Is it safe to drive Dubrovnik to Split?

Driving in Croatia is easy, we drive on the right side and most roads are pretty wide. Trust us, you won't have any problems, just follow the traffic rules and enjoy the ride. There is no motorway between the cities of Dubrovnik and Split at this moment.



Yes, driving from Dubrovnik to Split is widely considered safe and is one of the most scenic road trips in Europe. The route primarily follows the D8 Adriatic Highway (Jadranska magistrala), which is well-maintained but can be narrow and winding in certain coastal sections. As of 2026, the Pelješac Bridge is fully operational, allowing you to bypass the Neum corridor in Bosnia and Herzegovina entirely, meaning you no longer have to worry about border crossings or passport checks midway through the drive. While the coastal road is safe, it requires focused driving due to the cliffs and summer traffic. For a faster, albeit less scenic, alternative, the A1 Motorway provides a modern, multi-lane toll road experience that connects the two regions in approximately 3 to 3.5 hours.

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A Croatian coastal odyssey: why road-tripping from Split to Dubrovnik is easier than ever. The opening of the Pelješac Bridge in southern Croatia means it's easier than ever to head out along the coast on a road trip from Split to Dubrovnik, taking in ancient stone villages, underwater wine and pirate legends.

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Catamaran ferries from Dubrovnik to Split The shortest travel time is around 4h 25 minutes and the fares start from €47. KRILO offers 2 daily departures from both Dubrovnik and Split. Catamarans depart from Split early in the morning (at 7:30am) and from Dubrovnik in the afternoon hours (3:00pm and 4:15pm).

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An excellent network operates between Split and Dubrovnik, with the journey taking around 4 to 5 hours, depending on which route you take (coastal or highway) and the stops you make along the way. Bus companies offer around 10-20 daily routes for a one-way ticket price at 13-23?.

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Split to Dubrovnik by car It's a pretty scenic ride along the Croatian coast, so even if it's a fairly long journey, the scenic route makes up for it. Bear in mind that you need to do a border crossing to go from Split to Dubrovnik, since the road crosses into Bosnia & Herzegovina.

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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. Both towns are must-visit places in Croatia.

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Dubrovnik to Split & Split to Dubrovnik by UBER => 1.500 Kuna (223 US$ / 200 Euro) Dubrovnik to Sarajevo => from 958 Kuna.

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If you have time, visit both towns! They are very different, especially in vibe and look, as Dubrovnik's old town mainly dates back to medieval times, while Split's old town dates back to ancient Roman times. Dubrovnik is more picture-perfect, while Split is more hectic and fun.

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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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There is no train from Dubrovnik to Split.

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The best (and only) way to get around Dubrovnik's compact old town is on your own two feet. Enclosed by its age-old walls, the old town is completely pedestrianized. The only motorized vehicles you may see here are early morning delivery vans servicing shops and restaurants on the Stradun, the main thoroughfare.

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Forget your passport for the drive between Split and Dubrovnik. Yes, Split is in Croatia. Yes, Dubrovnik is also in Croatia. But, you have to LEAVE Croatia in order to get from one to the other.

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