Getting Around, Split Travel, Transport and Car Rental
(Split, Central Dalmatia, Croatia)
Getting to Split is easy as it has an international airport and receives buses from around Europe. Train transport also regularly arrives in from
Zagreb and ferries are on-hand, providing a leisurely way to travel in from the Italian mainland. Nearby Split Airport is well connected to the city by public transportation.
Most people tend to travel around the city by expensive taxis, although the centre is easily walkable. The principal public transport option is bus, although visitors to Split will soon realise that local buses can be irregular and badly maintained. The Old City is pedestrian-only, meaning that you can stroll around at your leisure, without worrying about the need to cross roads and avoid traffic.
Split Airport (SPU) / Arriving by Air
Address: Kastela, Split, Croatia, HR
Tel: +385 021 203 555
Split Airport is Croatia's number one airport in terms of passenger numbers (some 1.3 million per year) and receives flights (scheduled and charter) from all over Europe. The airport is located around 23 km / 13 miles to the west of Split, near Trogir, Plano and Rudin, and comes with good facilities and transport options. Croatia Airlines, Dubrovnik Airlines, EasyJet and Norwegian Air Shuttle are the main airlines, flying to destinations (some seasonal) such as
Amsterdam,
Antalya, Belgrade,
Bergen,
Berlin,
Bristol,
Copenhagen,
Dubrovnik,
Dusseldorf,
Frankfurt,
Geneva,
Hamburg,
Helsinki,
Lisbon,
London,
Lyon,
Madrid,
Milan,
Munich, Nantes,
Nice,
Oslo,
Paris,
Rome, Stavanger,
Stockholm, Strasbourg,
Trondheim,
Vienna,
Warsaw, Zagreb and
Zurich.
Airport buses travel into the city, arriving at the easterly end of the Riva promenade - right in the Old Town. Public bus 37 also runs past the airport every 30 minutes, while taxis are readily available when required.
Car Rental
Split NOVA offers standard European and Japanese model cars at the airport, with the desk being found within the arrivals area. These rental cars can be pre-booked online, where rates are traditionally lower. The drive into the city from the airport is straightforward by way of Route 8.
If you prefer to hire a car in Split itself, then pay a visit to the Hotel Marjan on the Obala Kneza Branimira, where discount car rental is provided by both Budget Rent-a-Car and Dollar Thrifty. Located on the Obala Lazareta, ITR also has competitively priced hire cars.
Buses and Coaches
Buses travel into Split from all over
Croatia and neighbouring countries, and there are even international services from
Germany and the UK. Dubrovnik and Zagreb are well connected and the bus station is conveniently near the ferry port. Zoned city buses can be a little bit hit and miss, although you can often get about without them.
Long-distance bus transport offers an affordable way to get out and about, travelling to cities such as Dubrovnik (four hours and 30 minutes), Makarska (11 hours and 30 minutes), Medugorje - Bosnia and Herzegovina (three hours), Mostar - Bosnia and Herzegovina (three hours), Pula (ten hours),
Rijeka (eight hours), Sarajevo - Bosnia and Herzegovina (seven hours),
Zadar (three hours) and Zagreb (seven hours).
Trains
You can get to Split by train from Zagreb (via Dubrovnik) daily and travelling by rail in Croatia through Dalmatia is a pleasant way to get around. The train station in Split is in the city centre, on the Obala Kneza Domagoja, where it is near the Old Town, ferry port and bus station. Popular daily trains travel to both Sibenik (two hours) and Zadar (four hours and 30 minutes), amongst other destinations, such as Primorski Dolac and Perkovic.
Taxis
Unfortunately there are no fixed taxi rates in Split, so agreeing prices is essential. Taxi fares are quite expensive even when you are being charged 'normal' rates, with the steep rates being a big reason why so many visitors choose to walk or cycle. Taxi stands are to be found on the Riva promenade and at the Bellevue Hotel.
Boats and Ferries
Ferries come in from Pescara,
Italy, three times a week, as well as from Dubrovnik twice-weekly. High-speed catamarans and passenger boats also travel to and from the nearby islands of Brac, Hvar and Korcula, departing from the harbour. Tickets can be purchased either within the ferry terminal itself or at one of the kiosks next to the docks. Car ferries can be especially busy during the summer season, and so reserving your place in advance during July and August is something of a must.
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