Split Airport → Hvar: a guide from landing to your door
Getting from Split Airport (SPU) to your accommodation on Hvar means combining land and sea transport. To save you losing time in the heat and running into unplanned costs, here is a detailed guide to every step of the journey.
Key points in 20 seconds
- The airport is in Kaštela, about 25 km from Split's port, where every boat to Hvar departs.
- The catamaran reaches Hvar Town in about an hour, the car ferry reaches Stari Grad in about two.
- Leave at least two hours between landing and your boat's departure, and buy your ticket in advance.
25 km to the port catamaran ~1 h 3 steps to your door Split Airport to the Split ferry port
Once you've collected your luggage at the airport, which sits in Kaštela about 25 km from Split's port, you have three main options for reaching the ferry terminal where all the boats to Hvar depart.
Pleso shuttle (the official bus)
Waits right outside the terminal and runs directly to the station at the ferry port.
City bus (line 37)
The cheapest option, but it stops everywhere and terminates at Sukoišan station, from where it's another 15 to 20 minute walk to the port, or a local bus.
Taxi or Uber to Split port
The most comfortable choice if you're travelling as a group or with plenty of luggage.
Split port to the island of Hvar
Two types of service run from Split to Hvar: fast catamarans (passengers only) and ferries (vehicles and passengers).
Option A: fast catamaran, straight to Hvar Town
If you're travelling without a car, this is the most popular and the quickest choice. You step ashore right on the Hvar waterfront.
Option B: car ferry, into Stari Grad port
Essential if you're bringing your own or a rental car, and also used by foot passengers when the catamarans sell out. Stari Grad port is 15 kilometres from Hvar Town.
Arriving on Hvar and reaching your exact address
The last step depends on where you came ashore and where your accommodation is.
- Split Airport Kaštela, ~25 km from Split's port
- Bus or a ride · 30 to 40 min
- Split port every boat to Hvar departs here
- Catamaran · ~1 h
- Hvar Town (waterfront) you come ashore right in the centre
- On foot or a ride from Dolac · 3 to 15 min
- The last step: a taxi ride with PickApp From the waterfront you walk to the Dolac rank and book the ride in the app; a fixed fare upfront, and the driver comes to you. Book a ride
- Your accommodation door to door, no changes
If you arrived by catamaran on the Hvar waterfront
- Staying in the centre: if your accommodation is on the waterfront or in the old town, you walk there; watch out for the stone steps.
- Staying higher up (Križna Luka, Podstine, above the main road): the Hvar waterfront is a pedestrian zone and cars have no access there. Walk 3 to 4 minutes to the Dolac pick-up point, then open PickApp, the only taxi app that works on Hvar, since Uber isn't available here. The app directs you towards Dolac automatically, shows the fixed fare and brings the driver straight to you.
If you arrived by ferry at Stari Grad port
- Local bus: it waits as you come off the ferry and runs to the bus station in Hvar. From the station you're walking to your apartment with your cases.
- PickApp or a private transfer: the driver picks you up right at Stari Grad port and takes you to the door of your accommodation anywhere on the island, with Hvar Town about 15 to 20 minutes away.
Summary and a tip for a relaxed arrival
| Step | Recommendation | What to watch for |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Airport to Split port | Pleso bus or a taxi | Leave at least 2 hours between landing and your boat's departure, in case of traffic. |
| 2. Boat to Hvar | Fast catamaran | Buy your ticket weeks ahead, as catamarans sell out quickly in summer. |
| 3. Boat to accommodation | PickApp | Walk from the waterfront to the Dolac rank: the app shows the fixed fare straight away. |
Swipe the table sideways to see all the columns.
Ivana
born on Hvar, writes about the islandShe explores the island well away from the main routes and knows the bays that are hardest to reach by car. She writes guides for the PickApp blog.
14 Comments
How long airport to port in august
30 to 45 minutes depending on the time of day. Late afternoon is the slowest.
Worth booking the airport taxi ahead or are there always taxis outside?
There are taxis at arrivals, but in July and August the queue can be long after big flights. If you have a catamaran to catch, a booked car with the price agreed is safer.
airport bus to the port is cheap but waits to fill up. we took a taxi and made the catamaran with 15 min to spare
Buy the catamaran ticket online before you fly. the queue in split at 3pm in august was not fun
Long layover in split? leave bags at the port storage and walk the old town
Can you do the whole thing, airport to our door in hvar?
Both land parts, yes: airport to port, then port on Hvar to your door. The ferry is in between and our driver on the island tracks your arrival.
Which pier in split do the hvar catamarans leave from, dont want to end up at the wrong one
The ferry port by the old town, piers are signed by operator. Tell the driver which catamaran you have and they drop you at the right one.
Flight lands 22.30, any way to hvar the same night?
The last catamarans are gone by then. A night in Split and the first morning departure, or a private speedboat, which is expensive. We can do the morning transfer to the port.
The guide i needed last year, thanks