Your driver will meet you at your address in Split.
Door-to-door service
Help with your luggage
Trip
You’ll travel in comfort for 1 h 50 min.
Optional sight-seeing
Clean, comfortable car
Professional driver
Bottled water
Child seats
Prepared for handicapped
Smoke-free
Pet friendly
Drop-off
Your driver will drop you off at your address in Zadar.
Door-to-door service
Help with your luggage
In total
160 km1 h 50 min
Questions & Answers about Traveling from Split to Zadar
How long does it take to get to Split from Zadar?
Less than two hours by car! The only other option is to ride on a bus, which takes around 3.5 hours or more to reach Zadar. For the fastest transfer, hire a private driver instead of a rental car.
What is the easiest way to get from Split to Zadar?
You can’t beat the convenience and simplicity of hiring a driver for your transfer. Your driver will meet you at your address in Split and take you to all the sightseeing stops you want to visit before arriving safely in Zadar.
How do you get from Split to Zadar?
By bus or private car! The ferry, train, and flight infrastructure between Split and Zadar is lacking and an inefficient way to travel in this region. To drive in Croatia, you will need an international driver’s license. Alternatively, take the bus or hire a private car service.
What is the fastest way to get from Split to Zadar?
Driving is the fastest way to travel from Split to Zadar. This drive can be done in less than 2 hours and covers a distance of 98 miles (159 km). When in Croatia, make sure you have an international driver’s license or hire a local driver.
Is Zadar worth visiting?
Of course! Zadar is a classic Mediterranean city with warm shores and friendly people. It is a short distance from several national parks as well. Take a boat tour, lounge on the beach, go hiking, and try all the local cuisine!
Is Zadar nicer than Split?
That’s all up to you! Zadar is far smaller and more intimate than Split. If you are looking for a quieter beachfront that still has the amenities of a large city (like an international airport!), Zadar is an excellent option.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have any questions, here are the answers.
Daytrip is the most convenient way to experience 14,500+ cities around the world.
Every traveler deserves real insight into the cultures of the countries they’re visiting. And every amazing place on Earth deserves to be visited and appreciated. We believe unique local knowledge and real human connection are irreplaceable when it comes to truly comprehending another culture.
If the crowds in Split have become too much and you’d like to see the calmer side of Dalmatia, take a road trip from Split to Zadar! Zadar is the smaller, calmer cousin of Split and Dubrovnik. Daytrip makes traveling around the Croatian coast simple with its door-to-door private transportation and hand-picked sightseeing stops.
With a Daytrip driver, you’ll be able to visit areas of Dalmatia that are usually difficult to reach by public transportation. Admire the forests, lakes, and waterfalls in Krka National Park, or take family photos in picture-perfect Primosten.
When you reach Zadar, you’ll be greeted once again by the classic limestone buildings with red-orange terracotta roofs that are the hallmark of cities on the Adriatic Sea. Your driver will navigate the narrow, ancient roads right to your doorstep for the next part of your Croatian vacation.
About Zadar
As with much of the Mediterranean Coast, Zadar has been the envy of neighboring empires for over three millennia. It was originally founded by the Illyrians, who settled in the southern Balkans and the coastal areas you’ll be traveling through as you make your way from Split to Zadar.
It became a significant port city under Roman rule around the 1st century BC. By the Middle Ages, Zadar was part of the Byzantine Empire before falling under Venetian control in the 11th century. Between 1797 and the end of WWII, it was under Austrian, French, and Italian control, respectively.
During Italian rule (1918-1947), Zadar had a mostly Italian-identifying population. Croatian assimilation was part of the state’s agenda, but resentment was growing in the form of the Yugoslav Partisan Movement. Allied bombing in WWII resulted in 80% of Zadar being leveled and most of the Dalmatian Italians left as a result.
After most of the Italian population left, Zadar became part of Yugoslavia. This union of southern Slavs installed highways, railroads, and an airport to encourage internal tourism and immigration to the coast.
As Yugoslavia fell apart in the 1990s, Zadar was once again at war, this time with the Serbs. From 1991 to 1995, the city experienced bombings, sieges, and riots, before becoming part of the newly independent Croatia.
