Attractions Nearby Split, Day Trips and Excursions

(Split, Central Dalmatia, Croatia)

The Dalmatian coastline is a major highlight of Croatia and there are beach attractions and islands up and down the coast, going north and south from Split. The nearby islands of Brac and Hvar are top day trip destinations, with their fine beaches and laid-back style, and are accessible thanks to frequent ferries.

You also have the Adriatic's most popular centre, Dubrovnik, located further south of Split and loaded with tourist attractions. This port city is brimming with Baroque-style buildings and its Old Town is best explored via a leisurely walking tour. Heading in the other direction is the beautiful Plitvice National Park, while Sarajevo is a short trip to the east of Spit.

Tour agencies in the city offer all kinds of excursions, with some of the most tempting day trips including the Plitvice National Park, the Krka National Park and the renowned Zlatni Rat Beach on Brac Island.

Brac Island

Brac is the most visited island near Split. It has almost divine-like beaches and is easily accessed, as ferries run to and from here all through the day. The best thing about Brac Island is its beaches and there are several to choose from, while the island proper is easiest seen by scooter. Car ferries regularly depart from Split's harbour, reaching the attractions of Brac Island in approximately one hour. Supetar is a particularly significant town / summer resort on Brac and comes with a number of interesting sights, such as the 18th-century Church of the Annunciation and the Mausoleum of the Petrinovic Family. Between June and September, the Supetar Summer Cultural Festival is a major highlight here. Also on Brac Island, the town of Bol is known for its pebbly beaches of Borak, Potocine and Zlatni Rat, where the windsurfing and kitesurfing on offer is amongst Croatia's best. On the eastern side of Bol, the Glavica Peninsula is home to both the Church of Our Lady of Mercy and the Dominican Monastery.

Hvar Island

Hvar Island is further offshore than Brac and is less touristy as a result. The luxurious beaches here are even more attractive than on Brac, and certainly than those on the mainland. This is the sunniest spot in Croatia and as a result of its fine weather and beaches, Hvar has become massively popular with tourists and day trippers from Split. Hvar town is the hub of the island and itself is worth spending time in, with many yachts choosing to moor up in its pleasant harbour. In the height of the summer, more than 30,000 people come to this town alone on a daily basis, visiting the central plaza - the Trg Svetog Stjepana, as well as the 17th-century Arsenal, the Cathedral of Saint Stjepan, the Benedictine Monastery, the Hektorovic Mansion and the Archaeological Museum. There are several ferries a day between Split harbour and Hvar Island. The neighbouring Pakleni Islands are just a short distance from Hvar and has excellent swimming opportunities, being reached in under 30 minutes via the plentiful taxi boats.

Dubrovnik

A little too far for a day trip, excursions between Split and Dubrovnik are nevertheless popular. Dubrovnik is the star attraction for most visitors to Croatia and lies right down in the south of the country, on the shoreline, where it has a fantastic disposition and Old Town. The 'Pearl of the Adriatic' lives up to its reputation as a top-end resort town and appealing UNESCO World Heritage site. Sightseers visiting Dubrovnik will find that the top attractions include the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin, the Franciscan Monastery, the Onofrio Fountains, the Rector's Palace, Sponza Palace and St. Saviour Church. Be sure to allow time to take a walk around the ancient city walls and forts. Several beaches are available around Dubrovnik, such as Banje and Sveti Jakov, although locals often choose to take a boat over to the Elafiti Islands.

Krka National Park (Nacionalni Park Krka)

Address: Krka National Park, Croatia, HR
Tel: +385 022 771 306
Lying to the north-west of Split and within northern Dalmatia, the Krka National Park stands on the western side of the Dinaric Range, close to Sibenik. The beautiful landscape is made up of the Krka River and its cascading waterfalls, as well as its natural canyon. Admission charges are paid at the Skardin entrance and are seasonal, being at their cheapest between November and March. Notable highlights to look out for include the Orthodox Monastery (Krka Monastery / Holy Archangel), the downstream Roski Slap barrier, Lake Visovac, the Medu Gredama Gorge and the Skradinski Buk Waterfall.
Open hours: daily, July and August - 08:00 to 21:00; September to June - 09:00 to 20:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for children, students and seniors

Sarajevo

Off to the east and into Bosnian territory is Sarajevo, the largest and most altogether city there. As the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo is a very beautiful city owing to its pretty valley setting and network of cobbled streets within its Old Town. There are mosques galore here in this extremely tourist-friendly city, as well as lots of museums, such as the Bosnian Historical Museum, the National Museum and the Sarajevo City Museum. Nearby are some attractive surrounding hills highly suitable for trekking and winter sports.

Solin (Salona)

An ancient Roman city now surrounded by several major roads, Solin resides at the base of the mountains, amidst a series of vineyards. With origins of more than 2,000 years ago, Solin contains an important archaeological site with a well-preserved 2nd-century amphitheatre, a 5th-century cathedral, a Christian burial place (the Manastirine) and the remains of an ancient church (the Kapljuc Basilica). Next to the Manastirine, the Tusculum Museum features many local relics. Also of note is the ruined Bishop Honorius' Basilica, the 1st-century City Gate (the Porta Caesarea) and the medieval fortress named the Gradina.

Plitvice Lakes National Park (Nacionalni Park Plitvicka Jezera)

Address: Plitvice National Park, Croatia, HR
Tel: +385 053 751 015
This incredible park has to be amongst the most stunning, not just in Croatia, but in all of Europe. The Plitvice National Park is one of many interconnected pristine lakes and has made the UNESCO World Heritage list. There are also waterfalls here, including the high Veliki Splat, along with some good hiking and an abundance of wildlife. Plitvice became a national park in 1949 and is especially suitable for birdwatchers, since more than 125 different species of birds live here.
Open hours: daily - 08:00 to 19:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for children, students and seniors, children seven years old and under are free

Solta Island

A small and densely wooded island close to Split, Solta Island is where the locals come on a hot day. Rogac serves as the entry point to Solta and ferries dock right next to the tourist office. From here, a coastal pathway links a number of coves and rocky beaches. Some 7 km / 4 miles from Rogac is the beach resort of Necujam, where a crescent-shaped beach has its own hotel, eatery and good amenities.

Trogir

The Dalmatian town of Trogir resides just over 30 minutes to the west of Split. Its labyrinth of narrow streets are enclosed by medieval walls, while the seafront promenade is lined with trendy bars, eateries and gleaming yachts. Although Trogir may be small, it does come with a wealth of sights to see and attractions to enjoy. Many historic buildings are in a good state of repair, with the oldest being built in the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries. The Cathedral of Saint Lovro (Katedrala Svetog Lovre) is the town's crowning glory, with its three naves and classical Venetian architecture. There are some good beaches around Trogir, with those on the neighbouring islands of Drvenik Veliki and Drvenik Mali being very easy to reach by boat.

Kastela

Kastela makes for the perfect idyllic retreat and is a mere 18 km / 11 miles to the north-west of Split. Sandwiched by mountains and the sea, Kastela Bay was once frequented by the nobility of Dalmatia and boasts a coastline stretching for roughly 20 km / 12 miles. Many of the grand mansions and castles built here around the 15th and 16th centuries remain today, such as the Kastel Gomilica, the Kastel Kambelovac, the Kastel Luksic, the Kastel Novi, the Kastel Stafilic, the Kastel Stari and the Kastel Sucurac.

Makarska

Part of the Makarska Riviera, the port town of Makarska has a population of approximately 15,000 residents and is to be found just over 60 km / 37 miles to the south-east of Split, being famed for its abundance of outdoor attractions and recreational activities. Thousands come here each year to climb, hike, swim and windsurf, with much of the appeal being centred around the lengthy pebbly beachfront. Makarska enjoys Mount Biokovo as its backdrop and is very much favoured by tourists taking a summer excursion from nearby Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Brela

Brela resides 51 km / 32 miles to the south-east of Split, where it has one of the most enticing coastlines in all of Dalmatia. The pebbly beaches here cover more than 6 km / 4 miles, curving around natural coves and often being bounded by lush pine groves. A lively promenade is where much of the action is based and this is lined with attractions, bars and eateries. Most will agree that Punta Rata is the best beach in Brela and this popular stretch lies on the south-westerly side of the city centre.

Vis Island

Vis Island is widely regarded as something of a mysterious island and formerly served as a military base. The undeveloped nature of Vis is all part of the appeal and the island is famous in Croatia for its vineyards, seafood dining and scuba diving, with an Italian shipwreck dating from the 1860s proving to be a serious draw card for divers. In Vis Town, the Archaeological Museum (Arheoloski Muzej) is a good starting point if you are interested in learning about the island's past. Each day during the high season, car ferries arrive from Split, with this journey lasting a little more than two hours. Outside of the peak summer months, ferries tend to target commuters, meaning that day trips can be more difficult to organise.