Money, tipping, and prices in Dubrovnik
Croatia adopted the euro in January 2023 but I’ll quote everything in $ here. Card acceptance is near-universal; tipping is 10% for good service.
Card payment at a Dubrovnik café
What things actually cost
A coffee is $3, a beer $5-6, a pastry from a bakery $3. Sit-down lunch in the Old Town runs $22-30 a person with a glass of wine; the same meal in Gruž or Lapad is $14-18. Grilled fish by the kilo is the standard local price — expect $75-95 per kilo for whole sea bass or dentex, which serves 2 people. Water at a restaurant is $4 for a bottle even though tap is perfect. Cocktails at Buža bar $12, wine by the glass $6-9.
Card, cash, or both
Cards work almost everywhere — restaurants, buses, taxis, ferries. Bring a small amount of cash ($100 in $20s equivalent) for konoba lunches on the islands, farmers' market purchases, and tips. ATMs are common but avoid Euronet ones (yellow) which charge 8-10% conversion fees; use Zagrebačka Banka, PBZ, or Erste bank ATMs instead. Always decline 'dynamic currency conversion' when a card machine asks if you want to pay in dollars — the rate is terrible.
Tipping norms
Not expected the way it is in the US, but appreciated. Round up on a coffee, leave 10% at a sit-down restaurant if service was good. Cabs get the fare rounded up. Guides on private tours get $10-20 per person. Hotel porters $2-3 per bag. Nothing is compulsory and no one will chase you — but staff wages are lower than tourist prices might suggest, so a modest tip goes further than at home.
Frequently asked questions
What people ask before they set off on this one.
Croatia joined the euro in January 2023. The old kuna is no longer accepted.
Not really. Cards work almost everywhere. Bring around $100 in cash for markets, small konobas, and tips.
10% at restaurants for good service, round up on coffee and taxis. Not compulsory.
Yes, comparable to Venice or Amsterdam in high season. Off-peak is 30-40% cheaper. Stay outside the walls to save significantly on food and accommodation.
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