Overview
Dubrovnik has become a must see destination for tourists all over the world since becoming a UNESCO heritage sight but more importantly since it has been featured on both Star Wars and the Games of Thrones series. One of the most intact, fortified old towns in Europe, Dubrovnik captures the spirit of earlier times. When you walk around the streets, you can truly feel the history and embrace what life must have been like back then. However, there is good news and bad news about Dubrovnik.
The good news is that the city is incredibly beautiful, unique and has both high cultural and historical significance. It is undoubtably a sight to behold and any person would be lucky to check it out. The bad news is that people DO check it out; by the thousands. The old town feels a bit like Disneyland, insulated with tourists and with little local feel left. It’s incredibly expensive and a bit out of the way, making the success of your trip certainly tied to how much money you want to spend. The tourists have been instrumental in stimulating the economy of Croatia, but at what cost?
Is it Cheap?
No, not even close. Dubrovnik is one of the most expensive places to visit in all of Europe and even overtakes Paris, Rome and Amsterdam as being incredibly pricy. The reason for this is because of the sheer size of the old town. Space is at a premium, which makes even a mediocre hostel 50-60 Euros in high season. There are no viable street food options unless you get way out of the old town. In Croatia you use the Euro, and for comparison sake a meal in Zagreb (the capital) would be around 12-15 Euros where as it could be around 30-40 Euros in Dubrovnik.
FOR DUBROVNIK WE SAY A GOOD BUDGET IS: 125 Euros per day including hostels.
Sunset over the Adriatic Sea
Old Town Dubrovnik
Rooftops in Old Town
What to Do
Dubrovnik is beautiful and we know that. However, if you don’t want to break the bank, you have to be creative with your activity selection.
Go to the beach: Dubrovnik sits on the Adriatic sea, a subsection of the Mediterranean, giving it good weather all summer long and reasonably warm waters. The beaches tend to fill up but outside of Dubrovnik there are a few hotspots that people enjoy spending time at.
The best beaches to relax and take in the sun are Banje beach and Sveti Jakov.
Climb up the hill: If you enjoy hiking and don’t mind uphill jaunts, there is a hill that sits high above the old town. You can take a funicular to the top, but that costs 15 Euros one way, so we would suggest you hike; just not during the middle of the day.
The path takes you out of old town, up the newer part of the city and switchbacks you up the hill to the Dubrovnik fortress, one of the most important symbols of Croatian strength as it was an important stronghold during the Yugoslav wars.
From the top of the hill you get an absolutely epic view of the city, the sea and the islands around the area. Enjoy the sunset and bring a bottle of wine, the coastline and views really suck you in.
Get lost in the narrow streets: The old town is much like Venice or Florence. The streets are narrow and winding, leaving you a bit lost but nevertheless enchanted by the stone city. Duck into the nearest alley and you can find the locals in their daily routine among the touristic chaos seemingly all around them. Fun fact: Locals in Dubrovnik actually get 50% off pretty much everything during peak season, (April-September) as prices have become too high for local salaries.
What to Eat and Drink
What can we truly say about this section. The average price per plate in Dubrovnik for lunch is anywhere from 15 Euros and dinner around 30. As a budget travel company, where deals come first, we have two recommendations. First, cooking will save you cash. For whatever reason, the stores in Dubrovnik actually have pretty normal prices as far as food and drinks are concerned.
The alcohol is a bit more expensive than you would find in Zagreb, but other than that you could get away with a homecooked meal for around 3 Euros per person. Secondly, if you are gonna eat out, go for the pizza stands. You can grab a slice for 5 Euros.
Drinking in Dubrovnik is incredibly expensive. The average beer at a bar is anywhere from 7 Euros making it on par with drinking in Paris and London. Grab some bottles from the corner store, but go early as they close normally before 10.
Transportation
Arriving in Dubrovnik by bus leaves you at the central station which is about 2 kilometers from the old town. They have a city bus that runs all day to and from, so thats a good and cheap option. You can also grab a taxi or take an Uber if that is more your style.
Where to Stay
If you want to stay in the Dubrovnik old town, you are going to pay for it. Hostels in the old town start normally around 55 Euros in high season and 35 Euros in low season. Beyond that you could stay in the newer part of the town for cheaper, but only marginally.
Clubbing and Nightlife
The nightlife in Dubrovnik is vast, but only catered to tourists making it both expensive and crowded. The bars get bustling around sundown and the clubs around 11. There is one really good club we recommend in Dubrovnik, one of the coolest we’ve been to anywhere in the world called Revelin.
Get there early and definitely predrink because the drinks are expensive and the lines are long. There is a 15-20 Euro cover charge but find one of their promoters passing out free entrance flyers around the city. A monolithic establishment, the club has acrobatic dancing, two bars and a great sound system.
My Travel Essentials For A European Backpacking Trip
Below you'll find a list of my must bring backpacking items. I have gotten this list down to my essentials through trial and error over 4 years of living in a backpack. I hope you'll find these items helpful on your journey!
►Main Backpacking Backpack: https://amzn.to/3vUHdik [Amazon]
►Great Front Facing Duffle-bag : https://amzn.to/3SjK6Ra [Amazon]
►Quick Dry Towel : https://amzn.to/3uarxH8 [Amazon]
►Multi Country Charger Adapter : https://amzn.to/3Ul37p0 [Amazon]
►Refillable Water Bottle : https://amzn.to/48SnG0n [Amazon]
►Padlock : https://amzn.to/3SdyYp7 [Amazon]
►Earplugs : https://amzn.to/498xTpl [Amazon]
►Power Bank : https://amzn.to/3SyXP8e [Amazon]
Travel Photography & Video Favorites
If you're interested in creating your own video content on your trip, these are some of my favorite items I've had. They work, they're effective and besides the Sony Aa7C, they aren't going to break the bank either!
►On the Go Video | Go Pro Hero 12 : https://amzn.to/3u38oHh [Amazon]
►Photography | Sony A7C : https://amzn.to/3u1Y6ap [Amazon]
►Portable Tripod | https://amzn.to/42ojHqc [Amazon]
►Lavalier Microphone | https://amzn.to/3SbL41U [Amazon]
►Drone | https://amzn.to/47TCwSY [Amazon]
►Portable Monitor | https://amzn.to/3Hzv2dg [Amazon]
Comments