A smooth arrival turns your first day on the water into a dream. Whether you're flying private to Tivat or catching a commercial flight to Split — here's everything you need to plan your journey to the marina.
Best Arrival Option for Groups
For groups of 4 or more, a private jet to Split, Dubrovnik, or Tivat is not just a luxury — it's often a practical and competitive choice. No queues, no flight connections, departure when you want, and you arrive directly at a private terminal minutes from the marina.
✈ Get Instant Private Jet Quotes — Villiers Jets
Villiers Jets connects you to 10,000+ aircraft worldwide with instant price comparison across operators. Split (SPU), Dubrovnik (DBV), and Tivat (TIV) all handle private aviation. Groups of 4–12 flying from London, Paris, Geneva, or Frankfurt often find private jet pricing competitive with premium commercial fares once split across the group — and you skip every airport queue.
Charter holidays are time-sensitive — your turnaround is Saturday to Saturday in most cases. Missing a commercial flight means potentially missing your first day on the water, paying for an empty cabin night, and starting the holiday stressed. A private jet eliminates connections, delays, and baggage uncertainty.
Typical routing: London to Split in 2h 15m. London to Tivat in 2h 45m. Paris to Dubrovnik in 2h 30m.
A light jet (6–8 passengers) from London Farnborough to Split runs approximately €8,000–€12,000 one-way. Split eight ways: €1,000–€1,500 per person — comparable to business class commercial with none of the hassle. A midsize jet for 9 passengers from Geneva to Tivat might be €10,000–€14,000 total.
Empty leg flights (repositioning flights) are available at 25–75% discount via Villiers Jets — ideal for flexible departure days.
Private aviation uses dedicated FBO (Fixed Base Operator) terminals. At Split and Dubrovnik, the private terminals are adjacent to the commercial airport but entirely separate. Arrive 20–30 minutes before departure, no security queues, baggage handled directly to the aircraft. Charter-friendly: oversized luggage, cooler bags, and sailing gear handled without surcharges.
Airport Guide
Three airports serve the main Adriatic charter bases. Each has a distinct character and optimal route pairings — choosing the right one makes your logistics significantly easier.
Croatia's second airport and the gateway to the Dalmatian coast. Located 25 km north-west of Split city centre and approximately 30 minutes by road from ACI Marina Split. The airport has expanded significantly and now handles 5+ million passengers per year, with direct seasonal flights from London Heathrow (British Airways), London Gatwick (easyJet, Jet2), Dublin, Amsterdam, Zurich, and dozens more.
To marina: Taxi (€25–€35), pre-booked transfer, or rental car. No rail connection.
Best for: Split, Trogir, Šibenik charter bases. All routes starting in central Dalmatia.
Private jet: FBO at Split Airport. 30 min to marina.
One of Europe's most scenic airport approaches — the runway juts out towards the Adriatic with islands visible on final approach. Located 20 km south-east of the old city, approximately 20 minutes to Gruž marina. Strong commercial connections: London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Manchester, Dublin, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Vienna, Istanbul, and US seasonal routes.
To marina: Taxi (€25–€35), shared bus, or rental car. Atlas Bus service from airport to Pile Gate (old town). Gruž marina is a 5-minute cab from the bus terminus.
Best for: Dubrovnik-based charters, start of Montenegro crossing route, one-way routes arriving from Split.
Private jet: FBO at Dubrovnik Airport. 20 min to marina.
Montenegro's primary airport and the most remarkable charter arrival in the Adriatic: Porto Montenegro is literally a 5-minute drive from the terminal. The airport handles mid-size commercial jets and private aircraft. Commercial routes include London Gatwick (easyJet seasonal), Vienna (Austrian Airlines), Istanbul (Turkish Airlines), and charter flights from major European cities in summer.
To marina: Taxi (€10–€15) or a 15-minute walk along the waterfront to Porto Montenegro.
Best for: Montenegro-only charters, Bay of Kotor roundtrips, end of Dubrovnik–Kotor one-way route.
Private jet: Excellent private aviation facilities. Just 5 min to Porto Montenegro. Preferred private jet destination for Adriatic superyacht guests.
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Villiers Jets searches 10,000+ aircraft from 360+ charter companies instantly. Empty leg flights available at up to 75% discount. Ideal for Saturday charter turnovers with fixed deadlines.
Budget Option
Commercial flights work well for individuals or small groups where the maths don't favour a private jet. Key routes to know:
Split (SPU): British Airways from London Heathrow (seasonal); easyJet and Jet2 from Gatwick, Manchester, Edinburgh, Bristol. 2h 30m–2h 50m flight time.
