We all know Split has plenty to offer, and we are often riddled with a plethora of options and activities and the hard power of choosing what is best to do. Of course, as an ambassador for Split, I would never want to take you away from any of the happenings within the city. But the other really wonderful thing about Split is that it is a port city, a commuter hub, and with that comes a great deal of options to explore outside of our beloved Split. If you find yourselves in Split with a little extra time to kill, here are some quick and easy bus trips to day trip on.
First off, about 28km north of Split we have the town of Trogir. A bus from the main bus station in Split to the town of Trogir will take you about 30 minutes and should cost you no more than 25 kuna. Trogir is protected under UNESCO and was developed between the 13th and 15th centuries. Dalmatian art and architecture are depicted perfectly in Trogir through the medieval style streets, the elegant Cathedral of St. Lovro, and renaissance style gates. There is a short bridge that connects the town of Trogir to the island of Čiovo where you can find pebbled beaches and beautiful swimming.
The ancient Roman capital of Dalmatia, Salona is also only about a 30 minute bus ride from the Split bus station. Once home to Diocletian and almost 60,000 inhabitants, it was the 4th biggest town in the Roman empire. Monumental buildings were built during this time such as the amphitheatre and forums, but Salona was so badly devastated by the invasion of the Avars and the Slavs in the 7th century and later pillaged by the Venetians that the land was no longer theirs and everyone fled to Split. Although partially restored, the remnants of the amphitheatre and other buildings, the sarcophagi, later medieval structures and a museum make for a vast experience filled with rich drama for a single day trip. You can take the local 37 bus to Salona from Split which will put you at about 13 kuna one way.
Omiš is a small town located between Split and Makarska, about a 30-40 minute bus ride south of Split and is situated in the mouth of the Cetina river. Surrounded by massive gorges, Omiš became notorious for being a pirate town, and the pirate ships of Omiš are known for their centuries long symbol of retaliation, strength and courage. Omiš is perfect for adventure tourism, with its high bluffs perfect for hiking and the Cetina river great for white water rafting. The bus from Split will cost you about 20 kuna.
Šibenik is another UNESCO site and a bit farther by bus than the other bus trip destinations (this one will take about 1.5 hours and cost you no more than 60 kuna). Famed for its stunning Cathedral of St. James, Šibenik is a city of rich spiritual and material culture. With the Krka river flowing directly into the Adriatic Sea, Sibenik is the 3rd largest city in the Dalmatian region and is the oldest native Croatian town on the shores of the sea.
Have I convinced you yet to take a day break from Split yet?
