Travelling around Archives

Day Trip to Ljubljana from Zagreb

7th November 2023/0 Comments/in Day Trips, Travelling around, Zagreb

As wonderful as Zagreb is with its many sights, eateries, shops, experiences, attractions and more, the city is also very well positioned for several exciting day trips. As well as visiting places in central and northern Croatia such as the Plitvice Lakes, Samobor and Varazdin, or destinations on the coast such as Rijeka or Opatija, how about hopping a border to another country! Slovenia is only about 26km away from Zagreb, so a trip across to its capital city (and more) would be a great little trip to undertake from Zagreb. Here’s our guide to a day trip to Ljubljana from Zagreb.

One interesting thing to note is – what I think – the marked difference between the two cities. Zagreb is (perhaps surprisingly, given Croatia’s size) a large city home to 770,000 people; Ljubljana, meanwhile, has a population of just under 300,000. Zagreb, to me, seems to be an incredibly bustling city all the time, with people absolutely everywhere, at all times of day! Ljubljana seems a little more laid-back and quieter. But it’s still a wonderful place to visit!

Oh, and one thing you might be wondering is…how to pronounce Ljubljana? It’s lyoob-lyana. Go on, give it a shot!

From Zagreb to Ljubljana - Ljubljana Castle — Ljubljana Castle

Getting to Ljubljana from Zagreb

By Bus

There a numerous buses per day between the two cities, including a couple of early morning options that depart Zagreb at 7.15am and 7.35am and get you into Ljubljana at 10am or just after. For the return journey, you can take your pick – but there are suitable options at 6.05pm or 7.50pm.

The bus costs €14.99 each way, and tickets can be bought on the Flixbus website where you can also look up timetables.

By Train

Travelling by train is a relaxing way of making the journey between these two capital cities, as the seats are fairly comfortable and you can stretch your legs by strolling up and down the carriages. (The scenery is also very picturesque as the train winds its way along the Sava River for most of its journey.)

There’s an early morning train departing Zagreb Glavni Kolodvor at 6.30am, arriving in Ljubljana at 9.14am – perfect for a day of sightseeing!

The best return option would be the train departing Ljubljana at 6.37pm, which gets you back into Zagreb at 8.45pm.

The train costs €9 one-way for adults, €4.50 for children (2023 prices) which is amazing value!

Driving

Should you have access to a car, driving is also a quick and easy way of making the hop over to Ljubljana. Leave Zagreb and drive over to the A2 motorway which takes you all the way to Ljubljana.

Do note that the motorway is tolled – in Croatia, it is a simple case of taking a ticket as you enter the motorway and paying when you leave it. In Slovenia, you need to purchase a vignette, which can be done online at the SI Vignette website.

Border logistics

Now that Croatia is in the Schengen Zone, there is no longer a border between Slovenia and Croatia. So whatever way you make the journey, you won’t have to show your passport!

Additionally, if you have a Schengen visa to enter Croatia, you will also be able to visit Slovenia.

What to See in Ljubljana

Ljubljana is a very walkable city (not least in the central pedestrianised area!) so you can easily make your way to most of the attractions here by foot – and it’s a great way of exploring or uncovering some hidden gems too!

Ljubljana is also a very charming city with a number of great sights, good food, and fun cafes and bars and it’s a great place to spend a day or two. Oh, and dragons! The dragon is the symbol of Ljubljana and this mythical creature appears on the city flag and in the city shops. (And on a bridge – see below!)

Ljubljana Castle

I would recommend first making your way to Ljubljana Castle which is perched up on a hill overlooking the city – you’ll see it looking down on you as you make your way around the city. This 15th-century structure was built as a defensive against the Ottomans; today it houses several exhibits and also hosts cultural events.

View from Ljubljana Castle over Ljubljana — The view from Ljubljana Castle over Ljubljana

You can reach the castle utilising the modern, fully glass funicular that’s located at ground level. After just a few minutes’ ride you’ll be up at Castle level where you can enjoy the lovely view across the city.

If you’ve purchased a full ticket for the castle, you can access the Museum of Puppetry; the Virtual Castle; the Viewing Tower with its 360-degree views with local mountain peaks pointed out rather cleverly; the Armoury; the surprisingly beautiful Castle Chapel of St George and the Exhibition of Slovenian History – which I felt was a bit thin on the ground with its content. (Poor Slovenia!)

Slovenian money — An exhibit at the museum – editions of the first currency in independent Slovenia, the Tolar, before the introduction of the Euro in 2007

Tickets for the castle and funicular cost €16 for adults and €11.20 for children aged 7 to 18. A family ticket for four costs €38.40. (2023 prices)

Ljubljana Castle Funicular — The funicular taking passengers up to Ljubljana Castle

Ljubljana Market

Once you make the funicular ride back down to ground level, you will face Ljubljana’s Central Market, and open-air space with fruit and veg and typical market items being sold. Alongside the river is the Plecnik’s Covered Market, a beautiful structure built in the 1940s and designed by the famous Ljubljana architect Joze Plecnik.

Ljubljana - Plecnik's Covered Market — Plecnik’s Covered Market next to the Ljubljanica River

Should you be visiting Ljubljana on a Friday from March to October, you must visit the market to enjoy Odprta Kuhna. Chefs prepare excellent gourmet food options.

Zmajski Most – Dragon Bridge, The Triple Bridge and Other Bridges

It is always rather pleasing for a city to have a river winding its way right through the centre. This is certainly the case for Ljubljana with its River Ljubljanica…and you know what else that means? Lots of bridges!

