There's no coastal road quite like the Dalmatian one — but the most relaxing way between Croatia's two most-visited cities is by sea. In summer, fast passenger catamarans run directly along the coast between Split and Dubrovnik, taking around five hours end to end.
How the crossing works
The catamarans are foot-passenger only (no cars) and call at islands along the way — typically Milna or Hvar, then Korčula, before continuing to Dubrovnik. That's part of the appeal: the route threads between the islands rather than following the motorway inland. Services are seasonal, running mainly from late spring to early autumn, with the fullest timetable in July and August.
Tickets and fares
One-way fares for the full run are typically around €50, set by the operators (TP Line and Kapetan Luka/Krilo). Summer sailings can sell out, so book a few days ahead in peak season. Because boats call at the islands, you can also use the same departure for a shorter hop — Split to Hvar or Korčula, say.
Ferry or road?
By road it's roughly 230 km; since the Pelješac bridge opened, the drive stays inside Croatia. The catamaran won't beat the bus on price, but it swaps a highway for a deck view of Hvar, Korčula and the open Adriatic — and lands you right in the middle of each city.
Breaking the journey
A popular plan is to split the trip over several days — a night or two on Hvar and Korčula on the way south. Each leg is bookable separately; see the island-hopping guide below.