Ferries and catamarans to the Dalmatian islands from Split — 2026 guide

Split ferry terminal: where to go

The Jadrolinija ferry terminal (Trajektna luka Split) is at the western end of Split’s Riva promenade, approximately 10 minutes on foot from Diocletian’s Palace. It is immediately adjacent to the city bus station — if you are coming from the airport shuttle, you arrive at the ferry terminal door.

The terminal has:

• A ticket office (open from approximately 5 am to 9 pm in summer; reduced hours in low season)
• Self-service machines for some routes
• A tourist information point
• A cafeteria
• Departure boards showing current status

For catamarans, the departure gate is often at a separate pier (Gat Sv. Duje) slightly east of the main ferry terminal — check the departure board for your specific service. The catamaran pier is still within the same port complex.

Understanding Jadrolinija routes from Split

Jadrolinija runs two types of service:

Car ferries (trajekt): Large vessels carrying vehicles, motorbikes, bikes, and foot passengers. Slower, cheaper per person, more frequent on the Supetar (Brač) route. These are the lifeline services that keep the islands connected to the mainland.

High-speed catamarans (katamaran): Foot passengers only — no vehicles. Faster crossings (roughly half the time of the car ferry for the same route). Slightly higher fares. Fewer daily departures than car ferries. Excellent for day-trippers who are not bringing a vehicle.

Routes, timings, and fares

Split to Supetar, Brač (car ferry)

Journey time: 50 minutes
Frequency (summer): Approximately every 1–1.5 hours from 5:30 am to 10:30 pm
Foot passenger fare: Approximately €5 one way
Vehicle fare: Approximately €30–40 for a standard car

The Supetar route is the most frequent and most used. From Supetar, buses run to Bol (Zlatni Rat) — approximately 40 minutes. This is the main access route to Brač; see Zlatni Rat beaches guide for the complete onward logistics.

Booking: foot passengers do not need to book. Cars should book online via jadrolinija.hr in July–August — the morning departures fill weeks in advance for vehicles.

Split to Stari Grad, Hvar (car ferry)

Journey time: 1h45
Frequency (summer): 4–6 sailings per day
Foot passenger fare: Approximately €6 one way
Vehicle fare: Approximately €35–45 for a standard car

Stari Grad is on the quieter, eastern end of Hvar island. From Stari Grad, a bus runs to Hvar town (20 minutes, €3). If you want to get to Hvar town quickly, the catamaran is faster; the car ferry is the better option if you have a vehicle.

Split to Hvar town (catamaran)

Journey time: 1 hour
Frequency (summer): 3–5 departures per day
Fare: Approximately €10–12 one way

The catamaran lands directly at Hvar town harbour — no bus transfer needed. This is the preferred route for day-trippers to Hvar. In July–August, book in advance via the Jadrolinija app or website — catamarans to Hvar sell out regularly.

This route is explored in detail in the Hvar island guide and the island hopping from Split guide.

Split to Vis (catamaran)

Journey time: 2.5 hours (direct) or 2 hours via Hvar
Frequency (summer): 1–2 departures per day direct; additional via Hvar
Fare: Approximately €12–15 one way

Vis is the farthest major island from Split. The catamaran service makes it a long day trip or, much better, an overnight stay. The direct service runs to Vis town harbour. There is no car ferry direct from Split to Vis in the standard schedule; the car access is via ferry from Drvenik (a mainland port on the Makarska Riviera) or via Hvar. Check Jadrolinija for current options.

Read Vis island guide for what to do on the island.

Split to Vela Luka, Korčula (car ferry or catamaran)

Journey time: 3 hours (car ferry); faster via catamaran route
Frequency (summer): 1–2 sailings per day direct
Fare: Approximately €8–10 one way foot passenger

Korčula is best as an overnight destination rather than a day trip given the travel time each way. The island hopping guide covers how to combine Korčula with Hvar or Vis on a longer itinerary.

Split to Šolta (car ferry)

Journey time: 1 hour
Fare: Approximately €5 foot passenger

Šolta is the nearest island to Split and among the least visited by tourists — a genuine local escape with olive groves, a small harbour village (Stomorska), and very limited nightlife or organised tourism. Good for those who want a quiet island day without the Hvar crowds.

