For the past few months, I have been in touch with a traveller to Croatia who was planning on visiting the country in the off-season. The lovely lady in question, Emily, was fully aware that March and April weren’t beach and sunbathing time – but seeing as she’s from California, those weren’t a priority for her! She also knew that the weather might bring some challenges, but hoped spring weather would be the norm. (In the end, she ended up encountering a non-March-typical massive snowstorm when trying to visit the Plitvice Lakes!) I decided to ask Emily some questions about her travels – read on to discover all about her experiences of visiting Croatia in the off-season.
Note: all of the amazing photos shown on this page were taken by Emily. Aren’t they just wonderful?
A beautiful view of Dubrovnik Old Town – you wouldn’t think this is Croatia in the off-season!
What made you decide to visit Croatia in the off-season (and in general)?
We have long had Croatia and the Balkans on our travel radar, and recently had friends who have travelled there and who really whetted our appetite for the trip. We chose to go to Croatia in the off-season because we were hoping to travel without big crowds. We had friends who told us that the Plitvice Lakes National Park and Dubrovnik were just jam-packed when they were there, and we really wanted to avoid that.
A basketball court in Dubrovnik’s Old TownDubrovnik’s colourful rooftopsDubrovnik is still buzzing in the evening, in the off-season!Easter celebrations in DubrovnikBeautiful wooden Croatian Easter eggsDolac Outdoor Market in Zagreb – re-sited from its usual location!
I know you visited Plitvice; although you were there in March, you encountered unexpectedly heavy snow! What was that experience like?
We were hoping that late March and early April, we would have at least decent weather. We were quite excited to see the waterfalls at Plitvice and that beautiful area. As it turned out, of course, we had all the snow, but that proved to be its own special adventure, so in the end, we didn’t feel too disappointed. Sadly, the park was completely closed, but there was a panoramic trail of the park- just a kilometre or two, but it had been tromped on enough that we could walk there and see some waterfalls in the distance.
When we were at the Hotel Jezero, they had an All Europe Junior Go tournament, so there were lots of families with smart kids who had a lot of pent-up energy from being stuck inside. Imagine soccer games in the hallways…it was fun, and we were only there for two days, so we went with it and had a good time.
Emily in the snow in the Plitvice Lakes region
How did you plan your trip?
We planned the trip by getting recommendations from our friends who had been there and looking at the Overseas Adventure Travel itinerary for their land-based and ship-based trips, and then checking with Google Maps and Rome2Rio to get help with transportation options.
I looked at Booking.com and Google Maps for hotel information and reviews. We really like to do things ourselves!
My husband loves to take care of the transportation, and I get to pick hotels, trying to maximise square footage and comfort with a reasonable cost.
Of course, in Dubrovnik, I queried “steps” in all the reviews, because while we can do stairs, we didn’t want to do hundreds every day. I completely failed in selecting our accommodations in Kotor – the fact that the bathroom was, while private, down 15 steps from the studio with the bedroom and kitchen was sort of buried.
Otherwise, the hotels and the Airbnbs we found were available at really reasonable rates and were of very high-quality.
The Greeting to the Sun, ZadarThe ForumThe pretty Old Town Harbour in Zadar
I understand you undertook several walking tours. Do you find these are great ways of getting to know a destination? How did you decide what tours to do?
We do find walking tours a great way to get oriented to a new city, and try to do them in every place we go. We like to do general walking tours and also street art tours when they are available. We didn’t find any street art tours in Croatia, but we did have one in Mostar. Last year, we had a phenomenal street art tour in London that took us through the Brick Lane area – have you ever done a street art tour? We also went on one in Paris that was quite cool!
For the city walking tours, we recently discovered Guru Walk. We liked that we could read about the tour guide and pick the tour accordingly.
A walking tour in Zagreb
It sounds like you enjoyed many parts of your travels, but do you have any particular highlights?
Marijana, our Zagreb tour guide, was amazing!
We particularly loved our time in Dubrovnik, but Zadar and Split were amazing as well – it was quite windy when we were in both cities, and we did wish for better weather.
The Riva in SplitA view over Split from the belltower
We were sorry we hadn’t arranged a stay on one of the outlying islands. We found the Adriatic to be just as picturesque and beautiful. We were blown away by the color of the water!
We also found the food to be so fresh and delicious! We think the quality of the produce is superior overall to what we get here. Although we live in California and get produce from our farmers’ markets, the fact that they use fewer pesticides and chemicals in the food in Europe, as opposed to the United States, really pays off in terms of flavor.
We liked taking the ferry from Split to Dubrovnik, and found the bus trips interesting.
Going to the Symphony at Lisinski Hall in Zagreb was also really cool – we like going to a concert when we travel to do something that brings us to a place that is more local than touristy. The restaurant we went to before the concert (Restoran Trnjanka – see it on the map) was super local-feeling. It was fun.
Thank you so much to Emily for taking the time to write about her experiences of visiting Croatia in the off-season. It sounds like a wonderful trip!
https://www.visit-croatia.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/emily-dubrovnik-old-town.jpg6801000annazhttps://www.visit-croatia.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/visit-croatia-logo5.jpgannaz2026-06-01 12:21:512026-06-04 13:23:27Croatia in the off-season – absolutely worth visiting!
Now that we’re in May, a number of exceedingly popular ferry and catamaran routes in Croatia have started up for the season, or are about to increase the frequency of operation. It’s an exciting time to be alive! Sorry, no wait – it’s an exciting time to go to Croatia and set sail on the Adriatic using Croatian ferries. So let’s take a look at where Croatia’s ferry and catamaran lines are sailing to at the moment.
TP Line lives in the 21st century
It wasn’t that long ago that pre-booking tickets on Croatia’s ferry and catamaran lines was a pretty archaic system, with online bookings practically non-existent. Thankfully, those days are well in the past, with online bookings readily available. TP Line are taking things even further with all sorts of excellent tech advances that are sure to help all travellers this year.
Not only can you now use Apple Pay or Google Pay to buy your tickets right from your smartphone, you can now also ask the company any questions using their helpful online chatbot. All of this is available on the easy-to-use TP Line Web Shop.
If this wasn’t helpful enough, they offer clear instructions for Boarding Locations on the islands and the mainland – for I know this sometimes confuses travellers – and you can even find out where their catamarans are right now.
This summer, TP Line are the only operator to be running two long-distance Split to Dubrovnik (and return) catamarans.
Their Dubrovnik – Korcula – Hvar – Milna (Brac) – Split catamaran started operating daily from 1st April, and will do so until 31st October. This one sails from Dubrovnik at 8am, arriving in Split at 1.25pm. The return journey departs Split at 3.10pm, arriving back into Dubrovnik at 8.20pm.
