Croatia’s largest ferry operator Jadrolinija is introducing a new daily high-speed ferry route between Split, Bol (Brač), Hvar and Vis for summer 2026, a route that could easily become one of the most popular island hopping connections along the Croatian coast this year.
The new seasonal line will operate daily from June 19 to September 13, with two departures per day from Split, making it significantly easier for travellers to combine several Dalmatian islands during a single trip.
But this is not the only major change Jadrolinija is introducing for the 2026 season. The company has also announced new high-speed ferry connections across Kvarner, as well as a new route between Zadar and Mali Lošinj, reflecting how Croatia’s coastline is increasingly adapting to the growing popularity of island hopping travel.
In recent years, more and more visitors have started exploring multiple Croatian islands and coastal towns during the same holiday, often without a car and relying entirely on ferries, catamarans and local transport. That is why these new Croatia ferry routes may represent a much bigger shift than they first appear.
If you’re planning to travel between Croatian islands this summer, our guide Croatia Ferry System Explained breaks down how ferries and catamarans actually work in Croatia.
The new Dalmatian route that could become one of summer’s biggest hits
The biggest attention so far is focused on the new Split – Bol (Brač) – Hvar – Vis high-speed ferry route.
Although Croatia has had a well-developed ferry and catamaran network for years, travelling between the central Dalmatian islands has often been complicated, especially for travellers without a car or those who wanted to avoid constantly returning to Split between destinations.
This new route is designed to simplify exactly that.
The morning departure from Split leaves at 07:30, while arrival to Vis is scheduled for 09:25, meaning travellers can now reach the furthest central Dalmatian island in less than two hours.
The new line also significantly improves inter-island connections. For example, passengers staying on Hvar will now be able to travel to Vis in the morning, spend the entire day there and return in the evening without needing overnight accommodation or complicated transfers.
In practice, this means much easier planning for day trips, weekend breaks and multi-day island hopping itineraries between Brač, Hvar and Vis.
This becomes especially important during the peak summer season, when existing catamaran routes are often sold out days in advance.
Tickets for the new route are already available through the official Jadrolinija website and the company’s mobile app. Ticket prices start at €23 from Split to Bol, €25 from Split to Hvar and up to €28 for the longest route between Split and Vis.
For travellers planning a day trip or island hopping between Split and Hvar, our guide Split to Hvar: Ferry or Catamaran, Day Trips and Prices explains the different ferry and catamaran options available.
A new seasonal connection between Zadar and Lošinj
Alongside Dalmatia, Jadrolinija is also expanding its network in the northern Adriatic this summer.
A new high-speed ferry line will connect Zadar, Silba and Mali Lošinj from June 18 until August 29.
The journey between Zadar and Mali Lošinj will take around two hours, while the new connection is expected to strengthen links between the central and northern Adriatic during the tourist season.
Although this route may not attract as much attention as the new Dalmatian connection, it could become extremely useful for travellers wanting to combine Dalmatia and Kvarner during the same trip without long coastal drives.
The route was introduced partly following initiatives from local communities, which have been requesting better seasonal connections between the Kvarner islands and Zadar for years.
Ticket prices between Zadar and Mali Lošinj will cost €25, while tickets to Silba will cost €18. Travel between the two island destinations within the route will cost €10.
Kvarner is getting a new “sea bridge”
Major changes are also arriving in Kvarner, where Jadrolinija is introducing a new high-speed ferry line between Kraljevica, Crikvenica, Senj, Baška, Lopar and Rab.
The new route will begin operating on June 24, while from July 10 it is expected to run daily.
Jadrolinija describes the route as a kind of “Kvarner sea bridge”, and the idea behind it is fairly simple: allowing travellers to explore Kvarner by sea more easily while avoiding heavy summer traffic and ferry terminal congestion.
For many visitors, this will make relatively easy car-free day trips between Crikvenica, Senj, Krk and Rab possible for the first time.
The route will be operated by the catamaran Silba, which has a capacity of 310 passengers. Ticket prices will depend on the route, with journeys from Kraljevica to Rab or Lopar costing €25, while shorter connections such as Baška to Lopar will cost €10.
Croatia’s coastline is slowly adapting to car-free travel
All of the new Croatia ferry routes have one thing in common: they are trying to respond to the way people actually travel around Croatia today.
More and more foreign visitors no longer want to spend their entire holiday in one place. Instead, they combine several islands, coastal towns and regions during the same trip. This is especially noticeable among younger travellers and tourists travelling without a car.
That is why these new high-speed ferry routes may represent a much more important shift than they initially seem. They are not just additional departures, but part of a gradual adaptation of the Croatian coast to a more flexible and modern way of travelling, where island hopping has become one of the main reasons many visitors come to the Adriatic in the first place.
