Split in 2026: Diocletian's Car-Free Palace and the Coast

Split carries no emission zone at all, but its old town needs none: the historic core, built inside the walls of Diocletian’s Roman palace, admits no cars, with apartments, restaurants and washing lines threaded through the ancient stonework. Park in a garage or lot just outside and walk in among the ruins. Keep the car instead for the coast road north and south, the motorway link from Zagreb and the ferries that reach the scattered islands.

The city itself sits on a peninsula jutting into the sea. Split’s ferry port is one of the busiest in the Mediterranean, with boats heading to Hvar, Brač, Vis, and further south to Korčula. The bus station and train station are right next to the port, so everything converges in one noisy, hectic strip along the eastern waterfront. Driving into that zone during July is an exercise in patience.

Do You Actually Need a Car in Split?

For the old town? Absolutely not. Diocletian’s Palace is pedestrianised and the streets around it are either closed to cars or so narrow you would not want to try. The Riva waterfront, the Green Market, Marmontova shopping street — all walkable. Local buses cover the wider city well enough, and taxis are reasonable by European standards.

But if your trip includes anything beyond the city limits, a car changes everything. The islands require a ferry but driving your own car onto the boat means you can actually see the interior of Hvar or reach Bol beach on Brač without relying on sporadic local buses. Krka National Park is ninety minutes north. Plitvice Lakes — the big one — is a proper three and a half hour drive but absolutely doable as a long day trip. Trogir is just thirty minutes up the coast and worth an afternoon. Without a car, you are stuck with expensive organised tours or limited bus schedules.

Rent at the airport. The city centre agencies charge similar rates but airport pickup means you skip the bus transfer and start driving immediately.

Parking in Split

This is the part that frustrates people. Split was not designed for cars. The historic core has zero parking, and the areas around it fill up fast in summer. Here is what actually works:

Spaladium Arena (Lora) — The large lot by the sports arena west of the centre. Cheap, usually has space, and it is a flat fifteen-minute walk along the waterfront to Diocletian’s Palace. This is where locals tell you to park when everything else is full.

Obala Lazareta — The garage right next to the old town, between the palace walls and the ferry port. Convenient but expensive and small. In peak season it fills by mid-morning. If you arrive early, this is the most convenient spot.

Katalinića Brig — The multi-storey garage on the hill above the eastern side of the old town. Good for the Bačvice beach area too. Rates are moderate and it rarely fills completely.

Street parking zones — Split uses a three-zone system. Zone 1 (closest to centre) is expensive and limited to two hours. Zone 2 gives you four hours. Zone 3, further out, is where you actually want to park if staying longer. Pay via the EasyPark app or at the meter. Enforcement is real — they ticket quickly.

One practical note: if you are catching an early morning ferry, park at the ferry terminal lot the night before. The rates are not great but the convenience of walking straight to the boat at 6 AM is worth it.

Getting to Split

From Zagreb — The A1 motorway runs south through the mountains and drops you at Split in about four hours. The road is modern, well-maintained, and mostly two lanes each direction. You will pass through several toll stations; the total from Zagreb to Split runs approximately €24.50 for a standard car. The Sveti Rok tunnel and the Mala Kapela tunnel are the dramatic bits — long, dark passages through the Dinaric Alps. Rest stops along the A1 are decent, with proper restaurants and clean facilities. Fill up before the last toll station; fuel in Split proper costs a bit more.

From Dubrovnik — Two options. The coastal road (D8) hugs the shoreline through Makarska, Omiš, and the Neretva delta. Gorgeous drive, terrible if you are in a hurry. Count on three to three and a half hours depending on traffic and trucks. The alternative is the motorway route that dips briefly through Bosnia-Herzegovina near Neum — same travel time but far less stressful. You will cross the Pelješac Bridge now, which eliminated the old border crossing hassle.

From Zadar — Straight down the A1, roughly ninety minutes. Easy drive, no surprises.

Croatian Motorway Tolls

Croatia uses a ticket-based toll system on its motorways. You grab a ticket at the entry point and pay when you exit. Cards, cash (euros), and ENC electronic tags all work.