On 8th May (next week), their second catamaran operating the same route cranks up its engines to set sail. This second sailing will also operate daily (until 18th October), departing Split in the morning at 9am and arriving in Dubrovnik at 2.15pm. The return journey departs Dubrovnik at 2.55pm and arrive in Split at 8pm.
Yesterday, 30th April, saw the launch of their Split – Hvar sailings which will run three times a day until 31st October. From 15th June to 20th September, one sailing a day will run from Split to Hvar and then on to Korcula as well.
The above summer-only routes join TP Line’s other year-round ones which include Dubrovnik – Korcula – Lastovo, Split – Hvar – Lastovo, Zadar – Olib, and Dubrovnik – Sipan – Sobra (- Polace – Korcula, Lastovo).
A TP Line catamaran sails past Zadar
Do you know about Krilo Shipping Company?
No? Well, you should. Krilo Shipping Company have been (excuse the pun) ferrying passengers to some of Croatia’s islands since 2016, mainly from Split to peaceful Solta. This year, they will be operating a route that’s new to them – from Dubrovnik to Pomena on Mljet to Korcula. This route cranks into action on 15th May, running until 15th October. You could technically use this catamaran for a (short) day trip for either Mljet or Korcula, given the timings.
I also commend Krilo Shipping Company on their updated website this year!
Krilo Shipping Company’s Orangina vessel (what a great name!)
Kapetan Luka brings out all the hits
(By hits, I mean popular routes.)
Kapetan Luka continues to operate one of its long-distance Dalmatian catamarans this summer, running from Split to Milna (Brac), Hvar, Korcula, Pomena (Mljet) to Dubrovnik. This route already started operations on 1st April, and will continue to serve travellers until 31st October 2026. This catamaran sails from Split in the morning, reaching Dubrovnik at 12.30pm. The return journey is made at 5.30pm, arriving in Split at 8pm.
I’ve already written about Kapetan Luka’s new Split to Supetar catamaran that sails several times a day, year-round. As of today, 1st May, it will take to the Adriatic no less than seven times from Split to Supetar, and six times from Supetar to Split.
Edit: Since writing this post, Kapetan Luka has also launched a smart new website. Well done to them!
Jadrolinija moves into high season schedules
But not quite yet. Jadrolinija traditionally operates on low-season and high-season schedules for many of its year-round routes, and the high-season versions kick into action later this month on 29th May. Generally, that’s when frequencies on certain routes increase…and when high season prices come into effect!
I can tell you that as of today, 1st May, Jadrolinija are increasing the frequency on their Bari to Dubrovnik sailing which will now cross the Adriatic twice a week.
International Routes
Further north in the Adriatic, Adriatic Lines‘ sailings from both Porec and Rovinj in Istria to Venice have set sail today! This month, you will be able to make the journey three times a week from Rovinj and four time a week from Porec. These frequencies will increase the further we get into summer, and from 1st June you will also be able to sail from Pula, and from Umag on 1st July.
Adriatic Lines’ Prince of Venice vessel
The same company also operates a fast catamaran from Dubrovnik to Kotor and Budva in Montenegro (either can be used for a day trip), but these start operating in June.
More info on Croatia’s ferry and catamaran lines
Take a look at our Ferries in Croatia guide to all the operators and lines that exist in the country. You may be surprised at how many there are! (Or not, given the number of Croatian islands!)
Our Croatia Ferries Map will also help you plan your sea travels by showing you the longer distance routes that exist up and down the Croatian coastline.
Happy sailing on Croatia’s ferry and catamaran lines!
https://www.visit-croatia.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/TP-Line-2025-58-scaled.jpg19202560annazhttps://www.visit-croatia.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/visit-croatia-logo5.jpgannaz2026-05-01 11:49:262026-05-06 12:57:15Croatia’s ferry and catamaran lines ready for the season
The arrival of Spring means that another summer season in Croatia is almost upon us. Easter is less than a month away, which is a time of year that often sees an uptick in establishments opening up to welcome visitors once again. Or if not Easter – for it is quite early this year – then the end of April should see them throwing open their doors once again. So let’s take a look at what’s new in Croatia in 2026 to find out all the new travel routes, hotel openings, exciting events and more that you can enjoy this year.
New Flight Routes to Croatia 2026
From the UK and Ireland
Every year, I seem to write about new Jet2 routes to Croatia (bravo, Jet2!), and I’m always thoroughly amused that they announce their new routes so far in advance. For example, the airline has just announced a new route for 2027 – yes, next year – which will see them fly from Edinburgh to Pula in the summer.
Focusing our minds back to this year, Jet2 also have some new routes for you to enjoy. The airline has just established a new base at Gatwick Airport, so they will commence flights to Pula from here on 2nd May 2026, flying once a week until 17th October. They will also start up flights from East Midlands Airport to Pula on 24th May (operating once a week, on Sundays, until 2nd October) and from the same British airport to Split (once a week on Sundays from 3rd May to 11th October). Our Scottish friends will be able to enjoy a new Jet2 route from Glasgow to Dubrovnik, which takes to the skies on 1st May, flying every Friday until 23rd October.
An aerial shot of Pula
There has been a change to one of the longest-running routes to Croatia for this past winter season. Many travellers to Zagreb (myself included!) made good use of the year-round British Airways flights from London Heathrow to Croatia’s capital city over the years. As of October 2025, this route dropped its year-round status, with flights now only operating from March to October. Do note, however, that Croatia Airlines continues to fly from London Heathrow to Zagreb year-round, with flights three times a week. Ryanair also fly daily year-round from London Stansted to Zagreb. The airline will up the frequency of this route during summer 2026, so there will be 12 flights a week.
Ryanair continues to go from strength to strength as far as its flights (from all over Europe) to Croatia go. There are no fewer than 118 routes from Europe to Croatia this year…yes, 118! These include some new routes from mainland Europe, which you can see below.
From Europe
Because Croatia is so well connected by air, it’s surely hard to establish new connections these days. Nevertheless, some airlines have taken up the challenge, as you can see:
Wizzair from Budapest, Cluj-Napoca (Romania), Gdansk
From the U.S.
Probably the most exciting “new in Croatia in 2026” news from the last few months has been the launch of flights from New York/Newark Airport direct to Split with United. Starting on 30th April, there will be three flights a week – on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays – up until 5th September. United continue to fly from New York/Newark to Dubrovnik as well this year.
Split – welcoming travellers from New York this year
New in Croatia in 2026 – New catamaran and ferry routes
Rather excitingly, there are a number of new ferry and catamaran sailings for visitors to Croatia this year – some are already in operation! It’s no bad thing to get Croatia’s gorgeous islands even more accessible, and do remember that these new routes (or new frequencies in sailings) help islanders immensely too.
