Split Island Hopping Tours

Guide to Island Hopping Tours from Split

If you want to visit as many islands in one day then choosing one of the available island hopping tours is your best choice. The tours are usually called 5 island tours, or 6 island tours, or named after the most popular attraction, Blue Cave tours. These tours take you to visit the most important and most popular island destinations near Split. Since there are lots of destinations which are far from each other, all island hopping tours are organized using speedboats. Please note that the speedboats do gain some speed and if the sea is not completely calm, the ride might get a bit bumpy. It's not necessary a bad thing, but the ride is not really a relaxing one as holding a glass full of water during the ride might be a challenge :) Just something to keep in mind, especially if you plan to take your kids. These tours have been popularized in the recent years, and most speedboat island-hopping tours have almost identical itineraries.

Apart from the destinations that are visited by island hopping tours, other destinations that are interesting to visit by a boat tour are Bol (and it's famous golden horn beach) and the Blue Lagoon (situated on the islands Krknjaši), but they are a bit out of hand so none of the island hopping tours visit these destinations. These destinations are mostly visited by bigger and slower boats and offer a more relaxing cruise. You can read more about Split boat tours in general in our helpful guide.

Here is the list of the islands that are included in almost all, if not all, island hopping tours from Split. They are listed in the most common order of visit.

1. Biševo Island (Blue Cave)

Probably the highlight of this tour, the Biševo island is the home of the popular Blue Cave. The small cave is approachable only from the sea, and due to the reflection of the sunlight through underwater openings, the whole cave is painted and sparkling in a beautiful blue color. The cave can be sometimes closed due to bad weather (but you will be informed about it before you take the tour). Since the weather is usually the best early in the morning, and the lightning in the cave is also the best during the morning, this is usually the first stop of any island hopping tour. The visits are organized by smaller boats that are waiting for you there. Sometimes there are queues when entering the cave so have some patience :) Most of the tours include the price of the entrance ticket to the Blue Cave.

2. Vis Island (Stiniva bay & Komiža)

The Vis Island is a bigger island having several smaller cities and has a regular ferry line connecting the island to Split. Some tours will stop in the small village Komiža for a quick coffee break, but most of the tours take you to visit the famous Stiniva bay, which won several awards for being one of the most beautiful bays in the world. The above image is of Stiniva Beach. As it is a very small bay, you will not be able to enter the bay with the boat, but the boats will stop in front of the bay and you will have the opportunity to take a swim there.

3. Ravnik Island (Green Cave)

The Ravnik Island is the home of the Green Cave. Another very nice cave that is frequently visited. In 2017 started charging the entrance fee (about 10€ per person), and this entrance fee is usually not included in the price of the tour. The Green Cave is a bit bigger then the Blue Cave and a plus is also that swimming is not prohibited, so fee free to jump in :)

4. Budikovac Island

Due to the amazing beach and crystal clear sea, the Budikovac Island is a popular stop for swimming, snorkeling and sunbathing during this full day island hopping tours. The island is uninhabitable and visited only by boat trippers, which makes it even more relaxing.

5. Hell's Islands (Palmižana Bay)

In front of the city of Hvar lays the Hells Islands (locally Pakleni otoci). They are a very famous destinations for yachts and other private boats as they offer many bays and one of the best fish restaurants are situated here. Some tours will stop in the most famous bay of the Hell's Islands, called Palmižana. Here you will have the opportunity to have lunch but note that the restaurants here are a bit pricier then what you might expect.

6. Hvar Island (Hvar)

The city of Hvar, situated on the Island having the same name, is one of the most popular island tourist destination in Croatia. Due to it's position, Hvar has a lot of history and ancient buildings and fortresses. You will probably not have a lot of time to explore Hvar but enough to stroll along it's main streets and get to feel the atmosphere of this vibrant tourist destination. If the timing of the tour is right, you might be able to visit the Fortica fortress in Hvar, but it's not guaranteed that you will have enough time.

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FAQs about - Split Island Hopping Tours

What are the most popular locations visited on island hopping tours from Split?

Here are the destinations visited by all island hopping tours:

Blue Cave – A unique cave accessible only by sea painted by sunlight in a shimmering blue light
Stiniva Beach – one of the most beautiful beaches of Croatia surrounded by high clifs
Hvar – a historically rich town, now also a famous tourist destination
Pakleni islands – a beautiful island archipelago just in front of the town Hvar

Other stops might include the following, but depend on a specific island hopping tour:

Monk cave
Green cave
Stončica bay
Komiža
Budikovac island

We suggest to read the tour itineraries to know the exact locations you are going to visit.

What islands are visited on island hopping tours from Split?

Island hopping tours in Split are frequently also called 5 island speedboat tours and here is the list of islands, but note that not all tours stop at every island and you should read the tour description to know the exact locations visited:

Biševo island (Blue Cave)
Vis island (Komiža, Stiniva beach, Stončica bay)
Budikovac island
Ravnik island (Green cave)
Pakleni islands
Hvar island (Hvar town)

What is the price of island hopping tours from Split?

