Getting around Dubrovnik
The Old Town is 0.2 square miles of pedestrian streets — the rest of the city runs on 12 bus lines and 2 ferry piers. You almost certainly don’t want a car.
Libertas bus at Pile gate terminal
Buses do 90% of what you need
Libertas runs the city buses. Line 1A/1B connects Gruž port and Pile gate every 15 minutes; line 6 does Lapad-Pile; line 4 covers Babin Kuk. Tickets are $2.40 from the driver or $2 from kiosks in advance (buy books of 10 for $18). The Dubrovnik Pass includes unlimited rides. Buses run 5am to midnight, less frequent on Sundays. No metro, no trams — this is a small city.
The Old Town is walking only
No cars, no bikes, no scooters allowed inside the walls, and much of it is stairs. Wear real shoes, not fashion sandals — the limestone is polished glass-smooth after 500 years of foot traffic and lethally slippery when wet. The main artery, Stradun, is flat, but every side street goes uphill. From Pile gate to the Old Port is a 10-minute walk without stopping.
Taxis, ferries, and skip the rental car
Uber and Bolt both work in Dubrovnik and are cheaper and easier than street taxis — Old Town to airport is around $30 on Uber vs $45 street. Ferries from Gruž (big port) go to Mljet, Korčula, Hvar, Split; ferries from the Old Port go to Lokrum and the Elaphitis. A rental car is only useful if you’re staying outside the city or doing a Ston-Pelješac day — parking in Dubrovnik is $40 a day and Old Town is banned to vehicles entirely.
Frequently asked questions
What people ask before they set off on this one.
No, unless you’re day-tripping to Pelješac wineries or staying at a rural villa. In town it's a $40/day parking headache.
Platanus shuttle bus, $15, drops at Pile gate in 25 minutes. Uber $30, taxi $45.
Yes, both Uber and Bolt work well and are cheaper than metered taxis.
Yes — Libertas runs to schedule and lines 1A, 6, and 4 come every 10-15 minutes in season. Buy a 10-ticket book at any kiosk to save 20%.
Hotels in Dubrovnik
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Same hotels, same prices you would find anywhere, plus one verified tonne of carbon removal funded with every booking.