Getting Around Split: City Buses, Ferries and Walking

In this guide

💡 The Short Version: Split’s historic core is pedestrian, so you walk to the palace, the Riva and the waterfront. The ferry port, intercity bus station and railway station sit side by side at the eastern end of the harbour, a five-minute flat walk from the palace walls. For outer districts and day trips, Promet Split city buses cost €1.50 for a Zone 1 single in the app, by card tap or at a kiosk, and €3.00 in cash from the driver. Jadrolinija runs the car ferries to Brač, Hvar and Vis, and Krilo and TP Line run the fast catamarans. Or book a tour: the Split: Diocletian’s Palace & Old Town Small Group Tourad walks you through the old town’s alleys and Roman gates so you know your way around from day one.

⚠️ Always buy bus tickets before boarding. Since June 2026, single tickets purchased in cash from the driver cost €3.00, exactly double the €1.50 fare charged when using the Promet Split mobile app, ticket kiosks, or onboard contactless payment card readers.

The historic pedestrian core (Diocletian’s Palace, the Riva and Pjaca, and Sv. Frane for bus 12 to Marjan) is a 5-minute walk from the transport hub, which holds the ferry port (Jadrolinija and Krilo), the intercity bus station (AK Split) and the main railway station.

Walking the pedestrian old town

The Roman palace, Veli Varoš to the west and the Lučac and Radunica neighbourhoods to the east are closed to cars. Bollards, stone steps and narrow passages block them.

Walking distances across the central district are modest:

• Riva to the Peristyle: 2 minutes via the central cellars corridor.
• Peristyle to the Golden Gate (North Gate): 3 minutes through Dioklecijanova street.
• Golden Gate to Pjaca (People’s Square): 3 minutes past the Iron Gate.
• Riva to the Ferry Port / Bus Station: 5 minutes eastward along the harbour quayside.
• Riva to Prva Vidilica (Marjan viewpoint): 10 to 15 minutes uphill via Senjska street.

The limestone flagstones in the palace and along the Riva are polished smooth and slippery in rain. Wear shoes with rubber soles.

Promet Split bus line 12 waiting at the Sv. Frane terminus. Photo: Ante Perkovic, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.

Promet Split city buses

Promet Split runs the city buses. They are low-floor, with destination screens and contactless card validators on board.

Ticketing and fare structure

Promet Split fares are by zone. The city of Split, including the old town, Marjan, Bačvice and Žnjan, is Zone 1.

The Split to Klis single is €2.00 in the app and €4.00 in cash. Other zone fares and multi-ride tickets are on the Promet Split price list.

Buy tickets in the Promet Split app (iOS and Android) or tap a contactless Visa, Mastercard or Maestro card on the validator at the front door as you board. Paper tickets are sold at Tisak newsagent kiosks and at Promet ticket offices at the Sukoišan terminal and Pazar.

Essential bus routes for visitors

City buses leave from two kinds of terminal:

1. Sukoišan Bus Terminal (Lička ulica): 1 kilometre north of the palace (a 12-minute walk up Zagrebačka). The hub for suburban and regional lines, including line 37 to Trogir and the airport, and line 60 to Omiš.
2. Local city termini: Local routes leave from street hubs around the pedestrian perimeter: Sv. Frane (at the west end of the Riva), Tržnica / Pazar (east of the palace walls), and HNK (outside the Croatian National Theatre on Trg Gaje Bulata).

Jadrolinija car ferry docked at Split’s main passenger quayside. Photo: Bernard Gagnon, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Ferries and catamarans

Split is the ferry port for the central Dalmatian islands of Brač, Hvar, Šolta, Vis and Korčula. The passenger port is called Gradska luka Split.

Ferry port layout and terminals

The ferry harbour stretches along Obala Kneza Domagoja. Three main piers extend into the basin:

• Gat Svetog Duje (Saint Domnius Pier): The deep-water pier where the large car ferries to Supetar (Brač) and Stari Grad (Hvar) berth.
• Gat Svetog Petra (Saint Peter Pier): Handles mid-sized car ferries to Vis, Vela Luka (Korčula), and Lastovo, as well as international car ferries to Ancona, Italy.
• Gat Svetog Nikole & Eastern Quays: Berths for the fast passenger catamarans of Jadrolinija, Krilo and TP Line.

Jadrolinija’s main passenger terminal has ticket counters, ATMs, luggage lockers and toilets. In summer, mobile ticket kiosks operate along the piers.

Ferry routes and journey times

Fares are on jadrolinija.hr and krilo.hr.

Boarding rules and practical advice

• Foot passengers on car ferries: You do not need a vehicle slot. Buy a foot-passenger ticket online or at the quayside booth and walk up the ramp 20 to 30 minutes before departure. The ferries have indoor salons and open top decks with cafe bars.
• Fast catamarans: Seats are allocated and catamarans to Hvar town and Bol can sell out in July and August, so book online with Jadrolinija or Krilo ahead of time. Be at the quayside 15 to 20 minutes before departure.
• Luggage: Standard luggage is included on catamarans and car ferries. Large suitcases go on racks near the boarding doors.

