How To Get The Bus From Split Airport To Trogir | Don’t Make The Same Mistake!
Disclosure: This posts may contain affiliate links. I may make a small commission on purchases made after clicking the link. I do my best to try and keep information up-to-date but please check direct with businesses for current opening times and prices. For more information visit the Privacy & Disclosure Policy. Thank you for your support!
Split Airport in Croatia is actually closer to Trogir than what it is to Split! Other than getting an Uber, the easiest and cheapest way to get from the Airport to Trogir is via the public bus (especially as a solo traveller). Here’s a guide on what you need to do, including how to get cheaper tickets, and how not to make the same mistake as me!!
*READ TIKTOK CAPTION or UPDATE BELOW (fare error)*
In This Guide
Which Bus to Take
- 🚌Bus 37 runs from Split to Trogir via Split Airport
When landing into arrivals, I followed the signs for ‘buses’. This took me across an enclosed bridge to the other side of the road, to what looked like a transport hub for package holiday buses, car rentals etc.
In hindsight, following the signs took me further out of the way. The public bus goes from along the main road, not at the transport hub. The bus stop for Split is on the same side as the transport hub (also bus 37), but to get to Trogir, I had to go back across the road to the stop on the same side as the terminal.
Rather than follow signs to buses, it’s best just to head to departures, exit the terminal, and the bus stop is on the main road, on what would be to the right hand side. (In the photo above, the path to the terminal is on the left hand side, level with the white car)
Journey Time, Frequency & What to Expect
- ⏳Journey Time: Approximately 10 minutes between Split Airport and Trogir
- 🕓Frequency: 2-3 buses per hour between 4am and Midnight (ish)
- 🧳It is just a regular bus, so luggage space is limited
The journey time is super quick, it took me around 10 minutes to get from the airport to Trogir.
I found the timetable online a little bit tricky to understand and predict. From what I could see, it only shows the departure from Trogir and not in the opposite direction from Split or the departures from the airport.
According to the timetable, the first bus leaves Trogir at 4am, and depending on the day of the week, the bus frequency changes.
- Weekdays, they run approximately 3 times an hour (every 20 minutes) all day.
- On Saturdays there are 3 per hour between 10am and 4.45pm, with 2 per hour outside of these times.
- On Sundays, 2 time an hour all day.
I found it easier to use Google Maps for exact times. At the airport bus stop there is also a digital display board showing you when the next buses will be arriving. If I remember correctly, I had to wait 7 minutes for one to arrive.
How to Buy Tickets (App vs Onboard)
There are 2 main ways to bus tickets for the public bus, either via the Promet Split bus app, or directly from the driver. You can find the ticket fares here, however somewhere along the line I got a little bit muddled up!
- 💶In summer the fare was €3.50 on board, or €1.75 online (cheaper in the winter season).
Buying via Promet App (What I Did)
- download in advance, you may then need mobile data to use
- ticket was ~50% cheaper than buying onboard
- QR code ticket in app
The biggest pro of using the app is that ticket fares are 50% cheaper than buying it from the driver.
eWallet
I downloaded the ‘Promet Split‘ app before I left for my trip. To buy a single ticket I had to preload the eWallet. The eWallet check out page didn’t have an English version (unlike the main app/site), but it was fairly easy to guess what it was saying. I tried to work out what 2 journeys would cost me so I could load the eWallet accordingly.
In the app, you need to select which zones you want a ticket for. The zone for Trogir cuts the airport in half, so you need to add a second zone to full cover the airport. Originally I thought it was Trogir + Split…THIS IS WRONG.
You need the zones TROGIR + KASTELA.
Technically adding Split isn’t ‘wrong’, it still covers the route, but the Split zone is larger. I could have just got it even cheaper by using the smaller Kastela zone. I thought a single was €2.50 (€5 from driver), so loaded the eWallet with €5, to cover 2 journeys. Instead, it should have only been €1.75 (€3.50 from driver).
Single Ticket
Then, when I landed, I went onto the app and bought 1 single ticket covering the 2 zones and it took the fare directly out of the eWallet. For this I did need mobile data to access the app. This was no problem though as I always travel with an eSim (I use Airalo, use code KYLIE6856 for £2.50 off your first eSim). This then generates a QR code.
Validator
Once the bus arrived, you can bypass the driver and look for the yellow validator machine. For me, it was behind the first seat, behind the driver. Simply hold the QR code up to the scanner and it will go green when it has been activated. You don’t need to do anything when you get off.
Important App Issue (eWallet / QR Activation)
- eWallet needed
- app may ask for QR activation
- guest mode unclear for tourists
Something worth noting is that you can only load the eWallet in €1 increments. So for me I thought perfect! €5 for 2 journeys, so I could load with €5. In reality, the total fare for 2 journeys should have been €3.50. Using the eWallet, I would have needed to load on €4, leaving €0.50 unused.
HOWEVER this was still cheaper than buying from the driver, which would have been €7 total. (So yes, it cost me €1 more using the larger zone, which is a minor error in reality, but it was still a €2 saving compared to buying from the driver. It would be a €3 saving if done correctly).
The app was also a little confusing. When I first downloaded it, it said I needed a QR code to activate my profile and to be able to buy tickets. For this you needed to go to a Promet sales point or service desk, which of course I didn’t have in the UK and didn’t know where I would find one considering I was planning on just using a bus stop on the side of the road, rather than going to a bus station.
Turns out you CAN fill up the eWallet and buy single tickets in ‘guest mode’, without activating your profile. You only need to activate it to use more advanced features. As a tourist/short term visitor, just using basic single tickets work fine.
Buying On The Bus
- slightly more expensive
- cash/card from the driver
- easiest fallback if app fails
Alternatively if you didn’t want to mess with downloading an app, tickets can be bought from the driver. The 2 buses I used accepted card or contactless card. As mentioned, the fare is double the price when purchased on board.
Where the Bus Drops You in Trogir
Once you get to Trogir, the bus pulls into a proper bus station on the mainland. To get to Trogir Old Town, on the island opposite the bus station, simply follow the waters edge to the little bridge. It’s less than 5 minutes away. Alternatively the green market on the mainland side is worth checking out too.
If you are travelling with luggage, and your accommodation is in the centre of Old Town, it may not be accessible by road as most of it is pedestrianised.
Trogir To Split Airport
When travelling from Trogir to Split Airport, I then purchased another single ticket on the app with the eWallet, while I was waiting for the bus to arrive. The bus leaves from the bus station on the mainland. There is a post at the far end that has ‘Split Airport’ written on it, bus 37 pulled up just in front of this. If you are using the app, simply validate the ticket on the machine again.
I found that leaving on a Saturday afternoon, it was very busy with passengers going back to the airport or onwards to Split. There are plenty of benches at the bus station if you arrive early. (Saturdays tend to be sailing trip arrival/departure days).
The bus does announce the stops, so when you get close to the airport, press the bell to stop. It then stops on the side of the road closest to the airport transportation hub. Rather than going back into the building and crossing the road via the bridge, I just went across the zebra crossing and walked to the terminal along the road.
Quick Tips for Taking the Airport Bus
- download app before arrival
- have small cash backup
- check timetable in advance
- sit on driver side for views heading towards Trogir
- when returning to the airport from Trogir, lines can be long due to people going to Split, as well as the airport
About the Author – Kylie
My travels have taken me to over 50 countries worldwide (& I lived in USA for 4yrs). I hold a BTEC National Diploma in Travel & Tourism (triple distinction) and have been writing on Between England & Everywhere since 2015.
Expert in: Adventure travel🎢, beach destinations🏖️, and packing light (mid-budget backpacker)🎒