Croatia Self Guided Biking, 5 days
We offer 2 variations of our Croatia Self Guided Bike Tours of the Dalmatian Coast. Both Croatia Self Guided Bike Tours feature the most beautiful areas along the Croatian coast with quiet roads, ancient villages, lavender fields and UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Please check out the other Croatia Self Guided Tour option here: SPLIT TO DUBROVNIK – 8 DAYS
During the entire self guided bike trip you will be accommodated in Split, where during the evenings you can walk along its long palm fringed waterfront, enjoy the trendy new cafes, bars, great local konoba (taverns) and check out every day’s life of local citizens.
Enjoy cycling the Dalmatian region; Split, it’s surroundings and islands of Solta, Brac and Hvar. Each day you will have options to enjoy easy coastal rides or climbs up to 700m with various cycling distances from 10 to 80km. Discover Greek, Roman, Venetian and Croatian culture, taste great olive oil and wine, enjoy the healthiest cuisine in the world – Mediterranean!
Discover island Brac, Croatia’s third largest and the highest island in the Adriatic sea. Brac is famous for fishing and agriculture, especially vines and olives, as well as its precious limestone, which was used to build Diocletian’s Palace in Split and the White house in Washington. Pedal along rural and quiet roads of island Solta. On this island you will step back in time, as there are no big hotels, no modern buildings… just traditional life…
Discover ancient villages and coastal roads of island Hvar, UNESCO world heritage site of StariGrad and bike along lavender fields to reach Hvar town. Did we forget to say that Split is one of the oldest Roman towns in the Adriatic? Built by Emperor Diocletian in 3rd century A.D, as his luxury retreat, vivid town of Split is inviting you to explore it’s natural beauties by bike and vibrant nightlife!
Tour Difficulty
Choose your cycling distance every single day.
The islands are quite hilly, but with this itinerary you can choose your level of difficulty. You can take it easy by staying close to the shore, enjoying coastal towns, or you can follow our bike routes for a ride of 80 km or more.
Daily distances: 0 – 80 km per day.
Daily Climbs of up to 700 m.
All tours are loop rides and you can take a day off if you wish!
- Difficulty: Moderately Hilly
- Road Conditions: Smooth & Paved
- Recommended Bike: Hybrid, Electric, or Road
Tour Highlights
– 1700 year old Diocletian Palace in Split
– Scenic roads and beautiful villages of islands Brac, Šolta and Hvar
– UNESCO site: Stari Grad on Island Hvar
– Challenging cycling options
– Cycling & swimming on Adriatic islands
Split Based Tour – 5 days
2024 Prices vary according to the requested level of accommodations:
- Standard Season (April 1-28 & Oct 1 -March 31): €1,060 – €1,920 Euros per person/double occupancy
- Single Supplement: €275 – €1,515 per person
- High Season (Apr 29 – Sept 30): €1,210 – €2,290 Euros per person/double occupancy
- Single Supplement: €375 -€1,725 per person
During the entire self guided bike trip you will be accommodated in Split, where during the evenings you can walk along its long palm fringed waterfront, enjoy the trendy new cafes, bars, great local konoba (taverns) and check out every day’s life of local citizens.
5 days is a short trip! We recommend arriving early to explore the beautiful town of Split on your own. We can arrange additional nights in your Split lodging.
Price Includes:
- 4-day accommodation and breakfast
- 5-day bike rental (road, hybrid or tandem bike) + lock, pump, spare tube, helmet and patch kit, rear rack bag
- Our assistance which consists of bike fitting, detailed briefing with description of places you will be visiting en route, lunch options, marked map with options for shorter or longer routes
- All ferry tickets during the tour
- Electric Bikes Available. Rental Cost: €140 per personThe price does not include:– Travel insurance
– Shuttles during the riding time
– Lunches and dinners
– Assistance during the ride
– E- bike supplement (150 €)
Itinerary: begins and ends in Split – 5 days
Day 1
Welcome to the ancient Mediterranean town Split!
Depending on your arrival we will meet at your hotel, fit your bike and have a briefing regarding your cycling holidays!
In Split, you will be cycling along the beautiful Marjan hill, main recreational venue for the citizens of Split and have option to extend the ride along the coast to the nearby village. If you are looking to do bigger 80 km loop ride, we have it ready for you as well!
