How far are the Pakleni islands from Split?

The Pakleni islands sit just off Hvar, around an hour to an hour and a half from Split by a comfortable boat, less by a fast one. They are far enough to feel like a proper trip and close enough to do as a relaxed half day rather than a full one.

Is Šolta worth visiting?

Yes, especially if you want quiet. Šolta is the closest island to Split, about 30 to 45 minutes away, and it stays calm even in summer because the big tours skip it. Its coves around Maslinica and the small fishing harbours are some of the easiest crowd-free swims near the city.

Half day or full day, which should I choose?

A half day suits people who want clear water and a couple of good swims without a long stretch at sea, or who have other plans in Split. A full day suits those who want to reach the far southern islands. For the Pakleni islands and Šolta, a half day is usually plenty and often the nicer pace.

Where can you swim near Split without crowds?

Šolta and the smaller Pakleni coves are the reliable answer. Because they are not on the standard Blue Cave route, a short private trip can find a bay almost to itself, particularly in the morning and outside the July and August peak.

Can you do the Pakleni islands and be back in Split for dinner?

Easily. That is the appeal of the half day. Leave in the morning or early afternoon, get your swims in clear, sheltered water, and be back on the Riva in time for dinner with the whole evening still ahead of you.

Guide

Pakleni and Šolta

Pakleni islands and Šolta from Split: the underrated half day

The calm, crowd-free alternative to the long island tours: the Pakleni islands and Šolta from Split, why a half day is often the better day, and where to swim without the crowds.

14 June 2026 2 min read

Most boat content out of Split pushes the big day: eleven hours, the far southern islands, the Blue Cave. It is a real adventure, but it is not the only way to spend a day on the water, and for a lot of people it is not the best one. The Pakleni islands and Šolta offer the clear water and the quiet bays without the long open-water haul. Less travel, more swimming, and home in time for dinner.

This is the half day that often turns out to be the highlight.

The Pakleni islands

The Pakleni islands are a scatter of pine-covered islets just off Hvar, with clear lagoons and easy, sheltered swimming. Most people meet them as a stop on a Hvar day, which we cover in the day trip to Hvar from Split. Taken on their own, as a direct trip from Split, they are calmer and less rushed: a couple of quiet anchorages, water you can see straight to the bottom of, and a few low-key beach bars if you want one.

They are about an hour to ninety minutes from Split, close enough to enjoy without the day becoming a transit exercise.

Šolta, the island Split forgets

Šolta is the closest island to the city, half an hour or so away, and somehow the least visited. The big tours run straight past it on their way south, which is exactly why it stays quiet. Its coves around Maslinica, the small harbours and the olive-grove backdrops are some of the most relaxed swims anywhere near Split. On a Šolta trip you can genuinely find a bay to yourself, even in summer.

For where these bays sit among the wider coast, see our best beaches near Split guide.

Why a half day is often the better day

A half day is not the budget version of a boat trip. It is a different rhythm. You skip the early alarm and the long run south, you spend a higher share of your time actually in the water, and you keep the rest of the day in Split. For couples, for shorter stays, and for anyone who finds eleven hours at sea more than they want, it is frequently the nicer choice. It also leaves the evening free, which pairs perfectly with a sunset cruise another day.

When to go

Because Šolta and the Pakleni islands are sheltered and close, they work well across the whole season and even on days when the wind makes the longer southern routes uncomfortable. Mornings are calmest. The shoulder months of June and September are quietest of all, when a private half day can have a cove entirely to itself.

When you want clear water and a calm pace without giving up your whole day, tell us your dates and we will plan a half day around the quietest bays.

Common questions

How far are the Pakleni islands from Split?: The Pakleni islands sit just off Hvar, around an hour to an hour and a half from Split by a comfortable boat, less by a fast one. They are far enough to feel like a proper trip and close enough to do as a relaxed half day rather than a full one.
Is Šolta worth visiting?: Yes, especially if you want quiet. Šolta is the closest island to Split, about 30 to 45 minutes away, and it stays calm even in summer because the big tours skip it. Its coves around Maslinica and the small fishing harbours are some of the easiest crowd-free swims near the city.
Half day or full day, which should I choose?: A half day suits people who want clear water and a couple of good swims without a long stretch at sea, or who have other plans in Split. A full day suits those who want to reach the far southern islands. For the Pakleni islands and Šolta, a half day is usually plenty and often the nicer pace.
Where can you swim near Split without crowds?: Šolta and the smaller Pakleni coves are the reliable answer. Because they are not on the standard Blue Cave route, a short private trip can find a bay almost to itself, particularly in the morning and outside the July and August peak.
Can you do the Pakleni islands and be back in Split for dinner?: Easily. That is the appeal of the half day. Leave in the morning or early afternoon, get your swims in clear, sheltered water, and be back on the Riva in time for dinner with the whole evening still ahead of you.