Mudpie Fridays >> Croatia >> Split to Dubrovnik Ferry – everything you need to know

Split to Dubrovnik Ferry – everything you need to know

During our two-week family holiday in Croatia, we visited Sibenik, Split and Dubrovnik. Although we had a hire car for the first week we decided that we did not want to drive in the cities. So instead we decided to use public transport to get from Split to Dubrovnik. Deciding to try out the Split Dubrovnik ferry. Here are all the details you need to do the same including tickets, seating, luggage and facilities on board the fast ferry.

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How to get from Split to Dubrovnik

It is easy enough to drive from Split to Dubrovnik along the motorways and it is probably the fastest way. There are plenty of rental companies that operate out of the airport should you decide to this. It is around 235km and will take about three hours. Many of the motorways are toll roads and take cards and cash at the gates. We found driving in Croatia straightforward with well-made roads, facilities and easy-to-follow signs.

However, we decided not to drive to Dubrovnik as we were not sure about the parking scenario. Staying in the old town we knew we would struggle with parking. So we decided to ditch the car at Split and instead opted to get the ferry from Split to Dubrovnik. If we had not been constrained by time then I would have liked to drive along the Adriatic coast stopping at various villages along the coastal route.

The alternative would be to get a bus ticket, from Split Bus Station to Dubrovnik bus station along the coastal road. The bus ride takes about four and a half hours. There are various bus companies that operate especially during peak season.

Where to get tickets for the Ferry from Split to Dubrovnik

Once I knew roughly our plans for our holiday I booked our foot passengers’ ferry tickets online via the ferry company website. Jadrolinija ferries operate catamaran services along the Dalmatian coast and was the most direct route we could find. It was very easy to understand and do and meant that I knew we would be able to get the ferry crossings we wanted. As it only operates twice a day. Early in the morning or later in the afternoon. As it takes around five hours to get there we did not want to get the late ferry with the boys as we would not reach our accommodation until around 9 pm. Our ferry was busy and it got increasingly so as we got closer to Dubrovnik. So I would recommend that you book ticket, not that this guarantees you a seat.

Alternatively, as the port in Split there is a ticket office where you can purchase tickets over the counter. It is located at the end of pier 11 and is the first kiosk you come to with fast ferry written above the top. There is also a board which shows the daily departures for all the various ferry companies some are car ferries, and others like ours a passenger ferry. There are a lot of different ferry routes that operate.

How much does the Split to Dubrovnik ferry cost?

When we travelled Croatia was still operating in Croatian Kuna. Jadrolinija Ferry ticket prices were 280kn (£33) each a ticket, including the children. Buying online meant that I paid with my debit card. Be aware that the kiosk may prefer cash and if you do pay by a card then they may increase the price by 5% as a transaction fee. We have found during our trip to Croatia that this is a common practice. Cash really is King!

Just like any normal online purchase, your ticket is emailed to you with a bar code which is scanned when you get on the boat. Although only one of our four tickets was actually scanned. Buying tickets in advance meant that we could guarantee tickets during the high season.

How long does the ferry take and where does it stop?

We left Split at 7.40 pm and arrived in Dubrovnik’s new town around 12.30 pm. So the travel time was around five hours. It was due to arrive earlier around 12.05 but we got delayed at some of the busier stops such as Hvar. At various points on the boat, there are small televisions which showed the detailed schedule and also adverts for various restaurants at the next destination. The ferry stops at Split 7.40 am, and then the inhabited islands of Milna 8.05 am, Hvar Island 8.40 am, 10.00 am Korcula Island, 10.40 am Pomena and 12.05pm Dubrovnik. We have added Korcula to our list for the next time we visit as the port looked lovely. The ferry is also used by passengers that are going on a day trip to one of the various locations on th Croatian coast. It is a very popular route.

Luggage on board

I could not find anywhere before booking that confirmed it would be okay to take the suitcases on. So I contacted the via email to double-check. Once I had purchased tickets the email confirmation and ticket confirmed you are allowed one piece of luggage each up to 23kg in weight. So the same as the plane. However, they did not weigh the luggage and there were cases that looked a lot heavier and several people had multiple cases with them. Despite the risk of an extra charge as per their luggage policy, we did not see it levied.

We did anticipate that the cases would go in the bottom of the boat. But instead, they are stacked up at various points on the ferry. There are staff that do this for you. As we were some of the first on who were going all the way to Dubrovnik our cases were at the back by the toilets. Piled up in the corridor. They have some bagged racks in the middle of the boat. But to be honest there is way more luggage than the room they have. So it does become a bit of a free for all when the time comes to disembark. Although I am not sure why there is such a rush on the basis there are plenty of taxis etc.

