By the Dalmatia Express crew — skippers running the Split–island routes daily, 24/7. Updated July 2026.

There are three ways to get from Split Airport to Hvar in 2026.

1. Private taxi boat. It leaves from a dock next to the airport. It takes about 65–70 minutes from the arrivals gate to Hvar harbour. The price is €400–900 per boat, for up to 8–12 people.

2. Taxi or shuttle, then catamaran. You travel by road to Split city port. Then you take a catamaran (a fast boat for passengers only) to Hvar Town. Total time: 2.5–4 hours. Price: about €25–45 per person.

3. Jadrolinija car ferry, then bus or taxi. The ferry goes to Stari Grad, a town on the north side of Hvar island. Then you cross the island by bus or taxi. Total time: 3–4.5 hours. Price: from about €20 per person.

If you travel alone and want to save money, the catamaran is the right choice. If you are four people or more, the private Split Airport to Hvar transfer is the fastest option. It also costs less per person than most visitors expect.

Below you will find every step, every price and every timetable trap on this route. It is written by skippers who cross this channel every day of the year.

First, one important point. It is the question people search for most. There is no scheduled Split Airport to Hvar ferry. All public catamarans and ferries leave from Split city port. The port is 20 km east of the airport, on the other side of the city. So every public option starts with a road transfer. Only a private taxi boat leaves from the airport side of the bay.

Split Airport to Hvar: all 3 ways compared

Option 1: Private taxi boat — gate to Hvar harbour in about an hour

This is the only true door-to-door Split Airport to Hvar transfer, and the process is deliberately simple. Here is exactly how it works with us at Dalmatia Express, step by step:

• Before you land: we follow your flight number. If your plane is two hours late, the driver and the boat are two hours late too. You do not rebook anything. You do not lose any money. The transfer simply moves.
• At arrivals: a driver waits at the exit with a sign with your name on it. Split Airport has only one public exit, so you cannot miss each other.
• Airport to dock: a van (up to 8 seats) drives you about 10 minutes to the boat. The boat waits at a dock near the airport. You never enter Split city traffic.
• The crossing: the skipper puts your luggage away. You cross to Hvar in about 55 minutes. The boat has a closed cabin and seats that absorb the shock of the waves. It stays comfortable even when the sea is rough.
• Arrival: you step off on the Riva in Hvar Town — the seafront promenade. Or at Stari Grad, Jelsa, Milna, or a private villa jetty. Many Hvar hotels are closer to a dock than to a road.

The price is per boat, not per person: €400–900, depending on boat size, exact route and season. The boat carries up to 8–12 passengers. If you travel alone, that is expensive. For a family of five it is about €80–120 per person. For a group of eight it is often €50–90 per person. The public route costs about €30–40 per person. But with the private boat you arrive three hours earlier. And you do not pull suitcases across Split port in the August heat. The service runs 24/7. Many of our airport pickups are flights that land after 20:00, when the public boats have stopped for the day. If your dates are fixed, send us your flight number for an exact quote. You will get a fixed price, not an estimate.

Already in Split rather than at the airport? The same boats run from the city — see the Split to Hvar taxi boat page for that route.

Option 2: Taxi or bus to Split port + catamaran to Hvar Town

This is the classic route. It is the cheapest way to arrive directly in Hvar Town. It has three parts. The second part — the ticket — is where people have problems in July and August.

Leg 1: Split Airport to Split ferry port (20 km)

Plan extra road time in peak season. The coastal road through Kaštela — the string of villages between the airport and Split — is very slow on August afternoons. A 25-minute drive can take 50 minutes. If you have little time before a fixed sailing, this is usually where the plan fails.

Leg 2: Catamaran from Split port to Hvar Town

Three companies run fast catamarans (boats for passengers only) direct to Hvar Town: Jadrolinija, Krilo (Kapetan Luka) and TP Line. In July and August 2026 that is about 19–20 departures a day. The first boat leaves at 07:30 and the last at 19:15, arriving in Hvar Town at about 20:10. The crossing takes 50 minutes to 2 hours. The direct boats need about one hour. Some sailings also stop at Brač island or at Milna, a village on Brač. Expect about €15–25 per person one way in high season. It is cheaper in low season or if you book early. Prices change by company and by date, so check the current timetable when you book.

