Getting around Split — transport guide for 2026

Walking: the default mode in Split

Split’s historic core — Diocletian’s Palace and the streets of the old town — is entirely pedestrianised. This is not a limitation; it is one of the city’s defining qualities. You live inside a Roman palace. The streets are stone, the scale is human, and everything within the walls is within a few minutes of everything else.

The Riva promenade runs along the waterfront west of the Palace for about 500 metres to the ferry terminal — a flat, easy walk past restaurants and the spot where locals sit in the evenings. Going east from the Palace takes you to Bačvice beach in 10 minutes, passing the bus and train station.

Varoš, the old fishing neighbourhood immediately west of the Palace, is slightly hillier but still walkable. Marjan hill rises from the western end of the city — you can walk up through pine forests to a viewpoint in 20–30 minutes.

Split is a hot city in summer. Midday in July and August reaches 32–35°C. Do your walking before 11 am or after 6 pm. Carry water at all times (tap water is safe and free at fountains throughout the city). Stone streets radiate heat; the inner alleys of the Palace trap it.

City buses: key routes for visitors

Split’s city bus network (Promet Split) runs from around 5:30 am to 11 pm daily, with reduced service on Sundays. Tickets purchased at kiosks are slightly cheaper than from the driver; validate on boarding. Key routes for visitors:

Line 37 — Split to Trogir: One of the most useful routes. Runs approximately every 30 minutes from the city bus station near Bačvice, stopping at Kaštela towns along the coast. Journey time to Trogir old town is 30–35 minutes. Fare: approximately €2. This makes Trogir one of the easiest half-day trips from Split — see the Trogir half-day trip guide for what to do there.

Line 60 — Split to Omiš (direction Makarska): Runs along the coastal road south through Stobreč, Podstrana, and Duće, terminating at Omiš approximately 40 minutes from Split. Fare: approximately €3. This is the route to Omiš (rafting, canyoning) and to beaches at Stobreč. For Cetina river rafting, the bus drops you in Omiš town.

Lines to eastern suburbs (Žnjan, Stobreč): Several lines serve the beaches east of the city centre. Journey time 15–20 minutes.

Lines to Klis and Solin: A bus runs from the city station to Solin (Salona ruins) — journey 15–20 minutes. For Klis Fortress, bus service exists but timing is less frequent; some visitors take a taxi up (€12–15 from centre). Check the Klis Fortress guide for current transport options.

Regional buses: longer distances

Split’s central bus station (Autobusni kolodvor) is adjacent to the ferry terminal, a 10-minute walk west of the Palace. Long-distance and regional buses depart from here to:

• Dubrovnik: 4–5 hours by bus (route goes via Neum, Bosnia — you will cross the border briefly; EU and most Western passports have no issues). Fare: €15–25. Multiple daily departures. Split to Dubrovnik transport covers all options.
• Makarska: 1h15, €6–8. Multiple daily.
• Šibenik: 1 hour, €6–8. Multiple daily. Connects to Krka National Park.
• Zadar: 2 hours, €10–15.
• Zagreb: 5–6 hours (overnight buses available).

Tickets for intercity buses can be bought at the terminal or in advance online — worth booking ahead for July–August departures to Dubrovnik.

Jadrolinija ferries: the island network

Jadrolinija is the state ferry operator and the backbone of island transport from Split. The ferry terminal is at the western end of the Riva promenade.

Car ferries (trajekt)

Car ferries are slower but take vehicles, bikes, and motorbikes. Foot passenger fares are low (€3–6). Vehicle prices depend on car size (€25–40 for a standard car). Main routes from Split:

• Split → Supetar (Brač): 50 minutes. Runs approximately every 1–2 hours in high season. This is the primary access to Brač; see Zlatni Rat beaches guide for Bol connections.
• Split → Stari Grad (Hvar): 1h45. Less frequent than the Supetar route but takes you to the calmer end of Hvar. See Hvar island guide.
• Split → Vela Luka (Korčula): 3 hours. Infrequent; check Jadrolinija schedules.

Catamarans (katamaran)

High-speed foot-passenger only. Significantly faster than car ferries. Main routes:

• Split → Hvar town: 1 hour. Multiple daily in summer. €10–12 one way.
• Split → Vis: 2.5 hours (direct) or via Hvar. €12–15 one way.
• Split → Korčula: 2.5–3 hours via Hvar. Seasonal.