An easy connection from Bol to Hvar Town to Vis Town
Bol on the island of Brac is already connected to Split by catamaran, although services tend to be rather limited and travelling on to other nearby islands was always rather tricky. As of this year, Jadrolinija offers a summer service that connects Split with Bol, Hvar Town and Vis Town. Three lovely islands, directly connected!
Brac is even more connected
As well as the above new route to Bol, Supetar comes into focus with a new year-round catamaran that sails from Split with Kapetan Luka. The Split – Supetar route has long been serviced with a car ferry, but this catamaran now means it’s a quick 20-minute hop over to the island for foot passengers. Better still, there are 3 or 4 sailings a day in off-season and a whopping 8 in peak season.
Zadar to Losinj, via Silba
Another new route from Jadrolinija, although one which covers ports that are already connected. The Zadar – Silba – Mali Losinj summer catamaran will offer a quick way of getting to Silba and Losinj islands during June, July and August.
The island of Silba
New routes from Italy
New ways of getting to Croatia by sea are always welcome…and this year there are two new routes! Again, it’s the main ferry operator in the country, Jadrolinija, introducing these new services. Firstly, the southern Italian port of Bari will have overnight ferry sailings to Split (as well as the long-established route to Dubrovnik) once a week from 30th March to 18th October 2026. Journey time is 10 hours.
The second new route – although really a resurrection of a previous connection – is from Ancona to the north Dalmatian city of Zadar. Rather thrillingly, this service now utilises a catamaran, which means the journey takes just 4 hours! Sailings will commence on 12th June, running three times a week for the duration of that month, and then increasing to five sailings a week during July and August.
New Hotels in Croatia in 2026
Each new year brings some new hotels for guests – whether refurbishments of existing properties, or total new builds – and 2026 is no exception.
Up in Savudrija, almost at the most northern tip in Istria, the 5-star Adriatic Istria Resort is now owned and run by the Minor Hotels group. No refurbishment has been undertaken this year, but is expected at the close of the season in preparation for 2027.
The town of Porec has been a long-standing favourite for holidaymakers, but isn’t perhaps best known for luxury. That’s all set to change this year with the opening of the 5-star Pical Resort from Valamar. The expansive resort will feature three distinct properties with rooms and suites, no less than 7 restaurants and 9 bars, 3 themed beaches and 11 (eleven!) pools and an exclusive V Level option featuring the finest rooms and private areas.
A rooftop bar at the new Pical resort in Porec
Following the launch of a Marriott property on the island of Cres last year (the Isolano), the Marriott brand is due to launch another luxury hotel, this time in Icici (near Opatija) on the mainland. The Opatija Marriott Resort and Spa will offer 185 rooms, including six villas with private pools and a “historic villa”. Indoor and outdoor pools will also be able to be enjoyed here, as well as three restaurants and three bars. However, do note that this is expected to open at the end of 2026, with December the target opening month.
The Hotel Sirena is located on the outskirts of Hvar Town by a secluded cove. Having undergone an extensive renovation, the hotel now offers an elegant stay with rooms and common spaces all offering gorgeous design details. The Sirena’s sister hotel, the very popular Amfora Hvar Grand Beach Resort (with its gorgeous pool area) has also undergone a refresh prior to the 2026 season, with updated rooms and modernised bathrooms.
New travel rules
Entry into Croatia
Not exactly new for 2026, although certainly something that is affecting and will continue to affect travellers this year, is the EU’s border Entry/Exit System. Travellers now need to provide biometric data when going through passport control, i.e. they need to provide their fingerprints and a photo. Full implementation should be in force by 10th April 2026 at all entry points of the Schengen Zone. Some airports and border points seem to have coped with the implementation better than others; reports of hour-long queues at certain airports abound I personally experienced barely any queues at Zagreb Airport in December, and I’ve heard good things about Split Airport. However, summer may well be a different matter! Find out more here: The new Entry/Exit System (EES) and Croatia.
Do also note that ETIAS – which is something entirely different to the EES (it is a visa waiver programme, similar to the ESTA when entering the U.S.) – is also due to come into effect at the end of 2026.
Drinking rules in Split…or not
The UK and American press seemed to have got rather excited about a potential (and it is just potential at the moment) new law which would ban alcohol sales in shops in certain parts of Split between 8pm and 6pm. (See Popular European destination proposes alcohol sale restrictions, for example.) Such an action is aimed at curbing antisocial behaviour by tourists. Do note that such a regulation would not affect clubs, bars or restaurants!
New attractions
The northern coastal region of Kvarner – centring around Rijeka and Opatija and islands such as Krk, Losinj, Cres and Rab, but also inland in the Gorski Kotar area – has been named as the European Region of Gastronomy 2026. This part of Croatia may well be overlooked in gastronomic terms in favour of its neighbour Istria (so well known for its delicacies…truffles, wine, olive oil, asparagus and more) or parts of Dalmatia, so this seeks to rectify that!
The gorgeous Opatija
Many events throughout the year will focus on this award, with additional presentations of traditional food elements from other parts of Kvarner included. Watch out for this at – for example – WineRi Festival in Rijeka (this weekend, 13th and 14th March), the Losinj Cuisine Festival in May, or the Crna Ovca (Black Sheep) Festival in Baska on the island of Krk from 15th to 17th May.
New Events
Music festivals in Croatia normally only take place during the peak summer months, so here’s an exciting new option if you’d like to experience some festival vibes before the season starts. Brought to you by the same people behind the inland Croatia Mystic Mountain event, Horizons Spring Break will take place in the Primosten area from 29th April to 3rd May 2026. With a limited capacity, the festival will be a transformative and conscious gathering in a beautiful location. Expect DJs dropping Afro, tribal and shamanic house beats, workshops and nature field trips.
Happy travels to Croatia in 2026!
https://www.visit-croatia.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/whats-new-in-croatia-in-2026_split_aerial.jpg533800annazhttps://www.visit-croatia.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/visit-croatia-logo5.jpgannaz2026-03-11 12:18:132026-03-11 12:25:04What’s New in Croatia in 2026
Great news for all of you who love to travel to the island of Brac – this week, Krilo/Kapetan Luka launched a brand new Split to Supetar catamaran that makes the journey in only 22 minutes. For 2025, the catamaran will sail four times a day each way until the end of October, and then twice a day for the rest of the year.
Situated on the northern part of the island, Supetar is the main town on Brac and a lovely place to visit at any time of year. This catamaran will definitely help travellers and locals alike reach Brac quickly and easily. And – given the number of sailings per day during the summer months and even during the shoulder season – this sailing can be utilised for day trips in either direction.