Where does the ferry go from in Split

The Split to Dubrovnik ferry goes from Split port which is right next to the bus station. So if you are transitioning from Split airport to the ferry it is very easy. As the airport shuttle bus will drop you at the bus station and all you need to do is walk across to the pier. There are plenty of bars to sit in and grab a drink or something to eat while you wait for the connection. I have written about the options and prices of getting from Split airport to Split separately.

Regardless of whether you are transitioning through Split or staying for a couple of days all fast ferries go from pier 11. You will see them all lined up. As the Split to Dubrovnik ferry is the first one out in the morning it will be the last one on the right. At least it was on the day we used it. It is easy to spot as it is grey and looks like a hydrofoil. Below is a picture for reference.

The only thing to note really is that where you walk along the pier to get to the ferry is also where the cars wait for a car ferry. This can make it a little hazardous with kids pulling their own cases. Aka our 6-year-old. As not only do you need to make sure the cars don’t hit him. But also that he doesn’t inadvertently hit the cars with his case. There is not really enough room up the side of the pier and there are lots of people milling around. So my suggestion is to leave a few extra minutes to navigate the walk.

Top Tip – be on time! The ferry leaves very promptly at 7.40 am

What to expect – Seating

I have already mentioned the luggage above but expect for the cases to be taken from you and stored somewhere. The seats all have numbers but you can sit anywhere. We chose to sit by the window on the far side of the boat. This does seem a bit odd, as the ferry gets busier and busier as it gets closer to Dubrovnik and some people did not have a seat. It also meant that larger groups and families struggled to find anywhere to sit together. Hvar was a particularly popular pickup point and ended up delaying the schedule.

The window seats do have shades which are useful as it can get very hot. Although some of the seats will share a window with the people behind. So be warned that they may want the window shade up so they can look out at the scenery of the Adriatic sea. This happened to us and lead to a little disagreement around why they felt a 6-year-old should have to be made to sit in full sun just so they can look out of the window. Around 10 am the sun should be above the boat and so the shades can go up.

If you are looking for a pleasure cruise then this is not the idea of the ferry. Many of the seats do not have access to a window. They are mainly laid out as a plane. The salt from the sea will quickly cover the windows so it is not possible to take photos out of them. And it is also not possible to go outside. If this is your objective then it is worth taking the slower ferries with a longer journey time and stopping over one night on route.

Food and Drink Onboard

Travelling in the morning we took some water and snacks on board for the boys. Hoping that we could make them last for lunch until we got to Dubrovnik. There is a snack shop on board selling various hot and cold drinks and packets of crisps etc. Considering they have a captive audience they were reasonably well priced in general. For example, two bottles of apple juice, bitter lemon and two reasonable-sized packets of pretzels came in at 97kn (£12). Although we did think that coffee was more expensive than we had seen elsewhere as it was 18kn almost double the going rate of 10kn.

Other points to note

The ferry is non-smoking throughout and for a country where a lot of people still smoke this was a welcomed surprise. Especially as the journey is quite a long one.
There are also plug sockets located in the top above the window seats. Had someone not used one I would not have even realised they were there. But a useful opportunity to charge your phone if needed as the shelf was big enough for it to sit on.
Toilets are located at the back of the boat. There are only two so queues can get quite long, especially after a pickup point.
For us getting the xx from one UNESCO world heritage site to another was the best way to travel. I generally find that ferry travel is stress-free. The kids enjoyed some downtime as we travelled and I would not hesitate to arrange a return journey if we were to visit again.

How to get into Dubrovnik Old Town from the ferry port

The ferry will bring you to the new port, not the old harbour next to Dubrovnik’s old town. Our accommodation which I highly recommend and I have linked below. Was around an 11-minute drive from the ferry port. So our options were to walk in the middle of the day heat, find a bus or get a taxi. The lady we let our apartment from suggested a taxi. I was a little worried about all the people pouring off the ferry there would not be any. But the local taxi drivers are well practised – just head to the yellow taxi sign which is visible as soon as you get off the boat.

There were several people holding up signs as you got of the boat advertising 8-seater minivans. Whether these are taxis or not is anyone’s guess. Our taxi to the bottom of the cable car cost 120kn (£14). The driver told us the price as soon as we got in. The only thing I would say is that if you are staying in the old town no cars are allowed within the walled city. So your taxi will drop you outside the walls. I would recommend contacting your accommodation to see if they have someone that can help you with your luggage. As we did see porters helping from the more expensive hotels.