In the evenings, we urge you to explore 1700 years old Palace of Diocletian, inscribed into UNESCO World heritage list, the Peristyle, Diocletian’s mausoleum, Romanesque houses, experience every day’s life, ancient fish market and fishermen… Split is located in the middle of Croatian coast and is the administrative and cultural centre of Dalmatian-coastal area of Croatia.
- Distance biked: 0 – 20 km test ride, extra ride 80 km
- Overnight: Split
- Highlights: Diocletian’s Palace, Split, Marjan hill
Day 2 – Island Brac
After a leisurely ferry cruise you arrive to the largest island of the Central Dalmatian group of islands, the third largest among the Adriatic islands – Brac. The island is rich with historic sites dating back to Ancient Greece and Middle Ages. Enjoy easy cycling along coastal towns and villages, or climb up to the settlements in the interior, which are older, richer in cultural and historical monuments and much more interesting architecturally than the coastal ones. Besides beautiful scenery on your bike ride, Island Brac is famous for stone sculptures and quarries (White House in Washington and Diocletian Palace in Split). Optional visits to art galleries and workshops, wine cellars, island museum and one of the last stone carving schools in Europe. Late afternoon or even night ferry back to Split.
- Distance biked: 0-30 km, extra ride 80km
- Overnight: Split
- Highlights: Island Brac, coastal ride and towns, ancient inland villages, art galleries, wine cellars
Day 3 – Island Solta
Discover and bike the island of Solta. So close to Split and urbanization, still so far away. Enjoy epic rides on quite picturesque roads, along the villages, olive groves and vineyards. Riding on the islands you will feel like you returned to the past, seeing traditional way of life, on the farms….. Enjoy islands nice coves and bays before returning to Split. You can choose your biking distance today, riding the road with great views on Split and mainland or endless sea from the south.
- Distance biked: 0-40 km
- Overnight: Split
- Highlights: unspoiled and rural island of Solta
Day 4 – Island Hvar
Today, as a last day of biking we suggest island Hvar. Riding on the island Hvar you will be passing among lavender fields, olive groves, and vineyards. You will be riding along the scenic and mostly flat road on the north side of the island and passing Jelsa, Vrboska, reach Stari Grad (literally Old Town) which is actually the oldest settlement on the island and one of the first ones in Europe, founded by the Ancient Greeks (Pharos). You can decide whether you want to bike challenging uphill, passing rosemary and lavender fields and ancient Greek walls. Enjoy the beautiful view from the top of the island before a great downhill to Hvar. As it is was your last ride why treat yourself a few drinks in the ancient Piazza with a view of 7th century AD walls, Venetian loggia and the oldest municipal Theatre in Europe.
- Distance biked: 30-90 km
- Overnight: Split
- Highlights: Island Hvar, Jelsa, Vrboska, Stari Grad, lavender fields, town Hvar
Day 5 – Split
After breakfast the tour ends. Depending on your flight or departure time you might squeeze in another bike ride or cafe in Split!
Start and End of Bike Tour
This tour can start any day during the whole year in Split. The town itself has many things to offer, from buzzing cafes and bars to small charming restaurants and konoba. Spring and early fall are the best months for biking, with the season of good weather starting in late March till the second week of June, when the high tourist season starts. Early September is good time to come back on the bike as it is not so busy anymore and the temperatures are still warm but more appropriate for biking. The swimming season usually starts late in May and can last till middle of October. Even in the highest tourist months of July and August, you will be able to find your own little private beach on the islands you will be visiting. Self guided bike tour of Central Dalmatia ends in Split town. Please note that Split airport shuttles/transfers are available at extra cost.
The price includes: 4 nights accommodation – with breakfast, 5 day bike rental (bike, lock, pump, spare tube, helmet and patch kit, rear rack bag), local assistance which consists of bike fitting, detailed briefing with description of places you will be visiting en route, lunch options, marked map with options for shorter or longer route, all the ferry tickets
The price does not include: Travel insurance, Shuttles during the riding time, Lunches and dinners, Assistance during the ride.
Rating: This Self Guided Bike Tour is designed for individuals. You can choose your distance each single day. Our Islands are quite hilly, but with this itinerary you do not need to climb any of those. You can have your bike and just enjoy coastal towns or do a bike ride of 80 km or more. This tour is designed with optional daily distances. If you prefer to have a quiet day on the beach, it is possible! Or, if you prefer to bike 200 km per day you are able to do it!
All the days are loop rides and you don’t have to bike if you don’t feel like it!