Boat & Ferry Travel

During high season (July through August), Jadrolinija ferries travel between Dubrovnik and Rijeka (journey time approximately 20 hours), stopping at Zadar, Split, Stari Grad (island of Hvar), Korcula, and Sobra (island of Mljet) en route. During the rest of the year, the service is less frequent. The fare between Dubrovnik and Rijeka is EUR 127 for a reclining seat in your own two-berth cabin with bathroom and TV. The cheapest way to go with no booked seat at all is EUR 36. In good weather you'll find the rear decks of the ship smothered with passengers camping out beneath the stars, which lends the journey a special atmosphere. Prices vary according to the season, with rates falling as much as 30% in low season. Cars cost EUR 92. Round-trip tickets save 20%. Hourly on the half-hour, ferries leave Brestova, which is south of Opatija, heading to Cres; these ferries arrive at Porozina. Ferries also leave Valibska on Krk to dock at Merag on Cres. Each brief hop across the channel sets you back EUR 1.75 per person, EUR 12.16 if you have a car.

Every day in high season, ferries leave Rijeka at 5 pm to call at Ilovik, Susak, Unije, Cres, and Mali Losinj; the entire trip from Rijeka to Mali Losinj takes around four hours. Meanwhile, a catamaran service heads out to Rab at 4 pm, drops into the northern Dalmatian island of Pag, and then pulls into Mali Losinj about two-and-a-half-hours later. Six times per day from 6 am to 6 pm, ferries head out from Baska on Krk toward Lopar on Rab. The trip costs EUR 4.18, EUR 25.27 for a car. Tourist boats and water taxis offering transport on shorter stretches are also abundant at many resorts.

Information

Jadrolinija (051/211-444; 060/321-321 recorded ferry timetable. www.jadrolinija.hr.)