The wonderful world of Split taxi fares, in a nutshell.
As an avid Uber user, I’ve become a bit naive to the nature of Split taxi fares in the summer. Sure, I know prices are ever-changing – and that usually depends on who you get to drive you home at night – but could someone actually charge you 100 kuna to go 2 kilometers? Nonsense!
Unfortunately, it does get that bonkers.
On the rare off day when an Uber is unavailable (which really means they’re just too far away and I don’t have that extra minute to wait), I take a deep breath and walk proudly to the taxi stand over by Pazar. Now, I live less than 2 kilometers from the taxi stand (precisely 1.7 kilometers) and know that the five-minute drive home with Uber costs between 20-25 kuna in the peak season. How much more could a taxi possibly be? Saddle up, because it could be a wild ride.
Fortunately, I’ve learned a few fighting words in my three years in Split, and whether they help or not (probably not), at least I know I tried.
Rule No. 1: Always speak Croatian when looking for a taxi.
I understand this doesn’t help many of you, but one thing I have learned is that speaking Croatian means there’s a better chance they won’t take advantage of you. AND, always ask the price of the fare to where you’re going before entering the taxi.
Rule No. 2: Do not surrender.
Here’s an example. Just a few weeks ago, I was trapped in the center in 35 degree Celsius weather with a dead mobile phone. I needed to get home, and quickly, but walking for 20 minutes in my sweat-drenched clothes was not the answer. I had bags with me, and the line for the bus looked chaotic. What was my only option? I walked to the taxi stand.
“Koliko do Firule?” (How much to Firule?)
100 kuna.
“Pardon?”
100 kuna.
“Nema šanse.” (No chance.)
At this point, the driver usually starts yelling (cursing) at you in Croatian, which creates a scene and draws the attention of other drivers wanting a piece of the pie.
“I’ll take you for 60,” says another.
With each new driver, the price goes down to 60…50…and if you’re really lucky, even lower.
Rule No. 3: Always ask for the meter.
If you have no choice but to get in a taxi, make sure they turn on the meter. Yes, the starting amount in the summer is usually 30 kuna, but the likelihood of that figure getting to 100 kuna for such as short trip? Nah.
Split’s erratic taxi fares even encouraged Slobodna Dalmacija to conduct an experiment on August 28, 2018.
“We went to the taxi stand at Pazar and asked the first taxi driver to take us to Trstenik. He said 100 kuna. 100 kuna for a two-minute drive? We started chatting, and he eventually dropped the price, but that’s not okay. What do they do to foreigners if they charge us like this?” writes Slobodna Dalmacija.
Therefore, on Saturday night around midnight, Slobodna Dalmacija went back to the popular Split taxi stand, compared taxi prices, and checked how much taxi drivers in the city really kept to their price lists.
The team presented themselves to the Split taxi drivers as confused, asking in English how much it would cost them to get to Trstenik. One driver in his 30s kindly offered a price of 60 kuna, which was confirmed by another young driver. This wasn’t a terrible price, and far from what the first gentleman said. The group moved on to the next driver.
“The price is about 80 kuna,” said a taxi driver in his 50s. His colleague also confirmed this price by nodding his head. The price jumped 20 kuna.
But what about Uber?
The group turned on their application and looked up the ride. A trip to Trstenik would be between 24 and 30 kuna – what a deal.
Then the group called a couple of Split taxi companies (or their branch offices) and asked for a price between Pazar and Trstenik.
“We first called Go Green Taxi (021 772 772). We asked for the price in English, and the woman on the other line clearly said: ‘That would cost you about 40 kuna’.”
The group then called Cammeo.
“For Cammeo (021 313 313), a kind lady told us that the price was about 55 kuna.”
In the end, they called Radio Taxi Split (021 473 737).
“The gentleman did not immediately know the exact price, but he later stated that the amount could be between 70 and 80 kuna.”
As it turns out, Uber is still the cheapest.
Another important route for citizens and tourists is from Split Airport to the center of Split. Slobodna Dalmacija called these three companies again looking for quotes – but this time, speaking Croatian.
“Go Green said that their price is fixed at 230 kuna, Cammeo is 190 kuna, while Radio Taxi said that the price is about 180 kuna for Croatians, but for foreigners – 280 kuna. The 280 kuna price is on their web as part of the summer price list while the winter price to the airport is 180 kuna. We also checked prices for Uber – and prices from Split to the Split Airport range from 225 to 270 kuna.”
When in doubt, download Uber or learn to speak Croatian. We think using Uber is easier…
