How to get from Split Airport to the centre

Split Airport (SPU) sits about 24 km west of the city, near Trogir in Kaštela. The drive is short — 30 to 60 minutes depending on traffic — but there are several ways to make it, at very different prices. Here is how each works in 2026.

Airport shuttle — best value

The official shuttle bus runs from right outside the terminal to Split’s main bus station, which sits next to the ferry port and a short walk from Diocletian’s Palace. It generally departs around 30 minutes after each arriving flight, costs in the region of €9, and is the sweet spot of price and convenience for most travellers. (As of early 2026 the operator changed — the long-running Pleso service was replaced by a new official partner, Platanus — so book or check on the current provider’s site.)

Public bus — cheapest

Local city buses (lines around No. 37, plus others) leave from the main road by the airport rather than the terminal door, and cost only a few euros. The catch: line 37 ends at Split’s Sukoišan terminal, not the central old town, so you may need a second local bus or a short taxi to finish the trip — and it’s the slowest option at 50–60 minutes. Great if you’re counting every euro and travelling light.

Taxi or Uber — fastest

Taxis wait just outside arrivals, and Uber operates at the airport too. Door-to-door in about 30 minutes, with fares typically €35–50 depending on time of day and traffic. Worth it if you have heavy luggage, arrive late, or are a group splitting the cost. Agree the fare or use the meter, and avoid anyone “whispering taxi?” in arrivals.

Private transfer — book ahead

A pre-booked private transfer locks in a fixed price and a driver waiting with your name on a card. Costs sit around the taxi range or a little above, but the certainty is welcome for early or late flights, or if you’re heading somewhere awkward to reach.

The local tip that saves hassle

Don’t tell a driver “city centre.” Locals call the City Center One shopping mall just “City Center,” so the phrase is genuinely ambiguous and people end up at the mall. Instead ask for the Old Town or the Ferry Port (Trajektna Luka) — the port is a five-minute walk from the Palace gates and every driver knows exactly where it is.

Heading straight to the islands?

The shuttle and most buses drop you at the main bus station right beside the ferry port — handy if you’re connecting onward to Hvar, Brač or Vis. Leave enough buffer between landing and your sailing, especially in summer traffic.

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