The 5 Best Day Trips from Split, Croatia

The 5 Best Day Trips from Split, Croatia

Croatia's second largest city is a great base for exploring Dalmatia and beyond. Here's what you shouldn't miss when planning day trips from Split

If Dubrovnik is a perfect slice of old world charm, then Split is its more tired cousin to the north. Built around the ancient Diocletian's Palace, Split is a busy maze of houses, churches and chapels, but with all the amenities of a modern tourist town.

With a backdrop of dramatic coastal mountains and the turquoise waters of the Adriatic, Split is a destination in its own right, but also a great base for trips further afield. Here are five day trips from Split to add to your itinerary.

Blue cave

Recommended Tour: Blue Cave & Hvar & 6 Islands Day Trip from Split Tour Duration: 11 hours (shorter tours available)

alt="The Blue Cave is one of the best day trips from Split">Stjepan Tafra/ShutterstockThe Blue Cave is one of the best day trips from Split

The Blue Cave is one of Croatia's most famous natural wonders. This extraordinary sea cave on the tiny island of Biševo is bathed in a surreal blue light between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m.

The otherworldly effect occurs when the sun's rays pass through an underwater opening and reflect off the limestone bottom, turning the water a sapphire blue. Rocks beneath the water shimmer silver and pink to a depth of 16 m.

Tourists flock to the site in summer, so consider visiting in the off-season to beat the Croatia crowds.

Hvar

Recommended Tour: Blue Cave & Hvar & 6 Islands Day Trip from Split Tour Duration: 11 hours (shorter tours available)

alt="Hvar is known as a celebrity hideout">Dreamer4787/ShutterstockHvar is known as a celebrity hideout

The island of Hvar is a narrow stretch of land dotted with rugged bays, craggy peaks, vineyards, lavender plantations and abandoned stone villages.

The town of Hvar is home to one of the most beautiful harbors in the world and its impressive collection of yachts speaks to its status as a celebrity hideout.

The town itself is dotted with narrow, cobbled streets and picturesque houses with terracotta roofs. Stroll along the main square and climb the ramparts of the medieval castle, or swim at the numerous beaches and take a taxi boat to one of the Pakleni Islands.

Trogir

Recommended Tour: Blue Lagoon & Trogir & 3 Islands Half Day Trip from SplitTour Duration: 5 hours

alt=“The Trogir World Heritage Site is one of the best day trips from Split in Croatia”>Alexey Fedorenko/ShutterstockThe World Heritage Site of Trogir

Located 30km west along the Split coast, Trogir offers a tranquil complement to Split's lively pace. The historic center is located within medieval walls on its own island, connected by bridges to the mainland on one side and to the larger island of Čiovo on the other.

Trogir's exceptionally well-preserved Romanesque and Renaissance architecture earned it World Heritage status in 1997. Its masterpiece is St. Lawrence Cathedral, built over the course of five centuries. The richly decorated western portal was carved by the Trogir-born architect Master Radovan and dates from 1240.

The town's historic pedigree is tempered by modern bars and cafes that line the seafront promenade. Tourists and locals alike flock there on summer nights, leaving the knot of labyrinthine streets glistening empty.

Krka National Park

Recommended tour: Krka Waterfall Tour Day Trip from SplitDuration of the tour: 9 hours

alt="Krka can be seen on a nine-hour day trip from Split">Zdenek Matyas Photography/ShutterstockKrka can be seen on a nine-hour day trip from Split

A little further away is the Krka National Park, a wonderland of waterfalls, gorges, gorges, lakes and rapids that traces the course of the Krka River on its way to the sea.

The main attraction is Skradinski buk, a series of waterfalls and cataracts that cascade over several travertine barriers. In total, the water plunges almost 46 m into a clear pool before flowing into the Adriatic Sea. Swimming is allowed here, but at certain times of the year, so check before booking.

The upper reaches of the river are quieter and offer much to see, including two historic monasteries and another series of waterfalls at Roški slap, all accessible by park-operated boats.

Plitvice Lakes National Park

Recommended tour: Plitvice Lakes Tour Day Tour from SplitDuration of the tour: 13 hours

alt="Plitvice is far away, but worth the trip">Fesus Robert/ShutterstockPlitvice is far from Split but worth the trip

Plitvice is a bit ambitious when it comes to day trips from Split. Located 250km (2.5 hours drive) away, it's quite an undertaking, but we'd be remiss not to mention it to those readers who aren't traveling across the country and might want to take advantage of their only chance to see Plitvice.

This national park and world heritage site features a succession of 16 turquoise lakes surrounded by densely forested hills. However, it's not the lakes that are the main attraction, but the hundreds of waterfalls that connect them.

This scenic landscape was formed by the movement of travertine picked up by the river and deposited downstream. Repeated over the millennia, it created the terraced lakes we see today.

Swimming is not allowed and the place gets very crowded in summer, so follow our advice on how to beat the crowds in Croatia.

We recommend using Bookaway to find bus, ferry and train tickets in Croatia. Book buses to Split here.

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Lonely Planet Croatia is a comprehensive travel guide to the country, ideal for those who want to both explore the top attractions and take the road less traveled.

Main image: PhotosDreamer4787Shutterstock

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