If you’re planning a trip to the majestic city “Pearl of the Adriatic”, you’ll most certainly be thinking about the prices in Dubrovnik. Prices in the Mediterranean are pretty consistent but the Balkans are an area that’s less known, which means more uncertainty about costs. Keep reading this guide to answer the question, is Dubrovnik expensive?
Table of Contents
Dubrovnik Trip Cost Guide
Travellers to Dubrovnik will find the city more expensive compared to other Croatian cities and can expect to spend around €70-230 (roughly $77-252 USD) per person per day. However, these prices will vary depending on how you choose to spread your costs across accommodation, food, transport, activities and entertainment.
Accommodation Prices
If you’re a solo traveler or someone traveling to Dubrovnik on a budget, you’ll be looking to spend around €30 per night for a bed in Dubrovnik. Although it’s a city with not many hostel options, if you book ahead you’re likely to find a few hostel options for your stay. You can browse hostel options here.
For those hoping to book at a mid-range hotel, expect to spend around €100-130 a night. Keep in mind that these are the average prices for summertime (the most popular time to visit Dubrovnik), so prices can be lower in the cooler months.
And finally, for those looking for more of a luxurious stay, more upscale hotels such as the Boutique Hotel Porto will cost you upwards of around €200 per night – and can exceed €500 per night if you choose somewhere particularly plush such as the Hotel Excelsior.
The cost of your accommodation in Dubrovnik is also almost certainly going to depend on the location. While the costs of hostels are quite consistent no matter where it is, hotel and private accommodation costs will vary.
If you’re staying somewhere within the walls of the Old Town of Dubrovnik, you’ll undoubtedly be paying much more than if you were to stay outside of the walls.
A great option is to stay in Lapad, which is the port area of the city. It’s very convenient to reach the Old Town from Lapad by bus and is also a lot quieter than if you were to stay more centrally in the city. In terms of accommodation, Dubrovnik is more expensive than Split or other Croatian cities, but if you stay outside of the Old Town, you may be able to have prices reach a bit of parity.
Transportation Prices
When planning your trip to this gorgeous walled city, it’s essential to be aware of the best ways to manoeuvre around Dubrovnik. While there are taxis throughout the city, they are quite pricey so I recommend only taking taxis if you can afford them or are unable to use public transportation.
There is no metro system in the city of Dubrovnik but the bus system is quite reliable, cheap, and convenient. There are numerous buses within the city as well as busses going around the perimeter of the city if your accommodation is there or you’d like to visit somewhere outside of the center. There is also a shuttle service available from Dubrovnik airport to the Old Town.
Keep in mind it’s important to know the cheapest bus tickets to purchase as well as where to purchase them. You can purchase a 1-hour bus ticket from inside the bus for €2 if you have exact change or the same ticket from a kiosk around the city for €1.73.
These tickets are valid for one hour from the time you validate them. So if you’d like, you can purchase multiple tickets at once to keep on you to use as the clock doesn’t start ticking until it’s validated.
If you’re pretty certain you’ll be using the bus system quite often during your stay and in a 24-hour period, I recommend purchasing the 24-hour bus pass for €5.31. Available for purchase at a kiosk and once validated, this ticket is active for 24 hours no matter how many bus rides you take in the city.
A cost-effective option could be to purchase a Dubrovnik Pass which includes unlimited public transport along with access to some of the best things to do in Dubrovnik, such as the city walls, the ethnographic museum and the maritime museum.
You may only need to take a bus if you’re staying outside the city center, as once you’re in the old town, it’s quite feasible to walk everywhere.
It’s also important to keep in mind the time of year you visit, as during the summer you’ll be more likely to take bus transport whereas in the cooler months, it’s much more enjoyable to walk around the city.
Food Prices
We’ve covered accommodation and transportation, but another essential question is; how expensive is Dubrovnik when it comes to food? On the positive side, if you’re looking to pinch pennies during your trip, there are some pretty delicious options for cheaper street food in Dubrovnik.
You can get a classic burek and a coffee for around €5 or a slice of pizza and a beer for just a little more. Cevapi, which are thin minced meat cylinders similar to sausages are also a great food option if you’re looking for something more substantial but don’t want to spend too much at a general sit-down restaurant in the center.
On the negative side, general Dubrovnik food prices are quite high, and eating a meal out can become pretty pricey. Classic Croatian dishes typically are made with higher-cost meats and local seafood, making general costs for dishes higher than in a lot of other places.
For a mid-cost restaurant in the city center, you can expect to pay around €20-30 for the main dish, excluding drinks or sides with your meal. Overall, with a glass of wine or soft drink and a side dish, the cost of a meal in Dubrovnik is around €35-40 per person, excluding dessert.
If you’re looking to pay slightly less and still want to enjoy a sit-down meal at a classic Croatian restaurant, head outside of the old town to neighboring areas for a delicious (if not more delicious than touristy areas) and more affordable meal.
Unfortunately, set lunch menu options at restaurants in Dubrovnik aren’t all too common, you’ll only really find set menus at fine dining restaurants which are big-budget and can really add to your total cost to visit Dubrovnik.
Activities Prices
So how expensive is Dubrovnik if you’re hoping to do some activities during your stay?
