Trogir, A perfect Day Trip from Split

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Trogir is wedged between Croatia’s Dalmatian coast (connected to the mainland via a bridge with the nearest city being Split), and the sprawling island of Ciovo, yet its medieval Old Town is as hidden as it gets. It even takes a few moments to realise it’s sat on an island all of its own, but once you’ve entered the maze of marble lanes and creamy stone houses its charms become quickly apparent.


  1. Contents
  2. Is Trogir worth visiting?
  3. How to get to Trogir from Split
  4. Things to do in Trogir
    1. Cathedral of St Lawrence
    2. Climb the Bell Tower
    3. Loggia & Clock Tower
    4. Monastery of St. Dominic
    5. Kamerlengo Castle
    6. Waterfront Promenade
    7. St Mark’s Tower

Trogir’s architecture is just one of the signs that Venice had a hand in shaping its history. Of course the Greeks, Romans and Byzantines were here first, before Venice’s nearly 400 year rule from 1420 to the 1800s, meaning within a compact space is a beautiful collection of Romanesque, Baroque and Renaissance architecture all piled together.

That’s what makes Trogir so special. It’s not just a ‘mini Split’ 30 minutes down the road, but is has a lot to offer in its own right and it’s unique. The town is also perfect for people as it’s largely pedestrianised meaning you can escape the cars and hustle of the city all together.

It’s even been listed as the best island city in the world in National Geographic and with such undeniable charm and beauty…..the answer is YES, it’s 100% worth visiting Trogir!


  • By bus – You can take the local bus 37 from Split bus station and buy the ticket at the station (costing about EUR2). It takes around 60 minutes as it stops absolutely everywhere possible, and it’s a very bumpy ride! This is the option we took. There is a coach which runs the route too in 20 minutes, though these are less frequent.
  • By car – If you hire a car in Split, the drive takes just 30 minutes. There’s plenty of parking and you can simply walk across the bridge to Trogir island.
  • Organised Trip – During the summer months you can take a speedboat from Split to Trogir on a day trip. Normally these trips combine other things, such as the Blue Lagoon or other islands, so you normally only get around 1hr in Trogir – which to me isn’t enough for this beautiful place.
Approaching Trogir from the water


The terracotta-tipped bell tower of St Lawrence is the first thing you’ll see when Trogir comes in to view and it’s a key reason for Trogir’s UNESCO World Heritage status. It was built in the 12th century on the foundations of a basilica destroyed by the Saracens and today it has ancient with Romanesque elements dating back to the 13th century and gothic details from the 15th century.

The cathedral

For an additional smal fee, get a bird’s eye view of Trogir by climbing the Cathedral’s bell tower. This was one of our favourite parts of the day, though it is steep with lots of steps.

Trogir’s Loggia is a historic room held up by five pillars. During the years, it’s acted as a courtroom and meeting place. The characterful clock is a lot of fun and easy to find in the central Market Place. It’s the perfect place to stop for a while on one of the stone benches and take in the incredible beamed ceiling and reliefs carved by 15th century sculptors.

The Loggia clock tower

Right on the waterfront, the Monastery is a key spot in Trogir. Built in the 13th Century, it was damaged during WW2 but has since been renovated and preserved. We absolutely loved the cloisters, and the grounds are filled with trees, roses and sculptures making it the perfect place to find some quiet away from the crowds.

Old Town Trogir – walking to the Monastery

This perfectly preserved 15th century castle was once a Venetian fortress connected to the city walls (which unfortunately no longer exist). It’s lovely to stroll around and in the summer it acts as a venue for events and concerts.

Walking the ramparts of Kamerlengo

The waterfront is yet another beautiful spot on the Dalmatian Coast, providing views out to the sea. Make sure you cross the bridge to get the views back across the Old Town skyline.

Along the promenade

This stone tower was once connected to the castle and the city walls, protecting Trogir from invasion via the strip of water that separates it from the mainland. It offers some nice views from the top.

Views from the tower


And that’s a wrap on Trogir. It was such a beautiful little island town and we had the best time exploring. Stay safe and happy travelling everyone!

45 responses to “Trogir, A perfect Day Trip from Split”

  1. I’ve not been to Trogir, but I’ve heard of it. Alas, it was one of the islands that I missed while island-hopping in that part of Croatia. Looks like a smaller version of Split with its Roman architecture and other influences from Venetian and Byzantine rule, as well as perhaps less touristy than Split itself? All the same, a worthwhile visit while in Croatia!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Yes it was definitely less crowded, and a gem to wander round exploring without all the cruise ship masses. It’s also pedestrianised so it was nice to have no cars, making exploring all the little lanes even more magical 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  2. I had never heard of Trogir before, but my goodness what a gem of a city 🙂 I love the mix of influences that you can see in the buildings. And the views from the towers are incredible. Adding Trogir to my ever growing Croatia list.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It’s absolutely beautiful, it was one of our favourite days of our Croatian adventure. The country honestly has so much to see and do. We had 2 weeks and did just such a small portion but weren’t bored for a minute! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  3. We took the bus from Split to Trogir – lovely day trip……