The most famous bridge of all in Ljubljana is the Dragon Bridge, right around the corner from the Central Market. Built in 1900-1901, this bridge is adorned with four somewhat scary dragons at each edge; the bridge was the first reinforced concrete structure in the city and was one of the largest bridges in Europe at the time.

Dragon Bridge, Ljubljana - Ljubljana to Zagreb — A dragon on the Dragon Bridge

Further west is the Triple Bridge – literally three bridges, side by side. The original bridge was the central one, it’s current form from the mid-19th century. In the early 20th century, the left and right-hand bridges were added to a design by Joze Plecnik. These three bridges really are quite striking, and fun when you make the decision of which bridge to cross!

From Zagreb to Ljubljana - the Triple Bridge in Ljubljana — Looking across the Triple Bridge

Preseren Square

Right by the Triple Bridge is the wide open space of Preseren Square (Preserenov Trg), Ljubljana’s main square and clearly a gathering place for many locals. You’ll find the Preseren Momument here, depicting Slovenian poet France Preseren. The Franciscan Church of the Annunciation is also located here, as is the lovely Hauptmann House.

Ljubljana - Preseren Statue — The statue of France Preseren on Preseren Square

Museums and Exhibitions

Plecnik House covers the life and works of the famous aforementioned 20th Slovenian architect, Joze Plecnik. He contributed greatly to the design of modern Ljubljana (as well as working in Vienna and Prague).

The National Gallery is home to almost 600 works by Slovenian and European painters, including works by Zoran Music, a leading modernist painter.

Eating and Drinking in Ljubljana

For a super hearty lunch, I would highly recommend Moji Struklji, also known as the Dumpling House. The restaurant prepares a variety of dumplings, both savoury and sweet, with traditional fillings such as cottage cheese, meat, carrot and other vegetables, nuts/walnuts, apples and more. You will honestly find it hard to choose! Alongside the dumplings, you may also like to try one of their delicious stews.

Moji Struklji, Ljubljana — A meat dumpling at Moji Struklji

Another top tip for a very filling and delicious (not to mention quick) meal is Klobasarna. Essentially, this place is all about the Carniolian sausage…and that’s pretty much all they serve! A half or whole portion will get you the sausage carved up alongside mustard, horseradish and a bread roll; I went for the sausage wrapped in sauerkraut and dough which was fantastic! And seeing as you’re in Slovenia, why not wash this down with a Cockta, the Slovenian soft drink that was invented to rival a more famous drink with a similar name?

Pizzeria Foculus is a very relaxed but fun kind of place with an astonishingly long menu. It’s all exceedingly tasty!

Cacao is the place to head to for the best ice cream in the city.

An extra day in Slovenia

If you’re truly taken by Slovenia and want to extend your time here, another option would be to stay the night in the city and use the next day to visit the magical Lake Bled. There are numerous bus departures from the main bus station in Ljubljana direct to Bled that take just over an hour. It is possible, of course, to also join an organised tour that includes transport, but it’s easy to just do it yourself!

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Once you arrive in Bled, make your way down to the shimmering lake itself to take in its beauty. If you have the time and the proper footwear, I would recommend walking the full circumference of the lake for an excellent way of experiencing the nature of the place and seeing the lake and its surroundings from multiple viewpoints.

Lake Bled and Castle — Lake Bled and Bled Castle

Another must is to enjoy the lake from…well…water level. There are boats that will take you to the island in the middle of the lake; you can choose from either an old-fashioned-style wooden boat called a pletna which is rowed (really!) across to the island, or an electric boat which is faster but perhaps less traditional. (These two boat types are obviously used to preserve the clean waters of the lake.)

Once on Bled Island, you can visit the Church of the Mother of God (for an additional entrance fee) which has a 52-metre-high bell tower. Alternatively, retire to Poticnica Cafe to sample the local potica delicacy, a filled pastry-type treat; the walnut potice is the most popular.

The boats leave you on the island for a minimum of 1 hour 15 minutes, which is just about enough time to get the most of what there is here. Make sure you don’t miss the return boat!

There are several eateries around the edge of the lake for you to fuel up at. You absolutely must, however, leave room to try the Bled Cream Cake at Kavarna Park, which invented this sweet treat in 1953. The layered cake – made up of a crispy puff pastry crust on the top and bottom and vanilla custard and cream in between – is served up in a cube-like portion and a small glass of sweet wine is a great accompaniment. (Kavarna Park also serves up some other impressive dessert and ice cream dishes if the cake isn’t your cup of tea.) The cafe has apparently served 16 million portions of Bled Cake since its invention!

More info on Ljubljana and Slovenia

You can find more information on visiting this lovely city on the Ljubljana Tourist Board website.

For more tourist advice on Slovenia in general, head to the Slovenian Tourist Board website.

The best ways of getting around Croatia

21st March 2023/0 Comments/in Travel advice, Travelling around

Croatia doesn’t lack transport options or decent infrastructure in any way, but here are a few helpful hints and tips you should know for the best ways of getting around Croatia.

The best ways of getting around Croatia – Bus

We’ll start with perhaps the best one! Croatia’s bus network is very, very extensive and far more so than the train network (more of which later). Buses connect all the major towns and cities in Croatia, and plenty more places besides; there are also normally local buses operating on routes in and around major cities – for example, with the city buses in Split you can reach Trogir or Omis, whilst the Dubrovnik bus network can take you to Cavtat or Dubrovnik Airport to the south or Ston and the Peljesac Peninsula to the north.

