Perched high above Split, Croatia, Klis Fortress is a former Croatian royal castle and stronghold with an incredible history and some of the best views of Split and the Adriatic Sea. It’s well worth visiting, but its location outside the city means you’ll need to figure out how to get to Klis Fortress from Split before you go.
We visited Klis Fortress with our kids and had a great time exploring the old stone walls, passageways and staircases. The kids especially enjoyed exploring the fortress, while we loved the views and learning about its history. It’s easy to see why Klis Fortress is one of our recommended things to do in Split with kids.
There are several ways to get from Split to Klis Fortress, including driving, taking an organized tour or using public transportation. We chose to take the local Route 22 bus to Klis Fortress, which turned into a bit more of an adventure than we expected! In this guide, we’ll share the different transportation options, along with what we learned from taking the bus, to help you choose the best way to visit Klis Fortress.
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How Far Is Klis Fortress From Split?
Klis Fortress is 7.5 miles (12 km) from the center of Split, so you’ll need some form of transportation to get there. Getting to Klis Fortress wasn’t quite as straightforward as we’d expected. Here’s what we learned about the different transportation options from Split to Klis Fortress, including a few things we wish we’d known before taking the public bus:
4 Ways to Get to Klis Fortress From Split
1. Drive From Split to Klis Fortress
If you have a rental car in Split, driving to Klis Fortress is a convenient option. The 30-minute drive involves a combination of city driving and mountain roads. There are a few small parking lots near Klis Fortress. If you are visiting on a weekend or peak season, it will help if you arrive at Klis early, ahead of the crowds.
Directions from Split to Klis Fortress
2. Take an Organized Tour to Klis Fortress
Klis Fortress is one of the top things to do in Split. If you’d rather leave the transportation arrangements to someone else, consider taking an organized tour to Klis Fortress. It’s one of the easiest ways to visit, especially if you don’t have a rental car or prefer not to navigate the public bus system
Klis Fortress is also famous for appearing in HBO’s Game of Thrones. Depending on your interests, you can choose between tours focused on its filming locations or its Croatian history:
Game of Thrones Tours
Klis Fortress gained notoriety as the Game of Thrones filming location for Meereen. Game of Thrones fans will recognize Meereen as the city Daenerys Targaryen conquers before staying to rule over Slaver’s Bay.
We’re big Game of Thrones fans (even after that disappointing ending), and we were very excited to visit Klis Fortress to see the Meereen filming location.
If you’re a Game of Thrones fan, this private Klis Fortress tour from Split is a great option. You’ll explore the fortress with a knowledgeable guide, see where scenes from Meereen were filmed and enjoy a visit to Stella Croatica, including an olive museum and tastings of local products. Transportation from Split and entrance tickets are included, making this an easy way to visit Klis Fortress without worrying about getting there on your own.
Klis Fortress Sightseeing Tours
Many visitors to Split won’t care that it was a Game of Thrones filming location, but wish to visit Klis Fortress based on its significant historical value to Croatia. For these visitors, we suggest the sunset tour to Klis Fortress. In addition to a visit to Klis Fortress, you’ll get to watch a beautiful sunset over the city of Split.
3. Take a Sightseeing Bus to Klis Fortress
If you’d rather not worry about driving or figuring out the local bus schedule, the Split City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour is a great way to visit Klis Fortress while seeing more of the area.
The sightseeing bus offers three different routes. The Red Line is a traditional hop-on hop-off tour around Split, while the Green and Blue Lines are guided excursions that include Klis Fortress. Depending on your chosen route, you can also visit attractions such as the ancient ruins of Salona, the historic town of Trogir and the Olive Museum. A guided walking tour of Split’s Old Town and Diocletian’s Palace is also included.
We recommend checking out the different sightseeing bus ticket options and prices to see which works best for your family. It’s a convenient way to explore beyond Split without having to arrange transportation to each attraction yourself.
4. Take the Public Bus From Split to Klis Fortress (Route 22)
Despite the ease of taking an organized tour to Klis Fortress, we prefer to mingle with the locals, so we visited Klis Fortress by public transit.
