One-Day Trip to Dubrovnik from Split

Dubrovnik, the southernmost town in Croatia, is one of the most popular destinations on the Mediterranean. There's so much to do, see, and taste! So it's no wonder that Dubrovnik attracts tourists from all parts of the world.

If you're in Split, you're probably wondering if it's worth taking a day trip there. Keep reading to find out!

Dubrovnik Old Town, Photo Source: www.pixabay.com

Is it worth visiting Dubrovnik on a one-day trip from Split

Dubrovnik is one of the most famous historic old towns in the world and it is definitely worth a visit. Although in one day, one can not discover all the charms of this wonderful historic town, a day tour to Dubrovnik will surely bring some amazing experiences.

Depending on your preferences, you can do a day trip to Dubrovnik as a private tour, join a group tour, or do it on your own. For the latter, you would need to have a rent-a-car.

No matter what type of day trips you prefer, when it comes to visiting Dubrovnik, it is worth taking some time and doing some research in advance.

Below you will find guidelines for planning a day trip to Dubrovnik from Split. Also, you will find suggestions on how and when it is best to go to Dubrovnik on a day trip, what to do in Dubrovnik, and which sights not to miss on a one-day trip.

Rizman Vineyards in Komarna, Photo Credit: VIP Holiday Booker

In addition, we bring several ideas for places you can visit along the way from Split to Dubrovnik and on return. Making one stop along the way in each direction will enrich the whole experience and this full-day tour will be more pleasant and fun.

Finally, see the tips on what you should pay attention to before the trip itself.

Dubrovnik Old Town Port, Photo Credit: VIP Holiday Booker

About Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik is well known as the Pearl of the Adriatic and Dubrovnik city walls are on the list of UNESCO heritage list and attract many visitors from all over the world.

Dubrovnik is one of the most picturesque cities on the Adriatic Coast, with a rich historical and cultural heritage, fortified by city walls, and characterized by a Mediterranean lifestyle where both locals and visitors feel at home.

Dubrovnik Banje Beach, Photo Credit: VIP Holiday Booker

The old town of Dubrovnik offers postcard-perfect scenery. The complex of medieval stone streets, houses, churches, and museums, all with red roofs is surrounded by the azure Adriatic Sea.

Dubrovnik is surely a top tourist destination all over Croatia, and one of the most photographed old towns in Europe.

View of Dubrovnik's old town port, approaching the eastern entrance to the old town, Photo Credit: VIP Holiday Booker

While the stunning architecture and rich history are sure to impress any visitor, what takes your breath away are the vibes of the Mediterranean lifestyle and finding your perfect corner to enjoy your morning coffee or glass of wine after a delicious lunch. In addition, you are very likely to experience the outstanding hospitality of locals bursting with pride for their city.

The old town of Dubrovnik is one of the best-preserved examples of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture. The Dubrovnik City Walls are under UNESCO protection since 1979.

About the one-day trip to Dubrovnik from Split

A one-day visit to Dubrovnik is one of our most popular day trips from Split and its surroundings. The itinerary can be specially adapted to couples, small groups of friends, families traveling with young children, extended families, and team-building trips.

Private tour to Dubrovnik with the start from Split is always performed as a full-day excursion, taking up 10-12 hours, depending on stops and preferences.

Dubrovnik is located in the very south of Croatia. The distance between the city of Split and the city of Dubrovnik is 235 km. The drive by car or by minivan from one city to another lasts approximately 3 hours. Traveling by bus can take an average of 4-5 hours and we recommend avoiding this option for a one-day trip.

Since this is a pretty long drive, and the full-day tour will take up almost 12 hours of your time, to seize the best of the day we recommend an early start.

Taking a private tour is the best option for a day trip to Dubrovnik. You travel in a comfortable and air-conditioned minivan or sedan, with a professional driver. In addition, since the tour is private, with only you and your friends or family traveling together, you can easily arrange stops along the way to your preferences.

Stradun-Pjaca, the main street in Dubrovnik Old Town

Overview of the Dubrovnik Tour from Split

Below is an overview of the Dubrovnik Private Tour from Split for small private groups.

• The pleasant drive from Split to Dubrovnik takes 2 hours and 30 minutes to 3 hours by minivan, depending on the starting point and the stopovers you make on the way.

