Croatian Travel: Ferry System

Traveling by Ferry Inside Croatia

Croatia is a country of many islands along the western coastline and you will probably find yourself going from the mainland to several of the nearby islands to explore, so you will become quite familiar with the ferry system.

Along the coastal regions of Croatia there are dozens of islands you can explore that are just a short ferry ride across the Adriatic Sea. Traveling by ferry or fast boat is the most common way locals and tourists alike get from the mainland to the islands and between islands.

Most ferries offer year-round service, but during the off-season months their schedules might be reduced to just one ferry per day, so check the schedules before you find yourself stranded on one of the less populated islands. You can even take a car or a bicycle on many of the ferries that operate along the coast.

If you are interested in doing a little island hoping while in Croatia, then you will want to book passage on one of the Jadrolinija car ferries that travel up and down the coast from Rijeka in the north all the way down to Dubrovnik in the south.

Of course, you do not need to travel the entire distance of the country, but you can if you like. The most scenic and popular parts of the coast are between Split and Dubrovnik, so this would be a good route to take on the ferry.

Inside cabins can be booked ahead of time, but there is usually plenty of room to travel on the open deck. Jadrolinija ships all have restaurants on board that serve sandwiches, snacks, coffee, soda, and alcohol, but they can be a bit pricey. The best thing to do is to bring aboard your own food and drink to enjoy.