Split is a transportation hub for the Dalmatian coast, which makes it a busy crossroads. Despite the city’s spectacular Old Town, whose borders are defined by the walls of Diocletian’s 3rd-century palace, Split has never had the exotic cachet of other Dalmatian destinations, though most travelers who head for Dubrovnik or Croatia’s islands pass through or make connections here. Today, Split is the source of an extensive transportation network, and it is one of the most accessible cities in Croatia.

Visitor Information -- Split’s walk-in Tourist Information Center (www.visitsplit.com; tel. 021/348-600) is on the seafront at Obala Hrvatskog Narodnog Preporoda 9.

Getting There

By Car -- Before May 2005, it took 5 hrs. or more to drive from Zagreb to Split. That changed when Croatian officials cut the ribbon to open the new Zagreb-Split autocesta that flows through mountains and bypasses country roads. The newer route isn’t quite as scenic as the old, but this toll way has cut about an hour from the trip. Except for weekends in July and August, the 364km (226 mile) drive from Zagreb to Split now takes less time than the 217km (135 mile) south-to-north drive from Dubrovnik to Split on the Adriatic Coastal Highway.

By Plane -- Split’s airport (www.split-airport.tel.hr; tel. 021/203-555) is 26km (16 miles) northwest of the city center between Kaštela and Trogir. Flights from all over Croatia as well as from many European cities fly in and out on regular routes. Service is more frequent in the summer months than in the winter. An airport bus shuttles passengers between the airport and Split’s main bus station for 30kn each way (see www.plesoprijevoz.hr for details).

By Boat --  Split’s ferry port lies just a 10-minute walk from the Old Town, opposite the main bus station. International, local, and island ferries and catamarans move in and out of an area that includes Brač, Hvar, Vis, Korčula, Lastovo, and Šolta. Jadrolinija (www.jadrolinija.hr; tel. 021/338-333) runs the majority of local ferry and catamaran routes. Jadrolinija and Blue Line (www.blueline-ferries.com; tel. 021/352-533) also operate overnight ferries to Ancona, Italy that run all through the year. From June to September, a high-speed catamaran runs daily between Split and Ancona, operated by SNAV (www.snav.it; tel. 021/322-252), an Italy-based company. SNAV also runs high-speed ferries (4 hrs. or less) to Ancona from June through mid-September.

By Bus -- Split is well served by local, national, and international buses, and the station is conveniently located next to the ferry port. Local bus lines run through Split and its suburbs, including Salona, Omiš, and Trogir, while other buses travel many times a day to Zagreb, Zadar, Rijeka, Dubrovnik, and destinations beyond. International buses provide services to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia, Germany, and Italy. Get schedule and fare information at www.ak-split.hr (tel. 060/327-777).

By Train -- Split’s main train station is next to the main bus station at Obala Kneza Domogoja 10. The only really useful service for visitors is the line between Split and Zagreb, which runs a couple of times per day, and once overnight (couchettes available). Call the Split train station (tel. 021/338-525) or the national train office (www.hzpp.hr; tel. 060/333-444) for information.

Getting Around -- Most of Split’s best sights are within the walls of Diocletian’s Palace or nearby. The walled city is limited to pedestrians; even the street skirting the Riva immediately outside the palace walls is closed to motorized vehicles. There are a few sights worth taking in outside the historic core—for example, the Meštrović Gallery in Marjan and the public beach at Bačvice—and you can reach those on foot. If you need a taxi, the main stands are at each end of the Riva (in front of the town market and in front of the Bellevue Hotel). If you don’t see a cab, call tel. 970.

City Layout

Split’s historic core is bounded by Obala Hrvatskog Preporoda (the Riva) in the south, Marmontova Street in the west, Kralja Tomislava in the north, and Hrvojeva in the east; Old Town’s main square, Narodni Trg, is almost in the center of the rectangle.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.