Is it better to fly into Split or Dubrovnik?

Split is undoubtedly the best for budget travel. It's cheaper than Dubrovnik, making it better for a budget right from the start. Its accommodations, food and sights are all cheaper, and do not compromise the experience one bit. For those wishing to save on accommodation, AirBnB will be a great help.



Choosing between Split (SPU) and Dubrovnik (DBV) depends on your specific itinerary for exploring Croatia. In 2026, Split is generally considered the better hub for travelers who want flexibility and variety. Split is centrally located along the Dalmatian coast and serves as the primary transportation hub for ferries to popular islands like Hvar, Brač, and Vis. Its airport is larger and often offers more frequent and cheaper flight options. On the other hand, Dubrovnik is the best choice if your primary goal is to see the iconic "Pearl of the Adriatic" or if you are focusing on the southern tip of the country. Dubrovnik's airport is smaller and further from the rest of the country, making it a bit of a "dead end" for those planning a long road trip. A common "pro-tip" for 2026 is to fly into one city and out of the other (an "open-jaw" ticket), allowing you to travel one way along the coast via the scenic catamaran or coastal bus without having to backtrack, ensuring you see the best of both world-famous cities.

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Split is more relaxed and fun, centrally located, offering more day trip options, better nightlife, and slightly cheaper prices than Dubrovnik. Dubrovnik is one of the most beautiful walled cities in the world, very elegant, with better beaches and hotels than Split.

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Dubrovnik a small town, so unless you plan to take day trips to islands or other attractions nearby, two days is the perfect amount of time to get to know this ancient city. (If you're interested in seeing on overview of our entire 2 week itinerary in Croatia, I've written up a summary of our trip here.

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It is true that Dubrovnik is more expensive than other destinations in Croatia. This is heavily due to Dubrovnik serving as the main filming location for Star Wars and Game of Thrones, which has led to a huge increase in visitors making it the most popular destination in Croatia.

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While Split is undoubtedly a tourist hot spot, it's very much a working town too. There are many places in Split that locals love to visit that are overlooked by visitors. Take a look at some of the more off-the-beaten-track attractions you can visit on your next trip to Split, below.

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The weather in Dubrovnik is relatively similar to the country's average temperatures, and is slightly cooler than its seaside counterpart of Split. If you're looking to soak up the sunshine, the warmest months in Dubrovnik are July and August, which coincide with the peak tourist season.

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Cost of Living in Croatia: Zadar Most Expensive City, Dubrovnik Second. According to Numbeo, Zadar is the most expensive city to live in Croatia. Namely, the average family of four needs 18,973.92 kuna to live without rent, and a single person needs 5,486.52 kuna for monthly expenses.

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If you like adventure, you'll probably choose Zadar for its proximity to the Paklenica National Park, Split or Omis. If you like to party the island Murter, Pag or Hvar will be right up your alley. For foodies, Istria will be an obvious choice. If you enjoy cities, then Split, or Zagreb will keep you happy.

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There is no train from Split to Dubrovnik.

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One day is enough to see the Old Town, check out the old city walls, see a few Game of Thrones location sites, and even pop into a few of the attractions like the Rector's Palace and the Franciscan Church. The tip here is definitely to get up early in the morning to make the most of your Split to Dubrovnik day tour!

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