Dubrovnik or Split from Makarska: Which Day Trip Is Worth It?
Updated October 20, 2026 · 7 min read
The short answer
Choose Split if you want an easy, cheap day and have a limited tolerance for the road. Choose Dubrovnik if it is the one big city you want to see and you accept a very long day. Split lies roughly 60 km from Makarska; Dubrovnik about 150 km. The tours reflect that: Split takes 8 to 9 hours, Dubrovnik 9.5 to 10.
Four tours compared
| Trip | Price | Rating · reviews | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| From Makarska: Dubrovnik Day Trip with 4 Hours of Free Time | €45 | 4.4 · 284 | 9.5 hours |
| From Makarska Riviera: Dubrovnik Guided Tour & Free Time | €55.25 | 4.7 · 127 | 10 hours |
| From Makarska: Split Day Trip with 4 Hours to Explore | €30 | 4.3 · 156 | 9 hours |
| From Makarska Riviera: Split City Guided Tour & Free Time | €50 | 4.7 · 63 | 8 hours |
What you get at each end
The cheaper Dubrovnik trip gives 4 hours of free time in the city, after a journey along the Dalmatian coast with stops on the way. The dearer one is a guided tour with free time afterwards, travelling in modern vehicles; the listing does not give the split between guiding and free time.
The cheaper Split trip includes a tour of Diocletian’s Palace and 4 hours to explore. The dearer one is described as a small-group tour: 1.5 hours guided, then 3 hours free to explore at your own pace.
Why Split is the easier day
Split is much closer, so a larger share of the day is in the city. The small-group trip at €50 puts 4.5 hours on the ground in an 8-hour day, which is a better ratio than Dubrovnik, where 4 hours of free time sit inside 9.5 hours. For families, older travellers and anyone who finds long days on the road tiring, that matters more than the sight itself.
Why Dubrovnik still wins for some
Dubrovnik is the famous one, and on a first trip many people want to see it once. If that is you, the unfavourable ratio is the price of admission. Note that the cheaper Dubrovnik trip is rated 4.4, below the guided one, though on the most reviews of the Dubrovnik pair (284). The guided one is rated 4.7 on 127 reviews. If the free-time version leaves you wandering without a plan, the extra €10.25 buys a guide.
Driving yourself
You can compare rental cars in Makarska and do either city alone. For Split that is realistic; the distance is short. For Dubrovnik you add roughly 150 km each way, parking in a walled city, and a day that starts early. The Pelješac Bridge, open since July 2022, means a road trip to Dubrovnik no longer has to cross Bosnian territory. Whichever route you take, read the rental terms on driving outside the country before you book. A guided trip removes the driving and the parking.
Who should pick something else
If you want the sea rather than a city, an island speedboat trip is five to six hours instead of ten. For waterfalls, see the Krka day trip. All of them are in the overview of day trips from Makarska.
Our recommendation
For most visitors, the Split small-group trip at €50 is the best use of a day: short drive, 4.5 hours in the city, 4.7 stars. If Dubrovnik is the reason you are in Croatia, take the €45 trip for the lower price or the guided one at €55.25 for a better rating. Either way, read the booking page for what the price includes and where the vehicle leaves.