Two things about the timetable are worth knowing. First, the departures come in two groups: morning (07:30–12:00) and late afternoon (15:00–19:15). There is a almost complete gap between 12:00 and 15:00. That is exactly when a large wave of European flights lands. Second, tickets are sold for one exact departure. Croatian local-line tickets usually cannot be changed. If your flight is late and you miss your boat, you must buy a new ticket — if any seats are left.

And in July and August the seats often do not exist. In peak season, catamarans to Hvar Town sell out one to three days in advance. The popular 15:00–17:00 boats sell out first. If you arrive without a ticket, you are sent to the slow car ferry instead. For travel in July and August, book at least a week ahead. We compare the boats in more detail in our catamaran vs ferry vs speedboat guide.

Skipper’s tip #1: Does your flight land between 11:00 and 13:30? Then do not run for a taxi. You are landing in the midday catamaran gap. The next fast boat is at 15:00 anyway. So you have two better options. Eat a calm lunch in Split. Or take the 14:30 car ferry to Stari Grad. Almost nobody thinks of it, because it is not on the “fast boat” screens. It often gets you to your Hvar accommodation before the 15:00 catamaran crowd. This is also the landing time when a private boat saves you the most: up to four hours, door to door.

At the port, boats can change their berth. So check the departure screens. Do not trust the pier you used last year. In August, join the boarding queue 30–45 minutes early. Luggage goes on racks at the boarding point. Keep your valuables with you.

Leg 3: Arrival in Hvar Town

Catamarans dock on the Riva in Hvar Town. The Riva is the seafront promenade, right in the centre. Most hotels and apartments in the old town are a 5–15 minute walk away. But the streets going up from the harbour have steps and old stone paving. Taxis wait at the harbour if you stay further out. If you have not chosen where to stay yet, read our guide to where to stay on Hvar in 2026. It explains each area from this exact arrival point.

Option 3: Car ferry to Stari Grad — the workhorse route

Jadrolinija’s line 635 car ferry runs from Split city port to Stari Grad. Stari Grad is a small town on the north side of Hvar island. This ferry is slower, and it lands 20 km from Hvar Town. But it has four advantages. It is the only way to bring a car. It is the cheapest way across. It handles bad weather best. And it is the only public option with evening and night sailings.

Peak-summer 2026 departures from Split (timetable valid from about 19 June to 23 August): 01:30, 05:00, 08:30, 11:00, 14:30, 17:00 and 20:30. The 01:30 and 05:00 sailings only run from about 20 June to 24 August. In spring and autumn there are five or six sailings. In winter there are three or four. Always check the current Jadrolinija timetable before you travel. The crossing takes about 1 hour 50 minutes.

2026 prices, one way: adult €8.40 in high season (29 May–27 Sep), or €5.90 in low season. Child 3–12: €4.20 in high season, €3.00 in low season. Standard car: €47.60 or €35.60. A car ticket is also your place on that exact sailing. In summer, book the car space at least one or two days ahead. Join the car queue 60 minutes before departure. Foot passengers can buy a ticket on the day for almost any sailing. This boat almost never sells out for foot passengers.

Stari Grad ferry port to Hvar Town

• Local bus: buses wait for most daytime ferries. The ride to Hvar Town costs a few euros and takes about 25–30 minutes. No buses meet the night ferries. Always check the current timetable.
• Taxi: taxis wait for daytime ferries. Agree the price before you start. For late arrivals, book ahead or ask your hotel to arrange a pickup. You do not want to be stuck alone on the quay at 03:20.
• Your own car or a rental car: there is one road, the D116. It is well signed and takes 25 minutes to Hvar Town. But parking in Hvar Town in summer is limited and you must pay for it. Ask your accommodation about parking before you decide to bring a car.

