Grad on Hvar — about 1.5–2 hours but carries vehicles. The fast catamaran (Jadrolinija, Krilo or TP-Line) runs from Split harbour to Hvar Town — about 50–60 minutes, foot passengers only. Both run multiple times daily in season. Hvar Town is the nightlife and restaurant hub; Stari Grad is quieter.

Can I do a Blue Cave day trip from Split?

Yes — the classic five-island speedboat tour from Split includes the Blue Cave at Biševo (near Vis island), plus Vis, Hvar and other islands. The total journey time to reach the cave is 2.5–3 hours. The visit itself is 5 minutes inside the cave. Tours run approximately 10–12 hours and cost €75–130 per person. See the dedicated Blue Cave guide for detail on queues and timing.

What is Trogir and is it worth a day trip from Split?

Trogir is a UNESCO-listed walled island-town 27 km from Split — essentially a compact jewel of Romanesque and Gothic architecture connected to the mainland by a short bridge. By local bus it takes 30–45 minutes and costs around €3. It is genuinely beautiful and very easy to combine with a morning or afternoon in Split. Not a full-day destination on its own but an ideal half-day excursion.

How far is Mostar from Split?

About 180–200 km, roughly 2.5–3 hours by road via the Tomislavgrad route or 3–3.5 hours via the coastal road. Mostar is in Bosnia and Herzegovina — you need a valid passport. Split is a less common base for Mostar day trips than Dubrovnik (which is closer), but it works if you're based in Split and keen to see it.

What is the easiest day trip from Split for families with children?

Trogir is the easiest — 30 minutes by bus, compact, walkable and genuinely interesting. Krka Waterfalls is the best natural option for families: short boardwalk loops, river swimming (in designated areas), and the park is manageable with children. The Blue Cave speedboat tours can be rough at sea and exhausting for young children.

Day Trips from Split 2026 | Krka, Plitvice, Hvar & Islands

Split as a day-trip base

Split is the transport hub of the Dalmatian coast — its ferry port connects to a dozen islands, its bus station links the coast and the interior, and the motorway north to Zagreb and Plitvice is fast and modern. More than almost any other Croatian city, Split rewards you for staying 3–5 nights and doing the surrounding region properly.

The Old Town of Split — built inside and around Diocletian’s Palace — keeps a full first day busy. The rest of your time here is best spent getting out.

Krka National Park — the easiest waterfall day trip

Distance from Split: 80–90 km / 1–1.5 h
Best for: waterfalls, swimming, easy family day

Krka is the most straightforward big-nature day trip from Split. The main draw is Skradinski Buk — a wide, stepped waterfall system with emerald pools and old mills, set in a lush canyon. The boardwalk around it takes 2–3 hours at a relaxed pace, and swimming in designated areas is permitted (check current rules — this has changed seasonally in recent years).

Many tours combine Krka with the old town of Šibenik, 20 km downstream, which has a striking UNESCO-listed cathedral and a lively hilltop fortress. The combination makes for a balanced day: nature in the morning, city in the afternoon (or vice versa).

Driving vs tour: With a rental car, Krka is simple — park at Skradin or Lozovac and take the park boat or shuttle in. Self-drive gives you flexibility on timing. Organised tours (€40–65) handle transport and entry — the better ones include the boat ride inside the park.

National park entrance was around €20–25 in 2025 (check current pricing at Krka National Park). Book guided tours and entrance tickets in advance in July–August — the park caps daily visitors.

Plitvice Lakes — the big commitment day trip

Distance from Split: 240 km / 2.5–3 h
Best for: UNESCO natural wonder, boardwalks, autumn colour

Plitvice is Croatia’s most visited national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979. Sixteen terraced lakes connected by waterfalls, surrounded by beech and fir forest, with wooden boardwalks running at water level through the whole system. It is one of the great natural sights in Europe.

As a day trip from Split it requires commitment: a 7 am departure, 2.5–3 hours on the road, 3–4 hours in the park, and 2.5–3 hours back. You return by 9–10 pm. The day is long but not unpleasant — the drive north on the A1 motorway is pleasant.

Best time: May–June for high waterfalls (snowmelt) and autumn colour in September–October. Summer (July–August) means long queues, midday heat and a cap on daily visitors — book entry tickets well in advance. The park limits numbers and tickets sell out.

Dedicated guide: Plitvice Lakes from Split and Plitvice Lakes complete guide.

Blue Cave and Five Islands — the speedboat day

Distance to Blue Cave: 2.5–3 h by speedboat from Split
Best for: sea, islands, the extraordinary blue light of Biševo

The full-day five-island speedboat tour is the most popular booking from Split, and for good reason. It covers the Blue Cave at Biševo (a unique natural phenomenon — sunlight refracts through an underwater opening to fill the cave with electric blue light), stops at Vis, Hvar, and usually two or three smaller islands.

What to know honestly: The Blue Cave visit itself lasts about 5 minutes inside the cave. In peak summer (late June–August), queues at the cave entrance can mean 30–60 minutes waiting in a small rowing boat on open water. The speedboat journey is exhilarating but rough in afternoon swell — some passengers experience seasickness on the open Adriatic crossing. The tour typically costs €90–130 per person.

All that said: the cave is genuinely extraordinary and Vis is one of the most beautiful islands in the Adriatic. Most people who do it consider it a highlight of their Croatia trip.

Full detail: Blue Cave day trip guide and Blue Cave complete guide.