• You will travel by luxury sedan (for up to 3 people in the group) or by minivans (for groups of 7 to 8 persons). If you are a larger family or group of more than 8 people, you have the option to travel divided into two minivans or in a minibus.

• The tour starts with the private driver picking you up at the doors of your holiday home. You meet the driver and re-confirm the Dubrovnik day tour itinerary, with options to adjust it to your last-minute wishes or needed changes. You will also agree on the place for your first stop on the way to Dubrovnik, which is usually a stop for breakfast & coffee. We recommend stopping near Rizman Winery, from where you can enjoy views of the vineyards, Peljesac Peninsula, and the Adriatic Sea.

• After a short stop for breakfast and coffee, the scenic road to Dubrovnik awaits you

• In Dubrovnik, you will be awaited by a local guide and stretch your legs in a 1 hour and 30 minutes walking tour of Dubrovnik.

• Please bear in mind that taking the guided walking tour in Dubrovnik is optional on this day trip, but it is highly recommended. You can decide just to explore everything on your own, stroll the old town and city walls by yourself. However, we recommend taking a private guided tour. In little more than one hour, the local guide will give you an orientation tour of the old town, backed up by some interesting historical facts, emphasizing the importance of the sights you visit in nowadays life.

• After a guided tour of the old town, you will have approx. 2.5 hours of free time. You can walk the City Walls, take the cable car to viewpoint Srd, have lunch in one of many restaurants in Dubrovnik, or seize the free time to explore the city on your own.

• When the time for return comes, your driver will meet you in the agreed location and you can start your return drive to your holiday base in Split.

• In case you decide not to take the cable car to Srd Hill, you can agree with the driver to take you to this beautiful viewpoint by car before leaving Dubrovnik.

• Next, other stops along the way back home we are glad to recommend are visiting Arboretum Trsteno or stopping in Ston on Peljesac for late lunch or early dinner. Peljesac is well known for oysters, shells, fish, and seafood in general and this is one of the best places along the Adriatic Coast for a seafood meal.

Duke's Palace in Dubrovnik, Photo Credit: VIP Holiday Booker

Highlights of the Private One-Day Tour to Dubrovnik from Split

• Traveling in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle with an experienced driver
• Driving through Neretva Valley
• Scenic views of the Adriatic Coast, island, and famous vineyards
• Crossing Peljesac Bridge
• Dubrovnik Old Town Guided Tour
• Dubrovnik City Walls
• Panoramic Views of Dubrovnik Old Town from Hill Srđ
• Tasting local food and wines

Stop lunch in Ston, Peljesac Peninsula, Photo Credit: VIP Holiday Booker

Timeline of Dubrovnik Private Tour from Split for Small Private Groups

Dubrovnik City Walls, Photo Credit: VIP Holiday Booker

Below, you can find a table with a suggested timeline for a one-day trip to Dubrovnik.

7 AM	Start of the tour from your holiday home address.
8:30 AM to 9 AM	Stop for coffee and breakfast.
10:30 AM	Arrival in Dubrovnik.
10:30 AM to 12:00 PM	Dubrovnik Walking Tour with a local guide.
12 PM to 2:30 PM	Free time in Dubrovnik.
2:30 PM	Meeting with the driver and start of the return drive.
3:00 PM to 3:30 PM or 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM	Stop to sightsee Arboretum Trsteno, a botanical garden near Dubrovnik, orstop for lunch in Ston on Peljesac.
4:30 PM to 6:30 PM	Traveling back home.
6:30 PM	Return to holiday home.

This is just a draft of the itinerary for the private tour to Dubrovnik. You may decide you want to spend more or less time in Dubrovnik town and make more or less stops along the way. The table includes the option of a very early start at 7 AM, but you can also opt for an 8 AM start which moves each of the suggested times 1 hour ahead.

Panoramic view of Dubrovnik from the viewpoint of Hill Srd, Photo Credit: VIP Holiday Booker

Dubrovnik Walking Tour

On your first visit to Dubrovnik Old Town, we always recommend you take the Dubrovnik Old Town Guided Walking Tour. The tour of the old town lasts approximately one hour and the guide will show you the most important landmarks of this historic old town. Moreover, our guides are all locals, and they will happily share some hidden gems around the town as well as actual stories, not only historical facts.