Booking advice: Foot passengers rarely need to book in advance. Cars should book online via the Jadrolinija website in July–August, particularly for the Supetar route at peak times. The ferry terminal’s ticket office has staff who speak English.

The complete guide to ferries and catamarans to the islands covers schedules, booking, pricing, and what to know for each route.

Getting around the islands

Once on an island, local transport varies:

Brač: Bus from Supetar to Bol (40 minutes) runs several times daily in summer. A local taxi network supplements the bus. Car and scooter hire widely available in Supetar and Bol.

Hvar: From Stari Grad ferry, buses run to Hvar town (20 minutes). From Hvar town, water taxis go to the Pakleni Islands (10 minutes). Hvar town itself is compact and walkable. Car hire available but Old Town parking is impossible in summer — most people leave cars at Stari Grad.

Vis: No reliable bus service between Vis town and Komiža. Scooter hire (€25–35/day) is the standard option. Car hire available in Vis town.

Korčula: Local buses run along the island’s spine road. Korčula town is walkable.

Taxis and ride-hailing

Bolt operates in Split and is the practical equivalent of Uber. App-based pricing is transparent and typically 30–40% cheaper than unmetered street taxis. Download the app before you arrive. Coverage is good in the city and suburbs; it also serves the airport.

Radio taxis are widely available. Major companies include Taxi Split and Taxi Bačvice. Meters are mandatory; insist on the meter for short city journeys. For airport runs, many taxis post fixed prices — compare with Bolt before agreeing.

Uber does not currently operate in Split (as of 2026). Bolt is the dominant app.

Typical fares (approximate):

• Old Town to ferry terminal: €5–7 (walkable in 10 minutes, taxi only worthwhile with luggage)
• Old Town to Bačvice: €5–6 (10 minutes walk)
• Old Town to airport: €30–40 by taxi, €25–35 via Bolt
• Split to Trogir: €25–35 by taxi

Cycling

Within Split, cycling is possible but has constraints. The coastal road along the Riva is flat and pleasant early morning, but becomes crowded with pedestrians as the day progresses. The climb up to Marjan hill via the western approach is manageable and the trails through the park are popular with cyclists and walkers. Electric bikes make the hill effortless.

Bike hire is available near the ferry terminal and at several points in the Old Town (from €15/day for a standard bike, €30–40/day for an e-bike). The Split cycling guide covers routes within the city and along the coast: biking Dalmatia guide.

For longer coastal cycling, the D8 coastal road south toward Omiš has cycle infrastructure in places but shares road with traffic and is not recommended in high season due to vehicle volume.

Driving in Split and Dalmatia

If you have a car, be prepared for:

Split city: Parking is a significant challenge. The Old Town is access-controlled — resident and delivery permits only. Visitors park in paid lots outside the walls (Brodarica car park is the most convenient; expect €15–25/day in summer). Narrow streets, one-way systems, and determined local drivers require attention.

Coastal road (D8): Beautiful in both directions — north toward Zadar, south toward Makarska and Dubrovnik. Can be slow in summer behind trucks and campervans. Overtaking opportunities are limited. Allow more time than Google Maps suggests in July–August.

Island roads: Brač and Hvar roads are narrow and winding. Some village access roads require care. Parking in Hvar town in summer is essentially impossible; park in Stari Grad or at the ferry port and take the bus.

Neum (en route to Dubrovnik): The coastal road between Split and Dubrovnik passes through 9 km of Bosnian territory at Neum. You will cross two borders — Croatian out, Bosnian in, then Bosnian out, Croatian in. EU and most Western passports have no issues. Keep your documents accessible. The crossing adds 20–30 minutes total in summer due to queues. The Pelješac Bridge now allows bypassing Neum entirely for those who prefer not to cross the border: see Split to Dubrovnik transport.

The detailed comparison of driving vs. not driving is in the car vs. no car in Dalmatia guide.

Private transfers

For airport runs, group travel, or if you prefer door-to-door service, private transfers are widely available through hotels, taxi companies, and specialist operators. Prices are fixed and communicated upfront. Split Airport to city centre runs approximately €40–60 for a private car. Split airport to city guide covers all transfer options with current pricing.

Practical summary