Hvar and Brač — island days by ferry

From Split to Hvar Town: 50–60 min catamaran
From Split to Brač (Supetar): 50 min ferry
Best for: beaches, old town, swimming

Hvar by catamaran is one of the simplest and most rewarding island days from Split. Arrive in Hvar Town, walk the Venetian loggia and old fortress, swim at the Pakleni Islands just offshore (water taxi from Hvar Town harbour), eat a long lunch at a good konoba, and return on the late-afternoon catamaran. You need no planning or booking beyond a ferry ticket.

Brač has two faces: Supetar (the ferry port) is a pleasant small town but not the main draw. The island’s claim to fame is Zlatni Rat beach near Bol — a pebble spit that shifts direction with the current, one of Croatia’s most photographed spots. Bol is on the south coast, about 40 minutes by bus from Supetar — allow a full day.

See best islands near Split for a full comparison of island day-trip options, including Vis and Šolta.

Trogir — 30 minutes by bus

Distance from Split: 27 km / 30–45 min local bus
Best for: UNESCO architecture, half-day excursion, no car needed

Trogir is an island-town connected to the mainland by a bridge, with a remarkable concentration of Romanesque and Venetian Gothic buildings compressed into a tiny old quarter. The Cathedral of St Lawrence has a famous 13th-century portal carved by Master Radovan — one of the finest Romanesque sculptures in Croatia.

Local bus 37 runs from Split bus station to Trogir roughly every 20 minutes and costs around €2–3. It is the easiest possible excursion from Split and deservedly popular. Plan half a day — Trogir itself takes 2–3 hours to explore properly, including coffee on the waterfront promenade.

Mostar from Split — the long Bosnia day

Distance: 180–200 km / 2.5–3 h
Border: Bosnia and Herzegovina — passport required
Best for: cross-cultural experience, Ottoman history

Mostar is more commonly done from Dubrovnik (3 h), but it is feasible from Split as a very full day (6 am departure, return by 10 pm). The Stari Most old bridge and Ottoman bazaar are worth it. Passport essential. See the dedicated Mostar day trip guide for full detail.

Practical tips

Getting around: Split’s ferry port (for islands) and bus station (for Krka, Plitvice, Trogir, Mostar) are adjacent in the city centre — no transfers needed. The bus to Trogir costs €2–3; guided tours to Krka start around €40; Plitvice tours run €60–90 including entrance.

What to book in advance: Plitvice entry tickets (mandatory, limited capacity), Blue Cave tours in July–August, and Krka entry in peak season. Trogir and Hvar/Brač ferry tickets can be bought day-of.

Car hire: Adds flexibility for Krka and Trogir. Not useful for island days (ferries for cars are expensive and slow). If you have a car, consider the split-base week without a car itinerary — car hire is only worth it for the mainland day trips.

Season: May–June and September are the sweet spot. July–August means heat, crowds and advance booking essential everywhere. Plitvice in particular caps daily numbers.

For the full picture of the Dalmatian coast as a base: see how many days in Croatia.

Frequently asked questions about Day Trips from Split

How far is Krka from Split?
About 80–90 km by road, roughly 1–1.5 hours depending on route. The main entrance to Krka National Park is at Skradin — tours from Split often also include the village of Šibenik. It is genuinely easy as a day trip: depart at 8 am, arrive by 10 am, spend 4 hours in the park, return by late afternoon.
Is Plitvice Lakes doable as a day trip from Split?
Yes, but it is a long day. Plitvice is roughly 240 km north of Split — 2.5–3 hours each way by road. Most organised tours depart around 7 am and return by 9–10 pm, giving 3–4 hours in the park. It is entirely worth doing — Plitvice is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Europe's great national parks — but arrive prepared for a 14+ hour day.
How do I get to Hvar from Split?
There are two routes. The car ferry (Jadrolinija) runs from Split to Stari Grad on Hvar — about 1.5–2 hours but carries vehicles. The fast catamaran (Jadrolinija, Krilo or TP-Line) runs from Split harbour to Hvar Town — about 50–60 minutes, foot passengers only. Both run multiple times daily in season. Hvar Town is the nightlife and restaurant hub; Stari Grad is quieter.
Can I do a Blue Cave day trip from Split?
Yes — the classic five-island speedboat tour from Split includes the Blue Cave at Biševo (near Vis island), plus Vis, Hvar and other islands. The total journey time to reach the cave is 2.5–3 hours. The visit itself is 5 minutes inside the cave. Tours run approximately 10–12 hours and cost €75–130 per person. See the dedicated Blue Cave guide for detail on queues and timing.
What is Trogir and is it worth a day trip from Split?
Trogir is a UNESCO-listed walled island-town 27 km from Split — essentially a compact jewel of Romanesque and Gothic architecture connected to the mainland by a short bridge. By local bus it takes 30–45 minutes and costs around €3. It is genuinely beautiful and very easy to combine with a morning or afternoon in Split. Not a full-day destination on its own but an ideal half-day excursion.
How far is Mostar from Split?
About 180–200 km, roughly 2.5–3 hours by road via the Tomislavgrad route or 3–3.5 hours via the coastal road. Mostar is in Bosnia and Herzegovina — you need a valid passport. Split is a less common base for Mostar day trips than Dubrovnik (which is closer), but it works if you're based in Split and keen to see it.
What is the easiest day trip from Split for families with children?
Trogir is the easiest — 30 minutes by bus, compact, walkable and genuinely interesting. Krka Waterfalls is the best natural option for families: short boardwalk loops, river swimming (in designated areas), and the park is manageable with children. The Blue Cave speedboat tours can be rough at sea and exhausting for young children.