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Ahh I’m glad you’ve been too Marie, it really is a lovely place to spend a day 🙂 x

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  4. Another of your stories that really make me want to go to Croatia! I love all these tower views! Thanks for sharing! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m so glad you enjoyed it – Croatia has so much to offer, it’s such a beautiful country 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  5. Very intriguing descriptions and photos, Hannah. I was hooked after your opening paragraph. Trogir makes me even more desirous of a trip to the Balkans.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you so much. Honestly Croatia, and the Balkans more widely, have so much to offer and are so underrated. Eastern Europe in general is my favourite area for travel as it’s less crowded, beautiful and cheap. It’s win win win.

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  6. Yet another beautiful spot. You are spoilt for choice. Thanks for sharing, Mel

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Mel, Croatia is just so beautiful everywhere you turn!

      Liked by 1 person

  7. Lovely, I’ve not yet visited Split or Trogir so your well documented itinerary will be very useful when we eventually make it there Hannah.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I really hope you get there soon Marion, it’s beautiful 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  8. It looks like you’ve stepped into a dream, a beautiful island with hidden gems of delightful, vintage architecture, interesting passageways and expansive, elevated views. So lovely, Hannah 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks so much Phil, it truly is a beautiful little island with so much to explore. We absolutely loved Croatia, that’s for sure 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  9. What a charmingly beautiful island, I’d agree it’s absolutely worth a visit! I love all your pictures.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you so much, Croatia is so beautiful round every corner!

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  10. Well, ‘largely pedestrianised’ means you don’t have to look out for cars all the time while viewing the city (and that’s great)! Your views from the Bell Tower are spectacular. Trogir is beautiful and your photos of the streets and narrow aisles are lovely.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks so much Corna, it’s a really beautiful little place. And I agree, escaping the cars is always a dream 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  11. I’ve not heard of Trogir but it sounds like the perfect place to get away from crowds. I would love to explore the Old town and winding alleys. The exterior of the Cathedral of St Lawrence is beautiful!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It really is a lovely little place and such a joy to explore a bit away from all the crowds. Thanks so much for taking the time to read and comment – have a great weekend 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  12. Oh my, Trogir is yet another place to add to our ever growing Croatia itinerary. It looks beautiful!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. There really is a lot to see in Croatia 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  13. Adorable doesn’t begin to describe it. I love those stone staircases against the walls. So charming. And parking is easy? I’m sold.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Aw thank you, I’m glad my pictures do it some justice. Definitely one to add to the Croatia trip itinerary!

      Liked by 1 person

  14. Lovely read – I have to add Trogir to my list!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks so much Kat, glad you enjoyed it 🙂

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  15. Hannah, you can hardly go wrong on this part of the Adriatic. Your photos are lovely, and seem to really capture the city. I haven’t been to Trogir, but it has a similar look and feel to Dubrovnik as well as Kotor, Montenegro. As you say, Venice had a large impact on this area. Hopefully, the harbor is too small for the huge cruise ships that plague Dubrovnik. ~James

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you so much. You’re right, Trogir definitely has that Venetian Dalmatian Coast feel – but without the cruise ships, thankfully!

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  16. Gorgeous old buildings set along the blue water certainly make Trogir look magical. I love the narrow lanes and old courtyards but especially those views from up in the hills. Maggie

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It really was beautiful Maggie, we had a wonderful day exploring 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  17. Great information for us to plan an add-on for Trogir! Thank you.

    Liked by 1 person

  18. Trogir looks delightful. It’s so photogenic and the views from the two towers are gorgeous.

    Liked by 1 person

  19. Trogir is what you wish for when you imagine a town on the Adriatic would look like. Not only do you not have to worry about the traffic it doesn’t seem to be overrun with tourists as so many towns are now. Thank you for your lovely photos.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m so glad you enjoyed the post Karen, thank you for taking the time to read and comment.

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  20. I’ve never heard of Trogir but it looks lovely! The views from the tower are great. Looks like yet another stop to add to my future Croatia itinerary.

    Liked by 1 person

  21. Lovely – the stone walls, narrow passages, arched doorways.

    Liked by 1 person

  22. Trogir definitely looks like a worthwhile day trip. The architecture looks beautiful and the views from the towers are gorgeous.

    Liked by 1 person

  23. lovely post, I’m glad you liked Trogir, I still haven’t visited it.

    Liked by 2 people

  24. […] You can read my post on visiting Trogir HERE. […]

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About the author

Hi! My name is Hannah, I’m a travel blogger from the UK who fits travel around a full time (and full on) job. In this blog I share my adventures around the world and hopefully help you to find some inspiration for destinations, things to do or places to stay. Thanks for stopping by – stay safe and happy travelling.

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