Dubrovnik is a city with plenty of things to do, so you won’t be at a loss at finding places to explore and things to do during your trip. From museums to island visits, to exploring the medieval walls surrounding the city, Dubrovnik is a splendid city with so much to explore.
Again though, Dubrovnik is quite expensive with activity costs. The majority of museums in the city aren’t free for admission and the average cost to visit a museum in Dubrovnik is just about €17.
The city walls surrounding the city are easily the most popular activity with tourists in Dubrovnik and if you’re hoping to visit, be prepared to be set back €33 per person for the visit. Though, if you truly want to feel like Tyrion Lannister and see one of the most iconic Game of Thrones filming locations, it can be worth it.
Lokrum Island is another popular place to visit while visiting Dubrovnik, with its lush greenery and idyllic beach areas. But how much is it to visit Lokrum Island? Tickets for the 10-minute ferry and back are €27 per person.
On the plus side, you could also purchase the Dubrovnik Pass as a one-cost ticket with entry to multiple sites in the city as well as an unlimited bus pass for the duration of your ticket.
And whilst it may seem expensive, it’s an incredibly good deal that will save you quite a lot of money during your stay if you’re looking to take advantage of all the sites the city has to offer. The pass includes admission to the city walls as well as any other main museums in the city.
If you’re hoping to go to Lokrum Island or take the cable car up to Mount Srd, keep in mind that the cost of these isn’t included in the pass. The 5-minute cable car ride (including a return ticket) up to Mount Srd costs €27 which also, unfortunately, makes it an expensive activity, although you can hike or take a bus up too!
Walking tours are another wonderful option to get to know the city on a deeper level with a local, and the price isn’t too high either.
There are several walking tours to choose from such as this Old Town tour or this Game of Thrones tour with costs being around €20-25 per person. So if you’re looking to save money and are visiting Dubrovnik on a budget, I highly recommend a walking tour to make the most out of your stay.
Another fun option that’s quite popular with visitors, is to join a boat tour. There are many boat tour companies in Dubrovnik offering various adventures at different budgets such as this half-day tour.
From around €20-80 per person, you can spend between a few hours to a day at sea exploring the stunning surrounding waters and islands that Dubrovnik and Croatia have to offer.
As for free entertainment, your options are quite scant but not nonexistent. There are “free” walking tours, and although you aren’t required to pay a ticket fee, tips are expected at the end of the tour and are up to you, although tour guides do rely on tips.
The Dubrovnik Cathedral is also free to visit and is an absolute mine for classic Baroque paintings if that’s something that you’re interested in.
Visiting the Old Town through the Pile Gate is free and is an experience in itself just strolling around and taking in the beauty of the area. If visiting during the summer, a great free option is to make your way to one of the many beaches Dubrovnik offers.
There are beaches with quite high costs for an umbrella and chair, but most have separate areas where you can just lay down a towel or blanket, spend time in the water and soak up the Croatian sun.
Entertainment Prices
There’s something about the Adriatic that just pulls you to find a comfy chair, a tranquil view of the sun, and a cocktail or a beer. But how much will that desirable experience cost you in Dubrovnik?
Thankfully, drinks in Dubrovnik aren’t as high as attractions or food and are typically the same cost you would expect throughout the rest of southern Europe. For a cocktail in the center of the city you’ll likely pay around €6-8 and for a beer or glass of wine anything between €4-8.
For those more artistically inclined and looking to maybe browse galleries or exhibits within the city, most art galleries are free to visit making it an affordable option to pass time during your stay in Dubrovnik. Dubrovnik is an incredibly culturally rich city so it’s a great place to visit if you’re looking to enjoy some history and art during your trip.
For another fun entertainment option, Dubrovnik is quite well known for having solidly good escape rooms, and a typical ticket per person for an escape room is around €20. There are plenty of places to choose from for escape rooms and there are even options that are Game of Thrones-themed, which are perfect for fans visiting Dubrovnik!
Is Dubrovnik Expensive? Average Prices in Dubrovnik
So overall, how expensive is Dubrovnik? All of the Dubrovnik prices included in this guide are a general estimate as to what you would be paying daily during a trip.
It is also assumed that you would be traveling with at least with another person, so the costs are split between two people. If you are traveling alone, expect to pay more than these averages and also keep in mind that the time of year affects costs a lot in Croatia or the Mediterranean in general.
Accommodation: €30-100 / night
Transportation: €5 / day
Food: €15-60 / day
Activities: €15-35 / day
Entertainment: €5-30 / day
In total, you can expect to spend around €70-230 a day during a trip to Dubrovnik, Croatia. The low end takes into account those staying in a hostel, pretty much eating street food and doing the bare minimum of paid-for activities and entertainment.
The higher end is for those staying in higher-end hotels, doing about an activity a day, and eating out around once a day at a typical restaurant in the center of the city.
While Dubrovnik is undoubtedly the most expensive Balkan and post-Yugoslavian city, don’t let the high costs stop you from visiting. If you’re set on visiting Dubrovnik, there are still many affordable options, and stunning scenery at every corner waiting to offer you an unforgettable trip in this medieval city.
Are you planning a trip to Dubrovnik? Have any questions about the prices? Let us know in the comments!