Onofrio's Fountain, Photo Credit: VIP Holiday Booker

Once you step into the old town of Dubrovnik, you will easily imagine life as it was once, and connect all the palaces, monuments, churches, and sights with the stories about Dubrovnik you will hear during this tour. Learn about living in Dubrovnik, culture, and gastronomy, and learn about important events dating back from the medieval age to the Homeland War, and more recent development periods.

Dubrovnik Narrow Streets

In the Dubrovnik walking tour, you will see all the important sights of the old town. After the stroll along the Stradun or Pjaca, the main street of the old town, you will visit Duke's Palace and the church of Saint Blaise. Your guide will show you also some sights that are located off the beaten path of the Dubrovnik's main street.

The guided tour can be delivered in the language of your preferences, including English, German, Italian, Spanish, French, etc. It is just important you notify your booking agent in advance about your preferred language.

The view from Dubrovnik City Walls: Red roofs and Lokrum islet, Photo Credit: VIP Holiday Booker

For a more detailed overview of the attractions in Dubrovnik Old Town, please check our blog post:Top 7 Attractions in Dubrovnik, Croatia

Best time to visit Dubrovnik on a day trip from Split

The best months to visit Dubrovnik on a day trip are April, May, September, and October because in these months the weather is pretty warm, with lots of sun, days are longer than in winter months and you don't need to be afraid of tourist hordes.

Orange Trees in Dubrovnik, Photo Credit: VIP Holiday Booker

Months July and August are peak seasons all over the Croatian Coast, and so they are in Dubrovnik. However, if you plan smartly, you can also enjoy Dubrovnik's charms in the hot summer months avoiding the crowds.

How to avoid crowds in Dubrovnik

If you want to avoid meeting crowds of cruise ship visitors on your daily visit to Dubrovnik, the answer is to go as early in the morning as you can or to visit Dubrovnik off the season.

Dubrovnik is one of the most popular travel destinations all over Europe, and it is often visited by cruise ships. Back in time, the visitors from cruise ships would flood the old town making it almost impossible navigating through narrow streets and alleys.

In recent years local authorities worked wisely on how to avoid large crowds and to lower the pressure on the city's infrastructure of a large number of visitors at once

Cruise Ship port in Dubrovnik

The number of cruise ship arrivals is now regulated, and while there used to be as many as 9,000 visitors from cruise ships in one day, now that number is at a maximum of 4,000 daily visitors.

If you arrange a day trip to Dubrovnik with our agents, and you have flexibility, our agents will always check which day is expected to be the least crowded, i.e. the least number of cruise ship calls, and will accordingly suggest the best time to visit Dubrovnik.

Also, the City of Dubrovnik has released the Dubrovnik Visitor App, which uses artificial intelligence to provide forecasts of crowds in the city.

Do you need to cross the border when traveling from Split to Dubrovnik by car

The answer is simple, you don't need to cross the border when driving from Split to Dubrovnik.

Till the end of July 2022, traveling by road from Split to Dubrovnik included a border crossing with Bosnia in Herzegovina. On July 26th, 2022, the Peljesac Bridge was open for traffic and since then, you don't need to take any border crossings when traveling in both directions.

Peljesac Bridge, Photo Credit: VIP Holiday Booker

We mention it here with special emphasis, because most of the older articles in travel magazines, posts on forums, and social networks remind travelers that they will need to cross the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina if they travel from Split to Dubrovnik. This is no longer the case, and you don't have to worry about getting into traffic jams at border crossings.

The road now leads you through the picturesque landscape from Split through the Dalmatian Countryside, to the valley of the Neretva River, and over the bridge to the Peljesac peninsula, known for its fertile vineyards. From Peljesac, the drive continues along the coast to Dubrovnik and you can enjoy beautiful views all the time.

What to wear and what to bring with you on a day trip to Dubrovnik

We recommend wearing comfortable non-slip walking shoes, headgear for protection from high sun, and sunscreen. Furthermore, we recommend comfortable clothing according to the time of the year. If visiting an old town during the hot summer months, take at least a bottle of water per person. Of course, you can purchase it once you arrive.

Dubrovnik City Walls: Photo credit: VIP Holiday Booker

If you want to learn more about Dubrovnik and where to go swimming, check out our blog 7 most memorable Dubrovnik beaches.

We also have a Dubrovnik Luxury Travel Guide where you can see useful information and villas in Dubrovnik, just in case a one-day trip is not enough for you!