41 The Essentials: Split, Croatia
Split is often treated as a quick arrival or departure point, but Željana Boban Klarić, general manager of Dinaric Adventures, makes the case for building a Croatia itinerary around it. Born and raised in the city, she walks travel advisors through the logistics, from the new seasonal United nonstop between New York and Split to why shoulder season opens up lavender workshops and family visits on Hvar. She maps activities across the Cetina River canyon, biking out of Stari Grad, and Diocletian's Palace, and explains how to divide ten days across Split, Hvar, and Dubrovnik. She also introduces Dinaric's new short yacht charters and how the pricing works beyond the base rate
Key Takeaways
The first-ever nonstop from New York to Split, and how it changes the way trips begin.
Why shoulder season reveals a different Split than summer does.
What the Cetina River offers beyond rafting, from canyoning to a record-setting zip line.
Split earns more days than Dubrovnik, and Željana explains why.
Dinaric's new three and four-day yacht charters, and what sits on top of the base price.
About the guest:
Željana Boban Klarić is the general manager of Dinaric Adventures, a boutique luxury DMC based in Split that specializes in outdoor and active journeys across Croatia and the wider Dinaric region. Born and raised in Split, she is also a licensed local guide and grew up with the Old Town as her playground. She works within a close-knit team of travel designers and destination specialists, several of whom bring hyperlocal knowledge, including a colleague who is a native of the island of Hvar. Her firsthand expertise helps travel advisors build Croatia itineraries that move past the standard coastal circuit and into the country's rivers, islands, and local communities.
