Croatia Ferries – General Information
There are plenty of car and passenger ferries to make use of in Croatia and Croatia ferries are a ferry is a great way to see more of the country and avoid busy roads and sometimes also, border crossings. So you might also want to think about incorporating a ferry into your journey to Croatia to avoid having to fly into Split or Dubrovnik where the flight prices can be higher in the peak season. For example, have a look at flying to Italy and then getting the ferry over to Croatia. Additionally, we can always help you arrange Transfers in Croatia with our trusted local 3rd party suppliers from the ferry port to your villa or perhaps you’d like us to help arrange Car Hire so there is a hire car waiting for you when you step off the ferry.
You can also catch a Hydrofoil if you don’t want to take the car and need a fast transfer. The Hydrofoil is also called the “Fast-line” and for example will take you from Split to Vela Luka on Korcula in just 1 hour 45 mins.
We advise you to pre book as they sell out very early – the most popular routes are usually full by Easter.
The main ferry company for Croatia is called Jadrolinija. You can view their routes on a map or in tabular form. www.jadrolinija.hr phone: (+385 51666111) email: [email protected]
You can now pre-book most of your car ferry tickets and also most of the fast catamaran ones – but other car ferries to the islands are still a case of turning up on the day and buying your ticket at least an hour before hand as it’s first come first served.
Please Note: Although currently some Croatia ferries tickets can be booked online, this doesn’t guarantee that you will get a place on that specific ferry unless you’re there early, so you might still have to wait for the next one.
Luggage Storage at Split Port
If you are catching Croatia ferries from Split Port or a bus from the Bus Station and have some time to spare, it is useful to know that you can leave your luggage at the ‘Garderobe’ at the port Bus Station which is right across from where you get the ferries.
You can see where the the left luggage facility is on the map extract below (see red marker) and you can see it here: Location of Luggage Storage at Split Port – Google Street View. It is very convenient as the whole port area is not very big. On the image below, just under where it says “Split”, is actually the waterfront promenade (the “Riva”) which is right in front of the Old Town of Split so you are really close to it to do a bit of sightseeing and there are plenty of restaurants and cafe’s all along the sea edge to have lunch or a coffee while you wait for the ferry. It’s all very convenient. You can see that one ferry goes to Korcula for example, from really near the red marker. The link to this Google Map is here – Location of Luggage Storage at Split Port – Google Maps.
Just let us know if you’d like our local Representative to set up a transfer from Split Airport to the port for you, a journey which takes about 30 minutes. The airport is very small and you are usually through it very quickly. See transfer prices here – Transfers in Split & Trogir
Or, if you’ve decided to hire a car at the airport what you’d do is drive the car into the ferry queue and then go off for a coffee/lunch etc and then come back about half an hour before the ferry departs, ready to drive on to the ferry. That is what everyone does. Our local Rep can arrange car hire for you also with a local supplier, to collect from the airport – see here –Car Hire in Split & Trogir or we also have a DIY cheaper option that you can do via our website through Rhino Car Hire.
From Google Maps below:
Ferries to Brac Island
- There are many companies offering private boat transfers from the jetty by Split Airport to Brac Island.
- Most of the ferries to Brac Island go from Split Port at the Old Town of Split so that is probably the best place to start looking for ferries. See the main timetable here – Ferry Timetable – Split to Brac Island
- You need to get to the ferry and buy tickets at least an hour in advance as it is first come first served (even if you pre-booked). The port is actually at the end of the promenade at Split Old Town so it’s a lovely spot to go for a coffee or lunch while you wait for the ferry. You can then walk or drive on to the boat!
- It’s only a 50 minute ferry hop to Supetar on Brac Island and all the ferries have sun decks so you can watch everything go by – very nice indeed! They also have lounge bars where you can buy coffees, beers, wine, sandwiches etc and sit inside out if the sun. As an example of prices, it is 160 Kuna (approx £18) per car & 33 Kuna (approx £4) per person (foot passenger) to Brac Island from Split Port. Here is the Ferry Timetable – Split to Brac Island – there are about 14 crossings in high season per day and they go from early morning to late at night.
- You can also cross from Makarska straight to Sumartin – there are about 6 crossings per day on this route – Makarska is a small town about an hour’s drive south of Split so you would need to drive or have a transfer there first. Check out the Makarska to Sumartin ferry timetable.
- There is also a ferry from Milna Bay on Brac Island to Split – Here is the Milna Bay on Brac to Split ferry timetable
- There is also an early ferry from Jelsa on Hvar Island via Bol Town on Brac Island to Split returning late afternoon – here is the timetable for the Jelsa to Split ferry.
