After travelling through Italy, we decided that our next destination would be Dubrovnik, Croatia. We were travelling as a family — my wife, our child, our dog and me — with our camper. Instead of driving all the way around the Adriatic through Slovenia and northern Croatia, we chose a much more interesting option: crossing the Adriatic Sea by ferry from Italy to Croatia.
For anyone travelling with a vehicle and especially with a dog, the ferry requires a little more preparation than a normal road trip. Here is how our journey went, what we paid, and which documents we needed.
Choosing the Ferry from Italy to Croatia
There are several ferry connections between Italy and Croatia. Depending on the season, routes operate from ports such as Ancona and Bari to the Croatian coast.
For Dubrovnik, one of the most practical starting points in southern Italy is Bari. Ferry schedules across the Adriatic are highly seasonal, however, so it is important to check whether a direct Bari–Dubrovnik sailing is operating on your exact travel date.
Another possibility is to travel from Ancona to Split and then continue south by road to Dubrovnik.
Companies operating Italy–Croatia routes can include:
- Jadrolinija, Croatia’s main passenger ferry company.
- SNAV, which operates selected Adriatic connections.
- Other operators may appear depending on the port, route and summer schedule.
Because schedules and operators change from season to season, we checked the actual sailing before driving to the port.
How Much Did the Ferry Cost?
Ferry prices depend heavily on the month, vehicle dimensions, accommodation and how early you book.
For our trip, we budgeted approximately:
Passenger: €50–€90 each
Child: approximately €25–€50, depending on age and fare
Camper: approximately €100–€200+
Cabin: around €80–€180+
Dog: approximately €10–€30, depending on the operator and accommodation
For a family travelling with a camper and a dog, a realistic total can therefore be around €300–€500, and sometimes considerably more during the busiest summer weeks.
The important detail with a camper is its length and height. When booking the ticket, I had to enter the vehicle category and dimensions. A large motorhome normally costs more than a standard passenger car.
I also selected that we were travelling with a dog. This is important because you cannot simply arrive with an undeclared pet and assume that every cabin allows animals.
Arriving at the Port in Italy
We arrived at the ferry terminal approximately two to three hours before departure.
I would not recommend arriving at the last minute when travelling with a camper. Ferry terminals can be confusing, particularly when several ships are departing around the same time.
At check-in we had our booking confirmation and documents ready.
For us, that meant:
- passports/ID documents;
- ferry booking;
- camper registration document;
- vehicle insurance documents;
- driving licence;
- dog’s EU pet passport and veterinary documents.
After check-in, we received instructions for the vehicle boarding lane.
Then came the waiting.
Cars, vans, motorcycles, trucks and campers were separated into different queues. Port workers gradually started directing vehicles towards the ship.
Boarding the Ferry with Our Camper
Driving a camper onto a large ferry was one of the most memorable parts of the journey.
A port employee waved us forward and we followed the other vehicles onto the loading ramp. Inside the ship, workers directed us to a parking position on the vehicle deck.
The space between vehicles was relatively tight.
After parking, I applied the parking brake, switched everything unnecessary off and took the things we would need during the crossing.
This is important because access to the vehicle deck is normally restricted while the ferry is at sea.
So before leaving the camper we took our documents, phones, chargers, water, some food, clothes for the night and everything necessary for our child and dog.
Travelling to Croatia with a Dog
The dog required more preparation than anything else.
For travel between Italy and Croatia, both EU countries, we carried the standard documentation required for movement of a pet dog within the EU.
Our dog had:
1. A microchip
The dog was identified with an ISO-compatible microchip.
2. A valid rabies vaccination
The vaccination details were recorded in the pet passport. For a first rabies vaccination, the required waiting period before travel is particularly important.
3. EU Pet Passport
This was the main document containing the dog’s identification details, microchip number and vaccination information.
I checked that the microchip number in the passport was exactly the same as the dog’s actual registered chip number.
For a normal Italy-to-Croatia trip with a privately owned dog, we did not need to arrange quarantine.
However, ferry-company rules are separate from border rules. Depending on the ship, dogs may have to remain in designated pet areas, use an onboard kennel, or stay in a specially designated pet-friendly cabin.
When travelling overnight, I would pay extra for a pet-friendly cabin whenever one is available.
We also carried a leash, muzzle, water bowl, food, waste bags and a small blanket.
Crossing the Adriatic
Once the ship left the Italian coast, the trip became much more relaxing.
Instead of spending an entire day driving around the northern Adriatic, we could eat, rest and sleep while the ferry covered most of the distance.
From the outside deck we watched the lights of the Italian coast gradually disappear.
Travelling with a child and dog made having our own cabin particularly useful. It gave us somewhere quiet to rest and meant we did not have to spend the entire crossing sitting in the public passenger areas.
Food and drinks were available onboard, but ferry prices were noticeably higher than supermarket prices. We therefore brought some snacks and water with us.
I would budget roughly €10–€20 per person for a simple onboard meal and drinks, although prices depend on the ship.
Arriving in Croatia
In the morning, seeing the Croatian coastline from the ferry was fantastic.
After the announcement for drivers, we collected our belongings and returned to the vehicle deck when instructed by the crew.
Everyone started getting into their cars and campers. Engines came to life one after another, the loading doors opened, and eventually it was our turn.
We drove down the ramp and onto Croatian soil.
Because both Italy and Croatia are in the Schengen Area, this journey is much simpler than Croatia travel used to be before its Schengen accession, although travellers should still carry valid identification and all vehicle and pet documents.
Driving to Dubrovnik
If arriving directly at Dubrovnik’s Gruž port, the Old Town is only a few kilometres away.
If the ferry arrives in Split, the remaining drive to Dubrovnik is roughly 230 km, usually taking around three to four hours depending on traffic and stops.
The coastal drive is beautiful. The D8 Adriatic Highway offers views of mountains, islands and the sea, although some sections are winding and require more attention when driving a large camper.
Fuel in Croatia was one of our next expenses. For planning purposes, I allowed approximately €1.40–€1.60 per litre for diesel, but fuel prices obviously change, so I checked the current price on the day of travel.
Parking a Camper in Dubrovnik
One thing became obvious very quickly: driving a camper directly into Dubrovnik’s historic centre is a bad idea.
The streets around the Old Town can be extremely busy, parking is limited and parking prices close to the historic centre can be very high.
Instead, we looked for a campsite outside the Old Town and used local transport to visit the centre.
For a camper pitch around Dubrovnik, I would budget approximately €30–€60 per night in the main season, potentially more at premium campsites or for larger pitches.
This was much more comfortable because we had electricity, water, showers and enough space for the dog.
Our Approximate Costs
For this part of the journey, our budget looked roughly like this:
| Expense | Approximate cost |
|---|---|
| Ferry passengers | €100–€180 |
| Child ticket | €25–€50 |
| Camper | €100–€200+ |
| Cabin | €80–€180+ |
| Dog | €10–€30 |
| Food/drinks onboard | €30–€60 |
| Fuel in Croatia | €30–€60 |
| Camper campsite near Dubrovnik | €30–€60 per night |
| Possible ferry-trip total | around €375–€760+ |
The biggest variable is the ferry itself. July and August, larger campers, cabins and late bookings can push the total considerably higher.
Was the Ferry Worth It?
For us, absolutely.
Travelling from Italy to Croatia by ferry turned what could have been a long road transfer into another part of the holiday.
It was particularly convenient with our child and dog because we could rest overnight instead of spending many additional hours driving.
The most important lesson was to prepare the dog’s documents before travelling. I would check the microchip, rabies vaccination and EU Pet Passport well before departure and then check the ferry company’s own pet rules separately.
After leaving the ferry and eventually reaching Dubrovnik, we parked the camper, took the dog for a walk and finally headed towards the Old Town.
Standing above the Adriatic and looking at Dubrovnik’s walls, it felt like the perfect end to our journey across the sea — and the beginning of the next stage of our road trip through Croatia.