Bus travel is relatively cheap, although there’s no option for anything like a ‘bus pass’ allowing unlimited travel, which might be handy. Having said that, there are many bus companies operating in Croatia – see our Bus Travel in Croatia page – and it’s very unlikely you’d want to limit yourself to just one company anyway. You can normally make savings if you book return tickets (if you’re making a return journey, of course!) and some companies give savings if tickets are booked online – e.g. Autotrans.

Some bus routes even utilise local ferries so you can use them to get onto the islands – for example, if travelling from Dubrovnik to Korcula. Other islands are connected to the mainland by bridge – namely, Krk and Pag – so bus travel is often the best way of getting to these places.

The best ways of getting around Croatia – Train

Travellers to mainland Europe often have quite a romantic notion of train travel and the classic gap year/young adult pursuit of interrailing. Which is completely understandable – travelling around a large territory such as Europe is fun! Not to mention that certain countries – France, Italy, Germany, and Spain – now have some rather speedy rail services that will zip you from city to city in just a few hours.

However, you can’t really say much of this for Croatia! The rail network has been underfunded for many years now (the road network, in contrast, has been built to provide modern motorways) and, by and large, it is not very extensive. Zagreb is the main rail hub and there are services stretching out from this city to some of the main towns and cities (Rijeka, Split, Osijek, Varazdin) but not all that much in between other locations.

There are also very, very few services along the coast!

Additionally, some routes will be quicker by bus which utilises a motorway route rather than on the slow rail network – Zagreb to Rijeka is two and a half hours by bus but four hours by train. Zagreb to Split can be as fast as four and a half hours by bus (it really depends on which bus you take and how many stops it makes) but it’s six and a half or eight and a half hours by train.

If you did want to undertake a train route in Croatia (and didn’t mind the extra journey time), we would recommend Zagreb to Split…or vice versa. It is a very scenic route!

The best ways of getting around Croatia – Flying

Flying is obviously the quickest option for getting around Croatia, there’s no disputing that! The country’s main airline, Croatia Airlines operates flights connecting Zagreb with Pula, Zadar, Split, Dubrovnik and Osijek, and even the tiny airport by Bol on the island of Brac.

There are also flights connecting Pula with Zadar and Osijek, Split with Pula, Rijeka and Dubrovnik and Rijeka with Split and Osijek. If there are no direct flights for the route you want, you should be able to travel by connecting in Zagreb. Take a look at our Flights in Croatia page for the full timetable for this year.

Best ways of getting around Croatia - Flying — The gorgeous view when departing from Split Airport

Charter airline Trade Air also operates in Croatia, and you can book their flights on the Croatia Airlines website as well.

Understandably, flying is the most expensive way of getting around Croatia but the cost may be worth it if you’re looking to travel quickly. But don’t forget to factor in the time (and cost) required to travel to and from airports.

The best ways of getting around Croatia – Ferries

Well, for the most part, you can hardly escape travelling by ferry (or catamaran) if you want to get onto the islands…right? (Putting aside islands such as Krk and Pag which are connected to the mainland by bridge.)

Catamarans are of course faster than ferries but there are few routes on which both a catamaran and ferry operate. One exception is Split to the island of Vis – to show you the comparison in journey time, by catamaran it takes 1 hour 25 minutes whilst by ferry it is 2 hours 20 minutes. (Both of these routes are run by Jadrolinija.)

Similarly, Split to Vela Luka on the island of Korcula takes 2 hours and 5 minutes and by ferry, the journey takes 3 hours 30 minutes. (Again, both routes are run by Jadrolinija.)

Best ways of getting around Croatia - by ferry or catamaran — Ferries and catamarans at Split port

Having said this, ferries tend to be a far more scenic mode of transportation. Almost all of them allow you to sit up on the deck and watch the beautiful Adriatic and its islands go by. Catamarans have little in the way of outdoor space (if any!) and can also be rather noisy.

Catamarans tend to run on some of the longest coastal routes – for example, Split to Dubrovnik and Pula to Zadar. Sadly the once long-running coastal ferry from Rijeka to Dubrovnik stopped operating a number of years ago.

Ferries will absolutely be your chosen method of transport if you’re travelling with a car. Catamarans only accept foot passengers!

Take a look at our Croatia Ferries Map to get an idea of whether catamarans or ferries operate on the route wish to make!

The best ways of getting around Croatia – Road

Renting a car when in Croatia undeniably gives you the freedom to explore at your own pace, and to set your own route for wherever you’re trying to get to – and allowing you to go “off-plan” whenever you want!

However, renting a car can be the most expensive way of travelling around Croatia and you will also have to factor in paying tolls (if you make use of motorways) as well as parking charges when visiting towns and cities.

But if you’re sharing the rental with someone else (or a few of you), it can work out to be relatively reasonable. And you’ll be able to schlep all your belongings around without any effort at all!

Best ways of getting around Croatia - by road — A winding road on the island of Pag

The best ways of getting around Croatia – Taxi

We obviously wouldn’t suggest taxis in Croatia as a mode of transport for long distances! But they’re a reasonable way of getting around a small area if you don’t have a rental car and don’t want to rely on public transport.

Almost all towns and cities have a good selection of local taxi companies who you can call to book a taxi. Ask at your place of accommodation for a recommendation.

Riding-hailing apps such as Uber and Bolt exist in Croatia and are a super-easy way of getting a taxi. If you haven’t used them before, you may end up getting a small discount as a first-time user.

So what is the best way of getting around Croatia?

The best way of getting around Croatia probably depends on how much time you have for travelling around the country, and what your itinerary specifically is.

If you’re happy with renting a car, we’d say this is probably the best way of getting around Croatia as it gives you the most flexibility!