Skipper’s tip #2: The 01:30 night ferry runs from about 20 June to 24 August. It is the best backup for late flights, and almost nobody knows about it. Land at 22:00. Take a €35 taxi to the port. Rest in the terminal. Walk on board for €8.40. You are on Hvar at 03:20. Total cost: under €50. But there is a problem. The ferry arrives at a dark quay in Stari Grad, 20 km from Hvar Town, and there is no bus at that hour. So it only works if a taxi or your host is waiting for you. If that sounds hard after a long travel day, that is exactly the flight time our boats are made for.

What it really costs: a worksheet by group size

Typical high-season, one-way totals from the airport terminal to Hvar Town accommodation. Round numbers — your exact dates will move them a little.

Here is the honest answer. If you travel alone or as a couple, the catamaran is usually the better choice. The Split Airport to Hvar taxi boat cost only starts to make financial sense from about four passengers. With six to eight people it is very competitive. The table cannot show one thing: the timetable. The public boats only run between about 07:30 and 20:30. Outside those hours, only the private boat runs.

Timing by flight arrival: what you can realistically catch

These assume 40–45 minutes from wheels-down to leaving the airport with bags, plus realistic road time. Summer 2026 schedules; always verify for your date.

What happens in bad weather

The Split–Hvar channel is calm on most summer days. But two winds control this coast. The jugo is a warm wind from the south. It builds long, rolling waves. The bura is a cold wind from the northeast. It comes in short, violent gusts, often under a bright blue sky. That is why boats are sometimes cancelled on a sunny day. When either wind is strong, boats stop in this order:

• Catamarans cancel first. The operator often decides on the same morning. Check the operator’s status page before you go to the port.
• Open speedboats and RIB water taxis stop next. They have no cabin and no shelter. Serious operators will not sail them in strong wind.
• Closed-cabin boats keep working the longest. Our boats were built for this: closed cabins and seats that absorb the shock of the waves. They sail in most weather that stops the public fast boats. But not in every weather. No responsible skipper crosses in a full storm.
• The Stari Grad car ferry almost always sails. It is big and heavy, and it is made for rough sea. When the catamarans are cancelled, many people move to ferry line 635. Arrive early, because everyone has the same idea.

If your catamaran cancels you will typically be refunded or moved, but seats on remaining sailings evaporate within minutes. The practical fallback ladder: next catamaran → car ferry to Stari Grad plus bus → private closed-cabin boat → a night in Split.

Luggage, kids and accessibility

Luggage: the shuttle bus has a proper hold; ride-hail sedans take two large cases. On catamarans you stack bags on racks at boarding and carry them yourself down a gangway. On a private transfer the driver and crew handle bags from the arrivals hall to the Hvar quay; hard-shell cases, golf bags, dive gear and folded bikes are routine — tell us quantities when booking.

Kids: under-3s usually travel free on public boats and children get reduced fares (child 3–12 pays €4.20 on the summer car ferry). Catamarans have indoor seating and toilets; the car ferry has open decks where kids can move around. Private boats carry child-size life jackets — request them when you book.

Accessibility: the car ferry is the easiest public option. You can board by ramp from the car deck. On the catamaran you board by a gangway. It can be steep, depending on the tide. Wheelchair users should contact the operator before they travel. On private transfers we often help passengers with limited mobility at both ends. Tell us in advance and we will choose the easiest boat and dock.

Month-by-month: how crowded is this route?

• April–mid-May: quiet. Same-day tickets no problem; seas most changeable of the season.
• Late May–June: schedules fatten toward ~19 daily catamarans by mid-June; weekends start selling out the afternoon boats a day ahead.
• July: book catamarans a week out. The Ultra Europe week in mid-July turns Split port into a scrum — book earlier and double your road buffer.
• August: the heaviest month. Afternoon Hvar boats sell out days ahead; airport road traffic at its worst. This is the month when the night ferry and 24/7 private boats are most useful, because normal boats sell out.
• September: our favourite. Full timetable until ~27 September, crowds halve, sea at its warmest.
• October–March: 2–3 catamarans and 3–4 ferries daily; last fast boat ~16:00 — land in the evening off-season and public options are gone until morning. Private boats run year-round.