Tolls are per vehicle class. Campervans and vehicles towing trailers pay more. Since July 2025, HAC standardised the ENC electronic-tag discount at 22% for passenger cars, so the tag pays for itself quickly if you plan to drive the motorways extensively.

Speed Limits in Croatia

Police set up speed traps on the A1 regularly, particularly near the Split exit and around the Dugopolje interchange. Fixed cameras exist too. Fines start around €65 for minor violations but jump quickly — 50 km/h over the limit means a court date and potential licence confiscation. Stick to the limits. Croatian police do not negotiate roadside.

On rural roads outside Split, especially heading toward Omiš or along the coast toward Makarska, the limit drops to 50 or even 40 in villages. These are not always well-marked. Watch for the town name sign — in Croatia, the town name sign itself means the 50 km/h limit begins. The crossed-out town name means it ends.

Day Trips from Split

A car opens up the entire central Dalmatian coast and beyond.

The Trogir and Omiš trips are easy afternoon outings. Krka deserves a full day — arrive early before the tour buses. Plitvice in a day from Split is ambitious but plenty of people do it; the drive north on the A1 is straightforward.

Ferry Connections from Split

Split’s ferry port is run primarily by Jadrolinija, the state ferry company. In summer, additional operators like Krilo and TP Line run fast catamarans.

Car ferries leave for Supetar (Brač), Stari Grad (Hvar), and Vis. The Supetar crossing is the shortest at about fifty minutes. Stari Grad takes roughly two hours. Book car slots in advance during July and August — walk-on passengers almost always get on, but cars get turned away when it is full.

Catamarans (passengers only) run to Hvar Town, Bol, Vis, Korčula, and Lastovo. These are faster but you cannot bring a vehicle. Schedules change seasonally; check Jadrolinija’s website a few days before.

A practical tip: if you are taking a car to Hvar, the ferry goes to Stari Grad on the north side of the island, not Hvar Town. Hvar Town is another thirty-minute drive across the island through the lavender-scented interior. The road is narrow and winding but has been resurfaced recently.

Fuel

Fuel stations are plentiful around Split. INA and Petrol are the two main chains. Expect to pay around €1.45-1.55 per litre for diesel and €1.55-1.65 for petrol. Prices at motorway stations run about five to ten cents higher. Most stations accept cards. The INA station on Vukovarska ulica near the Joker mall is the last convenient stop before the ferry port.

LPG is available at select stations but not widespread. If your rental runs on LPG, plan your stops.

Required Equipment and Rules

Croatian traffic law has a few requirements that catch foreign drivers off guard:

Headlights — Dipped headlights must be on at all times while driving, day and night, winter and summer. This is not optional. Most rental cars handle it automatically but verify yours does.

Warning triangle and reflective vest — Must be in the car. Rental companies include these but check the boot before you drive off.

First aid kit — Legally required. Again, should be in the rental.

Blood alcohol limit — 0.05% for most drivers, 0.00% for drivers under 24 and professional drivers. Croatian police run random breath tests, especially on weekend nights and near the coastal clubs.

Right-hand traffic — Croatia drives on the right. Roundabouts go counter-clockwise. Priority to the right at unmarked intersections unless signs say otherwise.

Full details on equipment requirements and Croatian traffic law are in our Croatia driving guide. For seasonal tyre regulations, see the Croatia tyre laws page.

Emergency Contacts

HAK is the Croatian auto club. They handle breakdowns, towing, and roadside repairs. Response times in the Split area are generally under forty minutes. If you break down on the motorway, pull onto the hard shoulder and call 1987 — they will locate you by the nearest kilometre marker.

Related Guides

• Complete Croatia Driving Guide — all rules, documents, and requirements
• Croatia Tyre Laws — seasonal mandates and winter tyre rules
• Driving in Dubrovnik — the coastal drive south
• Driving in Zadar — northern Dalmatia and gateway to Plitvice
• All City Driving Guides