It’s easy to see why Dubrovnik is without a doubt one of the most popular tourist attractions in the Mediterranean. The Old City sits on the coastline of the Adriatic Sea in the region of Dalmatia and is surrounded by its characteristic perimeter wall which has protected the vulnerable city from a troubled past. The city is famous for its orange clay roof tiles that can be seen from the 2km walk around the perimeter wall and was awarded UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 1979. Dubrovnik has had a violent past with it surviving major earthquakes including in 1667 when much of its famous Renaissance buildings were destroyed, through to a seven month siege during the breakup of Yugoslavia in 1991. Thankfully tensions in the region have now calmed down which has allowed Dubrovnik to rebuild itself into one of the most picturesque cities in the world which has been used as a backdrop for major TV and film productions including Game of Thrones and Star Wars Episode VIII.
Accommodation – Due to the popularity and limited space inside the Old City hotel prices are high during peak season with a double ensuite room easily costing over 200 Euros a night. Cheaper accommodation is available through private rentals and AirBnB apartments which will cost from as little as 40 Euros per night if you’re prepared for the 10-20 minute walk into town. Make sure you know if your accommodation costs include city tax and insurance fees, as these can be added as extras by some hotels.
Food – Generally speaking the food quality in Dubrovnik and the whole of Croatia is excellent, with restaurant prices in the city being much higher than in the more rural areas. A light lunch with a couple of beers for two people will comfortably set you back 30 Euros. Cheaper options can be found if you’re willing to explore the side streets for smaller independent restaurants, including the Pup café which we found to have the best coffee in the city.
Transportation costs – 10 bus lines interlink the city and tickets can be bought direct from the driver for 15kn or at the kiosk for 12kn. The ticket is valid for an hour from time of validation and can be used for a return journey if it’s within the hour time limit. A daily ticket can also be purchased for 30kn and children under 6 years old are free if accompanied by an adult. Parking in the city is very limited so if you’re planning on driving in make sure you give yourself extra time or park away from the city. If you do end up with a parking ticket (like we did) make sure you go and pay it at once at one of the kiosks as this will limit the fine to 50kn. If you leave it till the next day (like we did) it jumps up to 800kn!
Safety – We felt extremely safe whilst walking around Dubrovnik even at night through the quieter side streets. The locals we came across were very friendly and happy help when we got lost looking for our apartment. In the Old City it gets extremely busy especially in peak season so just be aware of picket pockets or opportunist thieves but we saw no evidence of this.