Leave Split by boat and within an hour you are among islands that feel far removed from the city: Šolta with its quiet inlets, Brač with the pebble spit of Zlatni Rat and, further out, Vis with Biševo and Ravnik, home to the Blue Cave and the Green Cave. This guide covers where boats leave from, the routes worth your day, the rules updated in 2025 and 2026, and what a skippered charter really includes.
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Quick answer: Split by boat
- Best departure harbour: ACI Marina Split, a short walk from the old town. Trogir if you stay near the airport.
- Best half day route: Šolta’s west coast (Maslinica and its islets) with a swim stop on the way back.
- Best full day route: Vis, the Blue Cave on Biševo, Stiniva and Budikovac by fast boat.
- Best months: June and September.
- What to book ahead: a skipper and boat for July and August, waterfront hotel rooms, and a table ashore for lunch on Vis.
This guide is part of our Croatia by Boat series; the hub on Croatia yacht charter links every region, from Istria to Dubrovnik.
Check prices and availability
Split is the most practical base for boat days in Central Dalmatia, with the widest choice of hotels near the marinas and ferry quays. Waterfront rooms go early for June to September.
Harbours and marinas: where boats leave from
- ACI Marina Split: the main yacht marina, at the western end of the city harbour below Marjan hill, open all year. A short walk from the old town; from Split airport allow around 30 to 40 minutes by car, longer in summer traffic.
- Split city harbour: the ferry and catamaran port east of the Riva, also used for speedboat pick ups. Convenient, but hectic in July and August.
- Trogir: ACI Marina Trogir sits on Čiovo, across the bridge from the old town, and is open all year. The airport is only a few kilometres away, and Šolta and the Drvenik islands are closer from here.
- Milna (Brač): a sheltered harbour on Brač’s west coast with an ACI marina open all year; a natural lunch or overnight stop.
- Bol (Brač) and Vis town: both have catamaran links to Split. Starting from Vis town or Komiža turns the Blue Cave into a short hop.
Without a private boat: the state operator Jadrolinija runs car ferries and passenger catamarans from Split to Supetar and Bol on Brač, Rogač on Šolta and Vis. Check sailing times and book ahead in summer.
Five routes in detail
Times assume a fast motor boat in calm conditions; a sailing yacht or wooden boat takes roughly twice as long.
1. Half day: Šolta’s west coast and Nečujam
Head for Maslinica on Šolta’s western tip, a small harbour village facing uninhabited islets with clear, sheltered water for a long swim. Return along the north coast to Nečujam, a deep bay with pine shade. Around 30 to 40 minutes each way. Best for a first day on the water and anyone not keen on open sea.
2. Half day from Trogir: the Drvenik islands and Šolta
The Drvenik islands lie a short run west of Trogir. The shallow channel by the Krknjaši islets off Drvenik Veli, often called the Blue Lagoon, has bright, sandy water but fills with day boats from late morning. Continue to Maslinica for lunch. Around 20 to 30 minutes between stops.
3. Full day: Brač, Milna and Zlatni Rat
Cross to Milna, roughly 30 minutes, for coffee on the harbour, then follow Brač’s south coast east to Bol. Zlatni Rat, the pebble spit west of Bol, shifts shape with wind and current and is best seen first from the water. Swim, lunch in Bol, and stop in a Šolta cove on the way back. Five to seven hours. If you have time on a longer charter, Hvar is just across the channel from Bol; see our guide to Hvar and the Pakleni Islands by boat.
4. Full day: Vis, the Blue Cave, Stiniva and Budikovac
The classic, and the longest. Vis lies well out to sea, an hour or more from Split by fast boat, and the crossing can be lively. Most skippers head first to Biševo for the Blue Cave (Modra špilja), about 4.5 nautical miles off Komiža, then work back east. Stiniva, on Vis’s south coast, is a cove enclosed by high cliffs with a narrow opening; you swim or take a tender to the beach. Ravnik hides the Green Cave (Zelena špilja), lit through an opening in the roof, and nearby Budikovac has a shallow lagoon and a restaurant ashore. Allow ten hours, and start early.