The tours cost about 100 € per person but highly depend on specific tours and time of the year. You can get a good deal starting from 90€ per person or pay up to 140 € for a more premium island hopping tour.

How much in advance should I book an island hopping tour from Split?

Island hopping tours are all organized by speedboats that take up to 12 passengers + 2 crew members so they can get fully booked quickly. On the other hand there is large number of speedboats that daily operate so you will probably find availability even a day before on some tour. If you would like to have more options it is suggested to book a week before, or at least 2-3 days in advance.

When is the start time of island hopping tours from Split?

As the first destination, the Blue cave, is best viewed early in the morning, most tours depart at about 07:30 – 08:00.

Is it possible to avoid crowds on island hopping tours?

As speedboats take up to 12 people, they are always a small group experience. However the places visited, such as the Blue cave, can be crowded especially during July and August. To avoid crowds it is recommended to join the tour early June or late September.

How long are the island hopping tours from Split?

As a lot of destinations are visited, island hopping tours are a full day experience lasting about 10-11 hours.

What payment options are available for joining an island hopping tour from Split?

Most tours require an online prepayment by credit card. Some tours however offer you the possibility to book without a credit card and pay in cash on the day of the tour – you can view these tours here.

Are the island hopping tours suitable for children?

Island hopping tours are not recommended for children younger than 3 years. Here you can find boat tours from Split suitable for children.

Are the island hopping tours suitable for pregnant women?

As the sea might be a bit rough especially in the afternoon during the return to Split, it is not recommended for pregnant women or people with back problems. Here you can find boat tours form Split suitable for pregnant women.

Can I take my luggage on trips island hopping tours from Split

If you have luggage it is recommended to book a tour which is operated by a larger speedboat which has a space to safely store your luggage. Otherwise it is recommended to check beforehand to see if there will be enough room for your luggage.

Can I leave the tour at Hvar instead of returning to Split?

Yes – as the last stop of all island hopping tours is Hvar, it’s a great idea to join a tour and leave at Hvar if you plan to spend a few days there.

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Our guests personal experiences on Split Island Hopping Tours

(4.6/5 based on 126 reviews)

Simple and efficient booking process with Happy To Visit. Quick confirmation and good customer service. Reminder message the night before confirming pick up time and place was a nice touch. Early start but well worth it, what a fabulous day out. Mayer Charter Hosts were welcoming, friendly and knowledgeable. Beautiful islands with plenty of time to explore, swim or eat. Blue Cave unfortunately closed due to tide levels (Mother Nature for you!) but guides adjusted times elsewhere to make the most of our day. Bit disappointed in Green Caves (for the cost) but if this goes toward conservation and protection of the gorgeous clean waters then money well spent. Hvar on the other hand was stunning, and the hike up to the castle is well worth the views from the top. The open water ride out and back was extremely rough due to the wind & waves, but handled expertly by Anthony. Felt completely at ease and safe in his hands. Top tip for the ladies though, wear a sports bra..,a bikini just doesn’t cut-it bumping over the waves!! 🤣 A fun filled day trip which I’d highly recommend, thank you Mayer Charter and Happy to Visit 💯👍

Angela W.

On excursion: Blue Cave - Five Islands Tour from Split

We had a great day during this trip. Everything was well organized, and the process was easy with HAPPYtoVISIT.com The lunch was sufficient, only we could eat more bread, not only one piece .... the fish was tasty and enough. Drinks were fine. I would recommend it who would like to have a wonderful time at Blue Lagoon!

Katalin G.

On excursion: Full Day Boat Trip to Blue Lagoon, Island Šolta, Čiovo and Trogir from Split and Trogir

It was a lovely trip, we had the chance to visit the places without much crowd given that the previous day it rained. The guides were very kind and showed us a lot of exciting places. They made a pre-reservation to a restaurant in case you wanted to have lunch there. We did not know about this and for this reason, we prepared our own lunch. It would have been great if we had known this beforehand given that the restaurant looked really nice. They give you enough time to visit and take pictures of every destination. They also help you all the time to get in and out of the boat. The trip was at some times a bit abrupt because there were big waves. This was a bit scary sometimes. But the guides knew how to minimize the impact and we felt safe almost all the time.

Marta E., Spain

On excursion: Blue Cave Tour with Luxury Boat from Split

Helpful, polite and well organized staff. Good atmosphere during the whole tour. A big pluss for the boat docking at piers, allowing us to boarder when we were finished swimming/sightseeing and so, instead of either waiting for departure, or swimming out to the boat like the ones who had anchored up instead of docking. My best recommendation!

Laila Haugbro H.

On excursion: Three Island Tour (Blue Lagoon, Shipwreck, Maslinica) from Split

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