The Best 3 Boat Tours in Split – prices, itineraries, and more

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A Complete Guide to the Best 3 Island Tours in Split, including the Cost, Duration, and What to Expect!

Frequently Asked Questions About Boat Tours in Split

How long does the bout tour last?

If you want to join a bout tour in Split (and trust me, you should!), keep in mind that you need to plan a whole day for it. The best tours start at 8am-8:30am and take 8-10 hours. All tours require you to arrive at least 30 minutes earlier. They take you to more remote places, which are located further from Split. The only other thing you should plan on the day of the tour is a dinner reservation.

Which islands are usually included in the tour?

The most popular stops include Hvar, Vis, Biševo (home to the Blue Cave), and the Pakleni Islands, along with hidden bays and secluded beaches. Not all tours follow the same route. Therefore, I have compiled a list of three, so you can choose the one that best fits your preferences. Some tours also offer island visits, while others only take you to swimming and snorkeling areas.

What should I bring on the boat tour?

There are some essentials that you need to pack – swimwear or two, sunscreen, watershoes, a hat, a towel, and a light jacket (it can get chilly in the evening or windy on the boat). I would recommend packing a snorkeling set, even if the boat does not specifically mention that it takes you to beautiful snorkeling areas. If you want to use your phone to take underwater pictures, I recommend this cover that I use (please read the instructions carefully). Moreover, if there is a planned island visit, you can pack an extra outfit.

Are food and drinks included?

That totally depends on the tour. Many of them provide snacks or lunch, and some drinks. If you have specific dietary requirements, make sure to inform the tour company, and pack some food as a backup. It is also good to have a bottle of water. We chose an all-inclusive tour, and had no worry about food or drink. Be careful with bringing alcoholic beverages on board. Most tours offer drinks, and do not allow guests to bring their own drinks due to safety reasons.

Is the tour suitable for families or non-swimmers?

In general, yes, as all boats provide life vests for non-swimmers. However, I would say that not all tours are suitable for families with small children or non-swimmers. For example, speedboats can be bumpy, and party boats can be too overwhelming. For non-swimmers, I would advise choosing a tour that includes an island visit and does not heavily focus on snorkeling spots.

Breakdown of the 3 Best Island Boat Tours in Split

Now that we’ve covered frequently asked questions about bout tours in Split, you are ready to choose the best tour that fits your preferences.

Below, I’ll go over the top 3 boat tours in Split that I recommend, including their prices, duration, what’s included, and what to expect from each tour. I hope this shortlist will guide you to experience the best island boat tour in Split.

#1 Hvar, Pakleni, Brač & Šolta All-inclusive Tour

After careful consideration, I decided to skip the places that many boats might sail to, and instead choose a more laid-back option, an all-inclusive catamaran tour that takes you to the most beautiful bays to swim and offers an opportunity to visit Hvar Island for two hours. As I personally experienced this trip, I highly recommend it!

If you forget to pack snorkeling gear, do not worry, there are plenty of masks for everyone. Another must-have item to pack is watershoes. We swam in Brac Island for an hour, rested, and got ready for the next stop, Hvar Island.

With this tour, you can spend 2 hours on the iconic Hvar island, and there is a tour guide waiting for you upon your arrival. My husband and I chose to explore the island at our own pace.

We wanted to visit Fortica Fortress for the stunning view, but we were running out of time. We found the only quad rental that has hourly rates and rented a quad to go up to the Fortress! MI & TI is a car rental company run by a couple, and we highly recommend them for your visit to Hvar.

It was a very enjoyable 5-minute ride to the fortress. You could also hike up there for 15 minutes from the main square. Although you can enjoy a stunning view of the city and the sea from the hill, we decided to enter the fortress and wander through its walls.

On the way to our next stop, we were served Caesar salad as lunch. We had several stunning bays all to ourselves. Usually, several boats visit the same popular bay, and it gets overcrowded. I loved how we were the only boat at all our stops. During our last stop, we were served fresh fruits and muffins. The vibe in the boat was amazing, and on the way back to Split, it turned into a fun party! And we arrived back at Split Harbor exactly in 10 hours and 18:30.

