How to get from Split Airport to the town of Jelsa on island Hvar

Written By Carolyn Zelikow

The nearest airport to Hvar is Split International (SPU). There are two basic ways to get from there to the island of Hvar: private transfer or public ferry.

Private Boat Transfer: The Easy Way

The easiest way to get from Split airport to the island of Hvar is by private boat transfer. Here is how it works:

  • A taxi driver meets you at Arrivals. He takes you and your luggage to the nearby port (€30) OR you can walk to the pier yourself. It is a 10-minute walk.

  • A powerboat will take you from the airport to the dock closest to your accommodations (€450 including fuel). The ride takes about an hour, depending on weather.

  • You walk with your luggage from the drop-off to where you’re staying. For families staying at the Fontana Bayside Resort, the walk will be about 5 minutes.

Total time: 75 minutes.

Total cost: €450-480.

Which company to book? We recommend Faros Boats for private transfers. Their skippers are experienced, reliable, and speak English. The owner, Vlado Matijević, also happens to be a Field School of Hvar parent!

When to Splurge on a Private Airport Transfer from SPU to Hvar

Powerboats are small and bouncy. Pregnant women, babies, and people inclined to motion sickness should steer clear.

We recommend that families coming from North America or Asia invest in a private transfer on the inbound leg of their itinerary. Coming from the US, Canada, or Latin America, children and parents will have already endured an overnight flight with a transfer from a larger hub to Split International Airport. The last leg of the trip - from Split Airport to the town of Jelsa - is the hardest, because everyone is exhausted and there can be a lot of waiting and/or hurrying in the summer heat and crowds.

A private transfer also makes sense if your family is arriving late at night or departing early in the morning - before or after the ferries are running.

The Most Popular Way to Get from Split Airport to Jelsa

Most people do not hire a private transfer from Split Airport to Jelsa. Here is how they get from point A to point B:

  • Take the airport shuttle (€10 pp) or a taxi from the airport (around €50 for a family) to the ferry port, which is old town Split. The drive is 30 minutes.

  • Buy tickets at the kiosk (passengers older than 12, €5.90 to €6.10; children older than 3, €3 to €4.10; children younger than 3, free). You can also buy tickets in advance a few weeks ahead. The main ferry company is Jadrolinija. You can view timetables and prices on their website. Do not take the catamaran to Hvar Town. It’s an easy mistake to make, but families participating in The Field School should book a ferry or catamaran to Jelsa or Stari Grad, which are much closer to where they will be staying. There are multiple ferries and catamarans going to both ports every day.

  • Wait at the ferry port for your boat. Families may be tempted to try to explore historic Split while they are waiting. It’s doable but they will need to store their luggage, identify exactly which pier their boat is leaving from, and manage time accordingly. The ferry port is 10-15 minutes from Diocletian’s palace (map), for example, and the walk can feel arduous with small children in the summer heat. We would instead recommend just boarding your boat early and finding a good spot. Ferries open their doors 45 minutes in advance of departure; catamarans have a shorter window.

  • Board your boat and relax. The ferries, large boats which carry cars and trucks, take 2 hours and go to Stari Grad only. Catamarans are smaller and only carry pedestrians. Both Jelsa and Stari Grad are serviced by catamarans. Both types of boat have cafes that sell snacks, espresso, soft drinks, and alcoholic beverages - a welcome pick-me-up if you don’t have time to stop for a snack after the airport.

  • If you arrive at Stari Grad, you will take a taxi from that port to your accommodations in Jelsa (€30). We recommend Taxi Plenka, which is our transportation partner for children’s activities. If you arrive in Jelsa, you can walk from the port to you accommodations (30 minutes) or hire a taxi (€15).

Total time: minimum 2 hours, maximum 5 hours.

Total cost for 2 adults & 2 children: €70-€100, not including luggage locker or refreshments.

Should I rent a car on the mainland and bring it on the ferry?

Families participating in The Field School of Hvar do not need to rent a car. All program-related transportation is provided. Our accommodations, coworking office, and learning space are ten minutes by foot from Jelsa, which has all the essentials and charm to spare. For most families, it will be enough to rent a car for a day here or there to explore the broader island. The going rate is about €60/day. We recommend Hvar Unlimited.

Carolyn Zelikow