I will be waking up in Split on a Sept. Saturday morning, and need to be on a plane that departs Dubrovnik at 12:30 pm. Silly me! I saw that it's about a 3 hour drive between the two cities and naively assumed that there would be workable transportation between the two cities. Well, it just doesn't seem to be so! There are no planes. There is one catamaran that would leave Split and arrive Dubrovnik too late to make my flight. There are "private transfers" but my on-line research thus far has none of them coming in below 200 euros for one person (aaggghhh!). There is the public bus, which would take about 4 hours from bus station to bus station (all things being normal at the two border crossings on the highway between the two cities). Looks like I would need to take the 5:15 am departure from Split to be in Dubrovnik (Pile Gate) where I would then get a taxi to Dubrovnik airport. I will be staying in the Split Citadel (old city) area, walking distance from the main bus station at Split harbor.
Do you know of any other options? Any private transfers or taxi options (coming in under 100 euros) that would get me from Split to the Dubrovnik airport no later than 11:00 am (10:30 preferably)?? Any other suggestions? Thank you so much!
Posted by
WPB, FL & Firenze
3112 posts
I'm not aware of any better public transit options or any "inexpensive" private transfers. You might contact your Split hotel and ask them for recommendations.
The 5:15 bus may only go as far as the bus station in the port area and not to the Pile Gate. When I travelled from Dubrovnik to Split by bus, I was staying near the Pile Gate but had to go to the bus station to catch it. Also I don't recall whether taxis wait nearby or if you would need to call one.
Personally I wouldn't be comfortable staying so far from my departure airport and suggest you consider going to Dubrovnik on Friday. Or if your itinerary includes both cities, maybe you could change the order so that you visit Dubrovnik last. I presume changing your flight departure from Dubrovnik to Split isn't an option.
Posted by
Tunbridge Wells
6113 posts
Where are you flying to? You will need to be at the airport 2-3 hours prior to departure, so 9.30/10.30 latest.
Split to Dubrovnik airport will be longer than a 3 hour drive as the airport is 15 miles south of the city centre. Assume closer to 4 hours.
There is no way that I would stay so far from a departing airport and suggest that you make the transfer the night before. It will take a driver a full working day to get there and back and with unsocial hours, so I think 100 euros sounds good value.
Posted by
Sioux Falls, SD, USA
3101 posts
I'm with Jennifer. Don't be in Split the night before. Travel to Dubrovnik with one day in advance. When you get into a difficult spot in a trip, you need to adapt, and in this case, that means getting to Dubrovnik earlier.
Posted by
OP
New Orleans
1217 posts
Oh my, you all are offering the voice of reason that I was trying so hard to avoid hearing! I am starting out in Dubrovnik (with a friend) for a few days, then traveling to Bosnia for four nights, and really wanted to have a couple of nights in Split before flying out of Dubrovnik to end up in Venice. Friend wisely figured she'd go back to Dubrovnik for two nights, and skip Split. We had planned to meet at the airport. Sounds like my options are ONE night in Split (ugh. Really don't like one-nighters!) or take Split off the itinerary altogether. Sigh. I'll rethink this, and am deeply grateful to each of you who responded with insight and good information.
Posted by
Sioux Falls, SD, USA
3101 posts
Another approach, not yet mentioned, is to rent a car in Dubrovnik, go to Split for whatever length of time, and then drive back dropping it at the airport. It's a 3 hour drive. You could stay in Split and drive in the morning. Of course, if you have a problem, you would miss your plane. So, are you a risk-taker?
Posted by
OP
New Orleans
1217 posts
Thanks for the car idea, Paul. My original plan was to travel from Dubrovnik to Sarajevo to Split by buses and small tour groups, and then back to Dubrovnik for a noon flight... but have rethought my plan of two nights in Split thanks to the wisdom of earlier posters. Although I've rented cars in France and Italy, at those times there was another friend or family member along to share driving and navigation. I'm not keen on renting on my own, especially with the intention of driving at least four hours, crossing two borders, and making a noon flight out of Dubrovnik. Looks like Split may get bumped off the itinerary, for a possible more leisurely two nights in Cavtat (so near the Dubrovnik airport). I really appreciate all ideas and experience shared here!
Posted by
Portland, Oregon
5687 posts
For what it's worth, I found driving in Croatia and Bosnia quite easy, and the drive from Mostar to Sarajevo is especially beautiful. I drove all the way across Bosnia, alone, a couple of years ago. With a smart phone as your GPS, it's pretty hard to get lost. Shouldn't be a lot of traffic on the coastal roads in September, either, between Split and Dubrovnik.
Posted by
San Francisco, CA
102 posts
Does anyone know how much a private transfer between Dubrovnik and Split is? I was looking at going with Petar Vlasic from Dubrovnik Riviera Tours, as suggested by others in this forum, but can't find the info on their website. TIA!
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11775 posts
Does anyone know how much a private transfer between Dubrovnik and Split is? I was looking at going with Petar Vlasic from Dubrovnik Riviera Tours, as suggested by others in this forum, but can't find the info on their website.
Just email them and ask. I recall it cost us about USD$250 for a whole day wine tour, perhaps 6 hours of driving.