Dubrovnik to Split is Croatia's most-travelled coastal route — 230 kilometres of Adriatic cliff road that almost everyone exploring Dalmatia ends up doing. You have three real options: an express bus over the new Pelješac Bridge (skips Bosnia entirely), a slightly cheaper coach via the 9-km Neum corridor, or the seasonal Krilo / TP Line catamaran that hops Mljet, Korčula and Hvar before docking in Split.
Most travellers underestimate this leg. It looks short on a map but the coastal road is twisty, the buses make 1–2 service stops, and the border (if you take the Neum route) can swallow another 30 minutes in July and August. The Pelješac Bridge — opened in summer 2022 — finally lets coaches stay inside Croatia end-to-end, which is a game-changer if you're travelling on a national ID card rather than a passport. The catamaran is slower than people expect but spectacular if the weather behaves; book a seat on deck and you'll see Mljet's pine forests, Korčula's medieval walls and Hvar's cliffs in a single afternoon.
Options compared
Typical schedule
Schedules vary by season — confirm tomorrow's exact departures on the live results page.
Border crossing
Buses using the Neum route enter Bosnia & Herzegovina for ~30 minutes (two control stops). EU/UK/US/Canadian passport holders get waved through. Pelješac-bridge coaches stay in Croatia — no border at all. Catamarans never cross a border.
Arrival in Split
Express buses drop at Split's main bus station (Autobusni Kolodvor), next to the ferry port and a 5-minute walk to Diocletian's Palace. Catamarans dock on the Riva — you step off the boat into the old town.
When to go
Buses run year-round, hourly in summer, every 2–3 hours in winter. The catamaran runs late April through late October only. Best months: late May, June and September — warm sea, half the crowds.
Insider tips
- →Book the express Pelješac-bridge bus if you're travelling with kids or anyone with a national ID rather than passport — no border faff.
- →Window seats on the right side facing forward give you 4 hours of uninterrupted coast.
- →The catamaran sells out 7–10 days ahead in July/August. The Krilo Jet (Kapetan Luka) is the fastest of the three.
- →Both Split and Dubrovnik stations are walking distance from the old towns — you don't need a taxi on arrival.
- →If you want to break the journey, get off in Makarska (1h45 from Split) for a beach night, then continue the next day.
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