Split Boat Trip Half-Day: Blue Lagoon, Trogir & Čiovo

The best part of this Split boat trip is the variety packed into one outing: turquoise water, a beach bar on Čiovo, and the stone lanes of UNESCO-listed Trogir. You get sea time and sightseeing without having to arrange several separate trips.

I like the small 12-person speedboat, which keeps the group from feeling like a floating crowd, and I like the easy mix of swimming, snorkeling, music, and local history. Guides including Nino, Theresa, Franco, and Frankie have helped make departures friendly and well paced. The tradeoff is a bouncy ride for some passengers, and the open boat offers little shelter from sun or rough water.

Key points at a glance

• Blue Lagoon swimming: Wade or snorkel over sand and crushed shells that give the shallow water its striking blue color.
• Three very different stops: Move from a natural swimming area to a waterside lounge on Čiovo, then into old Trogir.
• Small-group speedboat: The boat carries only 12 passengers, a useful advantage over larger excursion boats.
• Borkko beach bar: Leave room for a relaxed swim and a drink beside the clear sea on Čiovo.
• Trogir’s 2,400-year story: Walk an old-town island shaped by Greek settlement, Venetian-looking channels, and later Croatian history.
• Practical limits: Food and drinks are extra, hotel transfers are not included, and the trip is not suited to young children, pregnant women, or passengers with mobility or back problems.

From Split’s Riva to the open Adriatic

You meet the group at the Gray Line office on Split’s Riva, beside the entrance to Diocletian’s cellars. This is a central starting point, but you will need to reach it yourself because hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

Once everyone is aboard, the speedboat heads out from Split. The ride to the Blue Lagoon takes about 30 minutes. That short crossing matters: you spend less time merely getting somewhere and more time at the three main stops.

A 12-person boat creates a more social but still fairly intimate setting. You can hear the captain and guide without the need for a large tour setup, and the smaller size helps the group move in and out of swimming areas with less fuss. It also means the boat can feel more exposed to wind and spray than a larger vessel.

The crew speaks English. Names connected with different departures include Nino, Franco, Theresa, and Frankie. Their roles can vary, but the strongest pattern is a friendly, lively approach with room for questions about the islands, the sea, and Croatian history.

Blue Lagoon: clear water over a pale seafloor

The first major stop is the Blue Lagoon on the southeastern side of Drvenik Island. The lagoon is shallow, and its floor of sand and crushed shells helps create the bright blue water that gives the place its name.

This is the main swimming stop, so bring your swimsuit, towel, sunglasses, and sun hat where you can reach them quickly. Goggles are included, letting you look below the surface without bringing your own mask. The trip describes snorkeling here and at Necujam Bay, with a chance to spot small underwater life in the clear water.

The appeal is simple. You get a proper Adriatic swim in a sheltered-looking setting, rather than a quick photo stop from the boat. The shallow bottom can make the water approachable for confident swimmers who prefer not to jump straight into deep sea.

Still, do not expect a private cove. Blue Lagoon is one of the area’s popular stops, and its appeal is precisely what brings boats there. The experience will be at its best if you treat the stop as a chance to swim, float, and use the goggles, not as a promise of complete solitude.

The crew controls the timing, and that is useful. You do not have to watch the clock or figure out how to return to the boat. Several departures have been praised for giving each stop enough time without letting the day drag. That balance is important on a trip with three distinct settings.

Necujam Bay and the Croatian sea from water level

Necujam Bay is included in the trip’s swimming and snorkeling plan. The available details do not give a separate timetable or promise a particular length of stay there, so you should think of it as part of the sea portion rather than a guaranteed second long beach visit.

The value of seeing this area by boat is the change in viewpoint. From Split, the islands can look like a distant blue line. From the water, you get a closer sense of the bays, channels, and rocky coast that shape daily life along Dalmatia.

Snorkeling equipment is limited to goggles, so bring your own mask and snorkel if you want a more complete setup. Food and drinks are not included, and you are specifically asked to bring your own supplies. Pack water at minimum, along with something to eat if you know you will need it between stops.

The captain may change the route if weather turns bad or the sea becomes rough. That is a sensible safety rule, but it means the exact order and amount of time at each place can shift. The open-water portion is also the part most likely to trouble anyone prone to motion sickness, though one passenger who was new to speedboating said it took time to get comfortable and still felt safe with the experienced skipper.

Čiovo’s Borkko beach bar

After the water stops, the boat heads to Čiovo Island and Borkko beach bar. This is the easygoing section of the outing. You can swim again, sit by the water, and buy a drink while taking in the lounge setting.

Borkko gives the trip a useful change of rhythm. The Blue Lagoon is about water and snorkeling. Trogir is about streets and stone. Čiovo lets you pause in between, with no need to fill every minute with sightseeing.

Because food and drinks are not included, budget separately for anything you order at the bar. The tour price covers the boat, English-speaking captain and crew, goggles, insurance, and VAT, but not refreshments. Bringing your own food and drinks is allowed and may help if you want to keep spending down.