Today, Zadar’s main industries are tourism, agriculture, and seaborne trade. The restoration of major historical sites and infrastructure after the Yugoslav Wars has kept Zadar’s old-world charm while still connecting it with the world. It welcomes thousands of visitors a year to its sunny shores and beautiful natural landscapes.
From Split to Zadar: travel tips
As your road trip from Split to Zadar approaches, these travel tips will help you make the most of your adventure.
Go beyond the city walls
Split and Zadar are both major cities on Croatia’s southern coast, but they aren’t everything there is to see in Dalmatia! Go to those hard-to-reach places you won’t be able to reach by bus when you travel with Daytrip. The ruins of Salona will transport you far into Dalmatia’s Roman past, and with a car, they are more accessible than ever!
Prepare for your activities
Consider the day’s activities when you pack for your trip. If you visit Salona, a wide-brimmed hat, water bottle, sunglasses, and sunscreen are recommended due to the lack of shade around the ruins. Sturdy walking shoes and insect repellant will be your best friend at Krka National Park.
How to get from Split to Zadar
Like much of Croatia, the 98-mile (159 km) journey from Split to Zadar is the most efficient by car. Buses travel far slower than cars and the mountainous terrain of the Croatian coast makes train infrastructure difficult to implement and upkeep.
Daytrip private car transfer from Split to Zadar
Be in Zadar in less than two hours when you hire a private driver through Daytrip! Your driver will take you door-to-door and it is even possible to add excursions to places that you might otherwise not be able to reach by public transit. Travel in comfort and craft the perfect trip that ends right at your front door in Zadar. The total driving time is 1 hour and 50 minutes and trips start at $42 (€39) per seat.
Buses from Split to Zadar
Autotrans operates most bus routes throughout Croatia. Buses for their Split to Zadar route leave 8 times per day in the summer months and cost between $11 to $28 (€10 to €26) per passenger. The trip takes about 3.5 hours, not including getting to and from the bus station, or waiting to get on and off the bus.
When you book a bus ticket in Croatia, you may have to pay an extra $1 or $2 (€1 or €2) fee for each piece of luggage stored under the bus. It is best to have small bills and coins for this fee.
Trains from Split to Zadar
While the Croatian national train service, Hrvatske Zeljeznice, technically has a route from Split to Zadar, it is not an efficient way to travel. In either Knin or Perkovic, you will need to transfer to a bus due to ongoing construction on the train tracks.
Ferries from Split to Zadar
Although Split is a major port for ferry and private boat travel to other destinations, there are currently no direct routes to take a ferry to Zadar. Put your sea legs away for this transfer!
Flights from Split to Zadar
As with the ferries, there are also no direct flights between the Split Airport (SPU) and Zadar Airport (ZAD).
Things to do when you get to Zadar
After your Dalmatian road trip from Split to Zadar, you’ll be greeted by a smaller, but just as impressive, city. When you aren’t eating delicious seafood or swimming at the beaches, visit these unique sites in Zadar.
Listen to the waves at the Sea Organ
Have you ever put your ear up to a conch shell to hear the ocean? Come to Zadar to hear the unique sounds of the sea. The Sea Organ is the design of the Croatian architect Nikola Basic, whose goal was to reconnect Croatians with the Adriatic Sea. It is a set of 35 organ pipes within marble steps leading down to the water.
As the waves crash endlessly against the promenade, they push air into the organ pipes to produce ethereal musical notes. This clever use of public space combined with engineering and music theories creates an inviting atmosphere to connect with nature in a surprising way.
Give a “Greeting to the Sun”
A few steps from the Sea Organ, Nikola Basic also designed Greeting to the Sun, a nod to the sun’s importance. This installation consists of 300 multi-layered solar plates that absorb sunlight during the day and create a spectacular light show at night. The energy collected from the solar panels powers half of Zadar’s waterfront lights.
Take a boat to the Kornati Islands
The Kornati Islands National Park, a short boat ride from Zadar, consists of 89 islands, islets, and reefs. Go swimming, snorkeling, and exploring in its secluded bays and coves and experience Croatia’s marine life up close.
