How Split boat tours differ
Split boat tours are easiest to compare by the shape of the day: long-distance island hopping, a cruise built around swimming, or a catamaran combining time afloat with a guided island visit. The number of islands alone says little about how much time remains for each stop. Choose the main experience first, then compare duration, meals and the equipment included in the fare.
The three options here offer different combinations. The ten-hour five-island speedboat includes captain and sailor, fuel, bottled water and snorkelling equipment. The eight-hour Blue Lagoon cruise includes meals and drinks. The full-day catamaran adds a guided visit and free time ashore. For the cave destination itself, use the Blue Cave guide; for time in the water, see snorkelling from Split.
Our picks: Boat trips
Choose a boat with snorkeling equipment or a catamaran day trip with swim breaks and a meal. Check conditions before departure because trips depend on weather.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide and Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Boat trip with captain and sailor
- Captain and Sailor
- Fuel
- Use of Snorkelling equipment
Water is provided. The trip depends on weather; cave admission is not listed as included.
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Catamaran day trip with swim breaks
- 3 swim breaks
- Menu (local pastry, chicken salad, cakes and fruit)
- All inclusive drinks: beer, red/white wine, still water, soft drinks
This is a guided day trip, not a scheduled ferry. Coffee is limited; the trip depends on weather.
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Island boat trip with lunch
- Lunch with burger and fries
- Unlimited drinks (water, lemonade, and wine)
- Use of snorkeling equipment
Breakfast doughnuts and an English-speaking crew are included. The trip depends on weather.
Check availability →Speedboat, lagoon cruise and island catamaran
Compare a ten-hour five-island speedboat, an eight-hour lagoon cruise with meals and a full-day catamaran with island time.
Boat types: speedboat and catamaran
The five-island speedboat is a ten-hour outing with a captain and sailor. Fuel, bottled water and use of snorkelling equipment are included. It is a way to make a whole day of the island route, rather than a short sightseeing circuit along the city waterfront. Treat the cave entrance separately from the transport and crew when budgeting.
The catamaran experience lasts 570 minutes overall. Its programme combines a boat excursion with a guided town visit and free time. The included menu has local pastry, chicken salad, cakes and fruit; the drinks selection includes beer, red and white wine, still water and soft drinks, with coffee listed separately as limited. This suits visitors who prefer a meal-and-island format to arranging each part independently.
Swimming stops and snorkelling equipment
The Blue Lagoon cruise lasts eight hours and starts at Obala Hrvatskog narodnog preporoda 12. Breakfast donuts, a burger lunch with fries and water, lemonade and wine are included, alongside an English-speaking crew, snorkelling equipment, sunbeds and Wi-Fi. The lunch choices are beef, tuna steak or a vegetarian burger. A deposit for snorkelling equipment is separate.
The catamaran lists three swimming breaks, while the five-island speedboat includes snorkelling equipment. These are useful differences if swimming is the reason for booking. Read the equipment and swimming comparison for the lagoon-focused options. The Blue Lagoon near Drvenik is a swimming destination; the Blue Cave on Biševo has a prohibition on bathing, swimming and diving.
Hvar within an island day
Hvar features in both the five-island speedboat and the catamaran format. The catamaran includes a two-hour combination of a professional guided town visit and free time. Decide whether that guided stop is an important part of your day, or whether your interest lies mainly in the boat journey. A tour stop and an independent island stay allow different amounts of time ashore.
For onward planning, distinguish Hvar Town from Stari Grad, the arrival port of the car ferry from Split. The Split ferry guide explains scheduled transport. Plan your visit to Hvar
Šolta as part of the route
An island swimming itinerary and a ferry journey to Šolta serve different purposes. The ferry arrives at Rogač; a boat excursion follows its own programme of stops. If your priority is an independent island visit, compare that with the cruise before choosing. Plan your visit to Šolta
Sunset on the water
Sunset is a different format from these daytime departures. An evening cruise along Marjan towards Kaštela Bay is described as a two-hour shared outing with live music. The daytime trips on this page remain daytime products. If the evening light is the main attraction, leave your daytime plan separate rather than expecting a full island excursion to become a sunset cruise.
Weather and the rest of the day
Wind and sea conditions matter when planning a boat day. A useful approach is to leave another day available for city sightseeing instead of tying the boat excursion to your final hours in Split. The weather page provides historical climate context, while current conditions determine what is practical on the water. Keep the meeting location with your booking details and allow time to reach it before boarding.
Frequently asked questions
Which cruise includes lunch?
The eight-hour Blue Lagoon cruise includes breakfast donuts and a burger lunch with fries. The catamaran has a menu of pastry, chicken salad, cakes and fruit. The ten-hour speedboat includes bottled water, fuel and snorkelling equipment.
Is the catamaran a scheduled ferry ticket?
It is a guided day excursion with food, drinks, swimming breaks and island time. For scheduled passenger or car ferry travel, use the separate ferry guide.
Can I swim inside the Blue Cave?
Bathing, swimming and diving inside the Blue Cave are prohibited. Choose a lagoon or other designated swimming stop for time in the water, following the crew’s instructions.