Music has been part of the atmosphere on some departures, and the crew’s tone is generally social rather than formal. That makes the stop a good fit if you want a summer outing with a bit of fun and speed, not a quiet archaeological tour.

You should also keep your expectations in check. A beach bar stop is not the same as a full beach day with a reserved chair, and the details of service, seating, and timing are not specified. Think of it as a pleasant waterside break attached to a boat trip.

Trogir: a stone-built finish to the day

The final stop is Trogir, often called Little Venice. The comparison comes from its channels and old-town setting, but Trogir has its own strong character. The old town sits on an island, and the surrounding channels reflect a coastline shaped by centuries of settlement and changing sea levels.

The town’s story reaches back roughly 2,400 years to Greek colonization. UNESCO added the old town to its protected list in 1997. You do not need to be a serious history fan to enjoy the place. A walk through the old streets gives the boat trip a cultural finish that a swim-only excursion cannot provide.

Allow yourself to look up as you walk. The point is not only to move from one end of town to the other, but to notice the stone buildings, narrow lanes, channels, and compact old-town shape. The group may also trace connections to filming locations associated with the Unsullied and the city’s screen appearances.

The exact length of the Trogir visit is not provided, so the time available may feel short if you want a full museum visit, a long meal, and a leisurely wander. I would use the stop for a focused walk and save a longer Trogir exploration for another visit if the town becomes a highlight.

This final stop also keeps the day from becoming a string of identical swim breaks. You begin with the Adriatic as your main attraction and finish among old stones and urban history. That contrast is one of the strongest reasons to choose this outing over a simple beach transfer.

What the $69 price really covers

At $69 per person, the price is fair if you want transport between several coastal stops and prefer a small boat to a large group vessel. You are paying for the speedboat, captain and crew, snorkeling goggles, insurance, and VAT, rather than only for a ride to one swimming spot.

The 12-person limit is the biggest value point. Smaller boats usually make it easier to hear the guide, board quickly, and keep the group together. You also get a route that combines Drvenik Island, Čiovo, and Trogir without having to plan separate public transport or taxis.

The price is less attractive if you mainly want to sit on a beach all day. You will need to supply or buy your food and drinks, and you must make your own way to the Riva meeting point. There is no hotel pickup or return transfer.

The tour also asks you to accept a certain amount of movement. A speedboat can be exciting, but it is not as gentle as a large ferry. Anyone with back problems, mobility impairments, a pre-existing medical condition, or a strong sensitivity to rough water should take the restrictions seriously.

Who will enjoy this boat trip most

I would choose this outing if you have limited time in Split and want a broad sample of Dalmatia. In one trip, you get open water, snorkeling, a casual bar stop, island scenery, and one of Croatia’s best-known old towns.

It suits couples, friends, and solo passengers who enjoy a social group without a packed boat. The small capacity helps, and the guiding style can add energy to the ride. If you value a calm pace, Theresa’s approach on one departure was described as well planned, while Nino and the other named crew members have brought humor and a personal touch.

It is also a good match for anyone who wants more than beach time. Trogir gives you a reason to put on walking shoes and think about the long story of the coast.

I would hesitate if you dislike speedboats, want a fully quiet day, or need guaranteed shelter from sun and spray. The trip is not suitable for children under 3, pregnant women, wheelchair users, people with mobility impairments, or people with back problems. Pets are not allowed.

Bring warm clothing even in summer, since the ride can feel cooler than a sunny beach. Pack swimwear, a towel, sunglasses, a sun hat, food, and drinks. The route can change in bad weather or rough seas, so keep your plans flexible.

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option may help if you are still sorting out your Split schedule.

My take: book it for variety, not solitude

I recommend this Split boat trip if you want a lively, efficient introduction to the coast. The strongest features are the small 12-person boat, the clear swimming water, and the smart contrast between Blue Lagoon, Čiovo, and Trogir.

Book it with realistic expectations. You are not signing up for a private island, an all-inclusive beach club, or a slow historical walking tour. You are choosing a well-filled coastal outing with some speed, some sun, a waterside drink, snorkeling, and a worthwhile old town at the end.

At $69, that mix is good value for many visitors staying in Split. Choose it when you want to make one day count and enjoy the company of a friendly crew. Skip it if rough water, limited personal space, or the lack of included refreshments would outweigh the fun.

FAQ

Where does the Split boat trip start?

Meet at the Gray Line office on Split’s Riva promenade, next to the entrance to Diocletian’s cellars.

Where does the activity end?

The boat returns to the same meeting point in Split.

How many people fit on the speedboat?

The speedboat is described as spacious and comfortable for up to 12 passengers.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Goggles are included. You may bring your own additional snorkeling equipment if you prefer a full mask and snorkel setup.

Are food and drinks included?

No. Food and drinks are not included, and you should bring your own supplies or purchase refreshments at Borkko beach bar on Čiovo.

What places does the boat trip visit?

The route includes the Blue Lagoon, Necujam Bay, Čiovo Island and Borkko beach bar, and the old town of Trogir.

Can the route change?

Yes. The provider may change the route in bad weather or rough sea conditions.

Is the activity suitable for young children?

It is not suitable for children under 3 years old.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.