Are you wondering is Dubrovnik expensive? Well… yeah, it is. But don’t be scared, Dubrovnik can still be budget friendly.
*Updated for 2025*
Dubrovnik is the most popular destination in Croatia, and it’s slowly becoming one of the most popular in Europe.
With the huge influx of tourists, the prices in Dubrovnik jumped drastically over the past few seasons. Each summer, the costs seem to be getting higher, but Dubrovnik is so beautiful that, in my opinion, any price tag is worth it.
This blog post is going to cover some of the main costs of holidaying in Dubrovnik and go into detail on how much certain things cost so you can form a detailed spending budget for yourself. I spend every summer in Dubrovnik so the price ranges in this blog post are as accurate as possible.
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ACCOMODATION COST
Finding accomodation is quite a challenging feat in Dubrovnik because the ease of getting around depends on where you’ll book your hotel or apartment.
Most of the time, tourists are searching for accommodation in or near the old town so they can walk to the old city center and not bother with transportation. That’s surely the best option if you have the budget for that, but accommodation in the old town is ridiculously pricey. Here’s a complete guide on what are the best Dubrovnik neighborhoods and areas for your stay!
On Booking.com, apartments in the old town start at around 200 euros per night for a nice, comfortable stay. Therefore, those on a tighter budget will probably stay outside of the old town. We have a whole guide on how to choose the best hotel for your budget, if you need any help!
Best luxury hotels in/near the Old Town: Hotel Excelsior, Boutique Hotel Stari Grad
Best affordable/less expensive hotels in/near the Old Town: Shanti Dubrovnik, Love Dubrovnik Hostel
If you don’t mind taking a bus or an Uber to the old town, you can stay in the city of Dubrovnik for much cheaper, some nice apartments start at 80 euros per night. Some of the places you might stay are Gruž or Lapad.
Best budget-friendly hotels outside the Old Town: Apartments and Rooms Maritimo, Rooms Monika,
Cost per night: from around 50 to 100 euros per person onward
TRANSPORT COST
People often question how are they going to get around Dubrovnik.
RENTING
If you’re thinking of renting a car – don’t. There’s no need for a car no matter where in Dubrovnik you’re staying. The biggest reason why you should skip on having a car is the parking.
There’s almost no parking space in Dubrovnik, especially affordable one. Certain parking garages near the old town go for 7 euros per hour, which is around 40-50 euros per day. If you’re coming with your own car, here’s everything you need to know about parking in Dubrovnik.
If you really want to have your own vehicle, rent a scooter. Dubrovnik is full of them and there’s tons of parking space for them. You can check out Mynt – they have mint-coloured scooters all over the city which can be rented over an app for 30 cents per minute. That would be around 18 euros per hour.
BUSES
Public transport is very accessible and reliable in Dubrovnik so you should use it. Public buses cost around 3 euros per ticket to old town, and you can buy a Dubrovnik Pass if you know you will use the buses frequently.
You can buy a daily, 3-day, or 7-day Dubrovnik pass which includes riding the public buses as well as the tickets to Dubrovnik city walls and over 10 other museums. Here’s all you need to know about the Dubrovnik Pass!
I would recommend buying a 3-day pass for 45 euros if you’re going to use buses. Why? Because City walls ticket in itself is 35 euros, so for an additional 10 you are getting entry tickets to many museums and free public transport.
TAXIS
Uber and Bolt are more expensive in Dubrovnik than the rest of Croatia, but Dubrovnik is a small city so the cost doesn’t end up being huge. Just download the app on your phone and put in the address. You can pay both by card or cash.
Dubrovnik taxis have fixed prices to some of the most visited locations, which means you can know how much a ride is going to cost before you even call a taxi. If you’re not going to one of these locations, the ride needs to be metered.
On Ploce Gate there’s a huge sign with all of the prices listed so you can compare the prices of taxis and Bolt or Uber.
Cost per day: 5-20 euros per person
ACTIVITIES & ENTERTAINMENT COST
Some of the biggest costs in Dubrovnik are going to be the activities, but most of them are totally worth it.
THINGS TO SEE
The city walls are a must-do in Dubrovnik. The ticket is 35 euros, which is pretty pricey for a walk, but the views you get from the top of the city walls are just unbelievable. The walk lasts for around 2 hours and you will see Dubrovnik from each corner of the city walls.
Rector’s Palace is one of the most special buildings in Dubrovnik. The entrance is around 15 euros, but if you own a Dubrovnik Pass it’s included in the list of various museums you can visit for free. There are a few other museums you can visit, and most of them are included in the Dubrovnik Pass.
THINGS TO DO
Lokrum is a small island near Dubrovnik. The boat to the island is 27 euros round trip, which is pretty pricey for a 15-minute boat ride, I know. But – Lokrum is quite a unique island with many things to do there so it’s good value for money.