Cool off in Zadar’s museums
If it rains during your stay, or you’d like a midday reprieve from the sun, visit one of Zadar’s museums. The Museum of Ancient Glass showcases ancient glass artifacts, including Roman glassware, jewelry, and decorative items. Watch demonstrations of traditional glassblowing techniques as well. This delicate material rarely survives its thousands of years underground and can tell us about the lives of the people who used to call Zadar home.
The Archaeological Museum of Zadar houses an impressive collection of artifacts from the prehistoric, Roman, and medieval periods. Come visit to learn about Zadar’s many empires that make up its cultural heritage.
When is the best time to visit Zadar
The best time for your road trip from Split to Zadar is during the spring (March-May) or in September after the summer crowds have thinned. The weather is warm, the days are long, and the water is still inviting, but you’ll have fewer people to compete with for space on the beach.
Southern Croatia is warm and sunny most of the year, but the summer can be oppressively hot during the day. If you visit between June and August, you’ll have the most pleasant time if you take after the locals and rest during the afternoon heat. Push your dinner and bedtime schedule later than you would at home and head indoors between 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM.
Visit these sights on the way
The ruins of Salona
The ancient city of Salona was once the capital of the Roman province of Dalmatia. The beautiful historic ruins are vastly undisturbed, allowing visitors to revel in peace. One of Croatia’s oldest towns
Klis Fortress
Although its television debut has made it well known, this ancient fortress is still a gem with plenty of space to wander. The City of Meereen from Game of Thrones
Trogir
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this little island is one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Europe. The Stone Beauty
Primosten
Primosten is a small town in North Dalmatia. This resort town is one of the most photogenic spots on the Adriatic Coast. Enchanting peninsula
Sibenik
Unlike cities like Trogir and Hvar, which were founded by outside conquerors, the UNESCO-listed town of Sibenik is the oldest Croatian-founded settlement. The Oldest Adriatic Gem
Krka National Park
Overflowing with natural beauty, Croatia's seventh national park is also the only one where you can swim! Seven Stunning Scenes
“I used this service for a transfer from Split in Croatia to Perast Montenegro. My experience was exceptional. My driver Bojan was helpful, informative and ensured my journey was comfortable and enjoyable. I highly recommend the service.”
“We were extremely satisfied with the quality of service we received from Day Trip. We had two Day Trip rides on August 31 from Athens to Lefkada and September 7 from Lefkada back to Athens. Both trips included stops at scenic sites in Greece. Both drivers were excellent and accommodating. However, we’d especially like to recognize Panos Peppas, who was our driver from Lefkada to Athens. Panos was incredibly nice & pleasant and delivered outstanding customer service, which included handling all of luggage, providing us with cold waters throughout the trip, providing us protein bars, providing us with printed materials on the Corinth Canal (one of scenic stops), looking up and providing us with terminal & gate info for our flight back home and providing us with a recipe for tzatziki.”
Reviewed by Tripadvisor
traveler Daydream20046758137
“We absolutely love this company and have used it many times over the years to get from A to B without the hassle of hiring a car ourselves. Excellent drivers every time. Efficient and professional. It’s worth every penny and we can honestly recommend Day Trip to everyone. It’s 5 star rating is well deserved.”
“We traveled from Nuremberg to Munich in a beautiful Audi. Driver picked us at our hotel at the exact time requested. Got us to Munich in plenty of time for our next tour. Driver made sure we were comfortable”
“Gonzalo from daytrip was our driver and he was absolutely amazing. He went over and beyond trying to locate us as our service wasn't so good on our phones. He patiently awaited our arrival to the lobby so he could take us from Tulum Dreams Resort to our other hotel in cancun an hour and a half away near the airport prior to our departure flight home. He was polite, respectful and kind. Made sure we were comfortable during our long ride. Fast and to the point. I recommend this company as finding a one way ride from Tulum to Cancun isn't easy or cheap and this company provides a great service for a great price. I will definitely be using them again whenever I'm in the Cancun/Tulum area. Thank you DayTrip and Gonzola.”
“We were picked up by Marianna to drive us from Heraklion to Chania. The weather was terrible & due to this Marianna arrived a few minutes late. She contacted me to advise of this. Marianna lives in Chana and she made our trip very interesting by informing us of local things to do and see in Chania. Marianna is a safe driver and we all felt comfortable with the speed she drove at and how good her driving was in heavy rain. She is a lovely person with fluent English. We highly recommend Daytrips and if you are in Heraklion or Chania please make sure you ask for Marianna.”
