Karla Types contains affiliate links and is a member of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. If you use these links to buy something I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. Thank you.

- - -

DUBROVNIK PARKING: WHERE TO PARK NEAR OLD TOWN AND BEST PRICES (2026)

Trying to find the best Dubrovnik parking spots? Let me help you!

Parking in Dubrovnik has become more complicated in recent years, especially since limited vehicle access was introduced in the Old Town area. Even before that, finding parking close to the historic centre was difficult, as spaces were limited and often very expensive. Since we’ve spent the last five summers in Dubrovnik, we’ve had to deal with many different parking challenges ourselves.

In this guide, I’ll help you avoid parking stress and show you all your best options. First, I’ll explain everything you need to know about restricted vehicle access in Dubrovnik. Then, I’ll share the best public garages, public parking areas, and street parking spots to make your visit easier.

HOW TO DRIVE AND PARK IN DUBROVNIK WITH THE NEW TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

The special traffic regulation zone was introduced last year, on June 2nd, 2025. Since many visitors weren’t aware of this change, a lot of drivers with rental cars ended up getting heavy fines. Read this part carefully so this doesn’t happen to you!

Many roads around the Old Town are not accessible without a special traffic pass. There are warning screens and traffic signs at the entrances to the restricted zone, so always pay close attention. These signs are usually placed near traffic lights and clearly state that only authorized vehicles may continue.

You are only allowed to enter the restricted traffic zone if you have a pre-booked parking space at one of the nearby parking lots (such as Pile Parking Lot or Cable Car Parking Lot), or if you are staying inside the zone. In that case, your accommodation host must register you and arrange a traffic pass for you.

For most visitors, I highly recommend parking outside the restricted zone, for example in Gruz (I’ll share plenty of good options later in this guide), and then walking or taking a bus to the Old Town. This way, you won’t have to worry about fines or breaking any rules.

Below, I’ve included a photo of the restricted zone and here’s a YouTube video by the City of Dubrovnik that explains everything in more detail.

DUBROVNIK PARKING – Parking Garages and lots near Old Town

There are a few parking lots and garages which are fairly close to Dubrovnik Old Town. As you can expect, they are also quite expensive. I’ll tell you for each if you can access it without the restricted traffic pass or not!

Ilijina Glavica Parking Garage

This is a huge parking garage located at Zagrebacka Street bb, and you’ll surely find a spot there. This is the closest parking garage to the Old Town for which you DO NOT NEED a restricted traffic pass. From this parking garage you can easily access the Old Town in under 10 minutes. Keep in mind that there’s lots of steps on the way, so it might not be the best option for those who have disabilities.

The parking spot here is guaranteed even in the peak season, but this parking is PRETTY SCAMMY. One hour of parking at this garage costs 7 euros, while a daily ticket is 40 euros. If you plan to use the daily ticket, make sure to pay for it within the first 15 minutes after parking. Otherwise, you’ll be charged the hourly rate, which can add up to as much as 168 euros for the day.

I would choose this parking only if you absolutely need to be in the Old Town quickly. It doesn’t have the best reviews and it’s really expensive.

Pile Gate Parking Lot

This one is right in front of the Old Town, for those who like to be at their destination immediately.  You NEED the restricted traffic pass to park here, and you need to pre-book your spot here! As it’s outside Pile Gate, the main entrance to Old Town, it has very limited space and it’s quite expensive. Keep in mind that there might not be free spots in the peak season so always have a plan b.

Parking i to

This new parking lot is a bit further away from the Old Town than the previously mentioned parking lots. That shouldn’t be a problem since it’s also significantly cheaper. It’s a 30-minute walk from the Pile gate but an hour of parking here is only 4.5 euros. That is much cheaper than 7-10 euros per hour at the previous parking lots mentioned. You DO NOT NEED restricted traffic pass for this one!

I would highly recommend checking this parking lot first upon your arrival. If you plan on parking for 24 hours or longer, I would check out some parking lots further away since a daily parking ticket here is 36 euros.

Car Park Zicara

This parking lot is very close to the Old Town, but it’s located inside the restricted zone, so you must pre-book your parking spot. From here, it only takes a few minutes to walk to Buza or Ploce Gate, which makes this a very convenient place to park. Make sure to book well in advance, since the parking lot is quite small and fills up quickly during summer.

