Organize your stay Dubrovnik
Money Dubrovnik
Croatia accepts both Visa and MasterCard.
The currency is the euro (EUR). On January1, 2023, Croatia adopted the single European currency. Montenegro also uses the euro as its national currency.
In neighboring Bosnia-Herzegovina, the currency is the convertible mark (BAM). 1 BAM = €0.51.
Budget & Tips Dubrovnik
Beware, spending a vacation in the Dubrovnik region is far from being cheap (it's the most expensive region in Croatia)! Accommodation and catering make up the bulk of your expenses. Museum entrance fees are not cheap either. The price of accommodation doubles in July and August. What's more, if you stay less than three or four nights in the same establishment, you'll be heavily "deducted" (an additional 20-30% per night). Finally, prices for everyday consumer goods in supermarkets are more or less the same as in France (20% cheaper at best), with VAT at 25%. Tip: shop at the market to save a few euros! It's worth noting that there's little difference between the cost of living on the islands and in Dubrovnik, even if accommodation and food budgets are a little lower on the islands. Some current prices:
A coffee: 2-3 €.
A pint of beer: €4-6.
A pizza: €8-10.
A night in a youth hostel in Dubrovnik: minimum €35.
A night with a local in Dubrovnik's old town: at least €50 per person in high season.
Zagreb-Dubrovnik plane ticket, one-way, full fare: around €100.
Even if the cost of living remains lower than in France, the resounding success of Dubrovnik as a destination and the prospect of the euro changeover are changing the situation and are clearly pushing up the cost of living. Here are a few examples of budgets for your stay:
For a low-budget stay in Dubrovnik, count per person per day: €5 bus fare, minimum €30 for two restaurant meals, €40 accommodation, €10 museum entrance fee. Total cost: €85.
For an average budget, allow €5 for transport, €50 (or even €60) for two meals in a restaurant, €50 for accommodation, €10 for admission to museums. Total cost: €115.
For a high budget, allow €25 for cab transport (from Babin Kuk to the old town), €100 for two meals in a restaurant, €150 (and more) for accommodation, €10 for admission to museums. Total: €285.
Passport and visas Dubrovnik
For a tourist stay of less than three months, EU citizens need only a passport or identity card.
For the 9 km stretch of coastal road between Split and Dubrovnik (Neum), which belongs to Bosnia-Herzegovina, an identity card or passport is also sufficient. This section can be avoided by crossing the new Pelješac bridge.
For visitors wishing to travel to Croatia via Slovenia (also an EU member), Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina (non-EU), please note that all these countries now accept ID cards, so passports are no longer required. Beware of entry requirements for your pets. Find out before you leave how they can accompany you. If you're traveling with your cat or dog, it's essential that the animal has an up-to-date vaccination record and a certificate of good health. Rabies vaccination is required. Many hotels, campsites and local residents do not accept pets.
Driver's license Dubrovnik
French driving licenses are recognized in Croatia. Foreign drivers should bring their vehicle registration document and green card (international motor insurance card). It may be useful to bring an IGN map, but maps of Croatia are readily available from tourist offices and bookshops.
The Croatian Autoclub, based in the southern suburbs of Zagreb, manages the country's freeways. On its website (www.hak.hr), you can prepare your itinerary online or obtain telephone assistance. The free roadside assistance application in English (Croatia Traffic Info) provides a wealth of information for drivers: real-time traffic conditions and 24-hour forecasts, service stations, fuel prices, webcams, useful addresses, etc.
Time difference Dubrovnik
Croatia is in the same time zone as France, Belgium and Switzerland (GMT + 1 in winter, GMT + 2 in summer). Winter time is used (time changes at the same time as elsewhere, last weekend in October and last weekend in March).
Spoken languages Dubrovnik
Croatians in the Dubrovnik region often speak Italian, English and/or German in addition to their native Croatian. You'll have no trouble making yourself understood, as everyone (really everyone) speaks at least a little English! French is not yet widely spoken, but with the massive influx of French-speaking tourists in recent years, the language of Molière has emerged from the shadows, and you could be in for a pleasant surprise!
Learning the language: there are various ways of learning some of the basics of the language, and the offer for self-study is based on different media: CDs, video cassettes, workbooks or even directly on the Internet.
In Croatia. Why not combine business with pleasure and take advantage of your stay to learn Croatian? The Hrvatska Matica Iseljenika foundation (www.matis.hr) organizes summer courses in Zagreb, Rijeka, Novi Vinodolski, Zadar, Split and Dubrovnik, as well as volunteer work on a cultural heritage restoration program.
Communication Dubrovnik
Internet connection points can be found throughout the region. Cities such as Dubrovnik and Korčula have Internet cafés (sometimes open 24 hours a day), and local travel agencies generally offer this service. You can expect to pay around €3 for an hour. Access is more limited in the smaller island villages.
Wifi is widely available in private apartments and villas, hotels and youth hostels, restaurants and cafés. It's very easy to get connected.
Electricity and measurements Dubrovnik
Croatia uses the metric system exclusively. Same voltage (220 V, frequency 50 Hz) and continental European-style sockets as in France (an adapter is required for the Swiss).
Luggage Dubrovnik
In summer, it's hot in the Dubrovnik region, so bring a hat, sunglasses, sun cream, swimsuit, towel and light clothing. However, sometimes the wind blows a little harder than expected and the evenings can be chilly: take at least a sweater and some warm clothes. Out of season, in autumn or spring, the weather can be punctuated by showers, so it's a good idea to bring an umbrella or a light raincoat. The wind is also likely to be stronger, especially in winter. Plastic sandals for children - and adults! - may be welcome (pebble and rocky beaches are common), or at least bring flip-flops. Take your mosquito spray in summer. If you forget, don't worry: you'll find everything you need on site.
