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

Split Hvariin comes down to three honest choices, and the right one depends on how you are travelling. Foot passengers travelling light: take the catamaran straight into Hvar Town (about 50–60 minutes, roughly €10–30 per person) — as long as the timetable lines up with your day. Bringing a car: the Stari Grad car ferry (about 2 hours, plus a 20-minute drive on to Hvar Town). Travelling as a group, arriving off-schedule, landing late at the airport, or facing wind that grounds the fast catamarans: a yksityinen taksivene — 55 minutes dock to dock, €370–900 for the whole boat. We run this crossing every day of the year, so here is the breakdown without the tourist-office gloss.

For the complete Split–Hvar breakdown — every catamaran and car-ferry sailing with live 2026 timetables and prices — see our full Split to Hvar ferry guide.

Option 1: The catamaran to Hvar Town (best value for foot passengers)

The fast catamaran is how most independent travellers get from Split to Hvar, and for good reason: it drops you right in the middle of Hvar Town’s harbour, a two-minute walk from the main square. Two operators run the line in 2026 — Jadrolinija (line 641, sailing roughly 1 May to 11 October) and Krilo / Kapetan Luka (roughly 20 March to 15 November). Crossing time is about 50 minutes on Krilo, up to an hour on Jadrolinija.

In peak summer you will find close to 18–20 sailings a day between the two operators; outside season that drops to two to four. Foot-passenger fares run roughly €10–30 one way depending on operator and season, with children about half — always confirm the exact figure on the current 2026 timetable before you plan your day around it.

The catches are real, though. Seats sell out days ahead in July and August. There is no vehicle deck. Luggage goes on open racks. And the fast catamarans are the first thing cancelled when the bura or jugo gets up — the big car ferries ride weather far better than the low, light catamarans do. The last boat back to Split usually leaves Hvar around 20:00, which is what makes a day trip work.

Skipper’s tip: Book the catamaran the moment your dates are fixed — not the night before. The cheap early-morning and value evening sailings sell out first, and the “sold out” wall in August is real. If you fly in and out the same week, buy your return leg at the same time; the ticket machines at Split port grow long queues by mid-morning.

Option 2: The car ferry to Stari Grad (only if you are bringing a vehicle)

If you want a car on Hvar, you do not sail to Hvar Town at all — you take Jadrolinija’s car ferry (line 635) to Stari Grad, the island’s vehicle port, about 20 km from Hvar Town. The crossing is around 1 hour 50 minutes to 2 hours.

Two things to know. First, your ticket for a specific sailing is your car’s reservation for that sailing — so in peak summer, book the crossing well ahead or you will wait hours in the vehicle queue at Split. Second, Stari Grad is not Hvar Town. Once you roll off, it is a 20-km drive — about 20–35 minutes — over the island’s spine to Hvar Town, or a local bus timed to meet the ferries. If your accommodation is in Hvar Town and you do not truly need a car, the catamaran is simpler and often cheaper than ferry-plus-fuel-plus-parking.

Option 3: The private taxi boat (door to dock, on your clock)

A private taxi boat is not a scaled-up ferry ticket — it is a different way to travel. We pick you up at the Split Riva (or straight from Split Airport) and run you to Hvar in about 55 minutes, landing wherever you actually want to be: Hvar Town’s harbour, a villa dock, or a Pakleni Islands beach for a swim on the way. One price covers the whole boat — €370–900 for Split–Hvar depending on the boat and the season — so for four to twelve people it often lands close to what a family pays for catamaran tickets, minus the fixed timetable.

Where the private boat really earns its keep is when the scheduled options fail you: a midnight flight into Split, a nine-person group with luggage the catamaran will not seat together, a departure two hours after the last public sailing, or a windy morning when Jadrolinija and Krilo have both cancelled. Our fleet — the closed-cabin Great White 49, 39 and 35, plus the Lolivul 9 — is radar-equipped and built to run in sea states that ground the fast catamarans. When the catamarans stop, we are often still sailing.

Skipper’s tip: If your flight lands after about 19:00, do not plan on a public catamaran to Hvar the same night — the last one has usually gone. A private transfer straight from the terminal is almost always faster and less stressful than an airport hotel plus a morning ferry scramble. See our Split Airport to Hvar page for how the pickup works.

Split to Hvar at a glance: catamaran vs ferry vs private boat

Prices and sailing times are 2026 figures checked against the operators’ own timetables; fast-ferry fares in particular shift with season and demand, so treat the catamaran range as a guide and confirm the live schedule for your exact date.