“Used the service to go from Luxor to Hurghada, Egypt. Ahmed H was our driver and he was perfect. The car was new, clean, he had water and snacks for us, and accommodated our stops. Great service from him and would recommend it.”
“Used Daytrip for two rides in Mexico, which were both great. So comfortable, and we arrived at each of our destinations at a great time. Both were incredible drivers, and we felt so safe. One of our drivers, Miguel, also played the best music! Will definitely use Daytrip on our next trip to Mexico.”
“We did not know what to expect with this trip and booked from Australia. We were initially looking for an easy way to travel from Granada to Malaga. We decided not to waste the opportunity to see something additional on our way. Miguel certainly exceeded our expectations. His English was excellent (unfortunately we speak very little Spanish), and he was very friendly and helpful. We thoroughly enjoyed hearing about the regions as we passed through and also discussing some of the local ways. Miguel took us to Antequera as planned and ensured we were able to easily get our tickets to the attractions without any sense of rushing us. We were picked up and dropped off punctually and really enjoyed our trip. Hopefully we will return to Spain and we can use this service again sometime.”
“My wife and I have a very pleasant journey from Split to Zadar on 13 May 2019, via KRKA National Park with driver Ivan who was friendly, approachable, and knowledgement. During our visit at KRKA National Park which supposed given only 2 hours duration but Ivan allowed us visit the places accordingly to our pace which we enjoyed the scenery up to 3 hours there. The whole journey was not boring with him, he can communicate with us during the drive. Ivan is a magician and he showed us 3 types magic during our stop at KRKA National Park and at Zadar apartment. It was a amazing journey with him. Thank your Ivan.
Yap from Malaysia”
Reviewed by Tripadvisor
traveler Maps658429
Good to know
Children
If you’re traveling with children, make sure to let us know in the booking so we can get the appropriate child seats ready!
Pets
Pets are allowed (and loved)! We just need to know beforehand. You can tell us about them in the next phase of the booking.
Tips
Gratuity isn’t included or required, but if you really enjoyed your trip, you can show your driver your appreciation with an optional tip (10% is sufficient).
Luggage
Big luggage
29x21x11 inches
74x53x28 cm
Small luggage
22x14x9 inches
56x36x23 cm
Each passenger is allowed to have one checked bag and one carry on. If you’re traveling with more bags or oversized luggage, you can adjust this while booking.
Payment methods
Pay by credit card online, or in cash directly to your driver!
Daytrip is a platform that connects you with local drivers who will transport you door-to-door, from one city to the next. We also give you the opportunity to explore sights/attractions along the way. We drive, you discover.
Yes! A return trip will take you back to your city of origin in the same size car in which you arrived. Return trips can be booked for the any day. You can also add customized sightseeing stops separately for each trip! Don’t worry if you don’t know your exact address at the time of booking - you’ll have the opportunity to update us closer to your travel date. Make sure to select “Return” when you start the booking process, then choose the dates and times of your departures.
For private trips, you can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before departure. For the Daytrip Pool shared shuttle, we offer 3 ticket options when booking: Non-refundable, Flexible with cancellations 24 hours before departure, and Super-flexible with cancellations up to 15 minutes before departure.
Simply choose your origin and destination via our homepage and enter your departure date and time. Browse and add sightseeing stops along the way by following the booking instructions provided on-screen. Select “One Way” or “Return” to change the type of trip you need. It’s a simple, easy, and fun way to book your next adventure! And if you don’t see your desired route on our website, you can request a custom trip. You can even book without knowing your exact pick-up or drop-off address - we let you add these later!
Each passenger is allowed one large bag (29" x 21" x 11" / 74 x 53 x 28 cm) and one small bag (22" x 14" x 9" / 56 x 36 x 23 cm). Luxury sedans can only accommodate 2 large bags. We always send the vehicle that is the best fit for you and your luggage, so make sure to select the actual amount of luggage you are traveling with when booking. If you have oversized luggage, or are unsure if your luggage will fit, contact us.
Everywhere except the USA, drivers will supply appropriate child seats (just let us know during booking). In the USA, certain states require you to supply your own child seats.