5. Longer: three to five days of island hopping
A relaxed loop runs Split, Milna, Bol, Hvar, Vis (overnight in Vis town or Komiža), the caves and back via Šolta. Seven days lets you continue toward Korčula; our Dubrovnik by boat guide picks up from there. Coming from Italy on your own keel? Our guide to crossing from Italy to Croatia by boat covers entry formalities.
The Blue Cave: how a visit works
The Blue Cave sits in Balun cove on Biševo’s east side. Sunlight enters through an underwater opening and turns the water luminous blue; the entrance is only about 1.5 metres high. The Komiža tourist board recommends visiting between about 10 am and 2 pm, depending on the season, while the Split tourist board suggests 9 am to 1 pm.
- No private boats inside: visitors transfer at the Mezuporat quay on Biševo to the small official boats that enter the cave. You do not swim in the Blue Cave.
- Tickets: bought on site at Mezuporat; current prices are published via the Komiža tourist board. We found no official online booking or timed slot system, and travel reports describe numbered tickets and waits in peak summer. Ask whether entry is included.
- Closures: visits stop when the swell is too high for the small boats to pass the entrance, decided on the day. We found no announced 2026 closure dates.
If you know Capri’s Blue Grotto, the experience is similar: a few magical minutes in a small boat after a wait outside. Our guide to Capri by boat covers the Italian original.
Rules: protected areas, anchoring, speed and fees in 2026
There is no national park in this stretch of sea; the nearest, Krka and Kornati, are covered in our Kornati and Krka by boat guide. Rules here come from the national navigation ordinance, the Split harbour master’s local notices and the protection of individual sites.
Protected sites around Vis
According to the Vis Archipelago UNESCO Global Geopark, the Blue Cave has been protected as a geomorphological natural monument since 1951, and the Green Cave on Ravnik and Stiniva since 1967. Entering the Monk Seal Cave (Medvidina špilja) on Biševo by boat is prohibited. Never anchor on seagrass.
Stiniva: anchoring
Our research turned up contradictory information here: one sailing guide says anchoring off Stiniva is not allowed and only a few buoys exist, while another travel source describes boats anchoring offshore. It was not clear to us which applies, so follow your skipper and any buoys or signs on the day.
Distances from bathing areas, anchoring and mooring
Croatia’s navigation safety ordinance (NN 52/2025, in force since 29 March 2025) was amended by NN 40/2026, published on 17 April 2026. Boats must keep clear of the marked boundary of a designated bathing area: vessels under 15 metres must stay more than 50 metres off, those from 15 to under 30 metres more than 100 metres, and those of 30 metres or more over 300 metres. Under the 2025 ordinance, tying lines to trees or other vegetation is forbidden, and the harbour master’s office can prohibit anchoring in specific places.
Speed limits and swimming
Our research turned up contradictory information on speed limits: translations of the 2025 ordinance cite 8 knots within 300 metres of the coast and in narrow channels, while other sources say limits are set in local harbour notices, so confirm current figures for the Split area with the skipper or the harbour master. Swim only with the skipper’s agreement, never in harbour mouths or ferry lanes.
Fees
Buoy fields in Vis, Komiža and many bays charge per night, and cave entry is extra. No official body publishes a single price list, so ask the harbour or the skipper.
Types of boat and what a skippered charter includes
- RIB or speedboat: the usual choice for Vis. Fast, but bumpy and short on shade.
- Traditional wooden boat (gajeta or pasara style): slow and comfortable for Šolta and Brač.
- Motor yacht: shade, a cabin and a toilet; the comfortable way to Vis.
- Sailing yacht or catamaran: best for several days of island hopping.
Usually included: skipper, boat, snorkelling gear, soft drinks and water, and fuel for an agreed route (confirm in writing).
Often excluded: extra fuel for route changes, cave entry tickets, lunch ashore, buoy and harbour fees, transfers to the marina and gratuities.
Bareboat: to skipper yourself, at least one person aboard needs a boat licence recognised by the Croatian Ministry of the Sea, and charter bases generally also ask for a VHF radio certificate. Confirm with the charter base before you book. Given the open crossing to Vis, a skipper is the sensible choice for most first visits.
