Dalmatian Islands between Split and Dubrovnik

In August 2025, Andy flew to Croatia to spend a week island hopping through the Dalmatian islands on the Split to Dubrovnik Bike and Boat holiday. He joined 27 other guests aboard the lovely Romantica, a 32 metre, two masted motor yacht. This is his account of the trip..

Arrival day

After arriving at Split airport, a 40-minute public-bus journey dropped me off in the Port of Split, just yards from where the Romantica was moored. She’s a lovely two masted motor yacht with 16 cabins, a comfortable saloon/bar, a shaded aft deck a sundeck and a swim deck at her stern.

I was shown to my very comfortable, ensuite cabin and had enough time to unpack before joining my fellow cyclists for a fascinating and informative guided walking tour of the historic centre of Split. That evening, over a lovely dinner in Romantica’s saloon, we all got to know each other a little better. My fellow passengers hailed from all corners of the globe, including the US, Australia, Canada, Italy and Ireland. Most of us were leisure cyclists who had opted for e-bikes, but 3 or 4 brave souls had chosen regular (hybrid) bikes.

After dinner, Serge and Sven, our friendly on-board bike guides, gave an informative and entertaining briefing, introducing themselves, the ship’s crew and explaining a little about life on board and how the coming week would unfold. They also created a WhatsApp group and invited us all to join. Throughout the week this proved to be a very effective method for communicating real-time messages and information about each day’s route and schedule. It was also a great tool for guests to share their best images and videos. The forecast for the coming week was for wall-to-wall sunshine – we retired to our cabins excited for the coming adventure.

First ride

The following morning, while we enjoyed a hearty breakfast, the Romantica slipped her moorings and edged out into the Adriatic, the sun was shining, and the calm water was a deep, aquamarine blue. Our destination was the island of Brač (pronounced ‘bratch’) which we could already see in the distance across the strait. Once we were moored up in the pleasant little port of Postira, the crew and guides set about unloading the bikes and lining them up on the quayside. Each bike was labelled with the name of its rider so locating the correct bike was simple. We were each given a biodegradable water bottle (ours to keep), and the loan of one or two panniers for carrying daily necessities on the rides.

After some quick saddle-height adjustments, a run through of the e-bike controls and some sound advice on riding within a guided group, we set off for our first ride. Our goal was the small port of Milna on the western end of the island, some 26 kms away. The pace was leisurely, and I found it very relaxing not having to worry about navigation. Besides enjoying the scenery and constant cicada soundtrack, the easy pace also made it possible to chat with fellow cyclists as we rode along. There were some uphill sections at times, but my e-bike made light work of these climbs, allowing me to enjoy the stunning scenery as it unfolded around me. Every now and then we’d stop to re-group and Sven or Serge would provide a little background information on the island, its culture and history.

Before long we were freewheeling down into the picturesque little port of Milna where the Romantica was waiting for us. The crew started loading the bikes on board whilst we retreated to our air-conditioned cabins to freshen up after our ride. Lunch on board was followed by a relaxing afternoon cruise across to the island of Hvar. This was the perfect opportunity to try out the sunbeds on the sun deck. Fresh sea air, a pleasant warm breeze and the gentle hum of the engines made it very hard to keep the eyes open!

After mooring in the stunningly beautiful little port of Stari Grad we had the choice of joining another bike ride or just relaxing on board and doing our own thing. Some chose to walk to a near-by beach for a swim, while others strolled around the narrow streets of Stari Grad. I opted for the ride which was an easy loop ride to the picturesque little harbour town of Jelsa, just along the coast. That evening the on-board galley was closed, so this provided an opportunity to step ashore and eat in one of the many quayside restaurants. After dinner I enjoyed a nightcap in a convivial little quayside bar with my Irish and French-Canadian shipmates before calling it a night and strolling back to the boat. Sleep came quickly and easily.

Daily routine

And so it continued. Each new day would find us disembarking in another quaint little port on another Dalmatian Island for a stunning ride through beautiful countryside. The rides varied in length from 21 to 64 kms and always included a certain amount of climbing. My advice would be to book an e-bike unless you are a very fit person who cycles regularly. The guides always built in refreshment stops, usually at a café or beach-bar. Besides enjoying a coffee or cold drink, this was also an opportunity to refill our water bottles. We rode on predominantly quiet roads and paths, stopping regularly to admire views and take photos.

At various intervals throughout the week the Romantica would find a secluded bay and drop anchor for an hour or two. This allowed us to enjoy the unique experience of swimming from the boat in the crystal-clear waters of the Adriatic. The swim deck at the stern made entering and exiting the water a breeze and everyone agreed these swim stops were a real highlight of the cycling holiday.

Highlights

The boat and our bikes took us to some amazing places during the week. Stand out memories include the scent of wild lavender and rosemary in the air as we enjoyed the long descent down to picturesque Hvar Town.

Another memorable highlight was the stunning ride along the length of Korčula. We followed a peaceful coast road along the island’s verdant south shore. Offshore, a daisy chain of small islands punctuated the azure Adriatic. After stopping for lunch and a swim at a lovely beach we began to climb higher, enjoying ever more impressive views along the coast. Finally, we crossed the spine of the island and began an exhilarating descent down a quiet lane towards the impossibly blue waters separating Korčula from the Orebič peninsula on the mainland. After a few kilometres following the northern coastline, we rounded a corner and were met with a stunning view of medieval Korčula Town, seeming to float in the Adriatic on its own tiny peninsula. An evening stroll through the narrow streets of this beautiful old town were a fitting finale to a truly wonderful day

Korčula Town

On the sparsely populated island of Lastovo we moored for the night in a peaceful, secluded bay. I will always remember sitting on deck late that evening enjoying unadulterated views of the heavens, thanks to the absence of any light pollution.

On the island of Mljet the sublime ride around the beautiful forests and lagoons of the protected National Park were simply stunning.

All too soon we found ourselves mooring up in Gruz (Dubrovnik’s port) – journey’s end. After a guided walk of the famous old town, we returned to the boat for a final dinner on board where we laughed and reminisced about our amazing Split to Dubrovnik Bike and Boat adventure.