Split braces for 100,000+ travellers this weekend

If you are flying into or sailing from Split this weekend, expect crowds and long queues: the city is preparing for more than 100,000 passengers through its airport and ferry port over the weekend of 21 June 2026, the busiest stretch of the early summer so far. The single best move is simple — get to the terminal earlier than you think you need to.

What is happening in Split

Split is the main gateway to central Dalmatia and its islands, and the start of the school holidays plus peak package-tour arrivals have pushed demand sharply up. Thousands of arrivals and departures are scheduled at the airport, alongside heavy traffic at the ferry port right in front of the old town, where catamarans and car ferries leave for the islands all day.

Extra ferries and the islands in demand

To cope with the rush, national operator Jadrolinija has added extra sailings, including additional departures toward Supetar on the island of Brač, the shortest and most popular crossing from Split. Demand is described as exceptionally strong on the routes to Hvar, Vis, Vela Luka (Korčula) and Lastovo — exactly the island-hopping classics that fill up first in June. For more on moving around the coast, see our Croatia transport guide and the wider cities hub.

What it means for your trip

• Arrive early. Authorities specifically warn drivers to come well ahead of departure for vehicle (car) ferries, where queues at the ramp are longest.
• Mind the heat. Intense heat is forecast, so bring water and sun cover while you wait in the open ferry lanes.
• Foot passengers have it easier than cars; if you can travel without a vehicle on the busiest crossings, you will usually board faster.
• If you are continuing by road afterwards, line up your wheels in advance — see our car rental in Croatia guide, and for picking calmer dates overall, the best time to visit Croatia.

Wider context

Heavy June weekends are now a fixture on the Croatian coast, and Split is the pressure point because it pairs a busy airport with the country’s busiest island ferry hub. If your plans are flexible, mid-week sailings and early-morning departures are noticeably calmer. Heading further south instead, our Dubrovnik travel guide covers that gateway, and we track coast-wide updates in the news section.

Schedules and extra sailings change at short notice in peak season — confirm your exact departure with Jadrolinija and the airport before you travel. Based on reporting by Total Croatia News (20 June 2026).