Common Mistakes to Avoid when Visiting Dubrovnik for the First Time.
Dubrovnik, Croatia, is a superb place to visit. It is full of dramatic, ancient and recent history, surrounded by beautiful nature and has great weather. The charming Old Town was also used for filming a large portion of TV series Game of Thrones. Due to this, Dubrovnik has become an incredibly popular tourist destination. While the “Jewel of the Adriatic” is absolutely worth visiting, here are some common mistakes to avoid when visiting Dubrovnik for the first time.
Accommodation Mistakes to Avoid when Visiting Dubrovnik
Don’t book accommodation in the old town. There are many beautiful stone walled apartments along the cobbled streets of the old town. However, staying here might cost you an arm and a leg, you may well have to fight through the crowds to get to your front door and it can get a little noisy.
Only around 500 people actually live full time in the old town now. So, a stop here might not give the most authentic experience of the real Dubrovnik.
We stayed by the new harbor and could walk to Pile Gate from our apartment within 30 minutes. There are nice restaurants and cafes nearby and handy local shops as well.
Common Sightseeing Mistakes
Dubrovnik’s old town is a beguiling place, but don’t miss the sites beyond the old town. Ok, so the old town is mesmerizingly beautiful, but the city has more to it than many people realise. This is definitely one of the mistakes to avoid when visiting Dubrovnik.
Take a hike (or the cable car) up Mount Srđ and view Dubrovnik from above. Maybe explore the creepy abandoned Hotel Belvedere or even take a relaxing boat ride to Lokrum Island.
When looking around for great things to do, make sure you avoid the fake tourist information desks. For the official Tourist Information Office, visit Brsalje 5, outside the Pile gate. It’s open from 8AM to 9PM every day.
Transport Mistakes to Avoid
Be aware when taking taxis as some companies have different rates for tourists and for locals. We got around this by walking or taking an Uber.
Don’t overspend on airport transport. There are a few public buses per day that go in that direction. Bus lines 11, 27 and 38 run between the airport and Dubrovnik and a ticket costs €4 or the airport shuttle is available for €7.50. An Uber will work out cheaper than a regular taxi.
Look after your valuables when on public transport in touristy areas. Just as you would in any other city.
Always take your passport when travelling between cities in Croatia. This is a biggy! While you might consider a passport for intercity travel a bit extra, keep in mind that some of the main roads go in and out of Bosnia Herzegovina on the way north from Dubrovnik. You will need your passport and all of your travel docs as this is also a border in and out of the European Union. Make sure you allow for plenty of time for these border crossings, especially in high seasons.
Avoid Making these Mistakes when Eating out in Dubrovnik
Don’t miss the seafood! It is definitely some of the best in the Balkans if you choose a good restaurant.
Beware of cover charges. Some restaurants charge per head when sitting at a table. It is best to clarify this before you sit down.
Try to pay in cash to avoid the added fee of up to 3%. This is added on top of your usual bank charges. Also, be aware that not all places that advertise that they accept cards, will actually accept cards. Check beforehand or have some cash as backup.
On a similar note, pay in the local currency – Euro – to avoid bad exchange rates. Some places accept other neighbouring currencies, but you are unlikely to be given a fair deal.
Don’t miss the wine! Croatian wine goes a little under the radar but it is increasing in popularity. This is mainly due to the vast number of indigenous wine grape varieties in the country. Sample the Plavac Mali if you like red or the Pošip is great for white wine fans.
Try to Avoid Behaving Too Much “Like a Tourist”
While everyone wants to have a fabulous time when they visit Dubrovnik, it’s important to remember to respect the people who live there.
The Dubrovnik locals are generally very welcoming people, however, try not to take liberties. Pulling wheeled suitcases on the cobbles at antisocial times is definitely something to avoid if you can. It’s noisy and it causes damage to the ancient stone. Try to avoid blocking pavements and paths even if you have spotted something breath-taking (which you will, often!). Just be aware of people around you who are trying to get on with their daily lives.
Learn about Croatia’s recent history. The Balkans has a very complex history and the late 1900’s were a little bumpy. The Balkan wars in the 1990s are still very recent memories for a lot of Croats. We took a free walking tour of the city that was guided by a former soldier who served during that period. It was fascinating to learn of his experiences and to have a small insight into the mindset of modern Croatians.
Learn a bit of the language. Croatian is not an easy language to learn. But any attempt is greatly appreciated by locals. Here are a few words to get you started –
| English | Croatian | Sounds Like |
| Hello | Bok | bohk |
| Goodbye | Doviđenja | doh-vee-jen-yah |
| Please | Molim | moh-leem |
| Thank you | Hvala | hva-lah |
| Yes | Da | da |
| No | Ne | ne |
Avoid the Lure of Cheap Souvenirs
Don’t buy cheap souvenirs made in China. There are some great souvenirs to bring back from Dubrovnik such as a necktie or fountain pen (both Croatian inventions) or some sweet-smelling lavender. Or go off the beaten track and visit the Green Market (Gruž Market) for some home-grown fruit and veg and a great variety of locally made goods.
Green Market – Address: Obala Stjepana Radica 21, Dubrovnik
Opening hours: Summer: 06.00-20.00, winter: 06.00-18.00, Sunday 06.00-11.00
In 2020 the mayor of Dubrovnik forced closure of up to 80% of the souvenir stalls making it easier to avoid the tat. However, this did not impact local sellers much as most of the wares were cheap imports anyway.
Plan ahead to Avoid the Crowds
Avoid cruise ship arrival times (unless, of course, you’re on one) – up to 9,000 people can be on a ship and two cruise liners are permitted to arrive at the same time. However, sometimes more can appear. Morning ships dock between 6 and 9am and afternoon ships dock at 2pm. Check HERE to see the most crowded days and times. This will help you make travel plans.
Visit off season to miss the biggest crowds. Avoid May-October if you don’t like throngs of people ticking items off their bucket list.
If you choose to walk the medieval walls – and you should – use quieter gates to access it. Pile is always busy but there are two more gates – Ploce Gate and Buza Gate. To avoid the inevitable queues, buy your tickets in advance. Somewhere like VIATOR will sort you out.
And finally…
This is truly one of the most common mistakes to avoid when Visiting Dubrovnik and it really caught us out on our first visit! Don’t expect Dubrovnik to be as good value as other Balkan cities. Having spent time in Tirana and Podgorica before travelling to Dubrovnik, we were shocked at the hike in prices. The cost of a weekend in Dubrovnik was closer to what you might spend on a weekend in a city like London or Paris.
Despite all of this, we highly recommend visiting the “Jewel of the Adriatic”! On our first visit to Croatia, we weren’t that aware of many of these issues, and we still had an amazing time. But armed with this knowledge you will be even better prepared for a fantastic trip. If you avoid these mistakes when visiting Dubrovnik, you’ll have the time of your life!
Where to go next?
We took an amazing day trip to nearby Bosnia Herzegovina visiting the ancient city of Mostar and the spectacular Kravice Waterfalls. Or, stay in Dubrovnik a bit longer and discover some of the Unique and Unusual things to Do in Dubrovnik.
Final note: Things change when travelling in the Balkans and there is not much information online. We would definitely advise checking with a local where possible. We found people to be really friendly and super helpful.
Have you visited Dubrovnik or Croatia? Are you planning a trip and need more information? Drop a comment in the box, we’d love to hear from you!
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I’m thrilled to have come across your site. As soon as the world is a bit more open, I’d love to sent 4+ weeks in the Balkans and your resources here are phenomenal. I’ve been to Croatia for a 1 day visit from two different cruises, but still need to see Dubrovnik. Great tips, thank you!
This is such an interesting post with lots of helpful information. Croatia has recently grabbed my attention as a place I would like to visit, so this is really helpful! I’ve found that paying in the local currency is usually the way to go, so that’s a great tip. I’d love to try Croatian wine. It sounds amazing! And also learn about the history of the city. Thanks for sharing!