From Split: Blue Lagoon, Šolta, and Trogir Speedboat Tour

The best part of this trip is the range packed into four and a half hours. You get a fast ride over open water, a UNESCO-listed old town, a swim in the Blue Lagoon, and a final stop in Maslinica on Šolta. I like the small speedboat size, usually 8 to 12 people, and I like that the day mixes sightseeing with easy time by the sea.

The main drawback is the clock. Trogir and Maslinica can feel rushed, especially if you want lunch or a proper walk through town. Engine noise can also make commentary hard to hear, and one recent booking party was not offered the advertised snorkeling equipment, so it is worth confirming the gear before setting off.

Key points at a glance

• Three very different stops: Trogir brings stone streets and medieval buildings, Blue Lagoon brings clear water, and Maslinica offers a quiet island harbor.
• A small-group speedboat: Boats carry 8 to 12 people, giving the trip a more personal feel than a large excursion boat.
• Good for a short visit: The 270-minute schedule works well when you want a taste of Dalmatia without giving up a full day.
• Swimming is easy to fit in: Blue Lagoon includes about an hour for swimming and snorkeling, followed by another hour at a local bar and swimming stop.
• Trogir needs efficient sightseeing: St. Lawrence Cathedral, Kamerlengo Fortress, the Town Gate, and Ćipiko Palace all compete for limited free time.
• Bring your own basics: Pack swimwear, sunscreen, sunglasses, a change of clothes, and weather-appropriate clothing.

A speedboat sampler of Dalmatia

This is not a slow, lazy boat cruise. The ride from Split gives you wind, spray, and broad views of the city and nearby islands. You will spend part of the trip moving quickly between stops, then settle into a swim or a walk once you arrive.

I see the tour as a sampler rather than a thorough visit to any one place. That is its strength for someone with limited time in Split. In one outing, you can see a major heritage town, swim in open water, and get a glimpse of island life.

The boats carry 8 to 12 people. That matters. A small group usually makes boarding and moving between stops simpler, and it avoids the scale of a large party boat. The tradeoff is that a smaller speedboat gives you less room to spread out, especially with beach bags, towels, and spare clothes.

The captain and crew handle the transport, and the tour is offered in Croatian and English. Denny received especially warm praise for his service, while another guide was described as friendly and helpful. Still, keep your expectations realistic about on-board talks. At speed, engine noise can drown out a guide, particularly if the speaker turns away from the group.

The 30-minute ride from Split to Trogir

The first leg takes about 30 minutes. Instead of watching the road from a bus, you see Split from the water and get a wide view of the coast and islands. The boat ride is part of the attraction, not just a way to reach the next stop.

If you like open-air transport, you will enjoy this section. If you are sensitive to wind, sun, or spray, wear weather-appropriate clothing and keep your sunglasses close. The ride is physically easy, but it is still a moving boat, so hold onto personal items.

Trogir is the cultural anchor of the morning. The old town occupies a small historic islet and is known as the Little Venice of Dalmatia. Its Romanesque and Gothic buildings, narrow stone lanes, and compact squares give you plenty to see without long walks.

You have about an hour here. I would use it carefully. Start with St. Lawrence Cathedral, whose portal was carved by Master Radovan in the 13th century. Then make your way through the old streets toward Kamerlengo Fortress at the western end of the islet.

The Venetian fortress was built as a naval base and now serves as a multimedia center with an open-air cinema and cultural stage. You may also pass the Town Gate, Town Hall, Ćipiko Palace, and Trogir Museum during a short walk.

Trogir is a place where simply wandering works well, but the one-hour limit changes the approach. You probably will not have time for a full museum visit, a leisurely meal, and every major sight. If you want lunch in a traditional Dalmatian restaurant, you may need to choose between eating and exploring.

That time pressure was the clearest criticism in the supplied feedback. One person felt the beach stop could have been shorter and Trogir longer. Another liked the tour but found Trogir and Šolta too rushed to stop for food or a drink.

My advice is to arrive with a simple plan: cathedral, fortress area, and a short walk through the center. Save a full meal for Maslinica only if the schedule allows, but do not count on a long restaurant stop there either.

Blue Lagoon: one hour for water and sun

After Trogir, the speedboat takes about 15 to 30 minutes to reach the Blue Lagoon, depending on how the route is organized. This is the tour’s main swimming stop, with transparent water and a pebble beach backed by pine trees.

The setting is made for a low-effort break. You can swim, use snorkeling equipment, sunbathe on the boat, or sit on the beach. A bar and restaurant near the shore give you the option of buying a drink or food, though those purchases are not included in the tour price.

The water clarity is the reason snorkeling is included. You can look toward the seabed in the shallow coastal water, though the experience is still weather-dependent and should not be treated as a formal marine excursion. Bring your own mask if you want certainty. One recent booking party said the advertised snorkeling equipment was not offered, despite the equipment being listed as included.

That is a small but useful precaution. Ask the crew for the gear as soon as you arrive, rather than waiting until the last few minutes. If equipment is unavailable, you can still swim and relax, but the snorkeling part of the plan will be reduced.

The Blue Lagoon stop lasts about an hour. That is enough for a swim and a quick change of pace, but not enough for a long beach afternoon. The pebble shore makes water shoes useful, although they are not listed as required. Since that item is not specifically provided, pack them only if you already have room.

I like this stop because it gives the tour a clear pause after the history in Trogir. You are not expected to hike or follow a demanding schedule. You simply get into the water, dry off, and enjoy the coast.