Skipper’s tip #3: Book your return trip before your holiday starts. Most people plan the arrival carefully and leave the departure to chance. Then they find that the 08:00–11:00 boats from Hvar to Split are the first to sell out. Half the island is trying to catch a flight in Split. For a morning flight in July or August, take a catamaran two sailings earlier than you think you need. Or book a private boat timed to your check-in. We bring you to the west-bay dock, 10 minutes from the terminal, not to the port on the other side of town.

So which way should you go?

Here are honest answers from the wheelhouse.

One or two people, landing before mid-afternoon, flexible plans, small budget. Take the shuttle and the catamaran. Book it a week ahead. It is a good service.

Bringing a car. The Stari Grad ferry is your only road. Book the car space early. Arrive one hour before the boat leaves.

A family or group, landing midday or later, real luggage, peak season, or an evening flight. The cost, the clock and the weather all point to a private boat. One meeting at the arrivals gate. Ten minutes to the dock. Fifty-five minutes across the sea. Done.

Do you want a fixed price for your exact date, group size and flight? Send us your flight number and the number of people. We will reply with a quote fast. And if the catamaran really is better for your dates, we will tell you so.

FAQ: Split Airport to Hvar

Is there a direct ferry from Split Airport to Hvar?

No. All scheduled catamarans and ferries leave from Split city port. The port is about 20 km from the airport. So every public option starts with a bus or taxi ride. The only boat that leaves from the airport side is a private taxi boat. Its dock is about 10 minutes from the terminal.

How do I get from Split Airport to Hvar?

There are three ways. One: a private taxi boat from a dock near the airport. It takes about 65–70 minutes in total. Two: a shuttle or taxi to Split port, then a catamaran (a fast boat for passengers only) to Hvar Town. This takes 2.5–4 hours. Three: the car ferry to Stari Grad — a town on Hvar island — then a bus or taxi. This takes 3–4.5 hours.

How much does a taxi boat from Split Airport to Hvar cost?

€400–900 per boat, not per person. The boat takes up to 8–12 passengers. The price includes the driver pickup at arrivals and the crossing to any Hvar port. That is about €80–140 per person for a family of five, and €60–115 per person for a group of eight.

How long does it take from Split Airport to Hvar?

By private boat, about 65–70 minutes from clearing arrivals to the Hvar quay. The catamaran chain takes 2.5–4 hours door to door; the car ferry route 3–4.5 hours including the cross-island transfer.

Do the Split to Hvar catamarans sell out?

Yes — in July and August the Hvar Town fast boats routinely sell out one to three days ahead, afternoon departures first. Book about a week in advance for peak dates.

What is the last ferry from Split to Hvar?

In summer 2026 the last catamaran to Hvar Town leaves at about 19:15. The last normal car ferry to Stari Grad leaves at 20:30. There is also an extra night car ferry at 01:30, from about 20 June to 24 August. Outside summer the last fast boat can leave as early as 16:00.

What if my flight lands after the last ferry?

You have three choices. You can stay one night in Split. You can take the 01:30 night car ferry in mid-summer — book a Stari Grad pickup in advance. Or you can take a 24/7 private taxi boat. The skipper follows your flight and meets you whenever it lands.

Can you take a car from Split to Hvar?

Yes, on the Split–Stari Grad car ferry: a standard car pays €47.60 one-way in high season plus €8.40 per adult. Book the vehicle slot ahead in summer and queue 60 minutes early; catamarans are foot-passenger only.

Related guides

• Split to Hvar: ferry, catamaran or speedboat — compares the passenger catamaran, car ferry, and speedboat options.
• Split Airport to the islands — how to reach the islands straight from Split Airport.
• Where to stay on Hvar — how to pick a base on Hvar island, from Hvar Town to quieter villages.
• Stari Grad or Hvar Town? — helps you choose which Hvar port town suits your trip.
• Split to Stari Grad — ferry times and faster options to Stari Grad, the old ferry port on Hvar.

Part of our island transport series — see also the complete Split–Hvar ferry guide.