This page explains how to travel from Dubrovnik or Split to other European cities, buying tickets the cheapest way. Although Dubrovnik has no railway station, it's just a few hours by bus north to Split for trains to Zagreb, or south to Podgorica for trains to Belgrade. Click here to buy tickets starting in another city.
I want to go Split
or Dubrovnik to...
Before you buy your tickets
Take a moment to read these tips for buying European train tickets. It answers all the usual questions, "Do I need to book in advance or can I just buy at the station?", "Can I stop off?", "Are there Senior fares?" and that old favourite, "Should I buy an $800 railpass or just buy a 35 point-to-point ticket online?". Click here to understand how far ahead you can buy train tickets.
European train travel FAQ
Dubrovnik & Split to Zagreb
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Step 1, take a bus from Dubrovnik to Split.
Buses leave Dubrovnik bus terminal every hour or even every half hour and take between 3h45 and 4h35 to Split bus terminal. There are various operators, the fare is between 13 and 17. Buy at the bus station on the day, it's easy.
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Step 2, take a train from Split to Zagreb, allowing at least an hour between bus and train in case of delay.
Leave Split at 08:14, arrive Zagreb at 14:55, by ICN train. Runs daily all year round.
Leave Split at 14:09, arrive Zagreb at 20:57, by ICN train. Runs 7 June to 30 September 2023 plus a few other dates.
ICN trains are comfortable and air-conditioned with 1st & 2nd class & refreshments.
The standard fare is around 28 in 2nd class or 41 in 1st class, bought on the day at the station.
There are online special fares at www.hzpp.hr from 15.10 in 2nd class or 22.65 in 1st class, even close to departure date.
You can check train times & fares and buy tickets between Zagreb & Split at Croatian Railways www.hzpp.hr.
Booking opens 60 days ahead and you print your own ticket.
Zagreb to Split is a very scenic train ride, with mountains, lakes, rivers, and even vineyards. The trains are modern and air-conditioned. ICN trains tilt round the bends on this mountainous route, cutting the journey time to 6 hours from a previous best of around 8 hours. Seat reservation is compulsory on ICN trains. Sit back with a good book and a beer and enjoy the ride.
Dubrovnik & Split to Ljubljana
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Step 1, travel from Dubrovnik to Split by bus and Split to Zagreb by train as shown above.
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Step 2, travel from Zagreb to Ljubljana by train along the scenic River Sava as shown here.
Dubrovnik & Split to Budapest, Vienna, Bratislava, Prague
There will be no Regiojet train between Split & Prague this year.
Option 1, every day all year round, via Zagreb
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Step 1, take a bus from Dubrovnik to Split. Buses leave Dubrovnik bus terminal every hour or even every half hour and take between 3h45 and 4h35 to Split bus terminal. There are various operators, the fare is between 13 and 17. Buy at the bus station on the day, it's easy.
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Step 2, take a train from Split to Zagreb as shown above, allowing at least an hour between bus and train in case of delay. For example, you could take a morning bus from Dubrovnik to Split and the afternoon train from Split to Zagreb, then stay overnight in Zagreb.
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Step 3, take a EuroCity train from Zagreb to Budapest as shown here, Zagreb to Vienna as shown here or Zagreb to Prague as shown here.
Option 2, summer-only EuroNight sleeper from Split to Vienna & Bratislava - with a proper sleeping-car, also recommended
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Step 1, take a bus from Dubrovnik to Split.
Buses leave Dubrovnik bus terminal every hour or even every half hour and take between 3h45 and 4h35 to Split bus terminal. There are various operators, the fare is between 13 and 17. Buy at the bus station on the day, it's easy.
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Step 2, travel from Split to Vienna & Bratislava by EuroNight sleeper train.
The sleeper train runs on Mondays, Thursdays & Saturdays from 4 May to 7 October 2023.
It leaves Split at 17:20 and arrives Vienna Hbf at 09:21 & Bratislava Hlavna at 11:32 next morning.
The train has three comfortable air-conditioned Slovakian sleeping-cars with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, a Slovakian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments and ordinary seats. You can see details of train formation & carriages if you go to www.vagonweb.cz switch it to English, click train formations and search for train number EN 1152.
Fares start at 29.90 in a seat, 79.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, 99.90 in a 2-bed sleeper, 149.90 in a single-bed sleeper.
Book at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at. Booking opens up to 6 months ahead, you print your own ticket.
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Step 3, take a connecting train from Vienna to Prague, Munich, Berlin or anywhere else. Book this at www.oebb.at and print your own ticket. I'd allow at least an hour between trains in Vienna, ideally a bit more.
Option 3, by EuroNight sleeper train Adria from Split to Budapest, 3 times a week, mid-June to late September, recommended.
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Step 1, take a bus from Dubrovnik to Split.
