All Aboard: Our Croatian Ferry Adventure from Split to Brac!

As seasoned travelers, we’ve mastered the art of navigating airports and rental cars, but one of the most unique and memorable experiences on our recent trip to Croatia was taking the Jadrolinija ferry—or as the locals call it, the trajekt—from Split to the island of Brac with our car. This ferry system is an essential part of Croatian travel, connecting mainland cities with the country’s stunning islands. Here is our experience on a Croatian Ferry from Split to Brac.

Booking & The Boarding Process

One of the best conveniences of modern travel is the ability to plan ahead, and we found purchasing our ferry passage through the Jadrolinija app to be incredibly easy. Pre-paying meant we could skip the hassle of buying tickets at the port. However, one detail that caught us off guard was the fine print: selecting a ferry time does not guarantee you a spot on that specific sailing. Boarding is strictly first come, first served, meaning if we wanted to be on the 2:00 PM ferry, we needed to arrive by noon to ensure we made it aboard.

For travelers coming from Zagreb, a three-hour drive to Split, timing is everything. We had to factor in bathroom breaks, traffic, and finding parking at the ferry terminal, which required us to start our journey well in advance. On the day of our passage, we arrived early enough to grab coffee with a friend before securing our place in the ferry line.

Driving Onto the Ferry: A Tight Fit!

When it was finally time to board, the precision and coordination of the ferry crew were impressive. I have to give full credit to Dennis for his expert driving skills as he maneuvered our car onto the wobbling ferry. Entering the underbelly of the ship, we found ourselves parked in an incredibly tight space—cars packed like sardines—which made getting in and out of the vehicle quite an adventure.

Ferry Parking

Once parked, we made our way to the uppermost deck to enjoy the stunning one-hour ride across the Adriatic to Supetar, Brac’s main port. The views were breathtaking, with the deep blue sea stretching endlessly around us and glimpses of Croatia’s stunning coastline.

Disembarking: A Maestro at Work

About ten minutes before reaching Supetar, passengers began heading back to their cars. Since we were packed so tightly, I could only access the backseat from the driver’s side, making for an interesting shuffle. Watching the orchestration of the disembarkation process was like watching a maestro conduct an orchestra—the ferry crew waved cars forward with pinpoint precision, directing vehicles from multiple directions seamlessly.

When it was our turn, Dennis navigated us out of the deep underbelly of the ferry, and we felt an exhilarating jolt as our car bounced off the dock plate onto land. It was a short but adrenaline-filled ride to solid ground!

Exploring Brac & Beyond

With our ferry passage successfully completed, I hopped back into my navigator’s seat, and we were on our way to Bol, our final destination on Brac. Having our own car made exploring Brac’s charming villages, hidden beaches, and famous Zlatni Rat beach so much easier. Later in our trip, we also used the ferry system -TP Line to hop over to Hvar, another island gem worth visiting.

TP Line Passenger Only Ferry From Bol, Brac Island to HVAR.

Final Thoughts: Worth the Ride!

Overall, Jadrolinija’s ferry system is a fantastic way to travel between Croatia’s islands, but it does require some planning. If you’re bringing a car, be sure to arrive early, prepare for tight parking spaces, and embrace the organized chaos of ferry travel. For us, it was an exciting, scenic, and essential part of our Croatian adventure—one that we would absolutely do again!

If you'd like to check out our Ferry Experiences, visit our Youtube Channel or website. If you'd like to download Ferry Apps for Jadrolinja or the TPline for your next trip, visit our Planning HUB: https://www.croatianadventurers.com/planning-hub