An aerial view of Supetar
Timetable for the Split to Supetar catamaran
13.10 – 31.10 01.04 – 30.04
Depature Times from Split (Daily)
Depature Times from Supetar (Daily)
6am
7am
12pm
1pm
3pm
4pm
7pm
8pm
01.11 – 31.12 01.01 – 31.03
Depature Times from Split (Daily)
Depature Times from Supetar (Daily)
6am
7am
3pm
4pm
01.05 – 30.09
Depature Times from Split (Daily)
Depature Times from Supetar (Daily)
6am
7am
8am
9am
10am
11am
12pm
1pm
2pm
3pm
4pm
5pm
6pm
7pm
8pm
9om
Tickets for the Split to Supetar catamaran
Tickets cost €10 one-way and can be booked online on the Kapetan Luka website or at a Kapetan Luka sales point – for example, from the kiosk right by Split port.
Take a look at our Getting to Brac page for details of other ferries and catamarans to Brac. Although this is only the second connection from Split to Supetar – the other being a car ferry – there are sailings from Split, Dubrovnik, Makarska, Korcula and Hvar to the other towns on the island.
Bus company Arriva operate local buses from the island, so you can also reach other destinations on Brac by utilising this catamaran. Once you’ve arrived in Supetar, you can then take a bus to Bol, Milna, Sutivan, Postira and other locations.
More info
All information about this route can be found on the Kapetan Luka website. Do also look them up on Instagram or Facebook for their latest travel news.
Find out what there is to see and do in Supetar on the Supetar Tourist Board website.
I’ve recently been in communication with a lovely lady – M – who needed a little bit of assistance with planning her trip around Croatia. M was lucky enough to be travelling around Croatia for four weeks (yes, four!) and visited an incredible nine towns/cities and nine islands! Read on below for some very helpful travel tips and M’s itinerary:
Travel Tips
Having just returned from backpacking around the beautiful country of Croatia for 4 and a half weeks – visiting 9 towns/cities and the main towns on 9 islands – we thought we would share some of the knowledge we gained about travel and our itinerary.
We found Rome2rio.com very helpful as it gave us the travel options available to get from one place to another and the names of the companies that we needed to use. Many of these companies have their own app.
The main ferry companies are TP Line, Krilo and Jadrolinija. We booked through directferries.com, which was easy as it gave us all the times and prices for all the ferries on our chosen dates.
The bus companies we used were mainly Arriva and FlixBus. For many of the buses, you have to pay for your luggage that goes into the hold. This costs about €1.30 per bag.
Travelling from Split airport to Split can be done in a few ways. The airport shuttle (from right outside the airport) takes passengers down to the ferry port, whereas the local bus number 37 (from across the road) takes you to the bus station at the top of the town. This then goes to Trogir.
I hope the above information helps you with planning your itinerary.
Ferries and catamarans in the port of Split
The Four-Week Itinerary
Our itinerary was as follows:
Split – we did a day trip to Trogir, taking the 37 bus there and returning on the water taxi with Bura Line
Bus from Split to Zadar – used the local bus from the Autobusni Kolodvor to visit Plitvice Lakes
Ferry from Rab toPag – the ferry arrives in Novalja on the north of the island. The local bus station is a 25-minute walk away from the port if you want to get to Pag Town
Bus from Pag to Split (we had to change buses at Zadar) and then a ferry to Vis
I contacted Visit Croatia a couple of times for additional information, and they were very helpful.
Thank you so much, M, for sharing your amazing itinerary with us, and also for your travel tips. Thank you also for your kind words about Visit Croatia!
https://www.visit-croatia.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/krk-town.jpg533800annazhttps://www.visit-croatia.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/visit-croatia-logo5.jpgannaz2025-10-08 14:03:302025-10-23 17:45:06Reader’s Trip Report: A Four Week Itinerary for Croatia
Every so often, I sit down and write one of these guides on one of the most travelled routes in Croatia. Many thousands of travellers make the journey from Dubrovnik to Split (or the return journey, from Split to Dubrovnik…or both!) during their stay in Croatia, so it makes sense that I write a guide to it. And about time for an update, for this guide is the first since the Peljesac Bridge was opened in 2022. So here’s the updated guide for 2025 for travelling from Dubrovnik to Split. (Or the reverse!)
Travelling from Dubrovnik to Split by Catamaran (but not ferry)
Let’s first get this out of the way – I say “…but not ferry” for there are no large ferry boats operating on the Dubrovnik to Split or Split to Dubrovnik route. Many years ago, Jadrolinija used to operate a long-distance ferry from Rijeka via Split to Dubrovnik, which was a much-loved sailing option. But this option is long gone, and there are no car ferries operating today.
So, what sailing options can you make use of? These days, three companies offer a catamaran that sails from Dubrovnik to Split – Jadrolinija, Kapetan Luka and TP Line. Jadrolinija has one boat sailing this route, whilst Kapetan Luka and TP Line have two boats each. All operators make stops at islands (and the mainland, in the case of one of Kapetan Luka’s routes) along the way. Whilst all operators and sailings are much of a muchness, it is important to note that some routes operate from Dubrovnik to Split in the morning, whilst some run in the afternoon. I would suggest which one you go for depends on what time you want to arrive in Split.
Jadrolinija’s Dubrovnik to Split catamaran
The following catamaran is operated by Jadrolinija. You can buy tickets for the sailing on their website.
Timetable
Daily
Operates from 6.6.25 to 21.9.25
Daily
7.45am
↓
Dubrovnik
↑
9.25pm
9.25am 9.40am
Korcula
7.25pm 7.10pm
10.50am 11.10am
Hvar
5.55pm 5.35pm
11.55am 12.10pm
Bol (Brac)
4.45pm 4.30pm
1.05pm
Split
3.30pm
Note: no sailing from Dubrovnik to Split on 6th June, and no sailing from Split to Dubrovnik on 21st September
Ticket Prices
Route
Price
Dubrovnik – Korcula/Korcula – Dubrovnik
€25
Dubrovnik – Hvar/Hvar – Dubrovnik
€48
Dubrovnik – Bol/Bol – Dubrovnik
€48
Dubrovnik – Split/Split – Dubrovnik
€48
Korcula – Hvar/Hvar – Korcula
€23
Korcula – Bol/Bol – Korcula
€27
Korcula – Split/Split – Korcula
€27
Hvar – Bol/Bol – Hvar
€25
Hvar – Split/Split – Hvar
€25
Bol – Split/Split – Bol
€23
TP Lines Dubrovnik to Split Catamaran Option 1
The following catamaran is operated by TP Line. Tickets can be purchased on their website.
