Best Day Trips from Split: Hvar, Plitvice, Krka, Trogir & Blue Cave

Split sits almost exactly in the middle of the Dalmatian coast, which makes it the best base for day trips in Croatia. Ferries leave the Trajektna luka every hour to the islands; the national parks Plitvice and Krka are both within reach by road; and the old town of Trogir is 27 kilometres west - close enough to visit by bus. Below are the five best day trips, with current transport options and prices.

Hvar Island (1 hour by ferry)

Hvar Town - a long stone promenade, a Venetian loggia, and a fortress above that looks out over the Pakleni Islands - is the most visited day trip from Split and justifiably so. The boat journey across the channel takes around an hour by catamaran.

Fast ferry: Krilo and Jadrolinija both run Split–Hvar Town catamarans; departure from Split’s Riva pier, journey time approximately 1 hour, fare from approximately 110 HRK (€14.50) each way. Book ahead in summer - boats fill quickly on July and August mornings.

Car ferry: If you want to drive, the Jadrolinija car ferry from Split’s Stari Grad terminal runs to Stari Grad on Hvar in about 2 hours. Passenger fare approximately 50 HRK, car approximately 200 HRK each way. Note that Stari Grad is 20 kilometres from Hvar Town by road.

On the island: Rent a scooter in Hvar Town for approximately 350–400 HRK per day to explore the Stari Grad Plain (a UNESCO-listed ancient field system) and the quiet village of Vrboska. Taxis to Hvar’s famous Dubovica beach cost approximately 80 HRK from town.

Best season: May–June and September. July and August see extremely high demand on ferries; book the outbound and return journey the day before.

Plitvice Lakes National Park (1.5–2 hours each way)

Plitvice is Croatia’s most visited national park, a series of 16 stepped travertine lakes connected by waterfalls and wooden boardwalks, set in forested karst terrain. It’s a long day from Split - around 1 hour 40 minutes on the A1 motorway - but many travellers rate it their most memorable stop in Croatia.

Organised tour: Day tours from Split typically depart at 7:00–8:00am and return around 7:00–8:00pm. Price approximately €60–85 per person including entrance fees (Tickets A and B, covering different sections of the park). Operators including Split Tours and Trogir Tours run this daily in summer.

Self-drive: Hiring a car and driving from Split adds approximately 250–300 HRK (€33–40) in toll-plus-fuel costs. Park entrance as of 2026: approximately €35–40 in peak season (July–August) and around €20–25 in shoulder months. Book tickets at np-plitvicka-jezera.hr in advance - walk-up entry is not guaranteed in peak season.

Buses: Autotrans runs Split–Zagreb buses that stop at Plitvice; one-way ticket approximately 120–150 HRK. The return schedule is restricted, so check carefully.

Best season: April–June and September. Avoid peak summer weekends - the park has a daily visitor cap, and queues begin forming at 6am.

Krka National Park (1.5 hours each way)

Krka’s series of travertine falls along the Krka river is less dramatic in scale than Plitvice but has one major advantage: until recently you could swim beneath Skradinski Buk waterfall (swimming is now restricted, so check current rules before visiting). The park is reachable by both bus and boat, and the riverside town of Skradin makes a good lunch stop.

Bus: Flixbus and local carriers connect Split with Šibenik (60 km from Skradin) in approximately 1 hour 15 minutes, fare around 60–80 HRK. From Šibenik, NPS Krka boats run to the park entrance in about 45 minutes; combined boat-and-entry ticket from approximately €30.

Organised tour: Split-based operators offer Krka day tours for approximately €45–60 per person, sometimes combined with Šibenik old town. Tours depart around 8:30am.

Self-drive: 90 kilometres on the A1 from Split. Parking at Skradin approximately 30 HRK per day. From Skradin, a national park boat takes you upriver to Skradinski Buk; the boat is included in the entry ticket (€30 as of 2026).

Best season: May–June and September–October. The waterfalls are highest in spring from snowmelt.

Trogir (30 minutes each way)

Trogir is close enough to Split to feel like a suburb, yet its entire old town - a dense grid of Romanesque and Gothic architecture on an island connected by bridges - is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Cathedral of St Lawrence has a carved west portal by Master Radovan dating to 1240, one of the finest Romanesque works in the Adriatic.

Bus: Promet bus 37 runs from Split’s bus station to Trogir roughly every 20–30 minutes throughout the day, fare approximately 17–22 HRK (€2.50). Journey time 30–45 minutes. It’s feasible to visit in a half-day.

Boat tour: Some Split operators offer morning boat trips that include Trogir as part of a wider island-hopping day.

Best season: Year-round. Trogir is less crowded than Hvar or Plitvice and works in the shoulder season.

Blue Cave on Biševo (3.5 hours by fast boat)

The Blue Cave (Modra špilja) is a sea cave on the small island of Biševo where sunlight entering through an underwater opening turns the interior an intense electric blue between about 11am and noon. It’s the most logistically complex day trip from Split but reliably appears on travellers’ highlights.

Organised tour: The most practical option. Full-day boat tours from Split depart around 8:00–8:30am, visit the Blue Cave plus stops at the Green Cave (Zelena špilja), Stiniva Cove on Vis, and Hvar’s Pakleni Islands. Price approximately €80–120 per person, entrance to the Blue Cave (approximately €10) usually included. Operators: Huck Finn Adventures, Sea Star, and multiple GetYourGuide-listed boats.

Independent route: Catamaran from Split to Vis Town, then local taxi boat from Vis to Biševo. Total transit approximately 2 hours 30 minutes each way. Entrance to the cave itself costs approximately 100 HRK (€13); small boats take a maximum of 4 people inside at a time. Worth it only if you want a quieter experience - the organised tours get there in concentrated groups but operate smoothly.

Best season: June–September. The cave is weather-dependent and closes when seas are rough; tours include a refund or reschedule if conditions prevent entry.

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Book guided day trips from Split - including private tours, Plitvice with guaranteed park entry, and island boat trips - on GetYourGuide.

If you’re planning a longer drive up the coast, the Croatian coast road trip guide covers Split to Dubrovnik with recommended stops along the way.