If the famous Split to Dubrovnik drive is a part of your Croatia itinerary, this blog post is for you.
Split and Dubrovnik are Croatia’s two most popular cities and they’re usually on everyone’s holiday itinerary. Between these cities, people usually take a private transfer, rent a car, or go by bus, depending on their budget.
If you’re driving a car from Split to Dubrovnik, here are the best stops along the way. Stop at any location you wish, none of them will disappoint you!
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SPLIT TO DUBROVNIK DRIVE: HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE & IS IT WORTH IT?
Split is located in central Dalmatia, whereas Dubrovnik is one of the southernmost points of Croatia. If you take the highway from Split to Dubrovnik you’ll be there in under 3 hours. The sad thing is, on the highway you won’t have any exciting views or stops.
That’s why I would recommend taking Jadranska Magistrala, a scenic road along the coast which is slower, but gives you many incredible opportunities to explore even more of Croatia.
If you choose to go by Jadranska Magistrala, solely the drive will take around 3.5 hours. If you add in some of these stops, you can easily make it a day trip.
Here are my absolute stops you need to include in your drive towards the south of Croatia.
Read more >>>
DUBROVNIK: ULTIMATE TRAVEL GUIDE
SPLIT TO DUBROVNIK DRIVE: LOCATIONS ALONG THE WAY YOU CANNOT MISS
OMIS
Omis is a tiny but lovely town only 30 minutes away from Split, so it’s perfect for your first stop. While you can enjoy several days in Omis and do all kinds of activities, for a quick stop like this it’s enough to walk through the old town and visit one or both fortresses this town houses. Omis also has a stunning beach if you want to dip into the sea as soon as possible.
Read more >>> 5 BEST THINGS TO DO IN OMIS
MAKARSKA RIVIERA
Makarska Riviera is one of the prettiest parts of Croatia’s Adriatic coast. If you’re not visiting it for a longer period of time, at least stop for a few hours. It’s only 60-90 km away from Split, depending on where you want to stop. That means that within 1-1.5 hours you already have a stop worthy of your time.
Makarska Riviera is a stretch of coastline known for its beautiful beaches, crystal-clear waters, and vibrant nightlife. Some of the most popular towns are Brela, Baška Voda, and Makarska. These towns are perfect for a seaside stop where you can relax at the beach for a few hours and continue on after a quick swim at some of Croatia’s most beautiful beaches. I would absolutely not skip this stop on your Split to Dubrovnik drive!
Read more >>> 9 BEST THINGS TO DO IN MAKARSKA
BIOKOVO NATURE PARK
If you’re not up for a swim, you can make a stop for Biokovo Nature Park, also near Makarska. It will take you 15 minutes to reach Biokovo from Makarska, and it’s worth a stop if you like nature.
Biokovo Mountain range offers stunning views of the mountains as well as the Makarska Riviera, right beneath the mountains. The Biokovo Skywalk is a new, major attraction at the nature park because it offers incredible views from a glass bridge off a side of a cliff. Biokovo Nature Park is a great stop for those who love hiking and panoramic views of the Adriatic Sea.
THE NERETVA VALLEY
The Neretva Valley in Croatia is famous for its beautiful landscapes, rich history, and diverse activities. It’s an hour away from Biokovo Nature Park and you can either stop and enjoy exploring the valley, or you can pass through it and enjoy the view from several viewpoints down the road.
If you choose to experience one of the most untouched parts of Croatian nature, you can enjoy incredible food, take boat tours, go cycling or hiking, or even go windsurfing. The adventure awaits you here, and a few hours might not even be enough.
THE PELJESAC PENINSULA
If you feel like exploring the Peljesac Peninsula, here’s exactly where you should go!
Firstly, stop by the stunning, new Peljesac bridge which finally connects Dubrovnik with the rest of Croatia. It’s magnificent and totally worth a stop and some admiring.
Secondly, Peljesac is famous for its vineyards, particularly for producing the renowned Dingac wine. That means that there are stunning wineries all over the peninsula offering wine tastings and vineyard tours. If you’re a wine lover, it’s a must! You can also explore the incredible oyster farms if you love sea food.
You can also visit small villages and towns which are rarely crowded with tourists and you can enjoy them in all their glory. Orebic is one of the cutest places on Peljesac peninsula, and an additional plus is that Korcula is only 15 minutes by ferry from there.
KORCULA (optional detour)
If you’re up for a bit of a detour, you can also visit one of Croatia’s prettiest islands on your Split to Dubrovnik drive. If you’re visiting Pelješac, from the town of Orebic you can get to Korcula in 15 minutes for cheap! As Korcula is one of the most stunning parts of Croatia I’ve ever visited, I would highly recommend it.
Obviously, you can’t explore the whole island in a few hours, but you can definitely check out all the highlights of the Korcula town. The town has a gorgeous Old Town with medieval architecture, gorgeous beaches, and it also houses the birthplace of Marco Polo.
Read more >>> 11 AMAZING THINGS TO DO ON KORCULA ISLAND
STON
After exploring the Peljesac peninsula, the last stop on this peninsula needs to be Ston, one of the oldest and most fascinating towns in Croatia. It’s about an hour away from Neretva Valley, and it’s known for its medieval walls, salt pans, and delicious oysters. This is one of the best stops you can take on your Split to Dubrovnik drive.
The Walls of Ston are the longest defensive structure in Europe, offering spectacular views and hiking opportunities, so if you only have time for one attraction let it be this. If you don’t feel like climbing walls, make sure you at least grab some lunch at Vila Koruna, where I’ve eaten incredible fresh oysters many times.
Read more >>> HOW TO SPEND ONE DAY IN STON
ARBORETUM TRSTENO
One of the last stops before Dubrovnik is Arboretum Trsteno, only 20 minutes from Dubrovnik. Arboretum Trsteno is one of the oldest arboretums in this part of the world, featuring ancient trees, beautiful gardens, and stunning views of the Adriatic Sea.
It’s also known for its appearance in the TV series “Game of Thrones.” You can grab a ticket for 10 euros and spend an hour exploring the gardens. If you’re up to it, you can even go for a swim at the Trsteno port, right beneath the magical arboretum.
Read more >>> ARBORETUM TRSTENO: A GREAT DAY TRIP FROM DUBROVNIK
All of these stops look like so much fun! The pictures are so beautiful.
Oh man, you had me at Game of Thrones! So many beautiful places to stop along the way, and I love the look of Omis and Koecula – such a gorgeous old town 🙂
Lindsay / https://thetravelvine.blog/