Timetable
Daily
Operates from 14.4.25 to 26.10.25
Daily
8.05am
↓
Dubrovnik
↑
8.20pm
10.00am 10.10am
Korcula
6.20pm 6.10pm
11.40am 12.00pm
Hvar
4.45pm 4.30pm
12.45pm 12.50pm
Milna (Brac)
3.50pm 3.45pm
1.25pm
Split
3.10pm
Note: no sailing from Dubrovnik to Split on 14th April, and no sailing from Split to Dubrovnik on 26th October
Ticket Prices
Route
Price
Dubrovnik – Korcula/Korcula – Dubrovnik
€25
Dubrovnik – Hvar/Hvar – Dubrovnik
€48
Dubrovnik – Milna/Milna – Dubrovnik
€48
Dubrovnik – Split/Split – Dubrovnik
€48
Korcula – Hvar/Hvar – Korcula
€25
Korcula – Milna/Milna – Korcula
€25
Korcula – Split/Split – Korcula
€25
Hvar – Milna/Milna – Hvar
€15
Hvar – Split/Split – Hvar
€25
Milna – Split/Split – Milna
€10
A TP Line catamaran near Dubrovnik
TP Lines Dubrovnik to Split Catamaran Option 2
Timetable
Daily
9.5.25 – 12.10.25
Daily
2.55pm
↓
Dubrovnik
↑
2.20pm
4.50pm 5.00pm
Korcula
12.20pm 12.05pm
6.25pm 6.40pm
Hvar
10.40am 10.20am
7.20pm 7.25pm
Milna (Brac)
9.35am 9.30am
8.00pm
Split
9.00am
Ticket Prices
Route
Price
Dubrovnik – Korcula/Korcula – Dubrovnik
€25
Dubrovnik – Hvar/Hvar – Dubrovnik
€48
Dubrovnik – Milna/Milna – Dubrovnik
€48
Dubrovnik – Split/Split – Dubrovnik
€48
Korcula – Hvar/Hvar – Korcula
€25
Korcula – Milna/Milna – Korcula
€25
Korcula – Split/Split – Korcula
€25
Hvar – Milna/Milna – Hvar
€15
Hvar – Split/Split – Hvar
€25
Milna – Split/Split – Milna
€10
Kapetan Luka Dubrovnik to Split Catamaran Option 1
The following catamaran is operated by Kapetan Luka. Tickets can be bought on their website.
Timetable
Daily
Operates from 1.4.25 to 31.10.25
Daily
3.30pm
↓
Dubrovnik
↑
12.30pm
4.50pm 4.55pm
Pomena (Mljet)
11.10am 11.05am
5.30pm 5.40pm
Korcula
10.30am 10.20am
6.50pm 7.00pm
Hvar
9.10am 9.00am
7.30pm 7.35pm
Milna (Brac)
8.30am 8.25am
8.00pm
Split
8.00am
Ticket Prices
Route
Price
Dubrovnik – Pomena/Pomena – Dubrovnik
€20
Dubrovnik – Korcula/Korcula – Dubrovnik
€25
Dubrovnik – Hvar/Hvar – Dubrovnik
€50
Dubrovnik – Milna/Milna – Dubrovnik
€50
Dubrovnik – Split/Split – Dubrovnik
€50
Pomena – Korcula/Korcula – Pomena
€20
Pomena – Hvar/Hvar – Pomena
€25
Pomena – Milna/Milna – Pomena
€25
Pomena – Split/Split – Pomena
€30
Korcula – Hvar/Hvar – Korcula
€25
Korcula – Milna/Milna – Korcula
€25
Korcula – Split/Split – Korcula
€30
Hvar – Milna/Milna – Hvar
€15
Hvar – Split/Split – Hvar
€25
Milna – Split/Split – Milna
€10
Kapetan Luka Dubrovnik to Split Catamaran Option 2
The following catamaran is operated by Kapetan Luka. Tickets can be bought on their website.
Timetable
Daily
Operates from 1.6.25 to 25.09.25
Daily
2.45pm
↓
Dubrovnik
↑
1.30pm
4.25pm 4.30pm
Pomena (Mljet)
11.55am 11.50am
5.10pm 5.20pm
Korcula
11.20am 11.10am
6.05pm 6.10pm
Sucuraj (Hvar)
10.25am 10.20am
6.40pm 6.50pm
Makarska
9.50am 9.40am
7.20pm 7.30pm
Bol (Brac)
9.05am 8.55am
8.25pm
Split
8.00am
Ticket Prices
Route
Price
Dubrovnik – Pomena/Pomena – Dubrovnik
€20
Dubrovnik – Korcula/Korcula – Dubrovnik
€25
Dubrovnik – Sucuraj/Sucuraj – Dubrovnik
€25
Dubrovnik – Makarska/Makarska – Dubrovnik
€45
Dubrovnik – Bol/Bol – Dubrovnik
€50
Dubrovnik – Split/Split – Dubrovnik
€50
Pomena – Korcula/Korcula – Pomena
€20
Pomena – Sucuraj/Sucuraj – Pomena
€20
Pomena – Makarska/Makarska – Pomena
€25
Pomena – Bol/Bol – Pomena
€25
Pomena – Split/Split – Pomena
€30
Korcula – Sucuraj/Sucuraj – Korcula
€25
Korcula – Makarska/Makarska – Korcula
€25
Korcula – Bol/Bol – Korcula
€25
Korcula – Split/Split – Korcula
€30
Sucuraj – Makarska/Makarska – Sucuraj
€25
Sucuraj – Bol/Sucuraj – Hvar
€20
Sucuraj – Split/Split – Sucuraj
€20
Makarska – Bol/Bol – Makarska
€20
Makarska – Split/Split – Makarska
€20
Bol – Split/Split – Bol
€20
For any of the above sailings, I would suggest you always pre-book tickets – at least a few days in advance if you can’t do so earlier – as the Dubrovnik to Split (or Split to Dubrovnik) catamaran is a popular route.
Travelling from Dubrovnik to Split by Bus
Travelling by bus from Dubrovnik to Split is a very easy, reliable and cheap option – and there are numerous buses operating on this route, year-round.
Journey time between the two takes around 4 to 4.5 hours. Although buses no longer go through that small slice of Bosnia, some buses make numerous stops along the way, which means a longer journey time. In the summer months, the coastal road can also be congested with holiday traffic, making the journey longer than expected. If you are travelling during the peak summer months, consider taking an early morning or later evening bus.
Dubrovnik Bus Station
If a shorter journey time is important to you, take a bus that hardly makes any stops and uses the motorway (where it starts, near Ploce) instead!
A one-way bus ticket from Dubrovnik to Split in 2025 costs €20-€25.
Good to know: Sit on the left-hand side of the bus (on the same side as the driver) to be closest to the amazing view!
Driving from Dubrovnik to Split
If you’re renting a car during travels in Croatia, making the drive from Dubrovnik to Split is relatively straightforward. As with travelling by bus, the fastest option is to take the A1 motorway (from where it starts, near Ploce) and zoom all the way up to Split! On the way to the motorway, you’ll drive part of the coastal road up and through the Peljesac Peninsula and across the Peljesac Bridge, so you’ll experience this charming part of south Dalmatia. Why not stop for a coffee? Perhaps in Ston, and you can then visit those town walls!
