How to travel on a budget in Dubrovnik

 Well hello to you my reader chums! I am in love with Dubrovnik, it has to now be up there with one of my favourite cities I've visited with its charming old town and stunning beach scene. With its growing popularity and significance, I expected Dubrovnik to be a little pricier than other parts of Croatia, however, I was vastly surprised, that I could do it within a budget.

Whether you're on a budget or looking to save money in Dubrovnik, here is how to travel on a budget in the city.

How to travel on a budget to Dubrovnik

Shop around for places to eat

One of the things I was impressed most by in Dubrovnik was its epic food scene. I'm a massive foodie and that's why eating out, wherever I am in the world is so important because I love to ensure I eat authentically and with good quality grub. Dubrovnik is packed with various restaurants from traditional Croatian to Mediterranean options too, especially in the old town. There are places with a combination of prices, mainly in the old town when prices can rack up because of tourists - this is why I would suggest looking around and converting prices before you choose a restaurant.

Set a daily budget

I'm a big fan of setting budgets so I'm aware of the money I have for the overall trip but on each day of the trip as well. This is why to save money, I would suggest setting a daily budget. Dubrovnik is one of those places that can be a day of free activities or packed with activities so I would say to set the budget accordingly for what you'd like to do, fractioning in prices of everything.

Eat ice cream instead of a dessert

As a coastal city, there are plenty of places to get ice cream, which after a warm day is an absolute blessing. When saving money, instead of ordering a dessert, opt for one of the ice cream stalls instead. Ice cream prices can vary but typically won't be more than the equivalent of a few pounds. 

Pack a picnic

Dubrovnik is a hotspot for beaches, parks and places to sit with a gorgeous viewpoint. And, that means if you want to save a bit of money, finding somewhere free and stunning to eat is easy. Head to one of the local supermarkets, grab a couple of bits and head out to find your dream lunch spot. Sulic beach had to be one of my favourite as a tiny, tucked-away bay to soak up the sunshine.

Go offseason

Dubrovnik is the most stunning with the sunshine beaming down on it, however, whatever time of year, you're guaranteed to see its gorgeous beauty. It can be tempting travelling in peak season when the weather is at its best. However, to travel on a budget, pick the time of the offseason to go in. Croatia's season begins in May and ends in October. I went in early May and the season was just beginning which I loved because I got the complete joy of the place without massive crowds and still lovely weather.

Stay in accommodation away from the old town

Accommodation in Dubrovnik varies massively and it's important to be cautious about where you stay to save money. The old town is the most popular part of Dubrovnik and where you'll find the busy crowds gather. But, Dubrovnik is much bigger than this and if you're saving money, try to stay further away from the old town or opt for a hostel out of the area also.

Opt for an apartment instead of a hotel

Hotels can be a bit pricier in general, it depends where you're searching. I would recommend if you did want to stay in the old town or closer to the main hub, to opt for an apartment instead. They're typically run by locals and are rented out at a cheaper rate.

Embrace the free attractions in the city

The best thing about Dubrovnik is there are many things you can do for free. It's a very hilly and steep place in general which means it's a dream to discover hidden walkways, tucked away beaches and cool architecture. I love being able to walk around the city and see what's on offer so I'd highly recommend you to do that to get your bearings on the city and fill your time without spending too much money.

Book activities with locals

The city is renowned for its water activities, Game of Thrones tours and walking tours in general. With the many travel sites today, it can be hard to know which is best or who to go for. But I actually found the best buck for my money was talking to the locals and booking tours through them. I found the deals pretty cheap and the activities exactly what I asked for.

Walk as much as possible or opt for transport

Probably my biggest money-saving tip is to walk as much as possible if you're able to. I would be wary that Dubrovnik is rather steep and if you're not healthy and active, it can be tricky to do so. If you're looking to get around, public transport is also a winner and incredibly cheap. Plus, the old town is pretty small that no transport at all is really needed.

Utilise the airport shuttle

The airport shuttle was an absolute winner discovery and worked out around £8/9 for a return. It works out that each shuttle leaves around 30 minutes after each flight lands and takes you straight to the old town, with a couple of stops before there. It's a lot cheaper than paying around £30/£40 for a taxi.

Get to grips with the currency

New currencies can always be confusing when visiting a new country, especially when the rate is a massive difference from pounds. In Dubrovnik, they use the Croatian Kuna and can accept Euros as well. It works out roughly that 10 Croatian Kuna is about £1. This obviously changes depending on exchange rates.

I hope you enjoyed this post. What other budget travel tips do you have?

Thank you for reading <3

2 comments

  1. This list of yours will be so helpful for anyone traveling to Dubrovnik!
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  2. Thanks for sharing your tips to travel and visit Dubrovnik on a budget, I will think about these if I plan to go in the future :)

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