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Croatia travel guide

Getting from Split to Zadar

Split is famous for the Roman heritage. Even today, you can still see the old Roman walls, squares and temples.

Zadar is located in northern Dalmatia and also has a Roman heritage. The old town is worth your time and so are the remains of the Roman Forum. During summer, spend some time on the beaches.

Although both cities are served by an airport, the short distance between them (160 km) doesn’t require a flight. You can fly via a connection in Zagreb, though , and the single fare starts at €240.

Quick summary

Generally speaking, buses tend to be cheaper than trains. And in this case, they are also faster.

Buses from Split to Zadar

You can catch a bus between Split and Zadar. There are 22 connections per day and you can find them here . Buses leave by the hour from 5 a.m. until 9:30 p.m. The travel time is about 2h 30 min. Some of the bus companies operating on this route are: Brioni, Autotrans Rijeka and Autotransport. Unfortunately, there is no pricing information available.

>>read more about Bus Travel in Croatia

Trains from Split to Zadar

The Split to Zadar connection is the only one which runs along the coast. The travel time is about 3 ½ h and there are 3 trains per day between the two cities. Trains depart split at 8:25 a.m., 2:41 p.m. and 9:18 p.m. On the way back, catch the trains from Zadar at 7:40 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. You can check out the schedule here . Unfortunately, there is no pricing information available.

>>read more about Train Travel in Croatia

Driving from Split to Zadar

You can rent a car in Split and drive the 160 km to Zadar in about 2 hours (via A1/E65/E71). This route has tolls.

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Croatia travel guide

Getting from Split to Dubvrovnik

Dubrovnik , located on the Adriatic Sea coast, is one of the most well known tourist resorts in Croatia and Europe. Nick-named the “Pearl of the Adriatic” , Dubrovnik has been listed as a UNESCO site since 1979. It is a popular destination for those looking for a romantic place with a lot of history.

Split was originally built around the Diocletian palace and even today you can still see the old Roman walls, squares and temples.

Quick summary

With no train connection between Split and Dubrovnik, the bus is the cheapest option to travel. But if you want to drive on one of the most scenic roads in Europe, rent a car and you’ll be absolutely delighted.

Flights from Split (airport code: SPU) to Dubrovnik

Split Airport (SPU) is the second most important airport in Croatia and is located about 25 km from the city center. It handles flights to/from Europe, as well as domestic flights.

Dubrovnik airport (DBV), located about 20 km from the city center, is the third largest airport in Croatia. It is the base for Dubrovnik Airlines. Most of the flights it serves are seasonal, but the year round flights serve the country and some European destinations.

Croatia Airlines is the only airline flying between Split and Dubrovnik. Flights with a stop in Zagreb start at €53 one way per person, regardless of when you fly in 2012 and the total journey time is about 3 ½ h.

Buses from Split to Dubrovnik

There are 14 connections per day between Split and Dubrovnik. The timetable can be found here but there’s no way to find the prices or book the tickets online. Buses are operated by various companies, including: Croatia Bus, Autotrans Rijeka and Panorama Bus Zagreb. The journey time is about 4 ½ h.

>>read more about Bus Travel in Croatia

Driving from Split to Dubrovnik

You can rent a car in Split and drive Route 414 along the coast between Split and Dubrovnik. This route is a beautiful scenic journey through various travel destinations and small villages. The total journey time (including the ferry crossing) is about 4 ½ h.

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Croatia travel guide

Getting from Zagreb to Split

Zagreb is the capital of Croatia is well known for its charming medieval old town and cobblestone streets. The Upper and Lower Towns are worth your time as this is where you’ll find the tourist sights, the restaurants and the bars.

Split is located in Central Dalmatia region of Croatia and was originally built around the Diocletian palace. The old Roman walls, squares and temples can still be visited today. Central Split can be easily explored on foot.

Quick summary

Train travel is not very used in Croatia but there are plenty of bus connections between Zagreb and Split. Bus fares start at around €23* per person, one way. Flying isn’t too expensive either(€41 per person, one way, regardless of when you fly) and if you are in a hurry it might be worth it.

Flights from Zagreb (airport code: ZAG) to Split

Zagreb International Airport (ZAG), located 17 km from the city center, is the most important airport in Croatia. It is hub for Croatia Airlines and handles only flights within Europe, as well as domestic flights.

Split Airport (SPU) is the second most important airport in Croatia, handling flights to/from Europe, as well as domestic flights. It is located 25 km from the city center , near the city of Trogir.

The flights between Zagreb and Split are operated by Croatia Airlines. The flight time is 45 min. Regardless of when you fly in 2012, expect to pay €41 (308 Croatian Kune) per person one way

Trains from Zagreb to Split

Train travel in Croatia is modern and although there are not very many routes served by trains, those that are offer fast connections. There are direct connection between Zagreb and Split but figuring out the time table and the prices is almost an impossible thing even though the Croatian Railways has an English section on the website (but the name of the stations are in Croatian, of course).

There is a night train departing Zagreb Glavni Kolod at 11:20 p.m. and arrives in Split at 8:04 a.m. Another train leaves at 7:50 a.m. and gets to Split 6 h 19 min later.

It’s impossible to figure out the price though as the pricing information page is in Croatian only. And on other websites (such as Rail Europe) you can see the timetables but no fare information either.

