How to Get from Split to Hvar (2026): Ferries, Catamarans & Transfers

Hvar is one of the sunniest, most fashionable islands on the Dalmatian coast — lavender fields, a walled old town, and a harbour lined with yachts. But it is an island: there’s no bridge, so from Split you cross by boat. The twist most people don’t realise until they’re booking is that there are two different boats going to two different ports, and picking the right one depends entirely on whether you’re bringing a car. Here’s how it works in 2026.

The short answer

Split’s harbour sits right beside the old town, and from it two kinds of boat serve Hvar:

1. Fast catamaran to Hvar Town — about 1 to 1h20, foot passengers only, no cars. Arrives in Hvar Town itself, central and where most people stay. This is how most visitors go.
2. Car ferry to Stari Grad — roughly 2 hours, carries cars. Arrives at Stari Grad, about 20 km from Hvar Town on the other side of the island; you continue from there by bus or taxi.

So the rule of thumb is simple: no car → catamaran to Hvar Town (fast and central); bringing a car → car ferry to Stari Grad (then drive across).

Option 1 — Fast catamaran to Hvar Town (foot passengers)

This is the one most travellers want. The fast passenger catamaran leaves Split’s harbour and delivers you straight into Hvar Town — the walled centre, the harbour, the restaurants — in about 1 hour to 1h20. You step off the boat already where you’re staying, no onward transfer needed.

• Time: ~1h to 1h20
• Arrives: Hvar Town (central)
• Carries: foot passengers only — no cars
• Operators: Jadrolinija and Kapetan Luka (Krilo), among others
• Frequency: several departures a day in summer, far fewer off-season

The one catch: because it’s foot-passenger only, you’ll be handling your own luggage on and off the boat, and in peak season these sailings fill up (more on booking below).

Option 2 — Car ferry to Stari Grad (with a car)

If you’re bringing a vehicle, you can’t use the catamaran — you take the Jadrolinija car ferry instead. It’s slower, about 2 hours, and it doesn’t land in Hvar Town: it arrives at Stari Grad, roughly 20 km away on the other side of the island.

• Time: ~2 hours
• Arrives: Stari Grad (not Hvar Town)
• Carries: cars and foot passengers
• Operator: Jadrolinija
• Onward: from Stari Grad to Hvar Town by bus (timed to meet the ferry) or taxi

So a car ferry trip is really two legs: the crossing to Stari Grad, then the drive or bus across the island to wherever you’re staying. Factor that extra 20 km in when you plan your arrival.

Getting to the Split ferry port

Whichever boat you’re taking, you first have to reach the Split ferry port and catamaran terminal on time, with your luggage — and that’s where a private transfer earns its place. If you’re flying into Split Airport (SPU) or coming from a hotel elsewhere in the city, a driver takes you door-to-door to the terminal, luggage in the boot, so you’re not dragging suitcases across town or cutting it fine for a boat that leaves without you.

The same works on the island side: if you land at Stari Grad with a car ferry, a transfer or taxi can cover the Stari Grad → Hvar Town leg so you don’t have to wait on the ferry bus. (There’s also a private day-trip option to Hvar if you only want to visit — but this guide is about getting there to stay.)

Should you bring a car to Hvar?

Honestly, for most visitors: no. Hvar Town’s old centre is largely car-restricted, and both driving and parking there are a genuine hassle in summer. If your plan is to base yourself in Hvar Town and explore on foot, by taxi and by local boat, the foot-passenger catamaran is the easier, faster choice — you skip the longer ferry, the Stari Grad landing and the parking problem entirely.

Bring a car only if you specifically want to roam the whole island — the lavender villages, the wine roads, the quieter beaches — over several days. Otherwise the car is more burden than benefit.

Booking ahead in summer

Hvar is popular, and in July and August the fast catamarans to Hvar Town regularly sell out. Book your foot-passenger tickets in advance rather than turning up at the terminal hoping for space — a sold-out sailing can cost you half a day waiting for the next one. If you’re taking the car ferry in peak season, reserve a vehicle space ahead too, as those fill up as well. Off-season the pressure eases and sailings are fewer, so check the current timetable either way.

Bottom line

Hvar is an island, so it’s always a boat — the only real question is which one. Travelling without a car, take the fast catamaran straight to Hvar Town (about 1 to 1h20, central, foot passengers only) and book ahead in summer. Bringing a car, take the Jadrolinija car ferry to Stari Grad (about 2 hours) and drive the 20 km across. Either way, the part you can lock down in advance is the run to the Split ferry port: a door-to-door transfer with your luggage means you reach the terminal relaxed and actually make your boat.