Passenger piers and catamarans at the Port of Split. Photo: Nick Savchenko, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0.

Airport connections and regional trains

Split Airport (SPU) to the city centre

Split Airport (Resnik) is 24 kilometres west of the city centre, between Kaštela and Trogir. Two public options run to the city:

1. Platanus airport shuttle bus: A non-stop coach leaves from outside the terminal 30 minutes after every scheduled arrival and reaches the Split main bus station at the ferry port in 30 to 35 minutes. It costs €10 one way (platanus.hr).
2. Promet Split bus line 37: The city bus stops on the main road (Cesta Dr. Franje Tuđmana) outside the airport gates. It leaves every 20 minutes on weekdays and runs through the seven Kaštela settlements to the Sukoišan terminal in 45 to 55 minutes. A single costs €2.00 in the Promet app or €4.00 from the driver (Promet Split). The Split airport to city guide compares taxis and private transfers.

Rail transport

Split Railway Station (Željeznički kolodvor Split) is situated directly between the bus station and the ferry piers. Croatian Railways (HŽ Putnički prijevoz) runs trains to Zagreb via Knin and Karlovac: tilting diesel trains (Naginjni vlak, 6 hours) and overnight sleepers. A local commuter train runs between Split and Kaštel Stari. Along the Dalmatian coast, buses and catamarans are faster and more frequent than trains.

Taxis and ride-hailing services

• Ride-hailing apps: Uber and Bolt operate reliably throughout the Split metropolitan area. Because cars cannot enter the pedestrian old town, set your pickup or drop-off location at one of the designated perimeter access points:
  • Zagrebačka ulica: The eastern boundary outside the Golden Gate and Stari Pazar.
  • Trg Republike (Prokurative) / Sv. Frane: The western boundary at the foot of Marjan.
  • Ferry Terminal Roundabout (Obala Kneza Domagoja): Convenient for connections to ferries and the bus station.
• Fares: Both apps show the price before you book, for example from the old town to Žnjan beach or the Meštrović Gallery.
• Street taxis: Taxis queue at ranks by the ferry terminal, the Riva and the railway station. Make sure the driver uses the taximeter, or agree a fixed price before you get in.

Guided walking tours and city transport

A walking tour on your first morning shows you the pedestrian core and the bus stops around it.

Split: Diocletian’s Palace & Old Town Small Group Tour

From €15 · 4.9 stars from 1,034 reviews · 1.5 - 5.5 hours · free cancellation

Split: Diocletian’s Palace & Old Town Small Group Tourad: Nearly 1,700 years of Roman and medieval history, told on a walk that starts near the palace gates and covers the car-free alleys, squares and seafront.

Diocletian’s Palace & Split Old Town Guided Tour – Since 2007

From €15 · 4.8 stars from 868 reviews · 1.5 - 5 hours · free cancellation

Diocletian’s Palace & Split Old Town Guided Tour – Since 2007ad: A classic 150-minute historical walk covering the Roman palace gates, the morning Fish Market, Pjaca, Marmontova, and the historic fishermen’s quarter of Varoš.

Split: Diocletian Palace, Marjan Hill Viewpoint & Local Eats

From €29 · 4.9 stars from 81 reviews · 1.5 - 2.5 hours · free cancellation

Split: Diocletian Palace, Marjan Hill Viewpoint & Local Eatsad: Combine a guided Roman palace walk with an easy climb up the stone stairs of Marjan to Prva Vidilica, finishing with local food tastings.

Transport comparison for popular Split destinations

What to see next

• Split Airport to City Centre: The Platanus shuttle, bus 37, taxis and private transfers.
• Money in Split: Cash, ATMs and card fees.
• Best Time to Visit Split: How ferry timetables and national park prices change through the year.
• Where to Stay in Split: Neighbourhoods by transport links, beach access or quiet stone lanes.
• Day Trips from Split: Krka, Hvar, Brač and Trogir by public transport.
• Split City Break Hub: Every Split guide in one place.

Common questions

Do you need a car or public transit inside central Split?

No. The historic centre in and around Diocletian's Palace is pedestrianised. The palace, the Riva, the ferry port, the intercity bus station and the railway station are all within a 5-to-10-minute flat walk of each other.

How much does a city bus ticket cost in Split?

A single Zone 1 ticket costs €1.50 in the Promet Split app, at a ticket kiosk, or with a contactless card tapped on the onboard validator. A single bought in cash from the driver costs €3.00.

Where are Split's ferry port, main bus station, and train station located?

All three sit next to one another along Obala Kneza Domagoja at the eastern end of the harbour, less than 500 metres (a 5-minute flat walk) from the Bronze Gate of Diocletian's Palace.

Which bus line goes to Marjan and the beaches?

Promet Split bus line 12 departs from the Saint Francis (Sv. Frane) church terminus at the western end of the Riva. It skirts the southern shore of Marjan, stopping near Kašjuni beach and terminating at Bene beach on the north coast.

How do you reach Klis Fortress by public bus?

Promet Split local bus line 22 departs from the national theatre (HNK) stop and runs directly to Klis Fortress. A single costs €2.00 in the app and €4.00 in cash, according to the Promet Split price list.