If you have ever searched “open top bus Split” you have probably noticed several operators. It is not obvious which one fits your trip. We drive one of them. We will be upfront about that and tell you when we are not the best fit. Here is the honest landscape of every open-top and panoramic bus tour operator in Split as of 2026. We cover prices, routes, and who each one suits best.
Open-Top Bus Split: The 5 Operators (2026)
The open-top bus Split category covers two vehicle types. First: traditional double-decker open-top buses, originally from London Routemaster heritage. Second: modified single-deck minibuses with retractable roofs. Both fall under the open-top bus Split label in tourist marketing.
Five operators currently run open-top or panoramic bus sightseeing in Split:
- Split Open Bus Tours (us) – fixed-route panoramic, EUR 15
- City Sightseeing Split (run by Apodos d.o.o.) – hop-on hop-off, EUR 27
- THAT IS IT Bus Tour (split-transfers.com) – guided panoramic, EUR 25
- Stromboli Travel – tour package operator with panoramic option
- Flarent Sightseeing (split-cityexcursions.com) – guided coach excursion
We will break each down by route, price, what you get, and who they fit. Then we will give you a buying decision at the end.
1. Split Open Bus Tours (Us)
- Price: EUR 15 per adult, EUR 10 per child (3-14), free under 3
- Duration: 1.5 hours total
- Route: Old Town pickup, Riva, Marjan Hill, Vidilica viewpoint (10-min stop), Bacvice drive-through, Diocletian Palace walk (30 min on foot)
- Vehicle: Open-top double-decker (panoramic deck on top)
- Audio guide: 17 languages
- Departures: 11am, 1pm, 3pm daily, May 1 to October 31
- Payment: Book now, pay on arrival, no credit card required
Best for: cruise visitors with 4 to 7 hours. Also: budget travelers, first-time visitors who want the lay of the land, anyone who wants Vidilica without climbing 250 steps.
Not great for: visitors with a full day who want flexibility to hop off at multiple stops, travelers who want unlimited boarding.
2. City Sightseeing Split (Apodos)
- Price: EUR 27 per adult, EUR 13 per child (24-hour pass), EUR 32 for 48-hour
- Duration: as-you-go, complete loop is about 90 minutes
- Route: 12 stops along Riva, eastern beaches, and inland points. Does NOT include Marjan Hill or Vidilica.
- Vehicle: Branded yellow-red City Sightseeing open-top double-deckers
- Audio guide: 10 languages
- Departures: every 20 to 30 minutes peak, 45 to 60 minutes shoulder season
- Payment: upfront on website or at kiosks
Best for: visitors with a full day or two who want flexibility. Also: families mixing beach time with sightseeing, and mobility-limited travelers (their stops have wheelchair access).
Not great for: cruise visitors with under 6 hours (wait times eat into your day), anyone who specifically wants the Vidilica viewpoint (not on their route).
3. THAT IS IT Bus Tour
- Price: EUR 25 per adult, EUR 20 per child
- Duration: 8 hours (full-day product, includes additional stops and lunch break)
- Route: Split Old Town, Marjan, Vidilica. Plus longer trip to nearby villages or Klis Fortress depending on the day
- Vehicle: Open-top minibus
- Guide: Live guide (English plus 2 other languages depending on group)
- Departures: typically 1 daily slot, advance booking required
Best for: visitors with a full free day who want a single packaged experience including longer trips outside Split.
Not great for: cruise visitors (8-hour duration does not fit port stops), travelers who want flexibility, anyone on a budget.
4. Stromboli Travel
- Price: varies by package, typically EUR 30 to 50
- Duration: 2 to 4 hours depending on package
- Route: includes Split panoramic + various add-ons (wine tasting, island combo)
- Vehicle: coach with open-top deck on some routes
- Guide: live guide
Best for: tour-package shoppers who want bundles (city sightseeing plus food and drink).
Not great for: standalone city sightseeing on a budget.
5. Flarent Sightseeing
- Price: EUR 20 to 25 per adult depending on tour
- Duration: 2 to 3 hours
- Route: Split Old Town, Marjan, sometimes Klis or Trogir extension
- Vehicle: standard tour coach (not open-top in all cases – check booking)
- Guide: live guide
Best for: travelers who prefer a covered coach over open-top (rain protection, AC).
Not great for: travelers who specifically want the open-top experience for photos.
Comparison at a Glance
Stripping it to the most-asked metrics:
- Cheapest: Split Open Bus Tours (EUR 15)
- Most flexible: City Sightseeing Split (24-hour pass)
- Longest tour: THAT IS IT (8 hours)
- Includes Vidilica: Split Open Bus Tours, THAT IS IT (City Sightseeing does NOT)
- Most languages on audio: Split Open Bus Tours (17)
- Live guide vs audio: THAT IS IT, Stromboli, Flarent have live guides; Split Open Bus and City Sightseeing use audio
- Pay on arrival: Split Open Bus Tours (others require advance payment)
Which One Should You Book?
- Cruise visitor with 4 to 7 hours: Split Open Bus Tours (fast, covers Vidilica, leaves time for lunch + walking)
- Visitor with full day and flexibility: City Sightseeing Split (hop-on hop-off works with time)
- Visitor with full day, wants 1 packaged experience: THAT IS IT (longest, includes more)
- Budget traveler: Split Open Bus Tours (45 percent cheaper than alternatives)
- Family with kids who want to swim: City Sightseeing (Bacvice stop is good for kids)
- Photography focused: Split Open Bus Tours or THAT IS IT (both stop at Vidilica)
- Rainy day expected: Flarent (covered coach)
- Live guide preference: THAT IS IT, Stromboli, or Flarent
Common Mistakes Visitors Make
- Booking the wrong tour for time available. An 8-hour tour does not fit a 6-hour cruise stop.
- Paying for hop-on hop-off but only riding twice. Math does not work; fixed-route would have been cheaper.
- Expecting Vidilica on a route that does not include it. Check the route map before booking.
- Assuming all “open-top” tours are the same. Coaches (Flarent) and double-deckers (City Sightseeing, us) are different experiences.
- Booking the most expensive option assuming it is best. Price does not correlate with quality in Split tours.
Our Honest Place in the Market
We are the cheapest open-top bus tour in Split with the most audio languages. We are also the only operator besides THAT IS IT that includes the Vidilica viewpoint. We are not the most flexible (no hop-on hop-off) and we are not the longest (1.5 hours total). For most visitors who want to see Split efficiently without overpaying, we are the rational choice. For visitors who want hop-on hop-off flexibility, City Sightseeing is a fair choice. We would rather you have a good day in Split than book us for the wrong reason.
If our 1.5-hour fixed-route panoramic fits your day, reserve a seat here. EUR 15 per adult, pay on arrival, 11am, 1pm, 3pm daily.
Information on competitor pricing, routes, and durations accurate as of May 2026. Please confirm details on operator websites before booking. We do not represent or have any affiliation with the operators mentioned.