If you’d prefer to go down the public transport option, we’d suggest getting around Croatia by bus. The bus network is very good and bus travel is relatively cheap.

Catamarans or ferries will of course be the way to go to get to the islands!

Why not combine some of the above during your holiday? Rent a car for a week (or a portion of a week) to explore a certain region, and then rely on public buses or ferries for the remainder?

Tour Croatia online from your sofa

30th March 2020/0 Comments/in Fun, Tours in Croatia, Travelling around

These unusual times due to the coronavirus outbreak mean travel to exciting destinations around the world – Croatia included, of course – is completely curtailed for the time being. We of course hope matters will improve in the not too distant future – for everyone’s health and safety first and foremost, but also so everyone can make a return to doing things they enjoy and love. In the meantime, however, why not tour Croatia online…from the comfort of your sofa!

It’s not quite the same thing but you can catch some glimpses of the Croatia you know and love…and perhaps discover some new places that you can visit in the future!

Walk the cobblestones of Stradun in Dubrovnik

This live webcam of Dubrovnik‘s famous thoroughfare Stradun pans around looking down it and also over Orlando Column (sadly, boarded up) and the Church of St Blaise. When we visited it (virtually, that is!) not only was it almost entirely empty (apart from a few people walking solo) but it was also rather soggy and grey on a rainy day. When we revisited a few days later, we have to say that it looked even stranger completely empty in the sunshine. If you’ve ever visited Dubrovnik, compare this to how bustling and busy Stradun normally is – it’s certainly a stark contrast.

See more of Dubrovnik with our guide to sightseeing in Dubrovnik

Gaze out over Hvar Town and the nearby islands

This one’s a real beauty. This live webcam looks down over Hvar Town and across to the nearby Pakleni islands. Located higher up than the usual lookout point that visitors head to, the Spanish Fortress, you can see almost all of the town, the Fortress itself, the forest above town, the collection of islands nearby and the sparkly sea. It’s even pretty to look at at dusk, with the twinkling lights of the houses seen down below whilst the outline of the islands are still visible in the distance.

Explore the many amazing viewpoints in the Plitvice Lakes National Park

Perhaps the Plitvice Lakes were on your Croatian itinerary this year. Well, hopefully you’ll still be able to visit one day soon – but in the meantime, but not walk through the national park online? Google Streetview lets you “walk” a number of the paths in the park – this is surely one of the best ways to tour Croatia online! Here, we’ve started you at the viewpoint just past Entrance number 1. Head down the paths to reach the lower lakes!

Exploring Plitvice Lakes via Google Earth is also recommended!

Find out what there is see in our guide to Exploring the Plitvice Lakes National Park

Get to know the island of Krk

Krk360.com is an ingenious site – set over a large map of Krk Town, there are numerous places to visit via 360º panoramas. Explore a number of beaches, the main promenade, sights (churches, the Cathedral, the bell tower) restaurants and even the public library!

“Sample” some Croatian wine

If you’re never visited a winery in Croatia, why not drop by the Vuglec Breg winery in the Zagorje region, north of Zagreb. Set in lush green countryside, you definitely have to visit the wine cellar (and in real life too, one day, to sample their wines!) as well as the wonderful viewpoints.

Find some more Wineries in Croatia

Explore a Croatian castle

Trakoscan Castle (also in the Zagorje region, close to the border with Slovenia) is one of the most impressive of Croatia’s castles. Built in the 13th century as a fortress for monitoring the local road, the castle was nationalised in 1944 and has been operating as a museum since 1954. This walkthrough tour is absolutely wonderful, giving you a near-real-life experience.

Visit one of Croatia’s most famous sights

One of the most famous symbols of Croatia is Zagreb‘s Cathedral. This virtual tour gives you the opportunity to explore the Cathedral in peace and quiet…as perhaps it should be.

Photos of Zagreb - Zagreb Cathedral — Zagreb Cathedral – sadly, the top part of one of its spires broke off in the recent (March 2020) earthquake

Where will you stay? In a hotel? Campsite?

A number of accommodation options in Croatia offer virtual tours of their premises. One of these is the sumptuous Grand Hotel Park in Rovinj. You start off “hovering” above the town on a beautifully sunny day; you then swoop down to the hotel. Enter, take the lift up to the reception and take a nosy around the restaurant and bar (hop out onto the balcony for that famous view of Rovinj!) and then take a look at the different room types. I’ll take a suite, thanks! 😎

The Esplanade Hotel in Zagreb has a similar tour. This famous hotel, first opened in 1925, is housed in a stunning, rather imposing building close to the main train station in the city. And for good reason – the hotel was constructed as a stop off point for those travelling on the Orient Express. The five star hotel has been one of the country’s top hotels for many years – and still is today – and has been a place to stay for all sorts of dignitaries and celebrities. Head into the amazing reception – where there’s even an open bottle of champagne waiting (!) – and check out the lounge areas as well as the stunning Emerald Ballroom (especially so in its wedding setting!). Finally, don’t forget to take a look at the gorgeous rooms.

If camping is more your thing, why not check out the facilities of Camp Cikat on the island of Losinj on its virtual tour. You’ll certainly wish you were there on a beautifully sunny day!

See what’s happening on Split’s normally bustling Riva

Unfortunately, the answer is not much! To round off this guide, we thought we’d return to a view of the sparkling Adriatic sea with a webcam set over Split‘s famous Riva (the promenade by the sea). Nowhere near as populated as normal – just a few pedestrians and the odd cyclist or two; all of the popular cafes are firmly shut – we hope this lovely street returns to full force soon.

