Croatian Islands by Ferry: Routes to Hvar, Brač & Vis – Ferries and catamarans in Croatia

Croatia has one of the most useful ferry networks in the Mediterranean. Ferries and catamarans connect the mainland with popular islands such as Hvar, Brač, Vis, Korčula, Mljet, Rab, Cres, Pag, Ugljan, Pašman and Dugi Otok, as well as with many smaller islands in the Adriatic.

This guide helps you choose the right ferry route depending on the island you want to visit. If you already know the exact route, you can continue to the detailed timetable and ticket price pages linked below.

Quick guide: which ferry route do you need?

For Brač: use Split – Supetar or Makarska – Sumartin.
For Hvar: use Split – Stari Grad, Drvenik – Sućuraj or a catamaran to Hvar town or Jelsa.
For Vis: use Split – Vis.
For Korčula: use Orebić – Dominče, Split – Vela Luka or a catamaran connection.
For Mljet: use Prapratno – Sobra, or seasonal passenger connections from Dubrovnik and nearby islands.
For Rab: use Stinica – Mišnjak, Valbiska – Lopar or a passenger connection from Rijeka.
For Cres: use Brestova – Porozina or Valbiska – Merag.
For Pag: use Prizna – Žigljen, or a passenger connection to Novalja.
For Ugljan: use Zadar – Preko or Zadar Gaženica – Preko.
For Pašman: use Biograd – Tkon.
For Dugi Otok: use Zadar Gaženica – Brbinj or passenger lines from Zadar.

Main Croatian islands and ferry routes

The table below gives a simple overview of the most important ferry and catamaran routes to Croatian islands. Car ferries are usually the best option if you travel with a vehicle, while catamarans and fast ships are often better for foot passengers and island hopping.

Island	Main ferry or catamaran routes	Best for	Cars
Brač	Split – Supetar; Makarska – Sumartin; Split – Bol – Hvar/Jelsa catamaran	Supetar, Bol, Sutivan, Postira, Milna, Sumartin	Yes, on Split – Supetar and Makarska – Sumartin
Hvar	Split – Stari Grad; Drvenik – Sućuraj; Split – Hvar; Split – Bol – Jelsa	Hvar town, Stari Grad, Jelsa, Vrboska, Sućuraj	Yes, on Split – Stari Grad and Drvenik – Sućuraj
Vis	Split – Vis; seasonal fast ship connections	Vis town, Komiža, Stiniva, Biševo trips	Yes, on the Split – Vis ferry
Korčula	Orebić – Dominče; Split – Vela Luka; catamarans via Hvar and Dubrovnik	Korčula town, Vela Luka, Lumbarda, island hopping	Yes, on Orebić – Dominče and Split – Vela Luka
Mljet	Prapratno – Sobra; Dubrovnik and island catamaran connections	Mljet National Park, Sobra, Pomena, Polače	Yes, on Prapratno – Sobra
Lastovo	Split – Vela Luka – Ubli; Split – Hvar – Korčula – Lastovo catamaran	Ubli, Lastovo, remote island travel	Yes, on the ferry to Ubli
Rab	Stinica – Mišnjak; Valbiska – Lopar; Rijeka – Rab – Novalja catamaran	Rab town, Lopar, beaches, Kvarner island trips	Yes, on main ferry routes
Cres	Brestova – Porozina; Valbiska – Merag; Rijeka – Cres/Martinšćica catamaran	Cres town, northern Cres, Lošinj connection	Yes, on Brestova – Porozina and Valbiska – Merag
Pag	Prizna – Žigljen; Rijeka – Rab – Novalja catamaran	Novalja, Zrće, northern Pag	Yes, on Prizna – Žigljen
Ugljan	Zadar – Preko; Zadar Gaženica – Ošljak – Preko	Preko, Kukljica, day trips from Zadar	Yes, on Zadar Gaženica – Preko
Pašman	Biograd – Tkon	Tkon, Pašman, Ugljan-Pašman road connection	Yes
Dugi Otok	Zadar Gaženica – Brbinj; Zadar – Božava – Brbinj fast ship	Sali, Telašćica, Božava, Brbinj, beaches and nature	Yes, on Zadar Gaženica – Brbinj

Ferries to Brač

Brač is one of the easiest Croatian islands to reach by ferry. The main car ferry route is Split – Supetar, which is the best choice if you are travelling from Split, Split Airport or central Dalmatia. This route is especially practical for Supetar, Sutivan, Postira, Milna and the western or central part of the island.