So which should you actually pick?

If you are one or two people, travelling light, and your day is flexible around a fixed departure, the catamaran into Hvar Town is the obvious call — book ahead and you are set. If you are determined to have a car on the island, take the Stari Grad ferry, but be honest about whether you will use the car enough to justify the drive and the island’s tight, paid parking. If you are a group, carrying luggage, arriving at an awkward hour, or the forecast is ugly, the private boat turns a logistics headache into the best hour of the trip — and it is the only option that ignores the public timetable entirely. You can see live boats and pricing on our Split to Hvar taxi boat page.

Hvar is also the natural hub for the rest of the archipelago. From here you can carry on to Hvarista Dubrovnikiin by sea, run a half-day to the Blue Cave on Biševo, or island-hop toward Vis, Brač, Šolta ja Korčula.

Coming straight from Split Airport?

Split Airport sits about 25 minutes by road from the Split ferry port — so if you are relying on a public catamaran, you first have to reach the port, then hope a sailing lines up with your flight. In peak season it often does not, especially for late arrivals. A private boat can collect you near the airport or at the Riva and run you straight to Hvar in under an hour; airport–Hvar transfers are €400–900 for the boat. Full detail is on our Split Airport to Hvar page.

Planning your crossing? Message the Dalmatia Express crew with your dates, group size and flight time and we will tell you honestly whether the catamaran or a private boat is the smarter move for your trip.

Split to Hvar: frequently asked questions

How long is the ferry from Split to Hvar?

The fast catamaran to Hvar Town takes about 50–60 minutes. The car ferry to Stari Grad takes about 1 hour 50 minutes to 2 hours, plus a 20–35 minute drive on to Hvar Town. A private taxi boat runs Split to Hvar in about 55 minutes, dock to dock.

Is there a direct ferry from Split to Hvar Town?

Yes — the passenger catamaran (Jadrolinija line 641 and Krilo / Kapetan Luka) sails directly into Hvar Town harbour. The car ferry does not: it goes to Stari Grad, about 20 km away, so if you want to arrive in Hvar Town itself without a car, take the catamaran or a private boat.

How much is the Split to Hvar catamaran in 2026?

Foot-passenger fares run roughly €10–30 one way depending on the operator and the season, with children around half price. Krilo is often the cheapest off-peak, while Jadrolinija’s peak fare sits near the top of the range. Always confirm the exact price on the current timetable.

Can you take a car from Split to Hvar?

Yes, on the Jadrolinija car ferry to Stari Grad. In high season (29 May–27 September 2026) budget about €8.40 per adult and €47.60 for a standard car, roughly €56 one way. Book the specific sailing ahead in summer, because the ticket doubles as your vehicle’s reservation for that crossing.

Can you do Split to Hvar as a day trip?

Yes. With up to 18–20 catamaran sailings a day in peak season and a last boat back to Split around 20:00, a day trip works well — spend it in Hvar Town or around Stari Grad. Book both legs in advance in July and August, as popular departures sell out.

What happens if the Split to Hvar ferry is cancelled?

Fast catamarans are cancelled first in strong bura or jugo winds, because they ride rough seas far less comfortably than the big car ferries. If the public boats stop, our closed-cabin, radar-equipped private fleet can often still make the crossing — it is one of the main reasons people book a private taxi boat in the shoulder season.

Is a private boat from Split to Hvar worth it?

For a group it often makes sense: one boat price (€370–900) covers up to around a dozen people, you leave when you want rather than on the timetable, and you land exactly where you are staying. For a solo traveller or couple on a flexible schedule, the catamaran is more economical. It comes down to group size, timing and luggage.

Miten pääsen Splitin lentokentältä Hvariin?

Reach the Split ferry port (about 25 minutes by road) and take a catamaran if one lines up with your flight, or book a private boat that collects you near the airport and runs straight to Hvar in under an hour. Airport–Hvar private transfers are €400–900 per boat. See our Split Airport to Hvar page for details.

Ready to lock it in? Get a quick quote from the crew — tell us your dates and group size and we will come straight back with the best way across.

Sources & further reading

Timetables, fares and season dates were checked against the operators’ official 2026 information:

• Jadrolinija — Split–Hvar catamaran (line 641) and Split–Stari Grad car ferry (line 635)
• Krilo / Kapetan Luka — 2026 sailing schedule
• Split Airport — arrivals and ground transport

Fast-ferry fares and departure times change through the season; confirm your exact sailing on the operator’s site before travelling.