Getting around Croatia by Ferry

Do you need to know about ferries TO Croatia?

Jadrolinija runs nearly all ferries in Croatia, helped by a few local ferry companies. Local Jadrolinija ferries connect all islands to the mainland and there is a coastal ferry from Rijeka to Dubrovnik. Ferry services from one island to another are much spottier. Don't assume that there "must be" a ferry from one island to another. Service is year-round on most routes although a few are summer only. Ferries are generally much more frequent in the summer.

Reserving Local Ferries

Passengers can always get on board but reserve ahead if you're bringing a car, especially in the busy summer season. Unfortunately you cannot reserve local ferries online; You reserve most local ferries at a Jadrolinija or at a local travel agencies. (See more about booking local and coastal ferries in Croatia)

The only time you can't reserve ahead are on the shuttle car ferries that connect the mainland with several island ports.

You cannot reserve in advance on the following lines; you must buy tickets on the spot:

• Drvenik to Sucuraj on Hvar Island
• Valbiska (Krk Island) to Merag (Cres)
• Jablanac to Misnjak (Rab Island)
• Ploce to Trpanj (Peljesac peninsula)
• Orebic to Korcula Island

Show up at least 1/2 hour in advance (1 1/2 hours in the summer), park your car in the queue, collect your ticket from the nearby stall and wait. On the above routes, ferries run from four to eight times a day, depending on the season, and cost about 80HRK for a car and driver for the 30-minute run. See more about booking local and coastal ferries in Croatia.

About local ferry schedules

Check the local ferry schedule carefully! Many routes from the coast to the islands are designed to bring islanders to coastal cities to work which means that they leave the island early in the morning and return late afternoon. That's exactly the opposite of what tourists are looking for to make a day trip to an island.

Other ferry companies

• GV Lines runs catamarans from Zadar to nearby islands and also the Nona Ana which runs from Dubrovnik to the Elaphiti Islands, Mljet Island Korcula and Lastovo. See the Dubrovnik-Mljet-Elaphiti-Korcula-Lastovo schedule.

• Krilo runs a useful passenger ferry between Split, Hvar Town and Korcula Town. See the Split-Hvar-Korcula catamaran schedule.

• Rapska Plovidba is a much smaller company that handles car ferry services to and from Rab Island.

• Miatours operates local and international services from Zadar.

Ferry Services

Services on board Jadrolinija's ferries vary wildly depending on the boat. I've taken 1/2 hour trips on modern, well-equipped boats and suffered through seven-hour trips on dreary and aged buckets. The best idea is to plan ahead: bring something to eat and drink and a very absorbing book for longer ferry rides!

Related Pages

Local Ferry Schedules

Jadrolinija Coastal Car Ferry Schedule

Dubrovnik to Korcula Catamaran "Nona Ana" Schedule

Split to Hvar to Korcula Catamaran "Krilo Schedule

Booking Ferries in Croatia

Ferries to Croatia

Getting around Croatia

Croatia Ferry Blog --the latest ferry news

Croatia Ferries Forum  --questions & answers

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