Split day trip from Dubrovnik, Diocletian’s Palace private full-day trip by car (12h).
Diocletian’s Palace and Split old town, with Trogir as the recommended add-on. A long day: about 3–3.5 hours each way on the motorway.
Check availabilityOur private Split day trip from Dubrovnik is a long day. It takes about 3–3.5 hours each way on the motorway, over the Pelješac bridge and past the Neretva delta, with no border stop. The goal is Diocletian’s Palace, finished in 305 AD and still lived in today, and the old town around it. If you want a second stop, we recommend Trogir.
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.
Back streets. A short wander through the old town and Fruit Square after lunch.
- 2
Trogir
Trogir, our recommended add-on. About 30 minutes west of Split, the UNESCO-listed island town of Trogir: a walk through the old town and a coffee on the waterfront.
Drive back
Motorway back south, about 3–3.5 hours, with one short coffee stop on the way.
More about the places
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 crosses the Pelješac peninsula from Ston to Brijesta. Then the bridge takes you back to the mainland at Komarna. This avoids the Neum corridor through Bosnia and Herzegovina that drivers had to use before.
After the bridge the car joins the A1 motorway near Ploče and runs inland to Split, about 3–3.5 hours each way. The old coastal road through the Makarska riviera is much slower, so we do not use it on a day trip, even one way.
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.
- 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 because they depend on the car (E-Class or V-Class), the date and any add-ons; you get 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?
Is there a train from Dubrovnik to Split?
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.
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