Buses from Zagreb to Split

Figuring out the buses between Zagreb and Split is actually an easier endeavor. This website , which offers English, lists all the buses to/from Split. A variety of carriers offer connections between the two cities, including: Promet Makaraska, Deni Bus, Croatia Bus. There are connections between the two cities 24/7 , arriving and departing every 15 to 30 minutes during day time and every 1h to 2 h during the night. Prices start at 171 Croatian Kune (about 23 euros) per person one way.

Although the websites do have English listed as possible language to read the site in, don’t get your hopes up.


>>read more about Bus Travel in Croatia

Driving from Zagreb to Split

You can rent a car in Zagreb and drive the 409 km on A1 to Split. The drive time is about 4 hours. You’ll be drive on a toll road, so take that into attention when planning the budget.

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Note:* at the time the article was written

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Buffet Fife in Split

Lunch at Buffet Fife in Split, Croatia. Photo by John J. Goddard.Ask any of the locals in Split. Fife (FEE-fay) is the quintessential konoba in Dalmatia’s largest city. The word konoba means ‘cellar’ in Dalmatian dialect, and since many small taverns began operating in family wine cellars, the term is used also to refer to casual dining and drinking establishments where traditional home cooking is all you’ll find. At Fife, you’ll find the requisite assortment of expertly grilled fish, meat and sausages along with a vast array of saucy braised meats, pastas, risottos, vegetables and sides. Order the traditional Dalmatian pot roast known as pašticada (pahsh-tee-TSAH-dah) with a side of potato gnocchi. You won’t be able to stop thinking about it for a week. If you have room for dessert there’s a variety of filled palačinke (pah-lah-CHEEN-keh, meaning ‘pancakes’) and a daily torte available.

All in all, the focus is on fresh ingredients prepared simply and traditionally, and Fife’s prices can’t be beat. For these reasons and others, it’s a unanimous favorite with families and senior Dalmatians in Split. Seating on the small terrace is accented by soft breezes that rattle nearby palms and carry whiffs of rosemary and lavender from the promenade. The sound of a busy Dalmatian harbor in late afternoon is all the music needed to complete the atmosphere, but if you opt to sit inside you’ll be serenaded by songbirds in hanging cages.

Located at the north end of the promenade in Split, Fife often does a brisk business during the high season. The waiters sometimes look as if they’re about to lose their minds (it’s part of the place’s charm), but food always arrives swiftly, without a hitch and served with a smile. The dress code is whatever you’re wearing, portions are generous, prices are reasonable, and reservations are hardly required. A short list of soft drinks, beers and Croatian wines is a more than adequate selection of liquid accompaniment.

Buffet Fife – Trumbićeva obala 11, Split
tel: +385 (0)21 345 233

About the writer:
John J. Goddard is an independent writer and veteran culinary professional. He has lived in Zagreb and on the Dalmatian coast, and travelled extensively throughout the republic. John is currently at work on a Dalmatian cookbook and a non-fictional account of his experiences as an expatriate chef in Croatia. He publishes DalmatianCooking.com and a few other blogs.

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Articles Croatia

Diocletian’s Palace

oculus_diocletian_palace_96975_l.jpgRoman Emperor Diocletian probably didn’t know that building his retirement home on the coast of Croatia would spawn a town that would become one of the most populated and well-known in Croatia. The original structure around which the city of Split blossomed, Diocletian’s Palace is now the center of culture, business and nightlife in Split.

The palace was built between the 3rd and 4th centuries and the location was chosen for its proximity to the white stones on the island of Brac as much as for any of the attributes of the city around it. Brac’s white rocks provided the material out of which Diocletian’s white palace was built. Those same rocks would be exported 14 centuries later, to America, for the construction of the White House in Washington D.C.

Now, Diocletian’s Palace is full of businesses, shops, bars, clubs and Internet cafes. The main bus station and ferry terminal are located directly in front of the palace and it serves as a gathering place for most of the tourists in the city at night.

In 1979, the palace became a UNESCO world-heritage sight based on its merit as an ancient palace that has lasted throughout the centuries and continues to serve an important purpose within the city and community.

There are several landmarks in Diocletian’s Palace that every tourist should see. The statue of Grgur Ninski outside the gates of Diocletian’s palace is one of them. Grgur Ninski defied the Catholic Church and introduced the Croatian language into Church servicesThe famous statue by Ivan Mestrovic is one of the most popular works of art in Split and touching the big toe of the statue is supposed to be a lucky charm for the people passing by. You can see that the foot of the statue is now well worn and rubbed to a shiny bronze by the people passing by each day hoping to improve their fortunes.

With the city of Split having grown around the structure, it can be difficult to tell where it begins. Diocletian’s Palace was not only a castle built for the Emperor of Rome to retire to, but a fortress protecting the people inside as well. The thick outer walls were built to be easily defensible and now the walls serve to separate the palace from the rest of the city. Upon entering Diocletian’s Palace the walls and buildings seem to grow together, as if built on a different scale than the rest of the city, which it was.

If arriving in Split from another part of Croatia, that Diocletian’s palace will most likely be the first thing that you see. If it’s not, it is perhaps the one truly unmissable sight to be sure you see in Split.