Quick answer. The old Split advice is dead. Croatia adopted the euro on 1 January 2023, retiring the kuna, so if you are arriving from the eurozone there is nothing to exchange and any counter offering to sell you Croatian currency is selling you a spread you do not need. Split Airport (SPU) is not in Split: it sits at Kaštela near Trogir, roughly 25 km from the city, so budget for the transfer. Use a Zagrebačka banka or PBZ bankomat, decline DCC and choose euros. Croatia has no Bank of America Global ATM Alliance partner, so a BoA card pays its 3 percent. The reason to carry any cash at all is the islands: Hvar, Brač and Vis run on ferries, konobas and small harbours where cards are patchier than in Split itself.
Where to get Euro at SPU
The Split pattern after the euro changeover is simple: a bank bankomat gives you euros at the interbank rate, the airport exchange counters have little left to offer eurozone arrivals, and the standalone machines on the islands are where the surcharges hide. The cost math below assumes you withdraw the equivalent of $100 in euros.
| Option | Where | Markup | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zagrebačka banka / PBZ bankomat at SPU | Arrivals | Interbank rate, low or no operator fee | ~$99 |
| Arriving from the eurozone with euros already | n/a | No transaction at all since the 2023 changeover | ~$100 |
| Bank bankomat + Schwab (fee refunded) | Arrivals | Interbank rate, ATM fee refunded | ~$100 |
| Any bankomat with a BoA card (no Alliance here) | Arrivals | Interbank rate + BoA 3% non-network fee | ~$97 |
| Standalone machine on Hvar or Brač | Island harbours | Operator surcharge + DCC push | ~$90-94 |
Where to find the bankomats at Split Airport (SPU), and how much cash the islands actually need
Split (SPU) is Dalmatia's gateway and one of the most seasonal airports in the Mediterranean, quiet in winter and overwhelmed in August. It sits at Kaštela, next to Trogir and about 25 kilometres from Split's old town, so the transfer is a real part of your arrival rather than an afterthought. The single most useful fact is that Croatia uses the euro, having switched from the kuna on 1 January 2023 at a fixed conversion rate, which means eurozone visitors need no exchange transaction at all and everyone else simply withdraws euros. In arrivals you will find bankomats from Zagrebačka banka, Croatia's largest bank, and Privredna banka Zagreb (PBZ), both dispensing at the Visa or Mastercard interbank rate, alongside exchange counters that are now largely redundant. Croatia has no Bank of America Global ATM Alliance partner, so a BoA debit card pays BoA's own 3 percent non-network fee. Decline dynamic currency conversion and choose euros.
Passenger terminal (arrivals)
Croatia Airlines, Ryanair, easyJet, Eurowings and heavy seasonal charter traffic from across Europe through an expanded single terminal
After baggage reclaim, use the Zagrebačka banka or PBZ bankomat in the arrivals area rather than the exchange counters, which have limited purpose now that Croatia uses the euro. Decline DCC and choose euros. The Pleso prijevoz shuttle and the local bus 37 stop are directly outside the terminal, with the taxi rank alongside.
Do you actually need cash at Split (SPU)?
Little for Split, more for the islands. The airport shuttle, city buses, ferries and Split's restaurants take cards. Carry euros for island konobas and harbour stalls. Here is what a card covers getting into the city:
Pleso prijevoz airport shuttle to Split (~€8): Runs to Split's main bus station beside the ferry port in roughly 30-40 minutes; the most practical option if you are catching an island ferry.
Local bus 37 (Trogir-Split) (~€4): Cheaper and slower, stopping frequently along the coast road; useful if you are staying in Kaštela or Trogir.
Taxi (~€35-50 to Split): From the rank outside arrivals, around 30 minutes to the old town; considerably dearer than the shuttle.
Uber / Bolt (~€30-45 to Split): Both operate in the Split area and bill your card in the app, often a little cheaper than a street taxi.
⚠ DCC trap. When the ATM or terminal asks if you want to be charged in your home currency instead of the local currency, always decline and choose the local currency. Accepting locks in a 3-13 percent markup that your no-FX-fee card cannot undo. Full DCC explainer →
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need cash to get from Split (SPU) to Split?
No. The Pleso prijevoz shuttle to Split, the local bus 37, the taxis and the rideshares all take cards.
Can I order Euro before flying?
Yes. CEI Currency Exchange ships euros to your US address in 2-5 days. Worth doing for a Dalmatian trip, since island konobas and harbour stalls on Hvar and Brač lean on cash.
Where are the bankomats at Split Airport?
In the arrivals area of the expanded terminal at Kaštela. Zagrebačka banka and PBZ both dispense euros at the interbank rate. Remember the airport is about 25 km from Split, so plan the transfer as well as the withdrawal.
Should I exchange money at SPU?
There is usually nothing to exchange. Croatia adopted the euro on 1 January 2023, so eurozone arrivals already hold the national currency and everyone else simply withdraws euros from a bankomat.
Do I still need to change money for Croatia?
Not if you are coming from the eurozone. Croatia replaced the kuna with the euro on 1 January 2023 at a fixed conversion rate, so euros are simply the national currency now. Visitors from the eurozone can arrive with the cash already in their pocket and skip every exchange counter. Travellers from the US, UK, Australia or elsewhere just withdraw euros from a bankomat as they would in Italy or Spain. Any leftover kuna notes from an older trip could be exchanged at the Croatian National Bank during a transition window, but that avenue has now closed for general use, so old kuna is effectively a souvenir.
How much cash should I take for the Dalmatian islands?
More than you need for Split itself. Split's old town, the Riva and the restaurants around Diocletian's Palace take cards comfortably, as do the Jadrolinija ferry ticket offices. Where cash still matters is once you are on Hvar, Brač, Vis or Šolta: small konobas in inland villages, beach bars, market stalls, some private accommodation and the smaller harbour operators prefer or require it, and island ATMs can be standalone machines with their own surcharge. Take a sensible euro float at the airport or in Split before you board, rather than relying on finding a good machine in Jelsa or Komiža.
How do I get from Split Airport into the city?
The airport is at Kaštela, about 25 kilometres from Split, so you have a genuine journey ahead. The Pleso prijevoz airport shuttle runs to Split's main bus station near the ferry port for a few euros and takes around 30-40 minutes. Local bus 37 is cheaper and slower, stopping frequently between Trogir and Split. Taxis and Uber both operate and cost considerably more. If you are heading straight to Trogir instead, it is only a few kilometres away and much quicker. All of these take cards, so you do not need euros in hand before you leave the terminal.
Is there a Bank of America Alliance partner in Croatia?
No. Croatia has no Bank of America Global ATM Alliance partner, so a BoA debit card pays BoA's 3 percent non-network surcharge at Zagrebačka banka, PBZ or any other Croatian bankomat, SPU included. The Croatian side of the transaction is clean at the major banks, which do not add a heavy operator fee. A Wise card gives the interbank rate with no markup and a Charles Schwab card refunds ATM operator fees, either of which is the better choice for a Dalmatian trip involving several island withdrawals.