Route comparison
| Route | Departure | Duration | Highlights | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Šolta west coast | Split | Half day | Maslinica islets, Nečujam | First boat day, families |
| Drvenik and Šolta | Trogir | Half day | Blue Lagoon, Maslinica | Guests near the airport |
| Brač and Zlatni Rat | Split, Trogir | Full day | Milna, Brač south coast, Bol | Beach lovers, a relaxed pace |
| Vis and the caves | Split, Trogir, Vis | Long full day | Blue Cave, Stiniva, Green Cave, Budikovac | Sea cave enthusiasts |
| Island hopping loop | Split, Trogir | Three to seven days | Milna, Bol, Hvar, Vis, Komiža | Couples, friends on a yacht |
Best months, winds and practical tips
When to go: June and September offer warm water and fewer boats. July and August are busiest, with Blue Cave queues and full buoy fields on Vis. May and October are lovely but less predictable.
Winds: the maestral, a north westerly breeze, builds on summer afternoons and makes the run to Vis choppy. The bura, a gusty north easterly, can blow hard near Split with little warning. The jugo, from the south east, brings a swell that can close the Blue Cave. A good skipper will swap routes rather than force the plan.
- Bring reef shoes, a hat and a light layer for the run home.
- Prone to seasickness? Take remedies before you leave and choose a larger boat for Vis.
- Book July and August boats several weeks ahead, and keep a spare day in case the wind blocks the Vis crossing.
Charlotte’s tip: put Vis early in your stay
Plan the Vis day early in your stay, not on your last day. If the jugo closes the cave, you still have days in hand. Ask for an early start to reach Biševo before most day boats, and confirm in writing whether cave tickets are included.
Check prices and availability
Staying in Split puts ACI Marina Split and the ferry port within walking distance. Compare hotels before the summer rush.
Where to stay near the harbours
Opening periods were not confirmed for every hotel, so ask if you travel outside summer.
Hotel Ambasador, Split
A five star hotel on Split’s western waterfront, reopened in 2022 on the site of a hotel first opened in 1937, with 101 rooms and suites, a rooftop pool, the Hacelia Spa and a waterfront restaurant. ACI Marina Split and the old town are within walking distance.
Best for: travellers who want to walk to the boat and to Diocletian’s Palace.
Check rates at Hotel Ambasador
Le Méridien Lav, Split (Podstrana)
A resort in Podstrana, about 11 km south of Split, with its own marina below the terrace, an infinity pool, the Diocletian spa and several restaurants and bars. Ask whether your skipper can collect you from the hotel’s marina, which saves the drive into Split.
Best for: resort comforts with a pick up on the doorstep.
Check rates at Le Méridien Lav
Hotel Brown Beach House & Spa, Trogir
A 42 room hotel on the Trogir waterfront, about 5 km from Split airport, with indoor and outdoor pools, a wellness area and a seasonal pebble beach across the road. ACI Marina Trogir is a short taxi ride away; ask the hotel about pick ups.
Best for: arriving and leaving by air, with the Drvenik and Šolta routes close by.
Check rates at Hotel Brown Beach House & Spa
Hotel San Giorgio, Vis
A small boutique hotel in Vis town’s older quarter, with around ten rooms and suites and the Boccadoro restaurant. Staying here turns the Blue Cave, Stiniva and Budikovac into short hops, and the town quay is a stroll along the bay.
Best for: a night or two on Vis to see the caves before the day boats arrive.
Check rates at Hotel San Giorgio
Before or after the charter, read our guide to Split and Diocletian’s Palace, compare the best luxury hotels in Croatia and find out where to play tennis in Dubrovnik and Split.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you take a private boat into the Blue Cave?
No. Visitors transfer at Mezuporat on Biševo to the small official boats, and buy tickets there. Visits stop when the swell is high.
Is a day trip from Split to Vis and the Blue Cave too long?
It is a full day with an open sea crossing each way. It works on a fast, comfortable boat in settled weather; otherwise spend a night on Vis.
Which is better as a base, Split or Trogir?
Split has more hotels and departures; Trogir is closer to the airport and the Drvenik islands.
Do I need a licence to hire a boat in Croatia?
Not for a skippered charter. To skipper yourself you need a licence recognised by the Croatian Ministry of the Sea, and usually a VHF certificate.
