SPLIT TO DUBROVNIK DRIVE: BEST STOPS ALONG THE WAY (2026)

If the famous Split to Dubrovnik drive is a part of your Croatia itinerary in 2026, 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.

Driving is definitely the best option, since you can turn the journey into a road trip and stop at several other locations along the way. As a local, I’ve done this drive countless times, and I love it every single time. 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!

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!

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 located in town. Omis also has a stunning beach if you want to dip into the sea right after leaving Split. These are the 5 best things to do in Omis, so try to include some in your visit.

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 lively 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. Here’s what you can do in Makarska. I would absolutely not skip this stop on your Split to Dubrovnik drive!

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. It’s 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. A few hours might not even be enough!

TERRA MADRE WINERY (MY ABSOLUTE FAVOURITE STOP!)

If you only have time for one stop, make it this one! Terra Madre Winery is a place where you come and truly never want to leave. We had the opportunity to partner with them and experience one of their wine tastings, and this place is absolutely mind-blowing.

They grow their vines in an ecological way and produce around 65,000 bottles of wine each year. Everything here is done with so much care, from the vineyards to the incredible staff who run the tastings. Their wines are absolutely excellent, and you’ll get to try 6 different ones, from Rosé and the famous Posip to Chardonnay and Plavac Mali. Our amazing sommelier Lucija explained each wine in detail, so we also learned a lot along the way.

You can also enjoy local food platters paired with the wines, and the combination is honestly unforgettable. On top of all that, the location might be one of the best in all of Croatia. The views over the sea, the Peljesac Peninsula, and the Peljesac Bridge are absolutely stunning!!! I can honestly say you won’t get a better view anywhere else on your holiday (and I’ve seen viewpoints in Dubrovnik and Hvar).

Just a heads up: the tasting includes 6 glasses of wine, so make sure you eat and drink water if you plan to drive afterwards… I’m speaking from experience! If you’re a group of five or more, you can book a table in advance on their website, but if you’re fewer, you can usually just show up and enjoy one of the best wine tastings in Croatia. This winery has truly become my number one hidden gem in Croatia, because not many people talk about it, but it has been my favourite place I’ve visited in 2026 so far!

THE PELJESAC PENINSULA

If you feel like exploring the Peljesac Peninsula, here’s exactly where you should go! Firstly, stop by the stunning Peljesac Bridge, which finally connects southern Dalmatia with the rest of Croatia. It’s truly impressive and definitely worth a quick stop just to admire the views.

Secondly, Peljesac is also famous for its vineyards, so you can enjoy wine tastings and vineyard tours all across the peninsula (though I do prefer the amazing Terra Madre Winery mentioned before!). You can also visit the oyster farms near Ston if you love seafood. There are also plenty of small villages that are much less crowded than the coast, where you can enjoy a more relaxed atmosphere. Orebic is one of the cutest towns on Peljesac, and as a bonus, Korcula Island is only about 15 minutes away by ferry. I’d also highly recommend stopping at Zuljana Beach and Prapratno Beach if you’re looking for beautiful beach spots along the way.

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 old town of Korcula. The old town is incredible with medieval architecture, gorgeous beaches, and it also houses the birthplace of Marco Polo. Here are the best things to do on Korcula island, if you have the time!

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.

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.

CONCLUSION: SPLIT TO DUBROVNIK DRIVE

Split to Dubrovnik drive is one of, if not the best drives in Croatia. The views along the way are absolutely stunning, and there are so many incredible places where you can stop and explore before reaching Dubrovnik. If you’re only planning to stop once, I’d highly recommend the Pelješac Peninsula. It’s perfect for a short break, whether you want to explore charming towns, taste local wine, or spend some time at beautiful beaches.