Travel tips · Dubrovnik · Croatia
Dubrovnik travel tips: what to know before you go
The etiquette, money and practical details that make the first day easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Zysko serhii, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
For centuries Dubrovnik was the Republic of Ragusa, a merchant state that kept its independence through diplomacy and trade until 1808; its motto 'Libertas' still appears on flags and festival posters. Locals are proud of the city's survival through the 1667 earthquake and the 1991–92 siege, and of its patron saint, St Blaise.
Key facts
- Language
- Croatian
- Currency
- EUR
- Plugs
- Type C and F sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink, and public fountains in the Old Town, including…
- Emergency
- 112 (European emergency number)
Things to know
- Walking around the Old Town in swimwear or shirtless is prohibited and can be fined; cover up when leaving the beach.
- Cover shoulders and knees in churches and monasteries.
- Ask before photographing residents and their doorways; the Old Town is still a lived-in neighbourhood.
- Greet shopkeepers with 'Dobar dan' and keep your voice down in residential lanes at night.
- Speak about the 1990s war with sensitivity; many residents lived through the siege.
- The Dubrovnik Pass bundles the walls with the Rector's Palace and other museums plus bus rides, and usually costs little more than the walls ticket alone.
Tipping
Tipping is appreciated rather than expected. Leave about 10% in restaurants for good service and round up for taxis and drinks.
Language
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Dobar dan | Good day / hello |
| Hvala | Thank you |
| Molim | Please / you're welcome |
| Račun, molim | The bill, please |
| Koliko košta? | How much is it? |
| Živjeli! | Cheers! |
What to wear
Light, breathable clothes and comfortable shoes with good grip for polished stone and steep steps; pack a cover-up for churches and for walking in town after swimming.
Practical details
- Plugs and voltage
- Type C and F sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Drinking water
- Tap water is safe to drink, and public fountains in the Old Town, including Onofrio's Fountain, provide drinking water.
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
- Phone and internet
- Mobile coverage is good; EU roaming applies to European SIMs, and eSIMs work well for other visitors. Many cafés offer free Wi-Fi.
- Time zone
- Europe/Zagreb
Dubrovnik has low levels of street crime, but heat exhaustion on the walls, slippery polished limestone and steep rocks by the sea cause more problems for visitors. Wear water shoes on rocky beaches because of sea urchins, and keep valuables close in crowded lanes.
Entry requirements
Visa and passport rules depend on your nationality and change often. Check Croatia's official government guidance and your own government's travel advice before booking.
Plan the trip
Questions travellers ask
+Do you tip in Dubrovnik?
Tipping is appreciated rather than expected. Leave about 10% in restaurants for good service and round up for taxis and drinks.
+Can you drink the tap water in Dubrovnik?
Tap water is safe to drink, and public fountains in the Old Town, including Onofrio's Fountain, provide drinking water.
+What plugs are used in Dubrovnik?
Type C and F sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
+What language is spoken in Dubrovnik?
Croatian.