Dubrovnik (DBV): British Airways from Heathrow; easyJet from Gatwick; Jet2 from Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle, Bristol. 2h 45m–3h.
Tivat (TIV): easyJet from London Gatwick (seasonal). 3h–3h 15m. Alternatively, fly to Dubrovnik and transfer by road (1.5h) or charter boat.
Split: Austrian from Vienna; Lufthansa Group connections via Frankfurt/Munich; Wizzair from various central European cities; Turkish Airlines via Istanbul.
Dubrovnik: Austrian from Vienna; LOT from Warsaw; Turkish Airlines via Istanbul; Swiss via Zurich seasonal.
Tivat: Austrian from Vienna; Turkish Airlines via Istanbul. Best connected for Eastern European charter guests.
Book outbound flights arriving by 3pm on your embarkation Saturday — charter check-in is typically 5pm, and you want time for the marina briefing. Book return flights no earlier than 11am on disembarkation Saturday to allow for a relaxed final morning.
Consider flying out a day early and staying at a Split or Dubrovnik hotel — it eliminates any risk of a delayed flight meaning you miss the first night aboard, and gives you an evening in one of Europe's best cities.
Marina to Marina
A rental car at the marina serves two purposes: getting from the airport without overpriced airport taxi monopolies, and exploring inland Croatia or Montenegro on pre/post charter days. Discover Cars aggregates 500+ suppliers to find the best available rate — typically 70% lower than booking at the airport desk on arrival.
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Discover Cars searches 500+ rental suppliers including local companies not available on generic comparison sites. The 365-day cookie means any booking within a year of clicking earns commission — a genuinely exceptional affiliate value for long-advance charter planners. Pick up at Split Airport, Dubrovnik Airport, Tivat Airport, or in town near the marina.
Arriving a day early? A rental car gives you the freedom to explore Dalmatia's hinterland before boarding: the fortress at Klis above Split, the waterfalls at Krka National Park (1 hour north of Split), or the medieval walled city of Šibenik. Pre-booking via Discover Cars is 40–70% cheaper than walk-up desk rates.
Finishing in Dubrovnik or Tivat? A rental car opens up the Montenegrin highlands, the Bay of Kotor village of Perast by road, the Konavle valley south of Dubrovnik, or a scenic drive along the coastal road back towards Split. One-way rental between cities (Split, Dubrovnik, Podgorica) is available from most suppliers.
Book automatic transmission if you're not used to European manual gearboxes — Croatian coastal roads can be steep and narrow. Take full insurance (collision damage waiver + theft protection) — Croatian rental companies sometimes push supplementary insurance aggressively at the desk. Pre-pay for fuel to avoid the expensive refuelling charge.
For Montenegro: confirm your rental car is authorised to cross the Croatia–Montenegro border — not all are. Discover Cars clearly lists which vehicles permit border crossings.
Ground Transport
Split Airport to marina: €25–€35, 30 minutes. Book via Bolt app (often cheaper than radio taxis). Pre-booked transfers from reputable companies (Atlas, Adriatic Airport Transfer) available from €25.
Dubrovnik Airport to Gruž marina: €25–€35, 20 minutes. Atlas Airexpress bus (€6) to Pile Gate; 5-minute cab to marina.
Tivat Airport to Porto Montenegro: €10–€15, 5 minutes. Walkable in 15 minutes for those travelling light.
Dubrovnik offers water taxi services between the old harbour, Gruž, and Cavtat — useful if your charter departs from somewhere other than Gruž marina. Kotor has water taxis linking the marina to the old town. Porto Montenegro has its own tender service.
For the Split archipelago, regular ferry services connect Split to Brač, Hvar, Vis, and other islands — useful for crew joining mid-charter or for dropping/picking up guests who aren't doing the full week.
Charters typically board from 5pm Saturday. Arrive by 3pm to allow for the marina briefing, provisioning delivery, and settling in. If flying in on Saturday, book the earliest available flight — delays are harder to absorb on turnaround day.
Flying in Friday evening and staying at a Split, Dubrovnik, or Tivat hotel is the recommended approach for groups — one less stress point, and you get an evening in a beautiful city before the charter begins.
The Premium Arrival
For groups of six or more chartering a crewed yacht from €15,000/week, a private jet from London, Paris, or Geneva to Tivat or Dubrovnik is a natural fit. The total travel door-to-dock can be under 4 hours. Villiers Jets offers instant comparison across thousands of aircraft and will match you with the optimal aircraft type for your group and route.