Split Airport Transfers: Bus, Ferry & Taxi to City Centre

Split Airport (SPU) isn’t actually in Split — it’s about 25 km west of the city, near Kaštela and Trogir, so you’ll need ground transport for the roughly 30-minute hop into town (longer in summer traffic). Your main choices are the airport shuttle bus to Split’s main bus station (cheap and simple), a slower public city bus, a taxi or private transfer (fastest, door to door), a rental car picked up at the terminal, and — in summer — a seasonal catamaran from the nearby coast. For most arrivals the shuttle bus is the easy default; a transfer makes sense with luggage, a group or a late arrival. Fares below are rough euro (€) ballparks, not quotes — confirm the current price and timetable before you rely on them.

Heads-up. Bus fares, taxi rates and schedules change with the season and operator. The euro figures here are planning estimates to help you choose, not live prices — check the operator’s site or ask at the airport desk for the current details.

Where the airport is

The airport sits on the coast at Resnik, in Kaštela, between Split and Trogir. It’s only about 6 km from Trogir and roughly 25 km from central Split. That geography matters: if you’re heading straight to Trogir you’ve got a very short hop, while Split is a half-hour drive east along the coast or the motorway. The terminal was expanded a few years ago, so the building you arrive in is modern, with the bus stops, taxi rank and car-hire desks all just outside.

The airport shuttle bus (the easy default)

The most popular option is the airport shuttle bus run by Pleso prijevoz (the Croatia Airlines coach), which connects the terminal with Split’s main bus station (Autobusni kolodvor) by the harbour. It’s timed loosely around flight arrivals and departures, takes around 30–50 minutes depending on traffic, and costs a low single fare paid to the driver or online. From the bus station you’re a short walk from the Riva and the old town, or you can pick up a city bus or taxi for the last stretch.

This shuttle is the right pick if you’re travelling light, happy to end up at the bus station, and want the cheapest reliable ride that isn’t the slow local bus. Buy a ticket as you board; in peak summer it can fill, so don’t dawdle to the stop.

The public city bus (cheapest, slower)

The local operator Promet Split runs public city buses along the Kaštela coast that pass the airport, most usefully the line linking Split and Trogir via Kaštela. It’s the cheapest way into town, but also the slowest, because it stops frequently through every Kaštela village. You pay a standard city fare (cheaper if you buy the ticket beforehand rather than from the driver), and you’ll want some coins or a contactless card ready.

Take the city bus if you’re on a tight budget, not in a hurry, and ideally not loaded with suitcases — luggage space is limited and the bus can be crowded. If you’re going to Trogir rather than Split, this same coastal bus is genuinely handy given how close the airport is.

Taxi and private transfer (fastest, door to door)

A taxi from the rank outside arrivals will take you directly to your accommodation in about 30 minutes, traffic permitting. It’s far quicker and more comfortable than the bus, at a much higher price; agree the fare or confirm the meter before setting off, as airport runs are a fixed longer distance. For a set price booked in advance, a private transfer is the most predictable: a driver meets you in arrivals with your name, helps with bags, and drives you to the door for a flat rate per car (not per person), which is good value for a family or group of four.

A transfer or taxi is the sensible choice if you land late at night (when buses thin out), have heavy luggage or kids, or are heading somewhere off the bus route — say a villa outside town or straight down the coast. With four people splitting the per-car fare, the gap to the bus narrows a lot.

The seasonal catamaran

In the summer months a seasonal fast catamaran operates from the coast near the airport (the Resnik/Kaštela area) to Split and on to some islands, aimed at travellers who want to skip the city entirely and go straight to the coast. Because these seasonal lines and their stops change year to year, treat this as an option to check live rather than count on: confirm whether it’s running for your dates, where exactly it departs, and how you reach the jetty from the terminal. If it fits, it’s a scenic way to begin an island trip — see how the boat network works in our Croatia island hopping guide.

Renting a car at the airport

If your trip is built around driving — the islands aside — picking up a hire car at the terminal saves a transfer into town and back out. The major desks are in the building, and you’re straight onto the road for the coast, the Dalmatia route to Dubrovnik or the inland national parks. Bear in mind a car is a liability inside Split — the old town is pedestrian-only and parking is scarce and paid — so this only pays off if you’re leaving the city soon after landing. Our renting a car in Croatia guide covers rates, insurance and the airport surcharge.

Tips for a smooth arrival

A few things make the airport-to-city leg easier:

• Carry a little cash. The shuttle and city bus take a fare from the driver, and some drivers charge a small extra for a large bag in the hold. Cards and contactless are increasingly accepted, but coins save fuss.
• Match your plan to your flight time. The shuttle is timed loosely around flights, but very early or very late arrivals can fall between services — that’s exactly when a pre-booked transfer or a taxi pays off.
• Know your destination before you land. Heading to the islands? Check whether a seasonal boat suits you, or whether it’s quicker to bus into Split and catch a catamaran from the main harbour. Going to Trogir, just up the coast, means a short hop rather than the full run to Split.
• Sort data on arrival. A working SIM or eSIM makes booking a ride, checking the bus app and finding your accommodation far less stressful — see our wider getting around Croatia guide for the on-the-ground basics.
• Don’t drive into Split’s old town. If you’ve hired a car, remember Diocletian’s Palace is pedestrian-only; aim for a car park outside the core.

Which option should you choose?

• Cheapest reliable ride: the shuttle bus to the main bus station.
• Absolute cheapest: the public city bus — if you’re not in a hurry and travel light.
• Fastest, door to door: a taxi or, for a fixed price, a private transfer — best with bags, kids or a late landing.
• Going to Trogir: the short coastal city bus is ideal given the 6 km distance.
• Driving onward: grab a rental car at the terminal and skip the city entirely.

Once you’re in town, the Split travel guide covers what to see and do, and our getting around Croatia guide explains buses, ferries and trains for the rest of your trip. Heading down the coast next? See Split to Dubrovnik: bus, ferry, car or transfer.

Fares, taxi rates and timetables here are planning estimates in euros, not quotes, and seasonal services change year to year — confirm current details with the operator, the airport or official sources before you travel.