The second important car ferry route is Ferry Brac (Makarska – Sumartin). This route is useful if you are travelling from the Makarska Riviera or southern Dalmatia and want to reach Sumartin, Selca, Povlja or the eastern part of Brač.

If you are travelling as a foot passenger and your destination is Bol, check the catamaran and fast ship options from Split, especially in the tourist season.

Ferries to Hvar

Hvar has several ferry and catamaran options, so the best route depends on your destination and whether you travel with a car.

If you travel with a car from Split, the most important route is Split – Stari Grad. Stari Grad is a practical arrival port for Stari Grad, Jelsa, Vrboska and also for continuing by road to Hvar town.

If you are travelling from the Makarska Riviera or southern Dalmatia, the Drvenik – Sućuraj ferry is often the shortest sea crossing to Hvar. It arrives on the eastern side of the island, so it is most useful for Sućuraj and the eastern part of Hvar.

Foot passengers can also use catamarans and fast ships to Hvar town or Jelsa. These routes are often the best option for island hopping between Split, Brač, Hvar, Korčula, Vis and Dubrovnik.

Ferries to Vis

The main route to Vis is Split – Vis. This route connects Split with the town of Vis and is the key ferry connection for the island.

Vis is a good choice for travellers who want a more remote island experience. If you travel with a car, check the Split – Vis ferry timetable and ticket information in advance. If you travel without a car, also check whether seasonal fast ship connections are available for your travel date.

Ferries to Korčula

Korčula can be reached from several directions. If you are travelling by car from Pelješac, the most important route is Orebić – Dominče. Dominče is the ferry port near Korčula town, and this route is the usual choice for travellers arriving by road through Pelješac.

If you are travelling from Split with a car or continuing towards Lastovo, check the Split – Vela Luka – Ubli route. Vela Luka is on the western side of Korčula, so this route is useful for Vela Luka and the western part of the island.

Foot passengers can also use catamaran routes between Split, Hvar, Korčula, Mljet and Dubrovnik, especially in the summer season.

Ferries to Mljet

The main car ferry route to Mljet is Prapratno – Sobra. Prapratno is on the Pelješac peninsula, while Sobra is the main ferry port on Mljet.

This route is the best option if you travel with a car and want to explore more of the island. If you are travelling as a foot passenger from Dubrovnik, check seasonal catamaran options to Mljet and nearby islands.

Ferries to Lastovo

Lastovo is one of the more remote Croatian islands, so planning ahead is especially important. The main ferry connection is the route from Split via Vela Luka on Korčula to Ubli on Lastovo.

There are also catamaran connections that include Hvar, Korčula and Lastovo. These can be useful for foot passengers, but schedules may depend strongly on the season.

Ferries to Rab

Rab can be reached by car ferry from the mainland and from the island of Krk. The important routes include Stinica – Mišnjak and Valbiska – Lopar. Foot passengers can also check the Rijeka – Rab – Novalja catamaran.

If you are travelling to Lopar and its sandy beaches, the Valbiska – Lopar route can be very practical. If you are coming from the mainland coastal road, the Stinica – Mišnjak ferry is usually the main access route.

Ferries to Cres

Cres has two important car ferry approaches. The Brestova – Porozina route connects Istria with northern Cres. The Valbiska – Merag route connects Krk with Cres.

Cres is also connected with Lošinj by road, so these ferry routes are often used by travellers going to either Cres or Lošinj.

Ferries to Pag

The main car ferry route to Pag is Prizna – Žigljen. This is a short and frequent ferry crossing, especially useful for travellers going to Novalja and the northern part of Pag.