DUBROVNIK PARKING – Parking Garages and lots near the Gruz ferry port

If you’re looking for a cheaper parking option and don’t mind a longer walk to the Old Town, here are a few options. There’s plenty of parking spaces near the ferry port Gruz in Dubrovnik, and they are almost half the price of those near the Old Town. They’re also definitely not in the restricted zone so you don’t have to worry about fines. Check out the following parking lots:

Parking Lot at Port Gruz

This parking lot is situated near the main ferry terminal. There’s plenty of parking space and it’s a great place to park if you want to visit the surrounding islands. If you want to visit the Old Town, you can either take a 40-minute walk or grab a bus. If you’re on a budget this parking lot is a much better option than parking near the Old Town. Parking is 3 euros per hour or 30 euros per day, so only half the price of those closer parking lots and garages.

Grand parking Dubrovnik

This is a new Dubrovnik parking lot situated in Gruž, closer to the Old Town than the Gruž port parking. There’s plenty of space for various kinds of vehicles, so you won’t have a problem finding a spot even during the peak summer season. The price per hour is 4 euros and a daily ticket is 25 euros. This is probably the cheapest daily ticket you can get.

If you’re staying for 24 hours or longer definitely check this one out.  From this parking lot you can either take a 25-minute walk to the Old Town or grab an Uber or a bus.

Dubrovnik Parking Center

This is another pretty affordable parking lot located at 22 Vukovarska Street. They have plenty of parking spaces and you’ll have to pay 3 euros per hour, or 24 euros per day for a parking space here. You can’t get a cheaper 24-hour parking! It’s around 25 minutes from the Old Town on foot. There’s also a bus station only a minute away from the parking lot.

DUBROVNIK PARKING – Street Parking

There’s plenty of street parking relatively close to the Old Town and the surrounding area, but lots of them are taken up by the locals who live nearby. Zone III is not in the restricted area, so only try for that one. It will take a while to find a spot during peak summer season, but if you manage to grab one, you’ll pay only 1,30 euros per hour, which is a steal.

On the photo below you can see zone III marked in yellow. Some parking places are within walking distance from the Old Town, and some will require you to catch a bus or an Uber to get there quickly.

Street parking in Dubrovnik is metered parking, so you need to pay for parking by text, at the parking meter (usually by cash but some accept cards) or at the Tisak kiosk. Make sure you leave you parking ticket visible at your windshield so you don’t get fined.

ADDITIONAL DUBROVNIK PARKING TIPS

If you have a certain spot you’d like to grab, arriving early in the day should be your number one priority. Most of the closer parking lots get crowded throughout the day, so make sure you come as early as possible.

If you’re on a budget, definitely consider parking further out and using buses or taxis to get to Old Town. It will be easier, less complicated and much much cheaper.

MY PERSONAL TAKE ON DUBROVNIK PARKING

Parking in Dubrovnik has always been tricky, but it’s even more complicated now with all the new rules. We usually park well outside the restricted zone, often in Gruz, and then take an Uber or a Mynt scooter to get to the Old Town. Sometimes we even walk, which can take up to 40 minutes, but it’s worth it to avoid a fine.

Fines in Dubrovnik are no joke, around €260, and if you’re in a rental car, the company can add extra charges. Some people have ended up paying over €3,000 because they didn’t pay attention to where they were driving.

If you’re staying in the Old Town or at a nearby hotel, make sure to communicate clearly with your host or the reception about parking, it can save you a lot of trouble!

CONCLUSION: DUBROVNIK PARKING

If you can, visit Dubrovnik without a car, it will make your trip much easier. If you do need a car (for day trips!), make sure to read this guide carefully and pick the best parking lot for you. Pay close attention to the restricted traffic zones so you don’t end up with huge fines that could ruin your holiday!

Helpful resources for planning your Croatia trip 🇭🇷

Find your accommodation on Booking.com, Expedia.com or Hotels.com, depending on your budget and preferences
• Rent your car with DiscoverCars

Buy your ferry tickets at Jadrolinija, TP Line, or Krilo
• Find your public transport options on Omio
• Get your e-Sim from SimLocal
• Grab your tours and entrance tickets at GetYourGuide, Viator, or Tiqets

One Comment

  1. Wow, great information. I hope we get to Croatia again! I will pin this as I hope it will be useful in the future.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *