Split Island Hopping Tour — Blue Lagoon & 3-Island Cruise

The featured Blue Lagoon and 3-island cruise starts from $87 per person, including a full 9-hour day at sea, the Blue Lagoon, three Dalmatian islands, food and drinks, and multiple swim stops. Across all our listed tours, prices run from about $74 for a small-group speedboat trip up to $120 for the full-day Blue Cave and 5-island speedboat tour. Cave entry fees on the Biševo trips are paid separately in cash.

It depends on what you want. For an easy, swim-focused day close to Split, the Blue Lagoon 3-island cruise is the most popular pick — our featured tour holds a 4.8/5 rating from over 2,747 guests. If you want the sea caves, the full-day Blue Cave and 5-island speedboat tour is the one to book. Use the comparison table above to match the trip to your priorities.

They're completely different places. The Blue Lagoon (Krknjaši) is a shallow, sheltered swimming bay near Trogir and Drvenik Veli — the water glows turquoise because the seabed is pale sand, and it's only about 30–45 minutes from Split by speedboat. The Blue Cave (Modra špilja) is an enclosed sea cave on Biševo island, far to the south beyond Vis; sunlight through a submerged opening lights the chamber electric blue. The Blue Cave is a full-day trip, is weather-dependent, and you look rather than swim.

The classic 3-island Blue Lagoon cruise stays close to Split, visiting the Blue Lagoon plus stops around Šolta, Drvenik, and Čiovo. The longer 5- and 6-island tours head south to Biševo (Blue Cave), Vis (Stiniva cove and Komiža), and Hvar with its Pakleni Islands, sometimes adding the Green Cave on Ravnik. Brač, home of the famous Zlatni Rat beach at Bol, features on some routes too.

It varies by itinerary. Half-day 3-island Blue Lagoon cruises run around five hours. Our featured Blue Lagoon cruise is a full 9-hour day. The full-day Blue Cave and 5-island tours are the longest, typically 10–11 hours with an early morning departure and an evening return, because they cover far more open sea.

A 3-island tour is shorter, calmer, cheaper, and centred on swimming at the Blue Lagoon — ideal for a relaxed day or a first visit. A 5-island tour is a longer, higher-energy full day that reaches the Blue Cave, Stiniva cove, and Hvar, so you see much more but spend more time travelling. Choose the 3-island cruise for swimming and ease; the 5-island for the caves and bigger scenery.

A speedboat is faster, takes a small group, reaches more (and farther) islands including the Blue Cave, and packs in more stops — but it's bumpier and windier, so bring a layer. A catamaran or larger cruiser is slower and covers fewer islands, but it's more stable and comfortable (better for seasickness and families), cheaper per person, and usually includes food and an onboard bar. Pick the speedboat for range and adventure, the catamaran for comfort and value.

The season runs roughly May to September, with June through August the hottest and busiest — book ahead in high summer. May and late September into October are quieter and milder. The sea is actually at its warmest in late August and September (around 25 °C) and stays swimmable into early autumn.

Almost all tours leave from Split's old harbour, most often the Matejuška pier at the west end of the Riva waterfront promenade, a short walk from the Old Town and Diocletian's Palace. Some operators use ACI Marina Split or other nearby piers. Your exact departure point is listed on your booking confirmation, so check it the evening before.

No — swimming is not allowed inside the Blue Cave on Biševo. Visitors enter briefly in small official transfer boats to see the blue light effect, then move on. If you want to swim inside a sea cave, look for a tour that includes the Green Cave (Zelena špilja) on Ravnik island near Vis, where swimming is permitted.

Pack sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, a towel, swimwear, and plenty of water. Bring a light long-sleeve layer — speedboats get windy and cool, especially in the shoulder season. On the full-day Blue Cave trips carry some cash for the separate cave entry fee, as there's no ATM on Biševo. Water shoes are handy for pebble beaches and rocky entries.

Yes. Every island-hopping cruise from Split includes multiple swimming and snorkelling stops in sheltered bays such as the Blue Lagoon and island coves. Snorkel gear is often provided on the larger boats. The only exception is the Blue Cave itself, where you view the cave rather than swim.

With a 4.8 out of 5 rating from more than 2,747 guests, the featured Blue Lagoon cruise is one of the best-rated boat tours from Split. For around $87 you get a full day on the Adriatic, the turquoise Blue Lagoon, three Dalmatian islands, food and drinks, and several swim stops — the kind of day most visitors call a highlight of their trip to Croatia. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before means it's an easy booking to lock in.