Getting to Korcula Island
Korcula Island can be reached from both Split and Dubrovnik
Ferries from Split to Korcula Island
Ferries from Orebic to Korcula Town
If you’re driving up from Dubrovnik you need to get the Ferry from Orebic across to Korcula
Ferry from Ploce (Mainland) to the Peljesac Peninsula the across to Korcula Island
So then there is another way to get to Korcula if none of those ferries work – You would need to drive down the coast from Split to Ploce. Then drive to Orebic & ferry hop to Korcula. Ferries from Ploce to Trpanj on the Peljesac Peninsula start at 5am
Ferries to Hvar Island
It’s only about an hour direct into Hvar Town via the passenger only Catamaran or you can hop on the car ferry (you can drive on or walk on as a foot passenger) and that takes about 2 hours to Starigrad and then you’d need to drive/get a taxi to your villa.
It is about 25 minutes drive to Hvar Town from Starigrad. As an example of prices:
- Car & Passenger Ferry – Split – Starigrad (Hvar Island) from Split Port – it is approx 318 Kuna (approx £32) per car & 47 Kuna (approx £5) per person (foot passenger).
- Catamaran (foot passengers only) – Split – Hvar Town (high season) – it is approx 60 Kuna (approx £6) per person (foot passenger).
There are many crossings every day in high season and they go from early morning to late at night. We have Local reps who can arrange and oversee transfers for you at the Split end too (and there are usually taxi’s waiting at the ports on Hvar if you need them) so it’s all very easy and you will be well looked after!
- Car Ferry Split- Stari Grad (Hvar)
- Car Ferry Price – Split – Stari Grad (Hvar)
- Catamaran (Foot Passenger Only) Split-Milna-Hvar
- Catamaran (Foot Passenger Only) Split-Hvar-Korcula-Lastovo
- Catamaran (Foot Passenger Only) Split-Hvar-Korcula
- Catamaran (Foot Passenger Only) Split-Bol-Jelsa (Hvar)
If you are driving up from Dubrovnik you can also cross at Hvar on Car ferry Drvenik to Sucuraj (Hvar) and then drive down to the other side of the island where most of the accommodation is based
Otherwise the fast catamaran from Dubrovnik: www.krilo.hr takes 3 hours and is pre-bookable online. Leaves Dubrovnik at 4.30 reaches Hvar Town at 7pm via Mljet & Korcula – goes on to Milna on Brac and ends up in Split a 8.15pm (daily).
Fly into Italy / Pula / Rovinj / Trieste:
If you want to make your holiday to Croatia very special, why not fly into Venice and spend a few days enjoying the magnificent history and then catch a fast ferry (passenger only) to the Istrian coast?
It’s only a few hours between Venice and Umag, Rovinj, Porec, Pula or Opatija – strolling through the Venice lagoon is a unique experience and the ferry journey is very pleasant. Just sit, relax and we will organize your rent-a-car to wait for you on your arrival and take you to your villa!
Venezia Lines : web: http://venezialines.com
phone:(+385 52 422 896)
Email [email protected]
Seasonal Catamaran – Venice to Istria ( Pirano, Portoroz, Umag, Rovinj and Pula)
The islands off the Istrian coast can also be reached by ferry:
Krk /Cres
Pag
Rab
Mali Lozinj
And Pula via Mali Lozinj to Zadar
Zadar – Island Ferries
Here are the more popular ones (please check out Jadrolinija’s site for more routes):
Split Riviera Locations:
If you can’t get a reasonably priced flight into Dubrovnik, why not just fly into Split and drive down the coast (approx 5-6 hours) or between Split and Dubrovnik – there is a Catamaran (approx 4 hours) pre-bookable online.
There is an overnight ferry from Ancona in Italy to Split
Ferries from Italy – now pre-bookable online:
SNAV Croatia Jet: 0039-010 5731805
Departs Ancona 22.00 & arrives next day at 9am in Split harbour. Departure days change from week to week so please check online timetable.
Via Mare Travel: (web: www.viamare.com) phone: 0208 2063420 (also on Skype):
Pescara, Bari or Ancona to Croatia.
Also they are now selling Jadrolinija catamaran tickets in the UK.
International Line to Dubrovnik from Italy (Bari)
This is an over-night ferry that leaves Bari late evening & arrives Dubrovnik port early morning – there are a mix of cabins on board.
Local Ferries – Dubrovnik:
Ferries to the islands of Sipan from Dubrovnik & Mljet Island from Dubrovnik
(July & August also goes to Korcula Island & Lastovo )
To Sipan Lopud & Kolocep Island from Dubrovnik