Maslinica on Šolta brings a quieter finish

The final stop is Maslinica, a small fishing village on the island of Šolta. The ride from Blue Lagoon takes about 20 minutes, followed by roughly an hour at a local bar with time for swimming.

Maslinica is the least structured stop. It is known for small islands nearby, beaches, seafood, and domestic wine. You can finish the outing with a drink, eat at a coastal restaurant, or take another swim if conditions and timing permit.

This stop works best if you want a softer ending rather than another list of monuments. The village setting gives you a chance to sit near the water and let the day slow down. It also gives you one more chance to take photographs of boats, shorelines, and the surrounding islands.

The limitation is, again, time. A full seafood meal can easily take longer than the available break, especially if you also want to walk around. If a proper lunch matters to you, plan to eat at one stop and skip some sightseeing, or treat the food as optional rather than central to the tour.

The schedule can also vary in feel depending on the group. One party described the timing as well organized and felt able to enjoy all three places. Others wanted longer in Trogir and Maslinica. You should book this tour for variety, not for extended time at either town.

What the $88 price really covers

At $88 per person, the price is reasonable if you value transport and variety. You are paying for the speedboat, captain and crew, snorkeling equipment, and insurance. You also avoid arranging separate transport to Trogir, finding a boat to Blue Lagoon, and organizing an island stop on your own.

The value is strongest for a short stay in Split. In four and a half hours, you get several experiences that would be awkward to combine independently. The small boat also gives the trip a more intimate scale than a large group cruise.

Food and drinks are extra, and hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. You need to reach the booking stand in Split yourself, so allow enough time to find it before departure. The meeting point is listed as the booking stand near the semiSUBMARINE Split starting location.

The price is less appealing if your priority is a long visit in Trogir or a relaxed beach day. A self-planned visit could give you more time in one location, but it would not offer the same easy combination of coastal transport and swimming stops.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms help if your Split schedule depends on weather or changing plans. The tour does rely on good sea conditions, so check the start time and availability before you commit to the day.

What to pack for a comfortable half-day

Pack light, but bring the items that make a boat-and-beach outing easier:

• Swimwear and a change of clothes
• Sunglasses and sunscreen
• Weather-appropriate clothing
• A phone or camera for coastal views
• A small bag that can stay secure on the boat

Food and drinks are not included. You can buy them at the Blue Lagoon or Maslinica, but the short stops may not leave much time for a full meal. If you need regular snacks or water, bring your own, provided the operator allows it.

Alcohol and drugs are not allowed, and explosive substances are prohibited. The tour is not suitable for children under three, pregnant women, people with mobility impairments, or wheelchair users.

The outing is not physically demanding in the usual sense. There is no long hike in the schedule, and most of the time is spent sitting, walking through old streets, swimming, or relaxing. Still, you need to step into a speedboat, walk on uneven stone streets in Trogir, and manage a pebble beach.

The right expectations for the guide and crew

The strongest personal praise in the supplied comments went to Denny, who was described as excellent. Another guide was called lovely, but the engine made it hard to hear her commentary when she looked away while speaking.

That gives you a practical point to remember: the quality of the day depends partly on how the guide handles the boat noise. Sit close enough to hear, face the speaker, and ask for important details to be repeated if needed. The crew also has to balance commentary with safe boat handling, so this is not the same as a walking tour with a quiet street setting.

The driver was praised for being careful, and the boat was described as being in very good condition. Music may be part of the atmosphere, with one group enjoying a DJ and a lively soundtrack. That can make the ride fun, but it may also make spoken information harder to catch.

This is best viewed as a relaxed coastal outing with some guiding, not a full history lesson. For Trogir, I would read a little beforehand if the cathedral, fortress, and Venetian period matter to you.

Who should book this speedboat tour?

I would recommend it to someone who wants a broad sample of the Split area in half a day. It suits couples, friends, and solo visitors who like switching between sightseeing and swimming. It is also a good fit if you are staying in Split for a short time and do not want to spend a full day away from the city.

You will likely enjoy it if you:

• Want an easy activity with limited walking
• Like speedboat rides and open-water views
• Prefer a small group to a large cruise
• Want to visit Trogir and Blue Lagoon in one outing
• Are happy to buy food and drinks separately
• Can accept short stops and a fixed schedule

I would choose something else if your main aim is a detailed tour of Trogir, a long restaurant meal, or several uninterrupted hours on the beach. The tour covers a lot, but each place receives only a taste.

Should you book the Split Blue Lagoon and Šolta tour?

Book it if you want variety, easy swimming, and efficient coastal sightseeing. The best parts are the small speedboat, the clear change of scenery between stops, and the chance to combine Trogir with Blue Lagoon and Maslinica without arranging separate transport.

Before booking, decide how much time you need in Trogir. If an hour feels too short, this tour may leave you wishing for more. Also confirm that snorkeling equipment is available on the day, and remember that food, drinks, and hotel transfers cost extra.

For a relaxed half-day in Dalmatia, the balance is good. You get history, sea views, swimming, and island atmosphere without a strenuous schedule. Just bring modest expectations about time, and treat the tour as a lively sampler rather than a slow visit to each destination.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts 270 minutes, or 4 hours and 30 minutes.

Where does the tour start?

It starts at the booking stand at the listed semiSUBMARINE Split starting location.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes, snorkeling equipment is listed as included. However, confirm with the crew when you arrive, since one booking party said the equipment was not offered.

Are food and drinks included?

No. Food and drinks are not included. You can buy them at the Blue Lagoon or in Maslinica.

Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you need to reach the meeting point yourself.

Who cannot join the tour?

The tour is not suitable for children under three, pregnant women, people with mobility impairments, or wheelchair users.