Here’s the short version: in Split, a car is mostly a liability. The old town is a pedestrian maze, parking near the centre is expensive and scarce, and almost everything you came for is walkable or a cheap ride away. Rent a car only for the day you drive inland — the rest of the time, here’s how locals actually move.
On foot — your main mode
Split’s historic core, the Riva waterfront, the markets, the beaches at Bačvice and the foot of Marjan are all within a 15–20 minute walk of each other. The old town itself is car-free, so you’ll be walking polished-stone lanes whether you planned to or not. Comfortable shoes beat everything else here; the stone gets slippery and the lanes don’t care about wheels.
City buses (Promet Split)
The local bus network, Promet Split, covers the wider city and nearby towns well — handy for Žnjan beach, the bus and train stations, Kaštela, Trogir and Solin. Buy a ticket from a kiosk (Tisak) before boarding, or from the driver for a little more, and validate it on board. It’s cheap and frequent in summer; you won’t need it much inside the centre, but it’s there for the longer hops.
Bolt and taxis
Bolt, the ride-hailing app, works well in Split and is usually cheaper and simpler than a street taxi — you see the price upfront and skip the language gap. Regular taxis are fine too; just check they use the meter. For late nights, the airport run, or hauling luggage up to the apartment, a quick Bolt is often worth the few euros.
Ferries from the heart of town
Split’s ferry port sits right next to the Riva, a few minutes from the old town — one of the great conveniences of the city. Jadrolinija and other lines run to Brač, Hvar, Šolta, Vis and beyond, and the catamarans are the fast option for a day trip. You walk on as a foot passenger; no car needed. See our day-trips guide for where the boats can take you.
Bikes and e-scooters
For the flatter stretches — the Riva, the Žnjan and Bačvice seafront, the edge of Marjan — bikes and e-scooters are a pleasant way to cover ground. Inside the palace lanes they’re more nuisance than help (and often not allowed), so save them for the promenades.
From the airport
You don’t need a rental to arrive, either. The airport bus, a shuttle, or a Bolt all get you into town easily, and we’ve laid out every option honestly — including which makes sense with luggage and which to skip. For the bigger picture of reaching the city, our getting-to-Split guide covers flights, ferries and driving from Europe.
When a car actually helps
One case: inland day trips with no easy bus — Klis, the Cetina valley, a winery, a string of hilltop villages. For those, rent a car for the day and return it. But base yourself in the old town, leave the car out of the centre, and you’ll spend your trip walking, sailing and riding instead of hunting for parking. We’re right in the middle of it, so most days you won’t start the engine at all.