Tour Croatia Online - Riva in Split — The sunny Riva – and its bustling cafes – on a day in early May

For other glimpses of the Adriatic, do also take a look at these webcams:

The marina and the boats bobbing up and down in Pag Town
The famous Kamen Brela in Brela
The swaying palm trees by the seafront in Novalja, island of Pag

Or for something a little different, take a look at what the meerkats, sea lions or lions are up to in Zagreb Zoo!

Get a zipline thrill

This one will probably give you the biggest thrill out of all the experiences on this list! Even if it’s not quite the same thing as being there… Zipline Omis have a virtual tour of their up in the air adventure that offers up some totally amazing views of the Cetina River and the forests and rocky hillsides all around. To get more of a feel for the zipline, take a look through their gallery of photos and videos of well – and imagine yourself zipping down that wire!

A nice bit of EDM at a Croatian festival

The Croatian summer events calendar is crammed full of all sorts of music festivals in Tisno, Novalja, Split, Zagreb… One of the largest is the Ultra Europe festival in Split every July; relive Afrojack’s rather spectacular set from this festival from summer 2019 below. Full screen it, get your wireless headphones on, dim the lights…you’ve got yourself a dance party!

Gaze at photos of Croatia

If you’ve visited Croatia, we’re sure you have plenty of gorgeous photos of your holidays to look back on!

If you’d like to look at some of ours see some of the albums featured in our Photos in Croatia section – including those of Dubrovnik, Split, Zagreb, Hvar, Vis, the Plitvice Lakes and more.

We hope you enjoy this whistle stop tour of Croatia from your home!

Dubrovnik to Split…and back! Updated for 2020

13th March 2020/0 Comments/in Dubrovnik, Split, Travelling around

One of our more frequently visited posts on our blog is our guide on Getting from Split to Dubrovnik…and Dubrovnik to Split! As it’s been a few years since we wrote it, we thought we would revisit the information and update it for 2020.

This is one of the most frequently travelled routes by visitors to Croatia, so we hope you find this information useful!

Dubrovnik to Split by catamaran

There are three catamaran services running from Dubrovnik to Split in summer, operated by two different companies.

Kapetan Luka run two of these services, both of which sail daily. Perhaps the one that travellers might find most useful is the catamaran that sails Dubrovnik – Pomena (island Mljet) – Korcula Town – Hvar Town – Milna (island of Brac) – this service starts running for the year from early April, and operates daily right through to the end of October. The catamaran departs Dubrovnik at 4.30pm, arriving in Split at 8.55pm – meaning, sailing time is 4 hours and 25 minutes.

Kapetan Luka‘s other catamaran sails Dubrovnik – Sobra (island of Mljet) – Korcula Town – Makarska – Bol (island of Brac) – Split. This one runs daily from the end of May through to the end of October. This catamaran departs Dubrovnik at 4pm, arriving in Split at 8.45pm – sailing time is 4 hours and 15 minutes.

You can book the Kapetan Luka catamarans using the search box below:

Jadrolinija also have a catamaran connecting Dubrovnik and Split. Operating daily from early June to mid September, their catamaran stops at Bol on Brac, Hvar Town and Korcula Town en route. Sailing time between Split and Dubrovnik is 5 hours and 15 minutes. This catamaran sails from Split in the mid afternoon (reaching Dubrovnik at 9pm), and sails from Dubrovnik in the early morning (reaching Split at 12.30pm).

The above mentioned services are the only options if you wish to make the journey from Dubrovnik to Split by sea. No other direct catamaran or ferry route exists – and there are definitely no car ferry options.

Island Hopping

You obviously don’t have to go go direct from Dubrovnik to Split if taking a catamaran! The services above mean you can easily spend a night or two (or more) on the islands of Mljet, Korcula, Hvar and/or Brac along the way!

A possible (part) car ferry route

If you did want to make part of the journey by car ferry, the best idea would be to drive up the coast from Dubrovnik towards the top of the Peljesac Peninsula to Orebic. From here, you can get a car ferry onto the island of Korcula. Driving to the western side of the island, you can then get a car ferry from Vela Luka to Split with Jadrolinija. This ferry sails twice a day (only once on Saturdays and Sundays out of season) and takes 2 hours 45 minutes.

If you wanted to include a different island to Korcula, you could instead drive further up the coast to Drvenik and then get a ferry across to Sucuraj on the island of Hvar. You would then need to drive across the island to Stari Grad to get another ferry up to Split.

Alternatively, you could drive even further up the coast to Makarska and then get a ferry to Sumartin on the island of Brac. Either return back to Makarska to continue your drive to Split, or drive across Brac to Supetar to get another car ferry to Split.

All of these car ferry routes are run by Jadrolinija.

Island hopping with a car is pretty much out of the question – few car ferry routes exist that travel from island to island. So you’re really only be able to visit one island before sailing up to Split.

Dubrovnik to Split by Bus

Those not taking the catamaran option for travelling between to two cities will likely instead by travelling by bus. There are plenty of buses travelling on this route every day, year-round – so it’s an easy journey to make indeed.

Journey time is about 4 to 4.5 hours (longer during peak summer season when the roads are busy) and a one-way ticket costs in the region of 90 to 140 Kunas, depending on which bus you take.

You can look up bus times and ticket prices (and book tickets) on the getbybus.com website.

Of course, buses go through the small section of Bosnia & Hercegovina that sits between the two portions of Dalmatia. So keep your passport handy as it will be checked!

Dubrovnik to Split by Air

It is possible to fly between Dubrovnik and Split – however, flights do not operate daily so it’s not the most convenient option.

