• Arriving by plane
Dubrovnik airport is twenty kilometers away from the city center and it takes less than half an hour to get there.
From the airport you can take the cheaper bus transport to the city or the more expensive taxi ride. Every regular flight has an organized bus transport to Dubrovnik upon arrival and as for going to the airport, buses for flights operated by Croatia Airlines and Austrian Airlines depart an hour and a half prior to take-off while the ones for other operators depart two hours prior to take-off from the bus terminal. The bus ticket will cost you 35 kunas (5 euros) while a taxi ride will cost between 230 and 250 kunas depending on which part of the city you’re going to.
Check-in for domestic flights is required no later than half an hour prior to take-off while check-in for international flights is required no later than one hour before departure. It’s possible to check-in online as well.
You can also rent a car at the airport, exchange money or use the ATMs. Dubrovnik airport also has a rather unusual attraction – Đurović cave which extends underneath the landing strip. It’s possible to visit it.
• Arriving by bus
Dubrovnik is well connected with other Croatian cities every day, especially with Zagreb.
There are also connections with cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Italy, Germany and Macedonia.
Croatia has daily bus connections to Switzerland, Austria, Serbia, Sweden, Hungary, and the Czech Republic.
Some lines are added in the summer months, so up to date information can be found on Bus Terminal Dubrovnik’s webpage. The same applies to other Croatian bus stations.
Dubrovnik Bus Terminal (phone number 060 305 070) is the only one in Dubrovnik that offers a possibility to leave the luggage in the luggage depository. The station is located in the port of Gruž and is well connected with public transport to all parts of the city. There is also a taxi station and a shopping mall along with other services such as ATMs, which operate 24 hours.
• Arriving by car
Arriving to Dubrovnik by car gives you the opportunity to see other beautiful parts of Croatia, even when driving on the highway. The highway to Dubrovnik isn’t complete; it ends in Ploče from where you have around 100 kilometers more to get to Dubrovnik. Traffic jams on Croatia-Bosnia and Herzegovina border are not big and very quickly you go through the 15 kilometer strip of land that gives Bosnia access to open sea.
Arriving from North Italy via Rijeka
If you choose to take the highway from Rijeka to Dubrovnik, you will first have to drive towards Zagreb, to Bosiljevo junction, from where you continue towards Split and Ploče where the highway ends, and then further towards Dubrovnik.
Arriving from Slovenia, Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic and Poland via Zagreb
Take the highway from Zagreb to Split and Ploče and then continue towards Dubrovnik.
Arriving from Hungary, Czech Republic and Poland via Osijek
This way, instead through Croatia, will take you through the neighboring Bosnia and Herzegovina. From Osijek you should continue to Sarajevo and then through Mostar to Metković and then you continue towards Dubrovnik. For those of you coming from central Europe, this is the longest route but also the most exciting. Bosnia is a European country with an oriental twist.
Arriving from Romania and Bulgaria
It’s easiest to take the road to Leskovac in Serbia and then towards Peć and Podgorica where you continue towards Budva and then follow the coastal road to Herceg-Novi and the Croatian border. There is also a continental route through Montenegro but it’s best to get to the coast to see the beautiful bay of Boka Kotorska, the town of Kotor and St. Stefan.
• Arriving by boat
Journey by boat lasts the longest. It takes 24 hours to get from Rijeka to Dubrovnik. Dubrovnik is connected to the Italian port of Bari, and from Ancona ferries go to Split, Zadar and Korčula from where you can continue towards Dubrovnik by car. There are more information on Jadrolinija’s website.