Last stop on our road trip in Croatia: Split and its surroundings. We chose accommodation in this city for our last 4 nights. Besides being interesting and having several tourist sites, it offers easy access to several islands and lovely towns. So for 2 days, we explored the area around Split on day trips : Trogir, Klis, the Makarska Riviera all the way to the famous Brela Rock, and even the island of Brac. During the last two days, we visited Split in depth, even though staying there had already allowed us to discover a bit of the city.
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Around Split
There are therefore plenty of places to see around Split : cute little towns, historical sites (known for recent film productions), and of course the many Croatian islands (Hvar, Brač, Korcula, etc.) that can be reached by ferry from the city.
Trogir
Trogir is a small town located 28 km from Split, whose historic center is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We spent the morning there strolling around and taking lots of photos. The town is not very big, but we found it incredibly charming, especially with its Venetian buildings… We wrote a full article about our walk (visiting Trogir), but to sum up, we recommend not missing Trogir’s Saint Lawrence Cathedral, or Kamerlengo Castle, which is not hugely interesting in itself, but offers a superb view over the whole town.
From Trogir, lagoon cruises are also organized.
Klis Fortress
As Game of Thrones lovers (not to say fans), we had seen that Klis Fortress, which was used as a filming location for the series, would be on our route. So we made a detour to this site (by the way, the road was under construction and we drove around for at least 1 h before finding the entrance !), where we spent around 1 h 30 taking lots of photos. We regretted that there was no guide or more explanations… because wandering around a castle without information is a shame… But in any case, it really makes your imagination work ! To avoid doing what we did, remember to book your guided tour !
Otherwise, the visit is of course well suited to heritage lovers or nature lovers. The fortress had a defensive role at the time and, given its geographical location, it is easy to understand why: the clear view almost all the way to the island of Vis was one of the main reasons.
The Makarska Riviera and Brela Rock
After Klis, we headed for Brela Rock, which is located in the town of the same name… and how can we put it… The road is simply stunning ! It is a shame you cannot stop as much as you would like, but it was an absolute feast for the eyes !!! Turquoise water alternates with deep blue water, which alternates with huge peaks… Biokovo Mountain in the background… One of the most beautiful roads of our trip, if not the most beautiful…
In Brela, and more precisely at Punta Rata Beach, you discover the famous rock of the same name, which is none other than THE symbol of Croatia.
The island of Brac
We had also chosen Split because of its proximity to several islands. At first, we wanted to see Vis and Bisevo (for its Blue Cave), but we quickly realized that, in terms of timing and price, it would be complicated. For a day trip, the easiest and best-value option seemed to us to be the island of Brac. The crossing takes a little less than an hour, and the price was relatively affordable for the two of us + the car. The crossing to Hvar takes 2 h each way, 2 h back, which, in our opinion, is too much transportation for just one day on the island. Vis and Bisevo are even farther away, so it really was not possible in a single day. We wrote a full article about our day on the island of Brac and Bol Beach, considered one of the most beautiful in Croatia.
Krka National Park
If you are in Split and do not have time to visit Plitvice National Park, Krka National Park will be a very pleasant little green (and blue) break. Although smaller and less impressive than the first one, we found the walk very beautiful. About 1 h by road from Split, it is therefore possible to make the round trip in one day…
To buy your ticket in advance, click here. You can also opt for the combined entry + boat ticket.
Sibenik
This city is also about an hour from Split, so if you do not choose Krka National Park, you could consider a day trip to discover this medieval city. As for us, we absolutely loved Sibenik. Although it is small and does not have a major monument to visit, we found the city full of charm. We tell you all about it in a dedicated article: what to do in Sibenik.
Other visits around Split
➺ Omis: a town we drove through and that seemed sublime to us !!
➺ The other islands : Hvar, Vis, Bisevo, Solta, Korkula… By the way, if you are short on time, from Split there are plenty of organized excursions with several islands and tourist sites. For example, this one where you will go to Hvar and Brac on the same day !
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Around Split: practical information
Where to stay?
During our trip to Croatia, we booked our accommodation day by day, and it worked out pretty well for us, except for the last one in Split, where we rather hastily chose a B&B… Cheap for a large brand-new bed, a parking space and breakfast… Sold…. Except that, rookie mistake, we looked at the photos very quickly… After 4 nights there, we can say that having the toilet in the shower is not very practical ! B&B Be Happy… On the other hand, if you decide to stay in Sibenik, we recommend our accommodation, which was excellent: apartements and rooms Ill.
Where to eat?
For our days wandering around Split, we mostly chose to eat on the go by buying sandwiches, and to have good dinners in Split in the evening. And for ideas of Croatian specialties to try, it is over here !
➺ One of our favorite addresses in Split: Bepa ! Narodni trg 1, 21000, Split, Croatia
➺ A delicious ice cream shop: Luka Ice Cream – Ul. Petra Svačića 2, 21000, Split, Croatia
How to get around Split
➺ We had a rental car, the most practical option for doing what you want. But we saw that several sites were accessible from Split by public transportation.
➺ For the islands, several ferries leave every day for the different islands. Check the Jadrolinija website for prices and ferry schedules.
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As you will have understood, there is really plenty to do around Split, and we think the city is an ideal base for exploring Croatia if you have little time. We also found Split very pleasant for settling down for a few days (we will tell you about that soon). It also gave us lots of wishes and ideas for a future trip to Croatia !
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