Dubrovnik Travel Forum

How far is it from Dubvronik to Split? Bus and trains?

I will most likely stop off at some of the islands along the way. Just curious how long this would take me. From there, I would probably go from Zagreb and up to Budapest.

thanks!

Jordan

Jordan,

If you're amenable to taking the ferry and does have the time to spare, I highly recommend it. It's what I did couple of years back but did it reverse - Split to Dubrovnik with several days stopover along the beautiful coastal islands of Brac, Hvar, Vis and Korcula - and then picking up the journey onwards to Dubrovnik. If you were to do the voyage straight Dubrovnik-Split, I'd imagine a good 8-hr. or overnight haul. Enjoy and happy trails. This is one great journey.

There are SEVERAL ways to do, all have advantages and disadvantages.
Dubrovnik has no train station, so it's bus, ship or rental car(!)

1) Dubrovnik-Split by bus. Schedule is here: http://www.libertasdubrovnik.hr/,
http://www.libertasdubrovnik.com/voznired.pdf

Also see here: http://www.croatiatraveller.com/southern_dalmatia/Dubrovnik/Buses.htm

2) Dubrovnik-Split by ship: http://www.jadrolinija.hr/default.aspx?lang=2

3) Dubrovnik-Split by airplane (very reasonable domestic flights!)
http://www.croatiaairlines.com/Default.aspx?alias=www.croatiaairlines.com/hr

Advantages: you see Split, Zagreb and many other places on Adriatic
Disadvantages: relatively expensive train tickets to Budapest from Zagreb unless you do tricks, you don't see Kotor and don't see one of Europe's most scenic railway

5) Dubrovnik-Bar/Podgorica by bus or rental car: see above for bus, it's possible to rent a car at Dubrovnik airport from Montenegrin car rental company and drop it off in Bar. Also going by bus is possible. From Bar or Podgorica go to Budapest by train.

Advantages: you see Kotor, you see one of Europe's most scenic railway, the ticket to Budapest is very cheap.
Disadvantages: you don't see Split or Zagreb, don't see the Croatian part of Adria.

If you have time, suggestion:

1) Fly from USA to Budapest, use www.mishatours.com as we do, they are consolidators and sell tickets for big discount, not available on-line. Call them at 1-800-272-5811 PST.

2) Spend some time in Budapest. Budapest-Venice ticket is 29 Euro in advance, Venice-Zagreb train ticket is 20 Euro in advance. You can see Venice for a day and start to Zagreb the same evening, arriving Zagreb early morning. The "advance" means 1 week. You can easily spend one week in Budapest and you may decide to spend few days in Venice, of course. The Venice->Zagreb and Budapest->Venice train fares as above are available in Europe, esp. in Hungary - but not in the States. Getting these with one week advance purchase is no problem.

3) Start from Zagreb to Split by either train or bus. You may decide to see Plitvice, by he way.

4) Move from Split to Dubrovnik as you like (bus, ship). If you have time, look for Ploce-Sarajevo train ride, very scenic, see Mostar. If not, ignore Ploce and proceed to Dubrovnik

5) Go to Podgorica via Kotor and probably Cetinje. Here your options are either bus (safer but slower) or one-way rental car (the road is not easy, be careful!)

6) Bar (or Podgorica) - >Budapest by train. The price is 15+ 24 = 39 Euro one-way, buy it in two: Bar/Podgorica->Beograd (24 Euro incl. reservation, very scenic, one of the most beautiful in Europe)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5KRqnvUY3c

and Beograd->Budapest (15 Euro, very boring, one of the most boring in Europe, go by night and spend 14 Euro extra in Austrian couchette, save on hotel)

This way you see probably the most.

Going the "other" way is also possible, but keep in mind, Budapest-Zagreb-Split is best for round-trip. The one-way train prices between Hungary and Croatia are rip-off:

Samples (valid either buying in BP or in ZG, does not matter):

BP->ZG = 35.40 Euro (via Koprivnica)
BP->ZG = 37.40 Euro (via Kotoriba, the Maestral Express goes that way)

BP->SP = 78.20 Euro (via Koprivnica)
BP->SP = 80.20 Euro (via Kotoriba, the Maestral Express goes that way)

BP<->ZG = 28.32 Euro (via Koprivnica)
BP<->ZG = 29.92 Euro (via Kotoriba, the Maestral Express goes that way)

BP<->SP = 62.56 Euro (via Koprivnica)
BP<->SP = 64.16 Euro (via Kotoriba, the Maestral Express goes that way)

That's right, the ROUND-TRIP train prices between Hungary and Croatia are 20% cheaper than ONE-WAY!

I think the answers you want are at the link below:
http://www.croatia.hr/English/Destinacije/Odredista.aspx

Have a nice trip but remember electrical apparatus may receive croatian electric current (230V/50Hz). You may use a suitable transformer to mend your electrical outlet.
Note: Dubrovnik is around 200Km far of Split
Cassiovieggore

No matter about which European city you ask, Gyuri will always find the way to divert you from your original plan and suggest you take the Beograd-Bar railroad ;)

Back to your question:
From Dubrovnik to Split there are numerous buses that make the journey in 5 hours. Timetables at www.libertasdubrovnik.hr and www.ak-split.hr.
There are also ferries (www.jadrolinija.hr) - they make the same journey in 8,5 hours stopping at Korcula and Stari Grad (island of Hvar). If you can't fit this ferry into your schedule you can still reach most mid-Dalmatian islands from the port of Split.