Where to Catch the Route 22 Bus in Split
To get to Klis Fortress from Split by public bus, look for Promet’s Route 22. During our visit, we boarded near the Croatian National Theatre at the HNK bus stop, just east of the theatre. From what we could tell during our visit, this is one of the major bus stops in Split.
How to Buy Bus Tickets to Klis Fortress
You can buy bus tickets to Klis Fortress through the Promet Split mobile app, at a ticket machine or at an official ticket office. A one-way ticket from Split to Klis costs €2 when purchased in advance, or €4 if you buy it directly from the bus driver.
You’ll need a separate ticket for the return journey, bringing the total cost to €4–€8 per person, depending on how you purchase your tickets. We recommend buying your tickets in advance to save money. You can check the latest fares on the official Promet Split website.
The nearest bus stop for Klis Fortress on Route 22 is the Klis Megdan stop. From here it’s a short 3 minute walk to Klis Fortress.
Taking the Bus Back to Split from Klis Fortress
You get back on the bus at the same Klis Megdan bus stop you got off at. During our visit, some Route 22 buses returned to the HNK stop near the Croatian National Theatre, while others followed a different route. We learned this the hard way, so it’s worth checking the return schedule carefully. Keep reading for more on this…
Understanding the Route 22 Bus Schedule
The bus which goes from Split to Klis Fortress is Route 22, operated by Promet. Open the Split Route 22 bus schedule and then keep reading below to understand how to read the times on the schedule.
In the example below, there is a weekday bus at 8:30. When we visited, the timetable was confusing because the departure times shown were for Klis Megdan rather than the HNK stop in Split. We didn’t realize this at first, and it cost us half an hour!
Pay close attention to any notes beside the departure times. When we visited, some services were labelled ‘(to) HNK’ or ‘(from) HNK’, while others were highlighted in yellow
For example, we took the Route 22 bus from Klis Fortress back to Split at a time which had a comment on it. To our surprise, the bus stopped at a random bus stop way outside the Split Old Town and everyone had to get 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.
Klis Fortress Opening Hours and Admission
Klis Fortress is typically open daily from 9 AM to 7 PM. Check for updates to the Klis Fortress opening hours before you go.
You can buy Klis Fortress tickets online ahead of time, but you must go to visit Stella Croatica first to pickup your entrance tickets for Klis Fortress. Because of this, I recommend you simply buy your Klis Fortress tickets at the gate.
Where to Stay Near Klis Fortress
If you’d prefer to stay away from the hustle and bustle of Split’s Old Town, consider a vacation rental near Klis Fortress. You may find a property with more space, a pool or even views over Split and the Adriatic Sea.
Final Thoughts: Split to Klis Fortress
We hope you found these options to get to Klis Fortress from Split useful. We took the bus to Klis and saved quite a bit of money, but sometimes it just makes sense to treat yourself to an easier option while on your holiday in Croatia. Either way, you’ll love visiting Klis Fortress, as it’s one of the best things to do in Split!
Follow Along on Our Croatia Family Holiday
Our family trip to Croatia began in Zagreb, where we enjoyed exploring Zagreb with kids. We then travelled by bus to Plitvice Lakes National Park, one of the highlights of our time in Croatia. If you’re planning a visit, don’t miss our tips for visiting Plitvice Lakes with kids.
After spending three days in Split with kids, we continued our Croatian adventure by exploring the islands. We loved our time on Korcula with kids and Hvar with kids, before ending our Croatia holiday with a memorable visit to Dubrovnik with kids.
Croatia was just one part of our longer European family holiday. We also enjoyed visiting Prague with kids, exploring Budapest with kids and finishing our trip with an incredible family holiday in Iceland. For more inspiration, read our complete guide to travelling in Croatia with kids.
Our Travel Journal for Kids
Based on our family travels, our kids helped us design this Travel Journal for Active Kids! This engaging travel journal encourages kids to document their adventures, spark creativity, and stay entertained on the go – grab yours now on Amazon!
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