Ancona-Split

The crossing: operators, vessels, time

Both operators run it overnight, and both carry cars. SNAV calls its ship a cruise ferry and says it takes cars, motorbikes and campers; it leaves each port at 19:30 and arrives at 07:00 the next morning, about 11 and a half hours. Jadrolinija's line 53 leaves Split at 20:00 and arrives in Ancona at 07:00 (11 hours), and leaves Ancona at 19:45 for a 07:00 arrival in Split (11 hours 15 minutes). Jadrolinija's page for the line says you can travel by car.

Jadrolinija's international ferry is the Dalmacija, the ship named in its cancellation notice. Its own ship page gives 134.4 metres, 17 knots, room for 1,800 passengers and 350 cars, two restaurants, three bars, a grill bar, a playroom and open decks. It was built in 1993 as the Oslofjord and rebuilt in 2014.

Season and sailing days for 2026

SNAV sails daily from 1 April to 4 October 2026, with extra Saturday departures in July and August. Jadrolinija's published timetable for line 53 has two blocks, both overnight:

• 22 October to 6 November: from Split on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday at 20:00; from Ancona on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 19:45.
• 8 November 2026 to 5 January 2027: from Split on Sunday and Wednesday at 20:00; from Ancona on Tuesday and Friday at 19:45.

Over the holidays Jadrolinija has no departure from Ancona on 25 December and 1 January, and adds a departure from Ancona at 10:00 on 24 and 31 December, arriving in Split at 19:00.

The terminals and check-in

In Split, both operators use the city's ferry port; which quay depends on the ticket, and our guide to Split's ferry terminals explains how to read it. The operators' pages we read give no quay or address for Ancona, so use the one printed on your ticket or ask the operator: SNAV lists +39 071 20 76 116 for Ancona and +385 21 322 252 for Split, and Jadrolinija's information line is 072 30 33 37 from Croatia.

Neither operator's page states a check-in cut-off time, so check with the operator and arrive early if you have a car. SNAV does say what to bring: original identity documents valid for travel abroad, and for a vehicle the original registration document, not a copy.

Onboard and cabins

SNAV lists a restaurant, a self-service, a snack bar, a shopping area and a cinema on its ship. Jadrolinija's page for the line lists airplane-style seats, a children's play area, coffee on deck, access for passengers with disabilities and meals from the ship's chefs.

On an 11-hour night crossing most people want a bed. Cabins exist: SNAV's group offer includes a cabin berth. Neither operator's page we read lists cabin types or prices, so choose your cabin in the booking step or ask the operator.

Arriving in Split

Both ships dock in Split early in the morning, so the first ferries of the day are within reach. Split is also the base for the central Dalmatian islands. Our pages cover Split, Hvar, Brač, Vis, Šolta, Korčula and Lastovo. SNAV points out that Zadar is 155 km from Split by road.

Onward from Split

Timetables and live queue status for the island ferries are on croatianferries.com: the Split port page, and the routes to Supetar on Brač, Stari Grad on Hvar, Hvar town, Vis, Rogač on Šolta and Ubli on Lastovo.

Documents

Italy and Croatia are both in the Schengen area, so there is no passport control between them. Operators still check identity when you board: SNAV asks for original documents valid for travel abroad, and says minors need their own document, with the parents' names added for children under 14. Carry a passport or a national ID card.

Booking and prices

Book with the operator: SNAV Ancona-Split (the 2026 calendar is a PDF) or Jadrolinija line 53 (timetable PDF). croatianferries.com does not sell tickets.

SNAV's 2026 flyer shows promotional fares, in limited numbers and excluding fees and taxes: from 26 euros per leg for one adult, from 96 euros return for an adult with a car or motorbike (the vehicle's return is free), and from 172 euros per leg for two adults with a camper or caravan up to 8 metres. Jadrolinija does not publish a fare on the pages we read, so check its booking page for your date. We do not quote third-party prices.