What is the best route to drive from Split to Dubrovnik?

You have two main options to get from Split to Dubrovnik by car:
  • Taking the coastal road D8 (former E65)
  • Taking the motorway A1 until the town of Ploce, and then taking a coastal road D8 from Ploce to Dubrovnik.




The absolute best route to drive from Split to Dubrovnik in 2026 is via the A1 Motorway and the Pelješac Bridge. Starting in Split, you enter the A1 at the Dugopolje junction and drive south for about 100km to Ploče. From there, you transition to the D8 coastal road until you reach the Pelješac Bridge (Pelješki most). This bridge, opened in 2022, is a game-changer because it allows you to bypass the "Neum Corridor" in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This means you stay entirely within Croatian territory, avoiding two separate international border crossings that used to cause hours of delays, especially in the summer. The bridge route is not only faster and more reliable but also incredibly scenic. For those with more time, the Adriatic Highway (Jadranska Magistrala) from Split to Ploče (via Omiš and Makarska) offers stunning cliffside views, but the A1/Pelješac Bridge combo is the preferred "standard" for efficiency and ease in 2026.

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The road between Split and Dubrovnik passes near Bacina lakes and we suggest you visit them, at least for an hour or so. You can do many things in this beautiful landscape, enjoy in one of the beach bars or take one of the adventure tour options on the lakes.

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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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You can usually find daily ferries between Split and Dubrovnik, with up to 28 weekly crossings in the high-season months. Ferry timetables are usually not fixed, as different companies operate during different seasons. You can expect, however, several departures throughout the day.

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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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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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Enjoy a full-day excursion from Split to Dubrovnik, where you will tour inside the historic city walls and along the limestone streets of the Old Town.

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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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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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