Between Split and Zagreb you can choose between:
- buses: departures almost every hour; buses taking the new motorway are faster (5 hrs), buses taking the old road are slower but allow you to stop at Plitvice National Park. For timetables check www.ak-split.hr or www.akz.hr.
- trains: slow overnight service (8,5 hrs) or faster but uncomfortable daily "tilting" trains (5 hrs), timetables at www.hznet.hr
- flights: if you book in advance flights on Croatia Airlines are very cheap and you reach Zagreb in 40 minutes

Between Zagreb and Budapest it is trains or planes. If you take the train take the one going via Koprivnica since it is almost 2 hours faster than the train that goes via Varazdin.

Also note that there are cheap direct flights from the coast (Split, Zadar) to Budapest on Sky Europe.

"No matter about which European city you ask, Gyuri will always find the way to divert you from your original plan and suggest you take the Beograd-Bar railroad ;) "

Yes, it was such a shocking experience... I did not expect it. And there was a nice Hungarian girl, too... Fond memories.

Ooops, Niksa, little correction if you don't mind, just noticed it.

- there is no airplane between ZG and BP and unlikely there will be ever. I wish, there would be a night train in both directions - that would be much better. The travel time of 6-7 hours is just asking for that.

- why the Maestral Express goes via Varazdin escapes me, but it goes and the ticket price is slightly different. That's the train with cars from Split, see here:

http://diesirae.atw.hu/menetrend/nemz_vonatok.htm (train No. 204)

and it's departing Zagreb 7:20, arriving BP 14:58. The earlier train (departing 4:56, arriving 10:58) goes the more logical way. Not enough the way via Varazdin is longer, it's not under electric traction. It's longer by one and half hour, not two.

I wish they would have a special ZG->BP for 15 Euro, but they don't. You can do a close call by going with either train and buying a 'quasi-round-trip".

I did not wanted to say that (too complicated) but this is how it works. There is a 60% discount on round-trips between Hungary and Croatia - but only on round-trips. A round-trip is not necessary means, you have the same startpoint and endpoint. It means EITHER start OR the end is the same.

That means, you can buy two tickets:

a) Zagreb-Murakeresztur-Kotoriba "quasi-roundtrip" for 0.4 * (12.20 + 1.60) = 5.52 Euro
b) Kotoriba-Budapest/Murakeresztur-Kotoriba "quasi-roundtrip" for 0.4 * (22.80 + 1.60) = 9.76 Euro

The total: 15.28 Euro

Niksa, if that trick works for you - you ow me a

http://cache.virtualtourist.com/1552743-Other-Zagreb.jpg

LOL

I think for you, Jordan, it's not important - with US-citizenship you won't have any problems, but for anyone who reads this later: the overland-route from Dubrovnik to Split passes a few kilometers of Bosnia and Herzegowina, so some people might need a visa for that!

For that reason a friend of mine travelled by bus and ferry via Ploce - which was not that convenient because busses and ferries were rare and she spent the whole day to get there.

> there is no airplane between ZG and BP and unlikely there will be ever.

Malev has two direct daily flights between Zagreb and Budapest, and flights are quite popular because trains are rather slow.

Re. "tricks" with splitting tickets in segments - the price of the regular train ticket is so low that I doubt anyone would care enough to complicate things with two separate journeys.

You won, yes, there are flights, my bad.

This is all great info.... thanks a lot

The bus has a scenic route and you get to set foot in Bosnia, which is always good for a story to scare the realtives (though it was absolutely fine and we were treated nicely). The road, however, has a lot of switchbacks and therefore it's not the most pleasant on your stomach. The bus was clean and big enough, no problems with the operation, just the road. Given your plans, however, you can't rule it out. The ferries only run on certain days so give the schedule you may have no choice but to use the bus.

I would not go to Croatia without visiting at least one outer island. Went planning to go for a day or so ended up stuck there for some time and would likely go back. Nice pace of life, food and wine are great, try the local wines. Also do not do not do not go to Croatia with a reservation, negotiate a room when you get there. You'll get twice the room for half the price. Also this is a CASH economy, plan accordingly (though ATMs are everywhere). Expect at least a 20% markup for credit, if not more.

I also highly recommend Budapest. I flew into Dubrovnik on Sky Europe and though the plane was rather nice for a discount (as compared to the cramped Air Berlin plane used earlier). Town can be reached easily and cheaply by bus. Another recommendation is to consider working in a day or two in Slovenia/Bled.

We went the water route: Jadrolinija car ferry from Dubrovnik to Korcula, Krilo Jet passenger boat from Korcula to Hvar and then to Split. We took a bus to Trogir. It's an easy ride from Trogir to Split airport. We flew to Zagreb. It's great if you've got the time. The big ferry doesn't run every day, and the Krilo Jet maybe once daily, so it takes a bit of planning, but all the info is available to the resourceful traveller. There are visitors from all over in the seaside resort areas, so language wasn't a big obstacle. Beautiful country, people beautiful, pleasant and accomodating. We really enjoyed our visit.

Let us know what you think of Budapest.

Tiny Delaware