Croatia Ferries

Split — the gateway to the islands

Split is the heartbeat of Adriatic ferry travel. From its waterfront harbour, Jadrolinija car ferries and Krilo catamarans fan out to the best-known Dalmatian islands: Hvar, Brač, Korčula, Vis and beyond. In summer, the ferry terminal buzzes from early morning; lines for the car ferries can be long in peak July and August.

The ferry terminal (luka) sits just east of the old town — the catamaran docks are closest to Diocletian's Palace, while car ferries load from the eastern berths a short walk further along the quay.

Car ferry vs catamaran

The central decision in Croatia is whether you need to take a car. If so, the car ferries (trajekt) are your option — slower, but they carry vehicles and dock at the island's main port. If you are travelling on foot, the fast passenger catamarans are quicker, often drop you in the old harbour right in the island's centre, and are the better choice for day trips or short stays.

For Hvar, this means choosing between the catamaran to atmospheric Hvar Town (about an hour) or the car ferry to Stari Grad on the same island — a longer crossing but the practical choice if you have a car or motorbike.

The main islands from Split

Hvar is the most popular island, drawing visitors with its lavender fields, restaurants and nightlife. The car ferry to Stari Grad runs several times daily and is the main route for anyone with a vehicle; the catamaran to Hvar Town is the quicker option for foot passengers.

Brač — home to the famous Zlatni Rat beach — is a short 50-minute car-ferry hop from Split to Supetar. Jadrolinija runs frequent sailings; it is one of the simplest island day trips from Split.

Korčula is reached by catamaran or car ferry from Split in two to three hours, and by a faster catamaran from Dubrovnik. The old town of Korčula Town rivals Dubrovnik in compactness, without the crowds.

Vis, the furthest main island, is reached in about two and a half hours by car ferry. As it has no airport, it sees fewer day trippers — which is much of its appeal.

Dubrovnik connections

Dubrovnik functions as a separate island-ferry hub for southern Dalmatia. Jadrolinija and Krilo run catamarans to the Elaphiti islands (Šipan, Lopud, Koločep — just 30 minutes to an hour out), to Mljet National Park, and to Korčula. These southern routes are almost exclusively passenger services; if you have a car and want to visit the islands from Dubrovnik, you generally need to park in the city and go on foot.

Zadar and northern Dalmatia

Zadar connects by ferry to the islands of Ugljan (just 25 minutes, essentially a commuter run) and Dugi Otok, and is the jumping-off point for the Kornati archipelago. The car ferry to Brbinj on Dugi Otok takes 90 minutes to 2 hours.

Italy–Croatia

Overnight ferries connect Ancona in Italy with Split, a convenient way to combine an Italian and Croatian leg. Jadrolinija and SNAV both run the route; crossing time is around 10–11 hours, usually overnight, so you arrive fresh in the morning. In summer, seasonal routes also link other Adriatic ports. If you are driving from western Europe, this crossing can save hundreds of kilometres.

Booking and operators

Jadrolinija is Croatia's state-owned national operator and runs the bulk of the car-ferry network. Krilo (also known as Kapetan Luka) runs the main catamarans and is particularly strong on Split–Hvar, Dubrovnik–Korčula and Dubrovnik–Mljet. On a few routes the two operators' catamarans run in competition, so check both for the best departure time.

Book car-ferry sailings early in summer — vehicle space is genuinely limited, and showing up without a reservation risks missing your sailing. Catamaran seats for popular routes (Split–Hvar Town especially) also go quickly. Direct Ferries lists both Jadrolinija and Krilo together, which makes comparing times and prices straightforward.