Summer Blues offers several other tours from Split, all in a luxury catamaran. Without a doubt, they have the prettiest and most luxurious boats on Split Harbor.

#2 Blue Cave, Mamma Mia, Hvar, and 5 Island Tour

This is the most booked and highest-rated boat tour. This top-rated tour is a full-day speedboat adventure that allows you to explore some of the most stunning sights along the coast of Split. Although it does not include food and drinks, it includes a guide, snorkeling gear, windproof jackets, and life jackets.

It departs quite early compared to other similar tours and takes you to Biševo Island as its first stop. There you can choose to visit Blue Cave for an extra fee. This marvelous cave gets its name from its mesmerizing glow emitted by sunlight reflecting through its water and illuminating the cave in vibrant shades of blue. You can witness this phenomenon only by entering the cave with a small boat.

There is an additional fee to visit this cave, which is standard for all tours. The ticket fee changes depending on the season and you can pay for it only with cash:

• April 1 – May 31: €12/person
• June 1 – June 19: €18/person
• June 20 – September 10: €24/person
• September 11 – October 31: €18/person

After the Blue Cave, the tour continues to the fishing village of Komiža on Vis Island. Komiža also served as a filming location for “Mamma Mia 2”, hence the name of the tour. There you will have an hour to explore the village and enjoy a cup of coffee with some local pastries. You can also choose to enjoy the pebble beaches or wait for the next stop to swim at Stiniva Cove. It is one of the most beautiful beaches in Europe, and only accessible by boat.

The next stop is another famous stop for many boats, Budikovac Blue Lagoon (not to be confused with Blue Cave). Here, you can soak up the sun and the sea, swim and snorkel in crystal-clear water, and meet the donkeys of the island. Alternatively, when it is off-season, or the weather is not pleasant enough, the boat can take you to swim near the Pakleni islands.

#3 Blue Lagoon, Shipwreck, & Šolta with Lunch & Drinks

If you would enjoy swimming over a shipwreck and prefer to have less intense boat rides, this tour might be for you.

As the first stop, the boat takes you to the Shipwreck of Kontesa by Nečujam on Šolta Island. You will have around an hour to swim over the sunken boat. This 25-meter-long boat was built in 1943 as a cargo vessel during World War II. Later, it was converted into a passenger ship until it sank in the 1980s due to a storm. Fortunately, all passengers and crew members were rescued safely. Now it is a habitat for a wide range of fish, octopuses, crabs, and many other sea creatures.

The next stop is Maslinica, a small and charming fishing village on Šolta Island. You will have around 2 hours to wander around the village, visit its beaches, or enjoy people watching in the marina with a cup of coffee.

Later, lunch will be served on board. They offer three options of burgers: beef, tuna, and vegetarian burgers, served with fries. You will be asked to provide your preference in the morning. They also start serving wine with lunch.

The last stop is Krknjaši Blue Lagoon, another beach known for its crystal-clear turquoise waters. The boat tour company has a private beach on the coast. What I liked about this tour (besides the snorkeling over a ship!) was that they provided stand-up paddleboards, inflatables, and goggles to have extra fun on the water.

Like all other boat tours, they will return to their departing spot in Split harbor. I think this tour can be extra fun, especially for families with children.

Other Things to Do in Split

Taking a boat tour to several islands in Split is absolutely the best way to experience the area. But if you have more time in Split, there are still a bunch of things to do! Whether you are spending 3 days in Split, or just looking for alternative activities, this small coastal city still has many gems to offer! Here is the list of my other favorite activities:

➡️ Read Next: Make sure to check out my ultimate guide “Three Days in Split” including a free map of the top places in the city.

➡️ Read Next: Where To Eat In Split – Top Restaurants And Hidden Gems

Final Thoughts

Whether you are looking to have unique experiences, such as visiting a cave or snorkeling over a shipwreck, or want to have a fun, relaxing day at the most beautiful bays of Split, these top-rated boat tours will provide that.

I hope this guide has helped you choose the best boat tour for your Split trip.

Don’t forget to pin this post for future planning!