Seasonal schedule changes

Jadrolinija’s schedule changes substantially between high season (typically June 20 – September 10) and low season (October – May). Key differences:

• High season: More daily departures on all main routes; later evening sailings (last ferry from Supetar to Split may run until 10:30 pm)
• Low season: Reduced to 2–4 departures per day on most routes; some catamaran services suspended entirely; Vis may have only 1 daily service each way

Always verify the current schedule at jadrolinija.hr or the Jadrolinija app before planning a day trip, especially in early June, September, and October when the timetable transitions. Do not assume the summer schedule is running unless you have confirmed it.

Practical booking guidance

Foot passengers

No advance booking needed for most car ferry routes. For catamarans in July–August, booking 2–5 days ahead is recommended — particularly the Hvar and Vis catamarans. Tickets can be purchased:

• At the terminal ticket office (cash or card)
• Via the Jadrolinija mobile app (iOS and Android; available in English)
• Via jadrolinija.hr online booking

Vehicles

Book online for July–August, especially for:

• Split → Supetar (Brač): the busiest route; morning and Friday afternoon departures fill weeks in advance for cars
• Split → Stari Grad (Hvar): popular in summer; book 1–2 weeks ahead

Arrive at the vehicle check-in 60–90 minutes before departure in peak season. The queue marshals direct cars into lanes. Arrive late and you may not make the sailing.

Groups

Groups of 10+ should contact Jadrolinija directly for group bookings and potential group discounts.

Island-to-island ferries

You are not limited to Split as your ferry hub. Key island-to-island connections:

• Hvar → Brač (Bol): Small ferry from Jelsa (Hvar) to Bol (Brač), approximately 1 hour. Useful for combining Hvar and Zlatni Rat in one trip.
• Brač (Bol) → Makarska: Car ferry from Supetar to Makarska (not Bol directly). Check local services from Bol.
• Hvar → Korčula: Regular catamaran connection, approximately 1.5 hours.
• Vis → Hvar: Part of the main Split–Vis catamaran route.

These connections enable flexible multi-island itineraries without returning to Split between each island. The island hopping 5-day itinerary uses this to link Hvar, Brač, Vis, and Korčula.

Private speedboats and transfers

Beyond Jadrolinija, private speedboat taxi services run between Split and the main islands. These are significantly faster (Split to Hvar town in 30–40 minutes) but considerably more expensive (€80–150 per boat, shareable between groups).

They are worth considering if:

• You have missed the last catamaran
• You are travelling with a group and the per-person cost is manageable
• You need to reach an island on a tight schedule

Private boat taxis are bookable through Split’s boat taxi providers (ask at the ferry terminal or at accommodation) and are not the same as organised tours.

Tour operator boats

Many island day trips depart on private tour operator speedboats, not Jadrolinija vessels. These handle 5-island tours, Blue Cave tours, and Blue Lagoon trips. They have their own departure points (typically the smaller piers east of the main ferry terminal, such as Gat Sv. Petra) and include the island stops in the tour price. These are not interchangeable with scheduled Jadrolinija services.

Tips from experience

On the car queue: Arrive early on summer Friday afternoons and Sunday evenings — these are the peak travel directions (holiday-makers leaving Split, returning from the islands). The Monday and Tuesday morning sailings are usually calmer.

On catamaran sickness: The catamaran Vis or Hvar service crosses open water and can feel choppy when the afternoon wind picks up. Take seasickness tablets if you are sensitive. The early morning sailing is usually calmer than the afternoon return.

On luggage on catamarans: Luggage must be stowed in the hold or in overhead racks — the passenger saloon is small. Mark your bags clearly and retrieve them promptly on arrival. Bikes and oversize luggage must be declared at boarding.

On returning: The return schedule is as important as the outbound one. Check return times before you leave Split. Missing the last catamaran from Hvar means either finding accommodation on the island or taking a water taxi back (expensive). In September, services thin out from mid-month — the last catamaran of the day may sail earlier than in peak summer.