Split day trip from Dubrovnik, Diocletian's Palace private tour (12h).
Diocletian's Palace and the Riva: the liveliest Roman ruin on earth, twelve hours door to door.
Our private Split day trip from Dubrovnik runs three hours up the coast, Neretva delta, Makarska riviera, Biokovo overhead, and no border stop since the Pelješac bridge opened, to the liveliest Roman ruin on earth: Diocletian's Palace, finished in 305 AD and never once emptied of people.
Tip. Climb the St Domnius bell tower early or late in the day to avoid the midday queue.
The route, stop by stop.
Indicative route. Every trip is private, so you can swap, skip or add a stop.
Hotel pickup
Mercedes at your accommodation. Coffee and the day's route over the first kilometre.
- 1
Split
Diocletian's Palace walking tour. Substructures, Peristyle, Cathedral of St. Domnius, Temple of Jupiter. Optional licensed local guide.
Lunch on the Riva. Quieter konoba a few streets back from the seafront, booked away from the cruise crowds.
Your choice. Marjan hill walk, Bačvice beach swim, or back-streets and Fruit Square wander. Pick one or do a little of each.
- 2
Trogir
Optional Trogir stop. About 30 minutes west of Split, the UNESCO-listed island town of Trogir, a quick walk and a coffee.
Drive back
Motorway or coastal road back south, with one quiet swim stop along the way if the weather plays.
Split day trip from Dubrovnik: the route
On a Split day trip from Dubrovnik the road crosses the Pelješac bridge, a 2.4 km span between Komarna and the Pelješac peninsula that opened in 2022. The road touches the peninsula for only a few kilometres before coming back to the mainland, which is how it avoids the Neum corridor through Bosnia and Herzegovina that drivers had to use before.
If you take the coastal road back, you pass the Makarska riviera villages of Brela and Baška Voda, then Omiš, where the Cetina river cuts through a gorge to the sea. Any of them can be a short stop on the way home.
Diocletian's Palace in a few hours
The palace was built as a retirement residence for the Roman emperor Diocletian, who gave up power in 305 AD. It is part villa, part fortress, roughly 215 by 180 metres, with a gate in each wall: Golden, Silver, Iron and Bronze. Together with the medieval town around it, it has been on the UNESCO list since 1979.
- Vestibule. The round, open-domed hall above the Peristyle has strong acoustics, and klapa groups often sing there.
- Cathedral. It was originally Diocletian's own mausoleum, converted into a church in the Middle Ages.
- Gregory of Nin. Ivan Meštrović's large bronze outside the Golden Gate; locals rub his big toe for luck.
- Green market. The open-air market by the Silver Gate is busiest in the morning.
What to bring
- Shoulders and knees covered for the cathedral.
- Swimwear and a towel if Bačvice is your afternoon choice.
- A hat and water. The palace streets are narrow but the Riva has little shade at midday.
Who it suits, and other ways to get there
It suits travellers who want Croatia's second city without moving hotels. If you are moving on to Split rather than coming back, a one-way private car transfer from Dubrovnik to Split or a boat transfer to Split may suit you better. For nature instead of a city on the same road north, see the Krka National Park day trip. Prices are on request, with an itemised quote by email or WhatsApp.
Questions about Split.
All FAQsIs Split worth a day trip from Dubrovnik?
How long is the drive from Dubrovnik to Split?
Do you pass through Bosnia driving from Dubrovnik to Split?
Do I need a passport?
Is there time for the climb to Marjan?
Can we add Trogir?
Other private day trips.
Enquire about Split & Trogir.
Tell us your date and group, one reply from the team with a tailored plan and an itemised quote. Door-to-door from your hotel, no obligation.
