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Small tour group on the Split Riva waterfront with a licensed local guide
Choosing a tour · 5 min read

Private vs small-group Split shore excursion — which one is right for you?

Same two UNESCO cities, very different day. Here is the honest comparison so you can decide in five minutes.

5 min read · Updated 2026-04-24

For Split cruise guests there are two ways to do the classic shore excursion to Split old town and medieval Trogir: a private tour for up to 8 people (a dedicated vehicle from €340, the total rising as your group grows) or a small-group tour at a flat €72 per person. Same cities, same guide calibre, same on-time-return guarantee. The decision comes down to group size, budget, and how much privacy and flexibility are worth to you.

The price math, in plain numbers

Small-group is a flat €72 per person, so its cost is easy to predict. The private tour is a dedicated vehicle whose total rises with the number of travellers — it starts at €340 and the live booking calendar shows the exact price for your group. For couples and small families the small-group is the cheaper option; private's real value is privacy, a dedicated guide, and a flexible pace.

Travellers Small-group total Private total Cheaper
1 adult€72from €340Small group
2 adults€144from €340Small group
3 adults€216from €340Small group
4 adults€288≈ €440Small group
Larger families & groups€72 × travellersshown liveCompare in the calendar

Private prices rise with group size; the booking calendar shows your exact total. The figures above use the live small-group rate (€72/person) and the private prices we can quote directly. For larger parties, open the private tour's calendar to see your number.

What you get with small-group

  • A shared minibus with other cruise guests
  • A fixed itinerary — Split walk, drive to Trogir, Trogir walk, brief free time, drop-off near the cruise terminal
  • Licensed local guide handling the full route
  • Drop-off 5 minutes on foot from the Split cruise terminal

What you get with private

  • A private air-conditioned vehicle — you and your group, nobody else
  • Dedicated driver-guide who answers to your group only
  • Flexible itinerary — add a lunch stop, slow the pace, skip a site, photograph for longer, take the scenic detour through Kaštela Bay
  • Dockside pickup right at the terminal exit with a personal name sign
  • Guaranteed on-time return with padding for your ship's all-aboard

Who private is best for

  • Families and groups who value privacy and a kid-friendly pace — your own vehicle, your own schedule, breaks and stops on your terms
  • Anyone with mobility preferences — you control the walking intensity and the breaks
  • Photographers, history enthusiasts, or anyone who wants extra time at one site
  • Groups of friends who want their own social bubble without strangers
  • Anyone who gets anxious about missing the ship — direct driver, direct schedule, zero coordination with a larger group

Who small-group is best for

  • Solo cruisers — €72 pp is hard to beat and you get some company along the way
  • Couples and small families on a careful cruise budget — €144 for two is hard for the private tour to beat
  • Travellers who enjoy meeting other cruise guests
  • Anyone who is happy to follow a fixed pace and prefers to save money over extra flexibility

What is identical between the two

  • Same two cities — Split with Diocletian's Palace and medieval Trogir
  • Same licensed local guides
  • Same on-time-return guarantee
  • Same air-conditioned transport
  • Same cancellation terms through Bokun (free cancellation up to 24h before for most products)

A quick decision rule

  1. One or two of you? Book small-group — nothing beats it on price.
  2. A small family on a budget? Small-group is usually still cheaper — but if privacy and pace matter, the private tour is the nicer day out.
  3. A larger group, or you want full flexibility and privacy? Book private — open its calendar to see your exact price, then decide.

Frequently asked

Is the private tour actually worth double the small-group price?
For couples and small parties the small-group usually wins on pure price — €144 for two against a private tour that starts at €340. The private total rises with group size (around €440 for four), so even small families are often still cheaper in the small group. What the private tour really buys you is privacy, a dedicated guide, and a flexible pace. Compare the exact private price for your party in the live booking calendar.
How big is the small group, really?
A small group in a comfortable minibus, not a big coach tour. You'll get to know the other guests a little, but the guide still gives personal attention.
Can I change the itinerary on a private tour?
Yes. That's the main reason people book private. Extra time at Diocletian's basement, skip a cathedral entry, add a lunch stop, slower pace for older travellers — your guide adjusts in real time.
Do both tours have the same on-time-return guarantee?
Identical. Both use the same ship schedule tracking and the same drivers who have run this route for a decade. The guarantee is not a feature of private tours only.
Are small groups ever cancelled for low participation?
Very rarely in peak season (May–September). In shoulder months, if only two people are booked a few days before departure, you may be offered a discounted upgrade to private rather than cancellation. In ten years we have never cancelled on a guest.