Ways to Visit Dubrovnik on a Budget

The strikingly  beautiful Fantasyland city of Dubrovnik rises dramatically out of the Adriatic Sea along the Dalmatian coast. But by no stretch of the imagination does Dubrovnik fit into the category of low cost retirement destination. We visited in early June, and the city was hot, crowded, touristy, and expensive. However, we found ways to visit Dubrovnik on a budget and enjoyed our few days in this historic city.

As we were searching for our next destination (after southern Spain) in Portugal or other parts of Spain, we noticed an 85 € airfare from Madrid to Dubrovnik. We had no illusions that Dubrovnik would be a viable low-cost retirement destination. However, coastal Croatia has been on our radar as a place to visit for about 10 years but because of Ann’s school schedule, we were never able to make the trip a reality. Since we would be arriving in early June, we would be skipping the major tourist crush of July and August. We decided to go for it. Our research on what we call the Airbnb cost of living index (average price for a reasonable accommodation) as well as verifying our findings with Numbeo confirmed that Dubrovnik was not a low-cost destination. Solution: we limited our visit to four days.

Arrival in Dubrovnik

One of the ways other ways to visit Dubrovnik on a budget upon arrival is to skip the taxi and take the Atlas express bus from the airport. The bus stops at Pile Gate, at an entrance to Old Town, and the main bus station near the port.  You can purchase tickets at the Atlas travel agency counter in the arrivals terminal, or from the bus driver if the counter is closed. The cost in 40 HRK, aka Kuna ($7) or 70 HRK return. Note that contrary to what we had read, Euros are not accepted for the fare, but credit cards are.

The drive from the airport to Old Town was stunning: a two-lane, cliff-hugging road high above the coast, green hills, blue water. From Pile Gate, we took an Uber to our Airbnb. We could have taken the local bus, but the Uber worked out cheaper for two of us. Another of the ways to visit Dubrovnik on a budget is to stay outside the Old Town area. Our Airbnb, $78 a night, with a lovely sea view and 100 steps to climb, was about a 20-minute walk from Old Town.

Herein lies another of the ways to visit Dubrovnik on a budget: opt for an apartment rather than a hotel. This strategy generally helps save on food costs, as discussed a bit further on.

Exploring Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik is a very small town of about 40 thousand people, so it’s easily overwhelmed by tourist crowds. The Old Town is pedestrian only but watch your footing as the marble stones have been worn away making them slippery. If planning a visit, we’d recommend looking up what cruises are going to be in port on the days you’re there. Then try to avoid the Old Town on those days or arrive early in the morning before the ships disgorge their hordes.

More Ways to Visit Dubrovnik on a Budget

The number one activity in Dubrovnik is to walk the city walls. The cost is 150 HRK ($24).  That’s it: budget blown, and you only did one activity! But spend just a bit more, buy the Dubrovnik Card and enjoy more activities plus free transportation. We bought the 3-Day Dubrovnik Card (250 HRK, 225 online), which included the city walls, free entrance to six museums and two galleries. Plus six local bus rides, return bus fare to nearby Cavtat, and discounts at various restaurants and other activities. The entry fee alone to many of the museums in 120 HRK. Depending on your time-frame, you could also buy a 1-Day (24 hours) Dubrovnik Card for 200 HRK or 180 HRK with the online discount. This card includes the walls, the six museums and two galleries, plus unlimited bus rides on public transportation. Dubrovnik Cards can be purchased or picked up (show receipt on your phone) at various Tourist Board or Tourist Information offices conveniently located around town.

Although the Dubrovnik card does not include the official Game of Thrones tour, fans could probably do the tour on their own. We found this creative article that could serve as your free guide.

We totally maximized the benefits of our Dubrovnik Cards, visiting six museums and galleries (very unusual for us), taking the bus, going to Cavtat, and dining at discounted restaurants. Oh, and of course, the walls, the reason we bought the cards. We recommend walking the walls early in the morning before the arrival of the crowds and the heat at midday. Of the museums, the highlights for us were the Maritime Museum and the Natural History Museum Dubrovnik. Ann also enjoyed some of the galleries.

A Bonus Side Trip

We also enjoyed our day trip to Cavtat, a scenic bus ride to a picturesque town about 22 km (13 mi) from Dubrovnik. The bus took 45 minutes from the main bus terminal on Bus #10; note this bus does not go to Pile Gate. Although the main part of the quaint harbor is lined with restaurants and shops (plus impressive yachts!), we found the town to be more laid-back, a pleasant break from the hustle and bustle of Dubrovnik.

We also enjoyed a pleasant scenic stroll away from the center of town along the promenade with typical Dalmatian coast clear water concrete beaches. Prices for food and drink were lower in Cavtat than Dubrovnik. Another option to save money would be to base in Cavtat. Then on the day you want to visit Dubrovnik Old Town, take the bus or shuttle boat into town.

Ways to Save on Food and Drink in Dubrovnik

One of our final ways to visit Dubrovnik on a budget is to find less expensive ways to eat. By staying in an apartment, we shopped at the local grocery stores and ate most of our meals in. Meals can be simple: we do yogurt, fruit, and granola for breakfast, and eggs can be for any meal of the day. Simple lunches and dinners might include meat, cheese, fresh veggies, a nice loaf of bread, and a bottle of wine. Or even inexpensive pre-made sandwiches. Buying a bottle of wine at the grocery store is way cheaper than ordering wine in restaurant. In restaurants, opt for beer rather than wine to save money.

When we do have a meal in a restaurant, it’s usually lunch, when offerings tend to be less expensive. Pizza is everywhere and usually a good budget option. Also, look for restaurants that offer “light lunch”, which is a limited selection of regular-sized portions.

Okay, confession time: we did splurge just a bit. A restaurant that we can heartily recommend is Taj Majal , which serves traditional Bosnian food. We enjoyed it so much we went back a second time. But…paying cash and having the Dubrovnik Card got us a 10% discount.

We hope we have provided some helpful ways to visit Dubrovnik on a budget. We are certain, however, that savvy travelers can expand upon these and we welcome your input.

Next up: Split – a bit more budget-friendly destination on the Dalmatian coast

Ian & Ann