Split Riviera: Sunset Boat Cruise & Champagne Evening

4.84

(193 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

I’ll be honest, I almost skipped the Split Riviera sunset cruise because I thought “how different can another boat ride be?” But then you’re actually out there — leaving the port with that weird mix of sea air and sunscreen, music playing quietly from somewhere behind the captain’s seat. Our guide (I think her name was Ana?) handed us each a glass of champagne right after we passed Diocletian’s Palace. She pointed out how locals call this hour “pomalo” — just slow down and let it all wash over you. I tried to pronounce it; she laughed and said I sounded Italian.

The boat drifted past Marjan, which is this pine-covered peninsula that looks so much bigger from the water. The air got cooler as we moved farther out, and you could smell resin and salt — or maybe that was just my brain making things up. There were families waving from the pebble beaches, some kids daring each other to jump in even though it wasn’t exactly warm yet. We got close enough to Čiovo Island that you could see little houses tucked into the trees. Someone started singing along to an old Croatian pop song; nobody seemed to mind.

On the way back, Split looked completely different — all those centuries packed together, glowing gold under streetlights. The Riva was buzzing but from out here it felt far away, like watching someone else’s movie. I kept thinking about how locals have been doing this for ages: escaping city noise for a couple hours of sea breeze and nothing urgent at all. It’s not flashy or wild, but honestly? That quiet drifting feeling sticks with you longer than most things.