Since Split and Dubrovnik are two of the main cities in Croatia, getting from one to another fast and easy is always on the tourists’ mind.
Today, I am here to help you learn how to get from Dubrovnik to Split (or vice-versa) by bus, car, plane or even by ferry boat.
I would say that my preferred means of transportation is by bus (when I don’t feel like driving, which comes close in second).
Since the two cities are really close and the road from Split to Dubrovnik is really good, there’s no need to choose a more expensive or slower route.
What’s the distance between Dubrovnik and Split?
The land distance is about 229 km (142 miles). No matter if you are getting first to Split or to Dubrovnik, the distance between these two cities can be crossed in a number of different ways.
If you have asked me this question several years years ago, the way to get from Dubrovnik to Split or from Split to Dubrovnik, would be limited to only two means of transport – by ferry or by car.
The old ferry route n° 101 from Rijeka to Dubrovnik with docking at Split, Hvar (Stari Grad) and Korcula, is just a pleasant memory. Since 2014, this connection has been definitely abolished…. but we’ll have other options, as you will see below.
UPDATE: Amazing news! A new bridge, called the Peljesac bridge, has been inaugurated in late 2022, allowing people to avoid going through Bosnia (for just 10km) when trying to get from Dubrovnik to Split or the rest of the country.
This is great news, as the total trip times will be reduced a lot. The bridge now connects the Brijesta village with Komarna and has been inaugurated in July 2022. Make sure to have this new route in mind when traveling!
From Dubrovnik to Split by Bus
This is definitely the cheapest and the most secure way of covering the distance between the two cities.
There are also many connections each day, most of them being high quality buses. I recommend booking online via Bookaway as they make everything easier to check and have various bus companies on their website.
A one way ticket will be around €18, which is really cheap.
Taking the bus from Split to Dubrovnik will see you travel for around 4 hours (depends on the company you choose) in a high quality bus. Cheap, secure and easy!
Dubrovnik to Split by Car
This is probably the easiest and fastest way to reach your destination, with the downside being that you need to have a car to drive. So unless you plan to rent or already came to Croatia by car, it’s best to skip this option.
But if you are driving, you have two options: a faster route (which is my preferred one) or the scenic route.
1. The fastest route from Dubrovnik to Split
As you can see in the map above, you will be taking E65 (highway) and various other coastal roads.
Although this route is a bit longer at 235 km, many of them are on a highway / motorway so you’ll reach your destination faster. Expect this route to take around 3 hours.
This route is the fastest and best option by car because, thanks to the new Peljesac bridge mentioned in the intro, you no longer have to cross the border when getting from Dubrovnik to Split (as you were forced to before).
2. The scenic route from from Dubrovnik to Split
If you’re not in a hurry and you want to skip paying some extra tolls, this is the route you should be following.
You will be driving entirely along the coastal road D8 from Split via Omis, Makarska to Ploce (border Croatia – Bosnia and Herzegovina) and from there all the way to Dubrovnik. Or vice-versa if you’re going from Dubrovnik to Split.
The distance is shorter this way (some 212 kilometers), but it will take a bit longer – 4 hours at least.
But this route takes you along the coast, with some impressive views over the seas and it’s worth it if you’re not in a hurry and you want to save several euros in the process.
Have in mind that driving (or taking the bus as recommended above involves crossing into Bosnia-Herzegovina where you will get your passport checked and even though it’s usually really fast, you can never really anticipate a crowd so you can end up spending a lot more time at the border.
Dubrovnik to Split by Sea (Ferry)
This is certainly the most natural way to get to Dubrovnik or the other way around, the most exciting and most scenic way, particularly for those deciding on island hoping, visiting different islands and buying separate ferry (catamaran) tickets.
But for a direct ferry from Dubrovnik to Split (or vice-versa), you can pay as low as €35 and enjoy a really nice experience. It will be a memorable trip with amazing views – one you must take at least once when in Croatia!
The ferry ride from Dubrovnik to Split is not the fastest way to get there, taking anything between 4 – 6 hours (depending on the company you choose).
Make sure to visit Bookaway to check out the options you have when it comes to ferries.
Dubrovnik to Split by Plane
Unfortunately, the fast 45-minute direct flight from Dubrovnik to Split that was operated by European Coastal Airlines is no longer available, as the company ceased operations in 2016.
But it was a real experience, as you would fly with a seaplane which is really nice.
Right now, though, flying from Dubrovnik to Split or from Split to Dubrovnik doesn’t make much sense as there are no direct flights.
This means that you would spend more time than choosing any of the other methods above and you will pay more. It simply makes no sense right now.
Can you get from Dubrovnik to Split by train?
Just like with air travel, there is no direct train route from Dubrovnik to Split or vice-versa. You will have to go either by bus, ferry or drive yourself from one city to another.
Conclusion
Now that you know how to get from Split to Dubrovnik (and vice-versa), make sure to check out my detailed Dubrovnik itinerary for 5 days to make sure that you enjoy Croatia’s main touristic destination to the max.
If you have other questions or comments to make, let me know!