Best day trips from Split: how to get there and what to see

Split sits on a peninsula with an airport, a bus station and a ferry port in the same small area, so day trips split into two groups: places you reach by boat or bus in under an hour, and places that need a car or a long bus ride.

If you have one free day, take the catamaran to Hvar town. If you have two, add Trogir by local bus and keep the islands for a third day. Skip Plitvice as a day trip unless you have no other chance to see it — it is a long haul from Split and better done with a night nearby.

Trogir is the lowest-effort trip: a UNESCO-listed old town on a small island, reachable by frequent local buses from Split's bus station and by boat in summer. You can walk the whole centre in two hours, climb the cathedral bell tower and be back in Split for dinner.

Klis Fortress sits on a ridge above a suburb and is the closest thing to a half-day hike with a view. Buses run from the city, but the last stretch is uphill on foot; a taxi or rideshare is easier if you are short on time.

Hvar town is the classic island day: a Venetian square, a hilltop fortress and a walk along the waterfront. Catamarans run from Split's port, and the crossing is short enough that a morning out and an evening return both work. In July and August, sailings fill up, so buy the day before at least.

Brač is the beach day. Bol and Zlatni Rat are on the south side of the island, so you need the catamaran to Bol or the ferry to Supetar plus a bus across the island. Šolta is the quiet option: a ferry from Split, olive groves and small coves, no big sights.

Krka waterfalls near Šibenik is the closest big waterfall park to Split and works as a day trip by bus or car, though you will spend several hours in transit. Plitvice Lakes is a full day with a very early start and a late return; the parent country guide recommends sleeping nearby instead, and timed tickets sell out in summer.

The Makarska Riviera and the Cetina valley near Omiš are car-friendly days: pebble beaches, a river gorge and zipline or rafting operators. Without a car, buses run along the coast to Makarska but the smaller stops are awkward.

Day trips from Split are cheap if you use public transport and expensive if you join an organised tour. A local bus to Trogir costs a few euros; a catamaran to Hvar costs more but still less than most guided boat trips. Organised tours bundle transport and entry, which saves planning but adds a margin.

Budget separately for entries: Klis Fortress, Krka and Plitvice all charge admission, and Plitvice in high season is the priciest. Food on the islands is similar to Split prices; a konoba lunch of grilled fish and salad is the main variable. Carry some cash for small ferry ports and rural bus stops.

Start early. Buses and ferries out of Split fill in the morning, and the first sailing or bus gives you a quieter old town before tour groups arrive.

Check the return times before you leave, not after lunch. Island catamarans thin out in the late afternoon, and missing the last fast boat can mean an unplanned night away.

In summer, carry water and sun protection; Trogir, Klis and the islands have little shade on the walking routes.

If you are doing several trips, a local eSIM keeps maps and ferry timetables working without roaming charges.