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Route guide · 7 min read

Split → Dubrovnik: ferry, bus or scenic detour

The coastal classic — and why the bus crosses into Bosnia for 9 km. Pick the right option and squeeze an island into the trip.

230 km of Adriatic coast. Catamaran in 4h, bus in 4.5h, or island-hop in 2 days.

Currency
Croatia is on the euro (EUR) since 2023. Cards accepted almost everywhere; carry €20 cash for ferry kiosks and small bakeries.
Language
Croatian. English is the default tourist language all summer.
Best time
Late May–June and September. July/August is gorgeous but crowded and pricey.
Ready to book?
Split → Dubrovnik
Book transport →

Three ways to do it

All three depart daily in season.

  • Catamaran (€35–€45, 4h): scenic, stops at Hvar/Korčula on some routes. Book ahead in July/August.
  • Bus (€18–€28, 4.5h): cheapest. Crosses the Neum corridor (Bosnia) — keep your passport accessible.
  • Island-hop (2 days): Split → Hvar (1h ferry) → Korčula (1.5h catamaran) → Dubrovnik (2h catamaran). The trip everyone remembers.

The Neum corridor

Bosnia & Herzegovina owns 9 km of coastline that splits Croatia in two. Buses stop briefly for passport checks. EU citizens breeze through; everyone else should have a passport (not just an ID card).

Arriving in Dubrovnik

Buses arrive at the Pile Gate stop or the main station in Gruž (3 km from the Old Town). Cruise ships dock in Gruž too — if cruises are in town, the Old Town is best visited after 17:00 when day-trippers leave.

What to see

  • Walk the Old Town walls
    €35, go at 08:00 to beat heat and crowds
  • Lokrum island
    10-min boat, peacocks and a botanical garden
  • Mount Srđ cable car
    Sunset view over the red roofs — book ahead
  • Banje Beach
    Best swim within walking distance of the Old Town

Where to eat

  • Barba
    Octopus burger, casual, queue moves fast
  • Konoba Dubrava
    Peka (lamb under a bell) — order 24h ahead
  • D'vino Wine Bar
    Croatian wines by the glass with proper pours

Watch out for

  • !Old Town restaurants on the main Stradun = tourist traps. Walk 2 streets uphill for half the price.
  • !Game of Thrones tours: book the small-group ones, the bus tours skip the actual filming spots.
  • !Cable car queues hit 1h+ at sunset — buy timed tickets online.

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