Boat tours are extremely popular in Dubrovnik. Group boat tours start at around 50 euros per person, while for private groups you’ll have to pay around 75 euros per person. If you’re able, take a boat tour at least once while in Dubrovnik.
Kayaking is one of the most popular activities in Dubrovnik. The Adriatic Sea is incredibly calm and you get stunning views from the kayaks. You can go on a kayak tour with a group or rent a kayak and go by yourself. Kayak tours are usually 30-50 euros per person, depending on the length of the tour.
Sunset cruise on the ship Tirena is another amazing activity tourists love to experience in Dubrovnik. Tirena is an old, 16th-century wooden boat resembling a pirate ship. For 50 euros you’ll see the prettiest sunset of your summer and have a glass of champagne!
Cost per day: 25-50 euros per person
FOOD AND DRINK COST
How much money do you need for meals and drinks?
One of the priciest parts of staying in Dubrovnik is the cost of food and drinks. Whether you’re on a budget or luxury trip, there are restaurants perfect for each pocket. Our ultimate guide to Dubrovnik restaurants will surely help you out.
If you’re on a budget, it’s totally possible to eat for under 10 euros. Get yourself a pizza or a pastry from a local bakery or eat a sandwich or a tortilla wrap at Preša fast food restaurant.
As an average traveller who eats in delicious but mid-range restaurants, you’ll enjoy places like Dubravka, Gradska Kavana Arsenal or Mea Culpa. You can eat here from 15-30 euros per person.
If luxury travel is your thing and you splurge on dinners while on holiday, you need to check out restaurants Nautika, Panorama, or 360. These are the finest restaurants in Dubrovnik and a perfect way to spoil yourself on your holiday.
If you like going out for drinks make sure you have at least 7 euros per drink. If you’re up for a beer, you’ll have to pay from 5 to 7 euros per bottle. Juices start at around 2 to 4.50 euros while a glass of wine starts at around 5.50 euros.
Cost per day: 25-40 euros for a decent meal and drink in Dubrovnik. For fine dining you need at least 80-100 euros per person.
NIGHTLIFE COST
Dubrovnik is very well-known for its incredible nightlife. Whether you want to have a drink at the bar or visit one of many clubs Dubrovnik has to offer, you’ll find something fun for yourself.
We have a whole guide to best bars and clubs in Dubrovnik, but here’s a short version! Revelin is the most famous club in Dubrovnik. You can enter for free until 11 p.m., and afterwards there’s an entry fee up to 20 euros. If one of the world-famous DJs is performing that night such as Diplo or Shaq, the entrance ticket is more expensive. Other famous clubs in Dubrovnik you can visit are Milk, Lazareti, Elyx etc.
Bars and pubs are also quite pricey so you can expect that a cocktail in the evening is going to cost at least 12-15 euros. Whether you’re in a club or enjoying your evening on Stradun, check out the prices before purchasing drinks.
Cost per day: at least 20 euros per person
CONCLUSION – IS DUBROVNIK EXPENSIVE?
Dubrovnik is whatever you make it out to be. You can enjoy in some of the most luxurious hotels and activities, or you can use public transport and eat for 5 euros.
The least amount of money (including accommodation) is 130 euros per day. If you’re watching your money, you can probably visit for less, or if you’re well-off you can spend as much as you want.
In any case, any coin spent in Dubrovnik is a coin well spent. Dubrovnik will surely stay in your memories forever.
I should have visited Dubrovnik in 2012 when I was close by in Europe. Yes, the prices have jumped dramatically as tourists have shown up. Your guide would be very helpful these days to keep costs under control.
I loved this post; it is precisely what I needed. I have visited many Croatian places and am considering visiting Dubrovnik next summer. Thank you very much for all your info and tips.
I passed through Dubrovnik a few years ago but didn’t stop. It’s nice to know that you can visit the city on any sort of budget – backpacker or luxury!
For me, the most expensive thing in Dubrovnik was the alcohol. The bars charge outrageous prices for cocktails! If you go in the off-season though accommodations prices are more affordable. We were able to find a rental for $60 a night and it was great! Great tips!
beautiful place, nice pictures :O)
Thank you so much for this! I would have no idea what to expect price-wise for a trip here, and your breakdown makes it so much easier to plan ahead and make a budget!
It’s nice to know that you can always budget for a rather expensive destination. Thanks for your insights!
I visited Dubrovnik last summer. I totally agree with you: every euro spent there is most than worth it.
If you buy a 3 day pass for €45, does that allow you to walk the wall as well?
yes!
hey Karla – fantastic guide!
I always recommend going there in the off season. The prices a bit lower than – especially the accommodation and the entrance fees.