Transportation to Dubrovnik and more practical stuff to know
Alright, you booked your flight ticket to Dubrovnik and are ready to depart. But the airport is not within walking distance of the city. You need to get to the city somehow, and there is more than one option.
Keep reading to learn about transportation and more helpful tips we learned when we visited Dubrovnik.
Arriving at the Airport
Dubrovnik Airport is located approximately 15 km (9mi) from the city center. In 2017 a new Terminal C opened. What’s interesting about the airport is that it has the longest runway in Croatia, ready to accommodate long-haul flights.
Get your passport ready
Croatia is part of the European Union, but it is not part of the Schengen Area. However, the country has passed its evaluation process and will join the open borders region in the near future.
As it is not yet in the Schengen Area, you will pass a passport check when entering the country.
The navigation is straightforward. We exited the plane and waddled down the stair. They took us directly to the stalls where our passports were checked. Note that not all booths are open. It depends on how many flights arrived. It was going quite fast, but I recommend hurrying up if you don’t want to stand in a long queue.
Getting from Dubrovnik Airport to the Old Town
Since Dubrovnik is a top Mediterranean destination (especially afterGame of Thrones), many full-service and low-cost carriers fly to Dubrovnik, especially during the summer. This means the transportation from the airport to the city got a boost, and there are many options for getting to the town.
Airport Shuttle Bus
One option is to take the public transport available. You can take the bus, which is very well organized. Note that Dubrovnik Airport does not have a train station.
Recently, they introduced a non-stop airport shuttle service. It goes to and from the airport, making it pretty simple. It stops at the Pile, Old Town bus stop, ferry port, and Dubrovnik’s main bus terminal.
They operate for each flight’s arrival or departure, 7 days a week, and leave the airport 30 minutes after each flight arrival.
Note: the shuttle only operates during peak season (we visited in the middle of May, and the shuttle wasn’t running yet).
The price is 55 Kuna ( 7.5€) one way.
This is the cheapest way to travel to and from Dubrovnik Airport. Don’t worry if your flight arrives early or late, a bus will still wait for the flight regardless of flight delays.
When running, it’s the best choice.
Taxi or Uber
As usual, the taxi station is in front of the airport and taxis are waiting for you to pick. The cost of a taxi to the town is about 200 kuna (27€).
However, getting an Uber is also possible, which might come a little cheaper. Uber is also quite popular in the city, and you will have no issues getting one.
Pre-booked shared or private transfers
This was how we got from and to the airport. This was because we came still off-season, and the shuttle didn’t operate yet.
When returning to the airport, we considered getting an Uber first, but our flight was early morning (we left the Airbnb at 5:30 am), and we didn’t know whether an Uber would be available. Note that we checked ant at that time, early morning 4 cars were available.
However, we already had a pre-booked car.
We used the Dubrovnik Airport Private Transfer. Easy to order, and the driver waited for us already at the airport as we arrived. There was no issue with the pickup in the morning either. We also communicated via WhatsApp to confirm the early morning pickup.
The cost was 70 €, which means 35 € per ride. The website mentions the price in the local currency, but there is no issue to pay in €. We paid cash directly to the driver.
It was a pleasant experience; one feels very fancy to have a driver waiting for you. It is also very comfortable, to be honest.
There are quite a lot of companies providing the service, but we can recommend this particular one. The driver gave us some excellent tips on what to see and what to eat; although his English was very limited, he tried hard.
Accommodation in Dubrovnik
Finding where to stay is always a challenge. You look for the best prices, location, the best everything. When it comes to Dubrovnik, there is plenty to choose from. There are especially hundreds of private apartments you can book.
Our number one recommendation is- do not book anything directly in the city. First of all, it is very expensive. But secondly, you won’t get this view (see below).
Get one of the many Airbnbs available on the hill. You will have to walk up the stairs once a day when returning, but it’s worth it. We enjoyed the marvelous view, and breakfast tastes better with such a view.
Most of the Airbnbs you will find on the hill overlooking Dubrovnik. And the stairs are not as bad. You only have to take them once a day when returning. If a penguin can do it, so can you.