Operated by Trade Air (and bookable on the Croatia Airlines website), flights operate twice a week. Journey time is 45 minutes.

Dubrovnik to Split by Road

If you’re hired a car in Croatia, driving up the coast is easy enough. You can either take the scenic coastal road – the Adriatic Highway (or Jadranska magistrala) all the way, but do consider that there will be heavy traffic on this road in the peak summer months.

Alternatively, you can drive up the coastal road to near the town of Ploce. Close to here, you will be able to join the the A1 motorway (this is where it starts/ends) to take it all the way to the Split region. Do be aware that you have to pay a toll for using the motorway – this costs 51 Kunas from Ploce to Split.

Split to Dubrovnik Private Transfer

For those that don’t want to rent a car – but equally don’t want to use public transport – a private transfer can often be the best solution in travelling from Split to Dubrovnik.

Visit Croatia Recommends This door to door private car service is an easy and comfortable way to travel between these two cities. Prices are fixed and very competitive – cheaper, in fact, than a taxi, with prices starting at €210. You can also choose your pickup time and whether you’d like to modify the trip to include stops along the way, making the transfer into an excursion. For a free quote on Dubrovnik to Split transfers contact Octopus Transfers Croatia.

Can I go by train?

Five years may have passed since we wrote our original post and in that time…Dubrovnik has not built a train station. (This is a joke – there were no plans to build one!)

So no, you cannot travel from Dubrovnik by train to Split!

Rijeka to Zadar Catamaran - G&V Line Iadera Melita

Rijeka to Zadar catamaran from G&V Line Iadera

24th July 2019/0 Comments/in Ferries in Croatia, Rijeka, Travelling around, Zadar

A very useful coastal service that’s new for 2019 is the Rijeka to Zadar catamaran from G&V Line Iadera.

This line started sailing on 15th June this year, and will continue to run for the summer season until 15th September, operating daily. G&V Line Iadera’s boat ‘Melita’ operates on this route, which has a capacity for 180 passengers.

The full line sails Rijeka – Krk Town (Krk) – Lopar (Rab) – Novalja (Pag) – Zadar; it not only connects the large northern port city of Rijeka to Dalmatia, but it also calls in at some of the more popular island towns in the Kvarner region.

The catamaran also calls in at the party town of Novalja on the island of Pag. That makes it a useful connection for anyone travelling to Croatia to one of the many festivals held there. You can choose to fly to Rijeka or Zadar and then travel down (or up) by boat instead of bus.

The full timetable can be seen below:

The line is maintained by G&V Line. The timetable may be subject to change.

Tickets for the Rijeka to Zadar Catamaran

It costs 190 Kunas to sail from Rijeka to Zadar; 130 Kunas for Rijeka to Novalja; 100 Kunas for Rijeka to Lopar; and 80 Kunas for Rijeka to Krk Town. (Obviously, all prices are the same for the opposite direction too.) Children under 12 years of age pay 50% of these prices.

Full price details can be seen below:

Tickets can be bought online at www.gv-zadar.com or locally at sales points in all the ports the boat calls at. (For more details, check online.)

Hand luggage may be taken aboard, as well as one suitcase up to 20kg, to be stored in the luggage compartment.

G&V Line Iadera

The Zadar-based company operate several other routes in Croatia besides the Rijeka to Zadar catamaran. They also run a service from Zadar to Sali and Zaglav on Dugi Otok, and from Zadar to the small islands of Rava and Iz.

They operate foot-passenger only catamaran services, although this does of course mean a faster service than ferries. Bicycles may be taken on board some of their boats – please contact the company ahead of travel if you’d like to take a bike on board.

Timetables, prices and more details about all their routes can be found at www.gv-zadar.com.

Catamaran direct from Split Airport to Bol

15th July 2019/0 Comments/in Brac, Hvar, Split, Travelling around

Following on from the launch of a new catamaran service from Split Airport to central Split, this summer has also seen another new service – a catamaran direct from Split Airport to Bol on the island of Brac, and to Stari Grad on Hvar.

Split Airport to Bol catamaran — Bol on the island of Brac

This service, run by SplitExpress, actually started operating on 1st June this year. However, for those of you yet to travel to Croatia this summer, we’re sure this is still welcome news, even now!

This catamaran service will prove very, very useful for anyone wishing to travel direct from Split Airport to the island of Brac and Hvar.

Timetable

There are four sailings a day from Split Airport to Bol at 10am (arrives 11.25am), 1pm (arr. 2.05pm), 4.20pm (arr. 5.25pm) and and at 8.50pm (arr. 10.15pm). The first and last sailing also stop at Split along the way (arrival time in Split is 15 minutes after departure from the port near Split Airport).

Additionally, the 1pm sailing from Split Airport travels on to Stari Grad on the island of Hvar, reaching it 2.50pm.

See the full timetable below:

Split Airport to Bol - SplitExpress catamaran outbound

Split Airport to Bol - SplitExpress catamaran inbound

Note: where two times are listed in one box, the first time means the arrival time and the second the departure time. For example, the 10am service arrives at Split at 10.15am, then departs at 10.30am to travel on to Bol, arriving there are 11.25am.

The timetable can also be found here.

Ticket prices

All tickets for the SplitExpress catamaran can be booked as one of three types – Lowfare, Lowfareplus or Flexplus. Lowfare is the cheapest option (understandably) and cannot be refunded or changed. Lowfareplus tickets cannot be refunded, although the departure can be changed (subject to availability). Finally, Flexplus tickets – as you may have guessed – are both refundable or can also be changed to another journey.