Buses leave Dubrovnik bus terminal every hour or even every half hour and take between 3h45 and 4h35 to Split bus terminal. There are various operators, the fare is between 13 and 17. Buy at the bus station on the day, it's easy.
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Step 2, travel from Split to Budapest by EuroNight sleeper train Adria.
This runs on Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays from 10 June to 23 September 2023.
It leaves Split at 17:55 & arrives Budapest Keleti at 09:35 next morning.
The Adria is a pleasure to travel on. It has two comfortable air-conditioned Hungarian sleeping-cars (with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin) and three or four couchette cars with 4 & 6 bunk compartments. There are no seats cars.
It has a Hungarian restaurant car serving dinner and breakfast - start your day with ham & eggs! The restaurant car usually used on this train is an older wood-panelled type which used to be part of the Hungarian governmental train, see the photo below.
Fares start from 49 with couchette in 6-berth, 59 with couchette in 4-berth, 64 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, 79 with a bed in a cosy 2-bed sleeper or 119 in a single-bed sleeper. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
You can book it at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice for using it. Booking opens 60 days ahead. Or book at Split station.
Option 4, via Podgorica & Belgrade
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From Dubrovnik to Budapest you could consider travelling via Podgorica and Belgrade over the spectacular Podgorica-Belgrade railway, see the section below. Then see the Belgrade to Budapest information here.
Dubrovnik to Belgrade
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Step 1, buses link Dubrovnik with Podgorica once or twice a day, usually early morning and evening, journey time 5h or 6h, fare between 18 & 30 depending on which company you use. Check times and buy online at a site such as getbybus.com. I'd allow at least a couple of hours between your bus arrival and your train departure.
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Step 2, travel from Podgorica to Belgrade for around 22 on one of Europe's most spectacular railways, see the train times, fares, photos, video & advice on the Belgrade-Bar Railway page. There's a daytime train and a sleeper train, the sleeper is time-effective but the day train a scenic treat.
Dubrovnik to Bari, Rome & Italy
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Step 1, sail across the Adriatic from Dubrovnik to Bari in Italy with Jadrolinija. The ferry sails between 2 & 6 times a week, usually overnight leaving Dubrovnik at 22:00 and arriving Bari port at 08:00. There are a range of comfortable cabins on board, as well as reclining seats, bar & restaurant. However, times and days vary by season, so check times, prices and book online at www.jadrolinija.hr or use the Direct Ferries website. In Bari, it's a 25 minute walk or 10 minute taxi ride from port to Bari Centrale station.
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Step 2, take a train from Bari Centrale to Naples, Rome, Milan or any other Italian destination. I'd allow at least 2-3 hours between scheduled ferry arrival and the train departure you book.
Bari to Rome takes 4h06 with fares from 29.90 in 2nd class or 39.90 in 1st class. For example, there's usually a 13:14 from Bari arriving Rome Termini at 17:20.
You can buy Italian train tickets using either www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in , £, $ or Au$) or www.trenitalia.com (in ). Italiarail will refund their small booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your booking reference. For fast trains it's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.
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If ferry sailings don't suit you, by all means take a bus from Dubrovnik to Split (3h45 to 4h35) and sail from there to Ancona instead, as below.
Split to Ancona, Rome & Italy
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Step 1, sail across the Adriatic from Split to Ancona in Italy with Jadrolinija. The ferry sails between 2 & 6 times a week, usually overnight leaving Split around 20:00 and arriving Ancona port around 07:00. There are a range of comfortable cabins on board, as well as reclining seats, bar & restaurant. However, times and days vary by season, so check times, prices and book online at www.jadrolinija.hr or use the Direct Ferries website. In Ancona, it's a fairly long taxi or bus ride from port to Ancona station.
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Step 2, take a train from Ancona to Naples, Rome, Milan or any other Italian destination. I'd allow at least 2-3 hours between scheduled ferry arrival and the train departure you book.
Ancona to Rome takes around 3h50 with fares from 29.90 in 2nd class or 39.90 in 1st class. For example, there's usually a 13:45 from Ancona arriving Rome Termini at 17:48.
You can buy Italian train tickets using either www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in , £, $ or Au$) or www.trenitalia.com (in ). Italiarail will refund their small booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your booking reference. For fast trains it's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.
To all other destinations
From Dubrovnik
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Step 1, first travel to either Zagreb or Belgrade, depending on your destination:
If heading to Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam and all points north and west, take a bus to Split then train to Zagreb as shown above.
If heading for to Sofia, Istanbul, Romania or Budapest, take a bus to Podgorica then train to Belgrade as shown above.
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Step 2, see the Trains from Zagreb page for onward travel from Zagreb or see the Trains from Belgrade page for onward travel from Belgrade.
From Split
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Step 1, take a train to Zagreb as shown above - although if you're going to Belgrade you could consider taking a bus to Podgorica then train to Belgrade.
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Step 2, see the Trains from Zagreb page for onward travel from Zagreb.