Join me on a ferry from Split to Hvar Island, one of the sunniest islands in Croatia. We’re traveling on the ferry route from Split to Stari Grad, as this one lets you bring your car.
When the weather’s good, this is a really beautiful ferry trip, and the best part is you can stay outside enjoying the view during the crossing.
In the video below, you can see our trip, and in the text below, you’ll find extra tips for taking this ferry.
Getting Ready for the Ferry
Since this ferry route is super popular during the summer season, we booked our tickets online a few days ahead on the Jadrolinija website, which was a smart move.
From my home in Split (3 km from the port), we left about an hour before our 11(a.m.). departure time. It took us around 20-25 minutes to get to the port (lots of traffic). When we got there, we followed the digital displays and signs that guided us to berth number 18. NOTE: Berth numbers can change, so make sure to check the electronic displays or ask the port staff.
The ferry for our trip was called Tin Ujević.
Getting on the Ferry
At the port, we had to line up in the waiting line for boarding, and lots of cars were already loaded. After about 15 minutes, they started boarding our line. The staff scanned the tickets to check if people had tickets for this departure. Those who didn’t were asked to drive to another waiting line and wait until everyone with a correct ticket was loaded.
Our ticket was, of course 😉 for the 11(a.m.) ferry, so we could drive onboard. The staff told us to park on the lowest deck, which meant we had to go down a narrow ramp.I never tried anything like that before (please check out the video).
Once we parked the car, we headed to the outside area since we brought our dog Oskar. From the outside area, I could see that 25 to 30 cars didn’t get a spot on the ferry, so they had to wait for the next departure at 14.30.
The Ferry Ride
Right on time at 11(a.m.), the ferry left the port in Split. The ferry trip was like all my previous trips on this route, calm and enjoyable. Since we brought Oskar, we had to stay outside because dogs aren’t allowed in the cabin. But there were plenty of seats in the shade outside, so that was totally fine.
The ferry route goes from Split through the narrow channel between Brac Island and Solta Island. As soon as the ferry passes the channel, it turns left and heads toward Stari Grad Bay. The sailing time for our departure was set to be 1 hour and 50 minutes, and the ferry arrived in Stari Grad right on schedule.
Once we docked in Stari Grad, it took about 15 minutes before we could drive off the ferry and head to our final destination near Hvar town. In the video, I added footage from when we drove off the ferry until we reached Hvar town, in case you’re curious about what the scenery looks like.
Timetable and Prices
For our trip to Hvar, we paid €8.40 per passenger ticket and €47.60 for the car, so €64.40 in total, which I think is reasonable for a 2-hour ferry trip. NOTE: If you sail before June 1 or after September 30, the price for the ticket bundle we got is €47.40. The timetable for the ferry can be seen here.
Book Online (Please)
The route from Split to Stari Grad is one of the ferry routes where Jadrolinija (the ferry company) has to keep a space available on the ferry you booked. (The limit is on the number of vehicles, not foot passengers.) Before, people were used to just lining up at the port and getting a ticket, but this could mean waiting for the next departure, like the 30 cars that didn’t get a spot on our ferry.
So, please book online a few days ahead if you’re traveling this route in the summer!
When we were heading back from our holiday in Hvar, I was supposed to book the ticket, but I got caught up swimming, barbecuing, and enjoying some “juice from grapes” 😉, so I forgot. Of course, our preferred departure was sold out when I tried to book the day before! (And I hate to admit this, but it’s not my first time.)
So, the top tip is to book both directions at the same time!
Alternative Routes
If Sh.. hits the fan and the route is sold out on your travel date, don’t worry, you can still get off the island with your car. At the south end of the island, there’s a car ferry route from Sucuraj to Drvenik. This route is frequent, with up to 11 departures during peak season, and the crossing takes only 30 minutes.
The downside is you have to drive to Sucuraj, which takes 1 hour and 40 minutes from Hvar town, and you’ll have more driving on the mainland. But at least it won’t cost more, since the ferry ticket is about half the price.
If you’re not traveling with a car, the most obvious route is the fast ferry from Split to Hvar. That route runs up to 15 times a day in the summer season.
Wrapping Up
This ferry trip is a great way to get to Hvar, with awesome scenery and a chill vibe. Check out my YouTube video above to see it all in action. I’ll be posting more about Stari Grad, Hvar town, Jelsa, and other stuff we experienced on Hvar Island, so stay tuned. If you liked this, give it a like, drop a comment with any questions, and follow my channel for more. Thanks for reading, and see you in Hvar!