From Split Airport to Bol or Stari Grad, it costs 199 Kn (lowfare), 229 Kn (lowfareplus) or 299 Kn (flexplus).

Travelling from Split Airport to Split, costs 50 Kn (lowfare), 129 Kn (lowfareplus), or 199 Kn (flexplus).

From Split to Bol, it costs 99 Kn (lowfare), 129 Kn (lowfareplus), or 199 Kn (flexplus).

For Bol to Stari Grad, it costs 79 Kn (lowfare), 109 Kn (lowfareplus), 169 Kn (flexplus).

Prices are the same for adults and for children aged 2 and over. Children under 2 years of age travel free.

Tickets can be booked online.

Enjoy travelling from Split Airport this summer!

Photos of Zadar - St Mary's Church and Covent

2018 Pula to Zadar Catamaran Timetable

24th January 2018/0 Comments/in Ferries in Croatia, Pula, Travelling around, Zadar

Trogir Travelogue 2009

20th August 2017/0 Comments/in Dalmatia, Travelling around, Trogir

From Zagreb to Trogir

We rise early in the morning on our third day in Croatia, the day we’re moving on to Trogir and our first sights of the coast and the sea of the whole trip. Exciting times, as you can imagine; we were a bit like little kids setting off for the seaside.

We hitched our bags to ourselves and made the short walk to the bus stop for our 8.30am bus. Our bus was already waiting at its platform; we boarded to find we had been allocated four seats right in the back row – again, we find we’re a bit like schoolkids, only the naughty kind this time. Alas, a Croatian traveller joined us for the remaining backrow seat, so we couldn’t misbehave or at least use the spare seat for playing cards – I suppose she played the role of teacher, or something! (Note: I joke of course – we weren’t really going to misbehave!)

A couple of hours in, we stop off at a petrol station which had an unusual mountain-hut theme, even displaying stuffed animals such as a bear and a racoon (which looked very authentic). Shunning the high petrol station prices, we eat our pre-prepared sandwiches (cheese and kulen, yum!) outside in the hot sun.

On with the rest of the journey, which goes pretty smoothly. The new motorways in Croatia are pretty impressive, if motorways can ever be impressive, and we didn’t encounter any problems or traffic on our journey down. At a certain point, the road hits the coast and we see the sea and our excitement rises – we start snapping photos of the beautiful blue water and the bobbing boats.

Arrival in Trogir

We reach Trogir just after 2pm, and the first thing we do is to enquire about an onward bus to Dubrovnik for the next day. The lady at the bus station tells us that tickets for the two buses (at 9am and 12pm) are only sold on the bus itself. Which doesn’t present itself at a problem – yet. But more about that tomorrow.

Trogir welcomes us

We walk to our accommodation – the Palace Derossi – which takes no more than 5 minutes even with our heavy bags. Very luckily, the Derossi is just over the bridge onto the island of Trogir. We booked our rooms fairly last minute (2 days before!) on Hostelworld.com and paid approximately £35 per person for that one night. We chose the Palace Derossi as the price seemed about right, they had availability for two groups of two and the reviews on TripAdvisor seemed favourable – though one of the very few negative reviews for the place made me laugh so much, it actually made me like the Palace Derossi even more: “…Palace Serossi [sic] is not Palace at all and even not hotel”. Good going, Sherlock – I’m not sure what his/her idea of a hotel is (I didn’t have any problems with the place!) but how could one expect to actually be staying in a palace (for that price, at least!) is beyond me!

Beachtime in Trogir

We decide, now that we’re finally on the Croatian coast and having just spent 5 hours on a bus, that the most important thing to do first is to go for a dip in the sea to cool down! After enquiring at reception for swimming options, they helpfully give us a map and tell us of a number of beaches, including those we could reach by boat. We decide to head to the nearest one that’s on the island of Ciovo (which is joined to Trogir by another very short bridge) by foot and find that the “beach” is a bit of a stretch of the imagination; this beach is just a small pebble/concrete platform beach right by a road. I’m actually making it sound worse than it was; in all fairness, it was fine but not the kind of place you’d spend all day at. Anyway, you can swim in the sea – and that’s the main thing!

Back into town to change and head out for a bit of sightseeing, drinks and dinner. Trogir is a very small town and island, so it’s easy to walk around and see all the sights. We walked through some of the Old Town including to the small fortress at the eastern end of the island, and up and down the Riva, marveling at the fantastic yachts moored in the harbour there. (And secretly wishing we were on one.)

We stop off for some specially priced, happy hour cocktails at one cafe (30 Kunas each) for a pre-dinner drink. Then off we head to dinner – our guide book recommended no less than three restaurants on a street named Augustina Kazotica, so we troop up and down to look at the menus before deciding on Skrapa, described as “cheap and cheerful”. I would actually describe it as “delightful and delicious” – and my comment isn’t even related to the cheerful waiter who offered us a free drink of travarica before our meal. (Travarica is a Croatian herbal liquer…which is very strong!)

Now that we were on the coast, it was time to properly tuck into some seafood, something that we’d been waiting for for the entire trip. We opt for some delicious black risotto (with cuttlefish), sea bass and shrimp, washed down with another 1 litre carafe of house wine.

Black risotto

Post-dinner, we opt for another little walk around town and get almost immediately get distracted by an ice cream stand. I’ve always known Croats as really into their ice cream and each stand always displays a riot of colour with assorted fruit flavoured options. Happy with seafood and ice cream in our tums, we decide to turn in for the night.

