The Best Day Trips from Split, Croatia
Split has always been Croatia’s major jumping-off point; its ferry terminal, catamaran port and bus station all a short walk from each other and all offering easy, affordable hops to islands and historic mainland destinations. The sailing schedule, designed for local workers and islanders, lends itself to one-day jaunts, provided you’re willing to start early.
1. Salona
Villa
Many wander around Split’s Diocletian’s Palace without realising that there are further extensive Roman remains nearby. In fact, Salona, today’s Solin, accessible by city bus from Split, was the regional capital when Diocletian was building his retirement villa. In Solin, an estimated 60,000 people met, shopped, bathed and watched entertainment in an 18,000-capacity amphitheatre. What remains is nowhere near as well preserved as, say, Pula, but it merits investigation and an afternoon out.
2. Hvar
Natural Feature
3. Trogir
Natural Feature
5. Šolta
Boutique Hotel, Hotel
A smallish island off the coast of Brač, Šolta is often overlooked, yet its regular boat connections with Split allow plenty of opportunity for discovery. This is Dalmatia before the mass tourist influx of the early 2000s – all vineyards, olive groves and fishing villages. The main town and arrival point for boats from Split, Rogač, is where you’ll find a handful of traditional restaurants and private accommodation should you decide to stay over.
6. Brač
The most accessible main island to Split under an hour away, Brač caters to a different type of holidaymaker from party-focused Hvar and rugged Vis. Lively enough in its two main towns of Supetar and Bol, Brač appeals to the visitor happy to dine at one of its family-run restaurants in the undulating hinterland or discover one of the many hidden coves and beaches or admire the signature stonework created from the quarries in use here since Roman times. In summer, families and windsurfers converge on sandy Zlatni Rat, the famous beach close to Bol.
7. Biokovo
Biokovo was made for hikers. Rising up behind the beaches and holiday homes of the Makarska Riviera, this nature park is criss-crossed by more than three dozen hiking trails, with varying degrees of difficulty. The one constant is the wonderful views, usually as far back as Split, something that should sustain you if you hit a particularly rocky path. Always pack water and, in the height of summer, headgear, but natural hazards are otherwise few. Locals often drive up here from Split, leave the car somewhere up the slopes and enjoy a half-hour stretch in the open air.
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.