Or if you’re after something a bit more slower paced – and utterly beautiful – take the D8 coastal road all the way from Dubrovnik to Split. You’ll be rewarded with utterly gorgeous views all the way, and you’ll have plenty of opportunity to stop for coffee, lunch, some photos at a viewpoint and more along the way.
Part of the coastal road
The motorway option takes around 3 hours, whilst the coastal road would take you 4 hours to drive, but that assumes no stops at all. During summer, the coastal road option can be slower (as we’ve mentioned for the bus option above) because of holiday traffic. Simply take it in your stride!
Do also be aware that if you use the motorway, you will need to pay a toll. Take a ticket just before entering the motorway and then pay at the toll on exit. For a regular-sized car, the motorway toll in 2025 will cost €7.30 from Dubrovnik to Split (entering at Karamatici and exiting at Dugopolje for Split). You can see prices for other vehicles on the Toll Rates section of the Croatian Motorways website.
If you want to make the journey from Dubrovnik to Split very, very quickly, travelling by plane is, of course, the best bet.
Trade Air operate flights year-round twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Flight time from Dubrovnik to Split is 55 minutes. A one-way ticket costs around €75 for a non-refundable ticket.]
Dubrovnik Airport
Travelling from Dubrovnik to Split by Train
Impossible!
Let me elaborate – Dubrovnik has no train station, so there’s no way you can travel from Dubrovnik to Split by train! Use one of the options above instead.
Dubrovnik to Split by Private Transfer
If you fancy taking all the organisation of travelling from Dubrovnik to Split out of your hands, a private transfer may be the best choice for you. These are generally rather pricey – you are making a journey of over 200 kilometres, after all – but if there’s a small group of you plus luggage, you may find it easiest to opt for a transfer. Take a look at some of the private transfers available below:
So what’s the best way of travelling from Dubrovnik to Split?
Oh yes, I did promise to tell you that, didn’t I? If I said, “there’s no best way”, would you be really cross with me?
Well, if you have your own rental car, then you’ll be driving, of course, and this option gives you the most flexibility and possibility of exploring.
Flying is only possible twice a week, and I would only recommend this if you’re really pushed for time and perhaps are only travelling with a small amount of luggage. But it’s undoubtedly the fastest option.
Travelling by catamaran is a great way of experiencing sailing on the Adriatic, but it is a long journey from Dubrovnik to Split by sea. I would personally choose a catamaran if making overnight stops on one (or more) of the islands along the way.
So, call me old-fashioned, but I love the bus option! Sit back and relax, put some music on your headphones (or listen to the gorgeous Croatian music the bus driver has chosen) and watch the gorgeous view as you’re driven by. And this is the cheapest option!
Whatever way you choose for travelling from Dubrovnik to Split, enjoy your journey!
https://www.visit-croatia.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/The-best-ways-of-travelling-from-Dubrovnik-to-Split-blank.jpg500800annazhttps://www.visit-croatia.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/visit-croatia-logo5.jpgannaz2025-05-28 12:37:542025-06-03 21:19:33The best ways of travelling from Dubrovnik to Split in 2025
John Clayton is a UK citizen who has been living in the coastal city of Rijeka for 15 years. Following on from his previous post about The Sound of Rijeka, John talks here about his experiences of cycling in Croatia – and what’s great for cyclists in the country, what’s not so good and what’s awful!
Cycling in Croatia can be truly incredible – discover picture-perfect beaches, ride the dramatic mountain with endless forest on one side with stunning views over the islands on the other. In so many ways it’s idyllic, but, and it’s a big BUT, the driving is highly bicycle unfriendly and cycling infrastructure is totally missing.
I find it hard to write about cycling in Croatia. There is so much great to say, yet the negatives are very real. Having said that I cycle most weekends, I feel highly privileged to have such incredible places to cycle on my doorstep and I am still here to tell the tale.
A perfect rest stop
Cycling in Croatia: the good
So here we go, let’s start with the good. Of course, the biggest draw is the unbelievably beautiful landscape. With a bicycle, it’s possible to escape the crowded beaches – even in the height of summer – and put up a hammock at an idyllic hidden beach with crystal clear water. Perhaps even better but less well-known is the riding in the mountains. Croatia has wild mountains, particularly Velebit (just north of Zadar). These are truly wild in a way that is increasingly difficult to find in Europe outside of the Nordic countries.
High up in the Velebit mountains
The mountains provide so many excellent cycling options for any style of riding, and almost always you’ll be the only cyclist. This autumn we did a two-day mountain bike trip through Gorski Kotar (the mountains between Rijeka and the Slovenian border) and until we accidentally joined a mountain bike race near Platak we didn’t see a single other cyclist. In fact, in that one hour, we saw more cyclists than we had ever seen in Croatia over the last 15 years. To this day I’ve literally seen more bears than mountain bikers in Croatia (5 vs 3 if you’re interested). By the way, while there is a need to be bear aware in Croatia, drivers are a much, much bigger risk.
Winter riding in Gorski Kotar
Another advantage of cycling in Croatia is that outside of July and August very good value accommodation can be found. One of our favourite weekend rides from Rijeka is to cycle across the island of Krk to then spend a night in the ever-so-cute town of Cres. We usually pay between €35-45 for an apartment. Eating out in winter is also cheaper, and we can prepare our own coffee and breakfast in the morning. In Croatia, we can afford to travel light and to be credit card tourers. In fact it’s often cheaper than camping – more about that in a minute.
Finding unexpected wildlife on the Brijuni Islands
Cycling in Croatia: the bad…and the ugly
So that was the good, how about the bad and the ugly?
Unfortunately, there is quite a lot. Firstly, the driving. Croatians are not known for their considerate driving, pedestrian crossings here are merely seen as a suggestion, and in no way an obligation. Accordingly, the vast majority of Croatian drivers will overtake cyclists immediately regardless of whether it is appropriate or not. Expect drivers to pass just inches from your left hand, usually holding a mobile phone in one hand and a cigarette in the other. There is not much that can be done about the driving, but we avoid bigger roads where possible and always wear helmets and yellow T-shirts.
The other major issue is the lack of infrastructure. Basically, there isn’t any. Rijeka, my home town, doesn’t have a single official bicycle rack. And forget about bicycle lanes. While a few sections do exist in random places, they are short and not linked together. Istria may be the best area of Croatia for cycle infrastructure but do not expect anything like Italy or Slovenia.
Riding along Dugi Otok
On top of this, very few trains carry bicycles to the coast (inland Slavonia is much better). There is just one a day between Zagreb and Rijeka, and none between Zagreb and Split apart from the overnight train that runs for a few weeks in the summer. In theory, buses carry bicycles, for a fee of around €10. However, it depends on space being available and the mood of the driver. These conditions make it impossible to book in advance so it cannot be relied on to return from a one-way trip along the coast for example. The bus companies even warn that getting a bicycle on a bus in summer is highly unlikely, I could add that Friday and Sunday afternoons/evenings all year round are also best avoided. Designing a circular route is the best option, or use the ferries between Italy and Zadar, Split and Dubrovnik for one-way routes.
