Dubrovnik is an exceptionally popular cruise port, and many well-known cruise companies such as MSC, Aida, and Norwegian always include Dubrovnik in their cruise itineraries. Most Mediterranean cruises include several Croatian cities, and Dubrovnik is usually the most desired out of all of them.
*Updated for 2025*
If you’re going on a Mediterranean cruise and Dubrovnik is one of your cruising ports, this blog post will cover everything you need to know!
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Where is Dubrovnik?
Dubrovnik is situated in southern Croatia, making it a perfect stop on your Mediterranean cruise.
Basic information about Dubrovnik & Croatia
Best time to visit Dubrovnik
If you want to experience the charm of this wonderful town, summer is not the best option for you. The beauty of Dubrovnik calls to hundreds of thousands of tourists each summer, and the city is pretty much overrun with them during the high season. The best time to visit Dubrovnik is in the shoulder seasons – March to May or September to November. Keep in mind that March and November tend to be colder and rainier than the other off-season months.
Language
Dubrovnik is a Croatian town, therefore the local language is Croatian. If you don’t speak Croatian don’t worry, Croatians speak English very well, as well as German and Italian.
Currency
As of January 2023, the official currency in Croatia is Euro, and Kuna is no longer used. Make sure you have some cash on you for small expenses such as ice cream and tips, but most of your purchases you can pay by card.
Is Dubrovnik safe?
Dubrovnik is a very safe and protected town, so you don’t have to worry about your safety there at all. You can peacefully walk around, even at night. Be mindful of your belongings, of course, but Dubrovnik is not known as a pick-pocketing town so if you’re moderately careful, you should be perfectly safe.
Do you need a car in Dubrovnik?
If you’re here for one day only, there is no point in renting a car. Both old town and the beach are easily reachable by uber or public buses which are very frequent and reliable.
How to get to the Old Town
Old town is easily accessible from Dubrovnik cruise port in Gruž. You can take an Uber or Bolt to Pile Gate for 7-10 euros (the ride is around 20 minutes). If you want a more affordable option, you can take public bus no. 1 that goes to Pile Gate for 3 euros.
What to Do in Dubrovnik in 1 day:
Read more>>> THE DOS AND DON’TS OF DUBROVNIK
If you’re coming on a cruise you are very limited with time, so here are the key locations you should visit in one day!
Old Town
The most important part of Dubrovnik is its old town, so that’s the number one location you must go to. Alongside exploring the many narrow, cobbled streets of the old town, there are two key parts of the old town you have to see:
Read more>>> THE ULTIMATE TRAVEL GUIDE TO DUBROVNIK
City walls
The most magnificent part of Dubrovnik’s medieval old town are the city walls. The sturdy stone walls protected the town of Dubrovnik from various dangers in the past and today, the well-preserved walls are the most visited attraction in the town.
Read more >>> A COMPLETE GUIDE TO VISITING DUBROVNIK CITY WALLS
The tickets for the city walls are pricey but totally worth it. For adults, the tickets are 35 euros and for children 15 euros. If you have a student card you can get a discount on the adult ticket.
If you’re visiting off season, from November to February, adult tickets are 15 euros and children’s tickets are 5 euros.
Stradun
The main and most popular street in the old town is Stradun. It starts at the Pile gate entrance and continues all the way to the Ploče gate at the opposite side of the old town. On Stradun there are several bars and restaurants where you can take a break and have some food and drinks. During summer, Stradun is very crowded, but if you come during shoulder or off season you will have a much more relaxed holiday.
Mount Srđ
The best view of Dubrovnik is from the top of Mount Srđ. You can access mount Srđ by Uber or the cable car. If you take an Uber it will cost you around 30 euros one way, and if you opt for the cable car round trip will cost you 27 euros per person. If you like active travelling, you can take the cable car one way (15 Euros) and walk down. It will take you around 30 minutes to get back to the city.
Up on mount Srđ there is a bar & restaurant Panorama with some of the most amazing views of Dubrovnik. If you’re interested in having dinner there, make sure you book a table because reservations are obligatory. There is also the Homeland War Museum if you’re interested in learning about Croatian history.
Read more>>> THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO BEST RESTAURANTS IN DUBROVNIK
Banje Beach
End your day with a jump in the crystal-clear Adriatic Sea. The closest beach to the old town is Banje beach. Only a 5-minute walk from Ploče Gate, Banje beach is a lovely pebble beach with a beach bar and a restaurant so you can have a swim and relax on a beach for the rest of the day.
Buža Bar
If the weather is not that great or you just don’t want to spend your time at the beach, Buža Bar is a place you shouldn’t miss. This super unique bar is situated on the rocks outside the city walls and having a drink there a very special experience. You can enjoy in the stunning view of the Adriatic Sea, or dive from the rocks of the bar straight into the sea and take a swim!
thank you for all the tips! It made my plans so much easier. Thanks!