Destinations > Croatia > Dalmatia

Dalmatia

The coastal region between Zadar and Dubrovnik is home to many of Croatia's major sights including Croatia's most visited islands, Dubrovnik and the Diocletian's Palace in Split.

Brac

Brac is the most accessible island from Split and one of the largest islands on the Dalmatian coast. Most visitors stay in the resort towns of Bol and Supetar. Zlatni Rat beach, seen on many tourist brochures, is near Bol although Supetar is the most accessible part of the island with frequent ferry connections to Split.

Practical Information

Tourist Information Centre

Porat 1, Supetar

Tel (021) 630551

Porat Boskih Pomoraca, Bol

Tel (021) 635122

American Express

21 Frankrijklei

Tel (03) 232 5920

Accommodation

The island is geared for tourists which means that there are plenty of more expensive hotels, but no hostels. Bol Tours in can find good value rooms in Bol. In Supetar your best bet is to find a room from one of the women who meet the ferries at Supetar, otherwise you'll have to camp.

Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik has always been most people's reason for visiting Croatia. Dubrovnik was built according to an urban plan in the 13th century and the entire city is like a beautiful museum with its perfect medieval buildings and ancient stone walls. This ancient city on the Adriatic is classified by UNESCO as a world heritage city and is often compared with Venice as one of Europe's most beautiful cities. Although Dubrovnik suffered from extensive bombing during the recent war, most of the damage has been restored bringing the old city back to its original splendor but less tourists. For 5 kuna you can walk along the city walls, afterwards have a few drinks at the Casablanca Bar - the best bar in the old town.

Practical Information

Tourist Information Centre

Placa, Dubrovnik

Tel (020) 426 354

Coming & Going

Cilipi International Airport, about 24km to the south of the city, has scheduled flights to destinations in Croatia and Italy plus charter flights to many European destinations. A Croatia Airlines bus departs about 1½ hours before each flight.

Dubrovnik is well served by frequent bus services to destinations throughout Croatia which are supplemented by international buses to Bosnia-Herzegovina, France, Germany, Israel, Italy and the UK. The bus terminal is located about a half hour walk from the old town and is on the bus route between Lapad, Gruz Harbour and Pile Gate in the old town.

Dubrovnik is the terminus of the popular Jadrolinjia ferry service which stops off at the major islands and mainland cities en-route from Rijeka. In addition, Jadrolinjia also operate a ferry service to Bari, Italy, and Igoumenitsa, Greece. Adriatica operates ferries to both Ancona and Bari in Italy

There are also local ferry services to some of the nearby islands including Mljet, Kolacep, Lopud and Sipan.

Ferries on the above-mentioned routes depart from the ferry terminal at Gruz Harbour, about a 45 minute walk from the old town. Buses for Gruz Harbour depart from Pile Gate.

There are also small ferries to Cavtat and Lokrum which depart from the old town.

Accommodation

Dubrovnik Backpackers' Club

Mostarska 2d, Babin Kuk, Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik Youth Hostel

Vinka Sagrestana 3, 20 000 Dubrovnik

Bus 4, 5

Tel (020) 423 241

Vila Micika

Mata Vodopica 10, Lapad, Dubrovnik

Hvar

This major island is on the main coastal ferry route making it a popular spot to stop off if you're travelling up or down the coast. The island receives more sunshine than elsewhere in the country which adds to Hvar's popularity as a summer destination.

The two main towns on the island are Stari Grad and Hvar town, both are ancient cities which beautiful medieval architecture, however Hvar is the more impressive of the two.

Practical Information

Tourist Information Centre

Trg Sveti Stjepana, Hvar Town

Tel (021) 741 059

Riva 2, Stari Grad

Tel (021) 761 763

Accommodation

The travel agencies in Hvar Town and Stari Grad should be able to find a room for you, otherwise try the camp grounds at Jelsa and Stari Grad.

Green Lizard Hostel

Lucica, Hvar 21450

Tel (021) 742 560

Jagoda & Ante Bracanovic House

Povise Skole, Hvar 21450

Tel (021) 741 416

Korcula

Marco Polo's birthplace is one of the most visited of Croatia's islands. The island is very picturesque, however many people who visit the island go no farther than Korcula town and its beautiful stone buildings.

Practical Information

Tourist Information Centre

next to Hotel Korcula

Tel (020) 715 701

Accommodation

Happy House Korcula

Hrvatske bratske zajednice 6, Korcula Stari Grad

Tel (020) 716 755

Split

Croatia's second largest city is home to a wealth of architectural gems such as the 4th century Diocletian Palace. If you're heading further south, you'll probably pass through Split since it is an essential place to make transport connections to the islands.

Practical Information

Tourist Information Centre

Obala hrvatskog narodnog preporoda 12

Tel (021) 342 142

Local Transport

Central Split is compact enough to walk around, however much of the accommodation is outside the centre in the beachside resorts of Sveti Martin and Podstrana.

Most bus routes run every 20 minutes with tickets ranging from 5 to 14 kuna. Most buses terminate near the market outside the Diocletian's Palace.

Coming & Going

Adria Airlines and Croatian Airlines operate frequent flights to Ljubljana and Zagreb with cheaper prices during the winter months.

The airport is located near Trogir and is accessible by the buses operated by Adria and Croatian Airlines which depart from the port or by local bus 37.

There are frequent buses to most destinations in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. International services operate to major German cities.

The bus station is conveniently situated near the train station and port, within a short walk from the old town. There is a small food court nearby with fast food.

Split's position as a gateway to the Dalmatian islands means there are frequent ferry services to the islands and to cities up and down the coast.

International ferries operate to Ancona, Bari and Trieste in Italy. Domestic services include the popular coastal service between Dubrovnik and Rijeka which includes stops at Korcula, Hvar and Zadar. There are also local ferries to Brac, Vela Luka and Korcula.

The ferry terminal is located on Obala Kneza Domagoja opposite the bus and train stations.

There are several trains a day to Sibenik and Zagreb from the station opposite the port.

Accommodation

When you arrive at the bus/train station or the port, you will see loads of old ladies who will walk up to you muttering "zimmer, chamber, sleeping, sobe". No they're not crazy, they're just trying to tell you that they have a room to rent. If you negotiate a price, it should be about they same as what the youth hostel in Zagreb or Dubrovnik would charge you.

Al's Place

Kruziceva 10, Split

Tel (021) 360148

Hostel Dioklecijan

Priora Petra 8, Split

Tel (021) 332303

Hostel Placida

Sinjska 02, Split

Tel (091) 888 25 27

Hostel Split Mediterranean House

Vukasoviceva 21, Split

Kamena Lodge

Don Petra Perosa 20, Mravince (15 minute drive from Split)

Tel 212 69910

Lavcevic Youth Hostel (Omladinski Hostel)

Velebitska 27, 21000 Split

Tel (021) 538 025

Split Hostel

8 Narodni Trg, Split 21000

Tel (021) 342 787

Tomaya Hostel

11F Pojisanska 25, 21000 Split

Tel (021) 572 658

Trogir

About an hour north of Split, this ancient walled city features a maze of ancient narrow streets offset by a pleasant waterfront esplanade. Trogir was recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997 and has a lot of things to see including many buildings dating from the 13th and 15th century.

Practical Information

Tourist Information Centre

Obala Bana Berislavica 12

Tel (021) 881 412

Coming & Going

Many long distance buses stop in Trogir en-route from Split although it can be easier to leave from Split during summer as many of the buses are full by the time they get to Trogir.

Local bus 37 runs between Split and Trogir every 20 minutes, tickets cost around 14 kuna each way.