The main ferry company in Croatia, Jadrolinija, only allows bicycles on their car ferries, for the same fee as a passenger. But please be aware that the passenger catamarans (listed as “brzi brod”) do not carry bicycles. Every year I see many cyclists in Rijeka being refused boarding as it is far from clear on the official information that bicycles are banned.
There is a reason for this misleading information – while both local and national tourist boards appear to encourage cycling, they clearly assume that every cyclist also has a car. It certainly isn’t necessary to have one (I don’t) but it does mean that information is presented based on this assumption. I also guess that no one working for these organisations has ever ridden a bicycle. Other catamaran companies operating in Dalmatia do carry bicycles – someone at Jadrolinija really doesn’t like cyclists!
Cycling in Croatia and camping
Similarly, campsites in Croatia are not at all geared up for cyclists, or, ironically, any kind of camping. Motorhomes now dominate the market and campsites have been designed accordingly. Campsites are usually floodlit at night, have rock-hard ground, and are shockingly expensive. They also charge a registration fee of about €2 per person for the first night – effectively a tax on cyclists and hikers, in contrast to Slovenian campsites that give discounts to cyclists.
Cycling into Nin, near Zadar
There is a much better option to official campsites. A free, quiet, dark at night, option. Of course, I mean wild camping on one of the many, many isolated beaches in Croatia. The only problem is that wild camping is illegal in Croatia. The choice is yours. However, it might be worth bearing in mind that almost everything is illegal in Croatia and you will probably be breaking the law approximately every 5 minutes.
I just recently discovered that when there is no bicycle lane at a pedestrian crossing, cyclists are obliged to dismount and push their bikes across. As there is never, ever a bicycle lane I have already broken this law literally thousands of times. Just to make things worse, when cycling I do stop at crossings for pedestrians yet the cars behind me keep going, and somehow I am the one breaking the law.
Wearing yellow
To cycle or not to cycle…
I think I forgot to mention that Croatia is hilly, always! This is not a complaint, just an observation. Croatia would not be anywhere near as beautiful if it were flat. Make sure you have low climbing gears. My other advice, wear a helmet and bright clothing, avoid busier roads if at all possible, and don’t plan on using public transport on the coast.
So yes, Croatia may be way behind almost every other European country when it comes to cycling but, there is amazing cycling to be discovered here. I am still exploring, always finding new and amazing places. It can be really, really beautiful. It is by far my most common weekend activity so take my concerns as forewarning and come cycling in Croatia.
Thank you so much for your very interesting piece, John. Some truly excellent advice for anyone interested in cycling in Croatia.
https://www.visit-croatia.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Riding-along-Dugi-Otok.jpg5631000annazhttps://www.visit-croatia.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/visit-croatia-logo5.jpgannaz2024-12-17 14:40:252024-12-17 14:42:07Croatia: cycling heaven, and also cycling hell
As we’re at the time of year that the Dalmatian coastal catamarans – those that operate from Split to Dubrovnik and Dubrovnik to Split – start operating, I thought I’d give a little round-up of those such services. I know they’re certainly popular with travellers! In this post, you’ll find timetables for all the Split to Dubrovnik catamaran services operating in 2024.
TP Line has just started its Split to Dubrovnik catamaran service
As of last Friday, 26th April 2024, TP Line has started operating its coastal catamaran which runs from Split to Milna on the island of Brac, Hvar Town, Korcula Town, Pomena on the island of Mljet and Dubrovnik. (And does the return journey too, of course!)
Credit: TP Line
This is a service that departs Split in the morning, meaning you can make it to Dubrovnik for the mid-afternoon. For the reverse journey, you leave Dubrovnik in the mid-afternoon and arrive in Split just in time for dinner.
The timetable for this service in both directions is shown below:
Split
Milna (Brac)
Hvar
Korcula
Pomena (Mljet)
Dubrovnik
Day
departure
arrival | departure
arrival | departure
arrival | departure
arrival | departure
arrival
Monday – Sunday (Daily)
9.15am
9.45am | 9.50am
10.30am | 10.45am
12.10pm | 12.20pm
1pm | 1.05pm
2.35pm
Service runs from 26th April to 27th September 2024
Dubrovnik
Pomena (Mljet)
Korcula
Hvar
Milna (Brac)
Split
Day
departure
arrival | departure
arrival | departure
arrival | departure
arrival | departure
arrival
Monday – Sunday (Daily)
3.15pm
4.45pm | 4.50pm
5,30pm | 5.40pm
6.55pm | 7.10pm
7.50pm | 7.55pm
8.30pm
Service runs from 26th April to 27th September 2024
Tickets cost €48 for adults or €24 for children aged 3 to 12 whilst children under the age of 3 travel free. These prices are for the full Split to Dubrovnik or Dubrovnik to Split portion of the journey as well as for Milna – Dubrovnik/Dubrovnik – Milna and Hvar – Dubrovnik/Dubrovnik – Hvar. Other prices apply for the other portions; you can see these on the TP Line website where you can also buy tickets.
TP Line also operate several other catamaran routes along the Croatian coast include Dubrovnik – Sobra (Mljet) – Korcula – Ubli (Lastovo) and Dubrovnik – Sipan – Sobra (Mljet) – Polace (Mljet) – Korcula – Ubli (Lastovo).
Kapetan Luka’s service has already been running for a month
Kapetan Luka operate two popular Split to Dubrovnik catamaran services, and their most popular one has already been operating daily for the past month!
As you can see, you can use this service from Kapetan Luka to make the journey from Split to Dubrovnik in time for lunch, with plenty of time for exploring in the afternoon.
This catamaran costs €50 for adults for the full Split to Dubrovnik or Dubrovnik to Split portion as well as for Milna – Dubrovnik/Dubrovnik – Milna and Hvar – Dubrovnik/Dubrovnik – Hvar. Other prices apply for the other legs of the journey.
The same company also have another Split to Dubrovnik catamaran that starts operating for the year in June. This service runs from Split – Bol – Makarksa – Korcula Town – Pomena on the island of Mljet – Dubrovnik. You can see the timetable below:
Split
Bol (Brac)
Makarska
Korcula
Pomena (Mljet)
Dubrovnik
Day
departure
arrival | departure
arrival | departure
arrival | departure
arrival | departure
arrival
Monday – Sunday (Daily)
8.45am
9.35am | 9.45am
10.20am | 10.30am
11.40am | 11.50am
12.20pm | 12.30pm
2.05pm
Service runs from 10th June to 22nd September 2024
Dubrovnik
Pomena (Mljet)
Korcula
Makarska
Bol (Brac)
Split
Day
departure
arrival | departure
arrival | departure
arrival | departure
arrival | departure
arrival
Monday – Sunday (Daily)
3.05pm
5.00pm | 5.10pm
5.50pm | 6.00pm
7.15pm | 7.25pm
8.00pm | 8.10pm
9.10pm
Service runs from 10th June to 22nd September 2024
Tickets for Kapetan Luka‘s coastal routes can be purchased on their website.