Pag is also connected to the mainland by bridge in the south, so the best route depends on whether you are coming from northern Croatia, Zadar, Dalmatia or the Kvarner area.

Ferries to Ugljan

Ugljan is one of the easiest islands to visit from Zadar. Passenger boats connect Zadar with Preko, while car ferries usually use the Zadar Gaženica – Ošljak – Preko route.

Because the crossing is short and frequent, Ugljan is a popular choice for day trips from Zadar.

Ferries to Pašman

The main ferry route to Pašman is Biograd – Tkon. This short route is useful for travellers coming from Biograd, Zadar, Šibenik or central Dalmatia.

Pašman is connected with Ugljan by bridge, so travellers can also combine the Biograd – Tkon ferry with the ferry or passenger boat connections between Zadar and Ugljan.

Ferries to Dugi Otok

The main car ferry route to Dugi Otok is Zadar Gaženica – Brbinj. This is the best option if you travel with a car and want to explore the island independently.

Foot passengers can also check fast ship and boat routes from Zadar to Božava, Brbinj and other ports in the Zadar archipelago.

Car ferry or catamaran: which one should you choose?

Choose a car ferry if you are travelling with a vehicle, if you have a lot of luggage or if you want to explore the island by road. Car ferries are usually slower than catamarans, but they are the only practical option for taking a car to most Croatian islands.

Choose a catamaran or fast ship if you travel without a car, want a faster crossing or plan to visit several islands in one trip. Catamarans are especially useful for routes between Split, Hvar, Brač, Vis, Korčula, Mljet and Dubrovnik.

Important travel tips before taking a ferry in Croatia

Always check the latest timetable before travelling. Ferry schedules can change depending on the season, weather, holidays and operational reasons.
Check whether your ticket includes a reservation. On some ferry and catamaran lines, the ticket is tied to a specific departure. On other lines, it may be valid for any departure on the selected day.
Arrive early if travelling by car. In summer, queues can form before popular departures, especially on routes to Brač, Hvar, Pag, Cres, Rab and Korčula.
Check the exact departure port. Some cities have more than one port area. For example, many car ferries from Zadar depart from Gaženica, not from the old town port.
Plan island road travel. The arrival port may not be close to your final destination. For example, arriving in Stari Grad is not the same as arriving in Hvar town, and arriving in Sumartin is not the same as arriving in Supetar.

FAQ about ferries to Croatian islands

Which Croatian islands can I reach by car ferry?

Many Croatian islands can be reached by car ferry, including Brač, Hvar, Vis, Korčula, Mljet, Lastovo, Rab, Cres, Pag, Ugljan, Pašman and Dugi Otok. Some smaller islands have passenger-only boat or catamaran connections.

What is the best ferry island from Split?

From Split, the easiest islands to reach by ferry or catamaran include Brač, Hvar, Vis, Šolta and Korčula. The best choice depends on whether you travel with a car and which island town you want to visit.

Can I take a car to Hvar by ferry?

Yes. The main car ferry routes to Hvar are Split – Stari Grad and Drvenik – Sućuraj. Catamarans to Hvar town and Jelsa are for foot passengers.

Can I take a car to Korčula by ferry?

Yes. The main car ferry routes for Korčula are Orebić – Dominče and Split – Vela Luka. Foot passengers can also use catamaran connections between Split, Hvar, Korčula, Mljet and Dubrovnik.

Which ferry should I take to Brač?

For Supetar and the western or central part of Brač, use Split – Supetar. For Sumartin and the eastern part of the island, use Makarska – Sumartin. For Bol, check both road distance from the arrival port and possible catamaran options.

Do Croatian ferries run all year?

Many main ferry routes run all year, especially routes used by local residents. However, the number of departures is usually higher in summer, and some catamaran or tourist-oriented routes may be seasonal.

Where can I buy ferry tickets in Croatia?

Tickets are usually available through the ferry operator, online ticket systems and ticket offices in ferry ports. Before travelling, always check the latest timetable, ticket rules and departure port.

Continue planning your ferry trip

If you already know your route, continue to the detailed timetable and ticket price pages: