Pre-Trip Planning for Visiting Dubrovnik

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To ensure that your visit to Dubrovnik is as enjoyable and memorable as possible, a little pre-planning can really help you get the most out of your trip. This section includes FAQs such as when to go, how long to visit, where to stay, and how to arrive. I am trying to answer these questions while giving you useful tips on planning your trip and getting the most from your stay.

Below are pre-departure planning points with additional information that may be useful to travelers before leaving for Dubrovnik, some general info that can be handy for pre-planning your trip:

When to go

Dubrovnik attracts thousands of tourists during the peak travel months of June through early October and that is the time when hotel space and private rooms/b&b’s are in short supply. In my opinion, the best time for a trip to Dubrovnik is from September to May including the Easter holidays when mild and sunny days are very common.

Although, there were times when even snow was falling in Dubrovnik. As airfares and hotel prices are lowest in winter this could be another good reason to avoid the high tourist season. Read the whole article about when is the best time to visit Dubrovnik.

Best Time to Visit – When to Go – When to go, the best time of day to visit Old Town and City Walls, how to avoid the crowds in Dubrovnik, the best time of year & month by month overview – read more
What to pack for Dubrovnik – an overview of the seasonal weather in Dubrovnik with recommendations of what to pack and what to wear in different seasons…read more
Weather in Dubrovnik

How long to visit

If your time is precious you can grasp the essence of Dubrovnik in a single day or in extreme cases just in a few hours. A walk along Dubrovnik’s medieval walls, an afternoon spent exploring the city’s streets, and an hour in the Stradun with a quick coffee/snack are better than skipping Dubrovnik altogether.

Dubrovnik Hotels - Book Now!

However, it’s much nicer to spend a few days in Dubrovnik or preferably a week or even longer if you can as Dubrovnik can be a convenient hub for day trips to islands and villages throughout the Dubrovnik region, such as Sipan, Lopud, Kolocep, Cavtat or visit Mljet island and Ston on Peljesac or Korcula.

A very short visit to Dubrovnik – A friend of mine who is running a small bed and breakfast in Dubrovnik told me that, on average, people who book rooms in..read more
A Few Hours in Dubrovnik – If you are planning to visit Dubrovnik just for a day trip and plan to spend just a few hours here, this is the itinerary that I can recommend so you can see the main attractions and points of interest in just a few hours of one day – read more
One day in Dubrovnik – What to do if you are visiting Dubrovnik just for one day. A guide that includes practical info with a relaxing and doable itinerary for visiting the town. – read more

Money and Budget

Visiting Dubrovnik on a Budget – How to visit Dubrovnik on a budget, what to see, do, costs & ways to save money while travelling to Dubrovnik, Croatia. Where & what to eat, free sights, tips – read more
Cost of eating out in Dubrovnik – Selection of prices in local, central restaurants in Dubrovnik Old Town – photos of menu and adverts show how much you will pay for eating out.
ATM Cash Machines in Dubrovnik – ATM machines are plentiful around Dubrovnik. Locally, they are called “bankomat” and they offer the English language ..read more
Exchanging money in Dubrovnik – There are quite a few money exchange offices in Dubrovnik where most of the major currencies are exchangeable for local currency… read more
Dubrovnik Card – save money and time… read more

Mistakes to Avoid

Top 10 Tourist Mistakes in Dubrovnik – list of some mistakes people who visit Dubrovnik often make
Overspend on transportation from Dubrovnik airport to the city – Overspend on transportation from Dubrovnik airport to the city is a mistake that people who fly to Dubrovnik airport often do so try to avoid it if you can..read more

Where to stay

Dubrovnik has hundreds of hotels, apartments and private rooms that are rented to visitors. However, it can still be difficult to find a room during the high season or during holidays, so it is advisable to book as early as possible.
For advice on accommodations, see accommodations in Dubrovnik.

How to arrive

The first advice is not to drive to Dubrovnik unless you have to. Parking is expensive, and finding a parking spot can be an almost impossible task in high season.

Train service to Dubrovnik does not exist. Buses are frequent (see schedules), ferries a bit less frequent but still, there are several ferries arriving daily in the town from nearby islands and from Italy.

Need Entry Tickets to Town Walls? Buy Now

Major airlines, as well as a lot of budget airlines, connect most of the European airports to Dubrovnik. The aerial view of Dubrovnik’s old town while approaching or leaving Dubrovnik Airport is breathtaking on a clear day, and a bus ride into the city is a great way to approach Dubrovnik for the first time as views from the bus can be an inspiration. (Read more about getting to Dubrovnik)

For getting around town after you’ve arrived, see Dubrovnik’s local transportation and walk around Dubrovnik articles and maps. Here are more details:

Dubrovnik Planning Resources

Also, see the following info:

Left Luggage in Dubrovnik – some useful info about leaving your luggage while sightseeing in Dubrovnik
Laundry / Launderette is available in Dubrovnik in the Old town and Pera Cingrije street no 8 (Boninovo)
There are several pharmacies in the town, here are two of them: Pharmacy Kod Zvonika at Stradun and Ljekarna Gruž, Gruška Obala, Gruž – both open all day with 24 hrs emergency options.
Post office and telephones – the main post office is in Vukovarska street 16, while in the Old Town there is a post office in Široka street – both open on weekdays for most of the day.
Taxi stations are in bus and ferry terminals as well as at Pile Gate and Ploce Gate, just outside of the Old town. Uber also operates in Dubrovnik so make sure you have their application installed on your smartphone – see more info about taxis
Bookshops – there are two bookshops in town, Algebra and Algoritam, both at Stradun offering a selection of English-language books besides usual stuff like tourist guides, postcards and similar
Tourist Information Offices in Dubrovnik – listing of tourist offices around Dubrovnik;

More info – good to know:

Dubrovnik Transport and Travel forum
Getting to Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik ferries
Be sure to read Top 10 Tourist Mistakes in Dubrovnik (and how to avoid them)
Also, browsing through my Dubrovnik Travel Blog, which has advice, news, photos, and videos on various topics.
Note: If you have any questions about your arrival in Dubrovnik to get an answer please post it on our Transport and Travel forum