Getting around Dubrovnik: public transport, passes and taxis

Dubrovnik is small and split into two parts: the walled old town, where everything is on foot, and the wider city — Gruž, Lapad, Babin Kuk, Ploče — where buses do the work. Match the mode to the trip rather than buying a pass you will not use.

The old town is pedestrian-only in practice, and Stradun, the main street, is short enough to cross on foot in a few minutes at an easy pace. Most sights, restaurants and the city walls sit within that footprint, so walking is not just the cheapest option — it is usually the fastest. Steps are everywhere: the walk up to the walls, Fort Lovrijenac and the cable car base all involve stairs, which matters if you have luggage or limited mobility.

Outside the walls, the walk from Ploče to Banje beach is short and mostly level, while the climb from the old town up to Srđ is a real hike in summer heat — take the cable car or a bus instead.

Libertas runs the city network. Useful lines link the old town (Pile gate) with Gruž port and bus station, Lapad, Babin Kuk and the cable car base. Buses are frequent in summer and thin out in winter, so check the timetable if you are travelling off-season.

You can buy a single ticket from the driver, but kiosk and app tickets cost less. If you plan three or more rides in a day, a day pass usually pays off; multi-day passes exist for longer stays. Keep the ticket until you get off — inspectors do check.

Uber and Bolt are reported to operate in Dubrovnik (check), and an app gives you a fare up front. Official taxis wait at the Pile gate, Gruž port and the airport; agree the fare or confirm the meter before you get in, and avoid anyone approaching you inside the walls offering a ride.

For the airport, a taxi costs roughly €30–45 to the old town, and the shuttle bus is the cheaper option if your flight times line up. For island day trips, boats and buses are almost always better value than a taxi.

Gruž port handles catamarans and ferries to the islands, Split and Mljet; short coastal trips and boats to nearby islands leave from the old town harbour (check current routes and departure points). In summer, catamaran seats to popular islands sell out days ahead, so book early; winter timetables are much thinner.

For Korčula and the Pelješac peninsula, the bus along the coast or a catamaran are the usual choices; Orebić is the ferry hop for Korčula.

Prices below are 2026 estimates for planning, not quotes. Bus fares, pass prices and cable car tickets change with the season, so treat them as a band and confirm locally.

Wear shoes with grip for the polished limestone streets and the walls — they get slippery when wet. Carry some cash for bus tickets from the driver and small kiosk purchases; cards are widely accepted in shops and restaurants but not always on board.

If you are staying in Lapad or Babin Kuk, check how close your hotel is to a bus stop before booking — the difference between a 5-minute and a 20-minute walk to the stop matters in July and August. For late nights, save a ride-hailing app before you go out, since signal inside the thick-walled old town can be patchy.