Jadrolinija’s Split to Dubrovnik catamaran starts in June
The main ferry and catamaran company in Croatia, Jadrolinija, of course also have a Split to Dubrovnik catamaran. However, their service only starts in June, running for the peak summer months. For completeness, I thought I would also add it here so you can get your Split to Dubrovnik catamaran info all on one page!
Credit: Jadrolinija
This is certainly a popular route as it connects some of the top destinations in Croatia: Split – Bol – Hvar Town – Korcula Town – Dubrovnik. This service travels from Split to Dubrovnik in the afternoon/evening, and from Dubrovnik to Split in the morning. That means lunch on the Riva in Split!
You can see the timetable below:
Split
Bol (Brac)
Hvar Town
Korcula Town
Dubrovnik
Day
departure
arrival | departure
arrival | departure
arrival | departure
arrival
Monday – Sunday (Daily)
3.30pm
4.30pm | 4.45pm
5.35pm | 5.55pm
7.10pm | 7.25pm
9.25pm
Service runs from 7th June to 22nd September 2024
Dubrovnik
Korcula Town
Hvar Town
Bol (Brac)
Split
Day
departure
arrival | departure
arrival | departure
arrival | departure
arrival
Monday – Sunday (Daily)
7.00am
9.00am | 9.15am
10.30am | 10.50am
11.40am | 11.55am
12.55pm
Service runs from 7th June to 22nd September 2024
Adult tickets cost €45 for Split to Dubrovnik/Dubrovnik to Split as well as Hvar to Dubrovnik/Dubrovnik to Hvar. Other prices apply to the other legs of the journey.
What’s all this talk of catamarans? What about the ferry?
There is no longer a slow ferry between Split and Dubrovnik, one that would be able to take cars as well as passengers. This was a service run by Jadrolinija in the past – for decades, in fact – although it hasn’t operated for almost ten years now and was being run at a loss towards the end of its time. Actually a coastal service that originated Rijeka, I’m sure this would be welcomed by many travellers these days. But, suffice to say, there is no coastal ferry service between Split and Dubrovnik.
If you have a car, you will need to drive down or up the coastline!
https://www.visit-croatia.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/tp-line-kalelarga.jpeg7501000annazhttps://www.visit-croatia.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/visit-croatia-logo5.jpgannaz2024-04-30 12:23:002024-05-01 14:09:08Split to Dubrovnik Catamaran 2024
Hi, we are planning to fly into Zadar in late June for approximately 14 nights, working our way to Dubrovnik and flying back from there. Looking for about 6 or more places to stay over on our way down, we will be travelling by bus so don’t want long bus transfers, so could you give me some ideas of some nice places where we could stay or when travelling down, please?
J.P.
14 nights from Zadar to Dubrovnik sounds truly wonderful, lucky you! That’s a great amount of time to see Dalmatia. Travelling by bus is no problem, and I would also actually add some catamarans (or ferries, where applicable) into the mix as this trip would also be a good chance to see and experience some islands. However, I’ll also give you an option to stick to the mainland only if you prefer.
Trogir
Zadar to Dubrovnik – Travelling on the mainland, by bus, only
Start in lovely Zadar with so much to explore and enjoy here! …1 hour 30 minutes by bus to…
Sibenik – a charming old town, with its two UNESCO World Heritage sites (definitely visit the fortresses!), and a lovely harbourfront …30 minutes to…
Skradin to visit Krka National Park, a gem of a national park with its gorgeous waterfalls and lakes, plenty to explore on a day or two here …just over 1 hour to… (N.B. Only one bus a day at 17.30 with Best Line)
Trogir – a gorgeous little town, lots of tiny cobbled streets, good restaurants and cafes …only 30/45 minutes to…
Split – Croatia’s second city, a must-visit on your way down from Zadar to Dubrovnik! So much to see and do here, plus excellent restaurants, bars, shopping, beaches…the list goes on! …just over 1 hour to…
Makarska – another highlight on this part of the coast, a popular holiday destination with great amenities and rather impressively loomed over by Mount Biokovo …2 hours 30 mins/3 hours to…
So, the above is actually only 5 places to stop off at when travelling down from Zadar to Dubrovnik. I think this is a good amount as you can base yourself in any one place and then make additional bus trips to nearby locations.
I would have liked to add in an extra place between Makarska and Dubrovnik for you, but this part of the coast thins out a little in terms of towns to visit. One place to explore would have been somewhere on the Peljesac Peninsula e.g. Ston but it is only possible to travel there from Makarska (if travelling by bus) via Dubrovnik, which wouldn’t make much sense.
The GetByBus website will help you look up bus timetables and book tickets.
Korcula Town
Zadar to Dubrovnik – Mainland by bus to Split and then by catamaran down to Dubrovnik
Now for the second option. The start is as the above itinerary, for the Zadar to Split portion, and then from there:
Hvar Town on Hvar – a popular island town with great restaurants and interesting sights (the Spanjola Fortress on the hill is a must-see); taking a taxi bro to the Pakleni islands on a day trip is also recommended …1 hour 10 mins by catamaran to…
Korcula Town – a mini-Dubrovnik, a delightful place …just under 2 hours to…
Or two other islands you could do instead would be Brac (home to the famous Zlatni Rat beach) or Mljet (with its beautiful greenery and nature). Or any combination of two – Hvar and Mljet, Brac and Korcula…
Kapetan Luka and Jadrolinija run these catamarans; there are quite a few sailings on these routes (some – e.g. Split to Hvar – more than others) so the best advice would be to look up tickets on the ferry company websites to see what time the sailings are.
Enjoy your travels from Zadar to Dubrovnik!
https://www.visit-croatia.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/zadar-to-dubrovnik_korcula.jpg533800annazhttps://www.visit-croatia.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/visit-croatia-logo5.jpgannaz2024-02-06 15:05:592024-03-04 15:10:28Travel question: the best places to stay from Zadar to Dubrovnik
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!
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.
Ljubljana CastleThe 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!)
The view from the watchtower of Ljubljana Castle over the central space of the Castle and beyond to the cityAn 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)
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 MarketPlecnik’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.
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!
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.
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.
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!
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 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.)
Pletna boats on Lake Bled
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!
The church on Bled Island
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!
A Bled Cream Cake at Kavarna Park
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.
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