<< Zagreb Travelogue 2009

>> Dubrovnik Travelogue 2009

UberBOAT now available in Croatia for transfers & day tours

22nd July 2017/3 Comments/in Blog, Dalmatia, Dubrovnik, Hvar, Split, Travelling around

You’ve probably used Uber in your home city or when travelling abroad – and in fact it’s also available in several Croatian towns and cities. But what do you do when you want a private transfer on the Adriatic Sea?

Easy – Uber + boat = UberBOAT!

UberBOAT is a service that’s available in Split, Dubrovnik and the island of Hvar, and can be utilised with the existing Uber app. With UberBOAT you can transfer to a destination and back, for a half-day or full-day trip that you can plan out yourself. That means that you can easily visit some of the local islands that you may otherwise find tricky to reach – especially useful if you only have a short amount of time for exploring.

Private Tours with UberBOAT

For example, from Split you could visit all the delights of the islands of Hvar, Solta, Vis, Bisevo (and the famous Blue Cave), and Brac, including the popular town of Bol with its famous Zlatni Rat beach.

From Dubrovnik you may be thinking of visiting the tranquil Elafiti islands, the lush island of Mljet, Korcula or perhaps even off-the-beaten track Lastovo.

The captain of an UberBoat stays with the passengers for as long as they want. That means there’s plenty of time to visit the islands, do a bit of sightseeing, the sampling of local cuisine and even a bit of time to buy some island souvenirs.

UberBoat fares depend on boat size, mileage and duration of the trip. An eight-passenger speedboat starts at 330 Kunas, with each additional kilometre costing 29 Kunas and each minute costing 2.60 Kunas. A larger boat costs from 660 Kunas and 36 Kunas per kilometer and 3.30 Kunas per minute.

Private transfers with UberBOAT

UberBOAT also offer a simple and fast transfer to a destination and back. For example, a transfer from Split to Hvar costs 2,600 Kunas for an eight-person speedboat, or 3,300 Kunas for a 12-person speedboat (UberBoat XL). Split to Bol costs 2,100 Kunas (2,800 for UberBoat XL), Dubrovnik to Mljet is 3,820 Kunas (4,600 Kunas for UberBoat XL), whilst Dubrovnik to Korcula is 5,000 Kunas (6,000 Kunas for UberBoat XL).

All Uber captains have valid licenses and are exceedingly familiar with the Croatian coastline, so any trip is very safe as well as lots of fun!

To get a feel for the service, check out this video on travelling in style:

More on UberBOAT

For more details, check out www.uber.com/hr/en/u/uberboat/. But if you need a boat, simply open up the Uber app and get tapping to ‘hail’ a boat!

Pula – Zadar catamaran re-introduced for 2017

25th May 2017/0 Comments/in Blog, Dalmatia, Ferries in Croatia, Pula, Travelling around, Zadar

Details of the popular Pula – Zadar catamaran route – which ceased to operate a few years ago – have finally been announced for summer 2017, just a few weeks ahead of the route actually starting!

Now run by Croatia’s main ferry operator Jadrolinija, this catamaran will start running on 3rd June 2017, and will in fact be run as a year-round service. (With a greater frequency of sailings during the peak summer months, and far less – in fact, just once a week – in off season.)

The full route also takes in the islands of Unije, Susak, Mali Losinj, Ilovik and Silba en route.

In June and September, the catamaran will sail twice-weekly, on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The catamaran will depart Pula at 7am, and arrive in Zadar at 1.15pm. For the return journey, the catamaran departs Zadar at 4pm, reaching Pula at 10.15pm.

During the peak months of July and August, the catamaran will operate five times a week (every day except Tuesdays and Thursdays). Again, the catamaran will depart Pula at 7am, reaching Zadar at 1.15pm, or 1.05pm on the days it does not make a stop on Ilovik. For the return journey, the catamaran sets sail from Zadar at 5pm (4pm on Fridays), arriving in Pula at 11.05pm/11.15pm (10.05pm on Fridays).

In off-season (early October onwards), the catamaran will only operate on Fridays.

The full timetable – including the times at which the catamaran calls at the islands – can be found on Jadrolinija’s website.

Tickets for the Pula – Zadar catamaran

Tickets can be booked online on Jadrolinija‘s website. A one-way ticket from Pula to Zadar (or reverse) costs 200 Kunas in high season (June to September inclusive). In low season, a one-way ticket costs 160 Kunas.

Prices for any of the other legs of the journey e.g. Pula – Mali Losinj, Zadar – Ilovik and so on, can be found on the above website.

Getting to Zadar - Ferry

Istria and Dalmatia are connected by sea!

This catamaran is certainly one that has been missing for many travellers in recent years, judging by the feedback we’ve had. We are sure many will welcome its return.

There are hardly any (actually, none!) ferry or catamaran routes from Istria to other parts of Croatia. That means this catamaran will be very handy for those in this part of the country.

In fact, there are currently hardly any sailings from the north Croatian coast to areas further south/Dalmatia. This Pula – Zadar catamaran is therefore a great way of connecting the north and south parts of the Croatian coastline.

Alternatives to the Pula – Zadar catamaran

One route that does exist connecting the north and south (ish!) parts of the coastline is the Rijeka – Rab – Novalja (on the island of Pag) catamaran. Also run by Jadrolinija, this sails daily year-round. Full timetable can be found on the Jadrolinija website.

There are frequent bus connections from Novalja/Pag to Zadar, so you can still reach this town by utilising this route.

There are also daily, year-round flights connecting Pula and Zadar. Operated by Croatia Airlines, this is the most suitable option if you need to travel quickly – flight time is only 40 minutes! (Although you obviously do need to factor in getting to and from each airport.)

Other useful travel information

The following sections may also be helpful to you: