We’re big Game of Thrones fans (ugh, even after that horrible ending), and we were very excited to visit Meereen. Game of Thrones fans will find the trip to Klis Fortress worth it, in fact, we thought it was the top of our list of things to do in Split with kids.
Klis Fortress gained notoriety as the Game of Thrones Meereen filming location. GOT fans know that Meereen is the city in the Bay of Dragons which Daenerys Targaryen conquers, then stays to rule over Slaver’s Bay.
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How far is Klis Fortress from Split?
The Klis Fortress is 7.5 miles (12km) from the center of Split, so you’ll need some form of transportation to get there. We had a few struggles in our attempts to get to the Klis Fortress from Split. In hopes of helping others learn from our experience, here is what you need to know to easily get to Klis Fortress from Split:
Klis Fortress Game of Thrones Tour
The easiest way to see the Klis Fortress from Split is on a Game of Thrones tour. There are several Game of Thrones tours from Split. Most will take you to the Klis Fortress (the Meereen filming location) and Diocletian’s Palace (home to many famous Daenerys Targaren scenes). Some of the longer tours will also visit the location of Daario Naharis’ famed battle as well as the setting for the free city of Bravos.
This 3.5 hour Game of Thrones tour from Split includes air-conditioned transport and is very highly rated. Other Split Game of Thrones tours are listed below.
Taking the Bus from Split to Klis Fortress
Despite the ease of taking an organized Split Game of Thrones tour, we prefer to be more self-sufficient when we travel, so we visited the Klis Fortress by public transit.
The Split to Klis Fortress bus is urban route #22. The bus stop in central Split is just east of the Croatian National Theatre – this stop is a major one in Split and is called the HNK stop.
You can buy bus tickets to the Klis Fortress at the HNK bus stop from a little booth. You need to buy a two-trip “Zone 2” ticket, which cost 22kr (~$3.50USD) for the return trip. Each time you get on the bus, the driver will validate one half of the ticket with a date stamp.
The Split #22 bus stops at the Klis Megdan stop, a 3 minute walk to the Klis Fortress.
Getting Back to Split from Klis Fortress
You get back on the bus at the same stop you got off at. If it’s a normal route, you will get dropped off at the HNK stop near the Croatian National Theatre. For more information on the “normal route” comment, read on…
Understanding the Bus Schedule to Klis Fortress
The buses in Split are operated by Promet. The Route 22 schedules are available on their webpage – simply select Timetables > Urban Area Split > then select route 22 from the dropdown list. You will see three columns: working days, Saturday and Sunday.
In the example below, there is a weekday bus at 8:30. Note: this is the time the bus leaves the Klis Megdan stop!! To estimate the time the bus leaves the HNK stop, you need to add about 30 minutes to the time on the schedule – I wish we had known that…
One other important item to be aware of is to watch for comments on the schedule. Some of the times have (to) HNK, (from) HNK or are highlighted in yellow.
We took a #22 bus from the Klis Fortress to Split at a time which had a comment on it. To our surprise, the bus stopped at a random stop way outside the Split town center and everyone got off. A helpful lady saw our confusion and explained we had to get off the bus and transfer to a Route #1 bus to take us the rest of the way. The moral of the story is to ask the bus driver or another passenger what these notes mean before you get on the bus.
The Savings from Taking the Bus to Klis Fortress
In addition to the satisfaction of doing this trip independently, you can also save yourself a big chunk of change.
- Cost to take the bus: 22kr per person return trip
- Cost of admission: 40kr per adult
- Total cost of doing it yourself = 66kr (~10USD)
- Approximate cost of going on a tour: 300-520kr ($50-80USD)
Approximate savings per person: $40-70USD per person
Klis Fortress Opening Hours
The Klis Fortress is typically open daily from 10am to 4pm. Check for updates to the Klis Fortress opening hours before you go.
Those are your two options to get to the Klis Fortress from Split. We took the bus and saved quite a bit of money. But, sometimes on holidays you deserve to treat yourself to the easy way. Either way a visit to the Klis Fortress is well worth the effort!
Additional Croatia with Kids Resources
- 2 Days in Dubrovnik with Kids
- 15 Tips You need to Know When Visiting Plitvice Lakes with Kids
- Best Things to do in Split with Kids
- Best Things to do on Hvar with Kids
- Best Things to do in Zagreb Croatia with Kids
- 2 Days in Korcula with Kids
- Hiking from Korcula to Kocje with Kids
Planning Resources for Split with Kids:
- Private Transfer from Split Airport from Suntransfers.com
- Family Friendly Hotels in Split from Booking.com
- Most Popular Split Tours, Tickets, Activities & Things To Do
- Family Friendly Airbnb rentals (New to Airbnb? Sign up with our link to get a $35 credit on your first stay…)
- Family Friendly Split Islands Sailing Holidays (Private tour)
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