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).
Opening hours Dubrovnik
To see / To do Dubrovnik
The tourist season reaches its peak in July and August. During this period, all the city's museums are working full time, often seven days a week and into the night. But high season is not the best time to visit Dubrovnik; on the contrary, summer also means serious inconveniences (traffic jams on the ramparts and overcrowded buses). It's best to come in May, June, September or early October if you can, when the crowds have left and the sea and sun are still pleasant (sea temperatures in late October are around 20°C). As for other activities and their opening times, here are a few pointers:
Grocery stores and department stores are mostly open non-stop from 8am to 8pm. Some stores and boutiques are closed between noon and 5pm, but this is quite rare. Everything is sometimes closed on Sundays. During the tourist season, many are open 7 days a week until midnight. Out of season (November-April), opening hours are considerably reduced.
Public administrations (except post offices, which are open until 9 p.m. in high season) are open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday.
Company workinghours are concentrated in the morning, from 8am to 3pm. So, at least during the low season, rental agencies, for example, close at 3pm.
Enjoying yourself Dubrovnik
At the height of the tourist season, it's a bit crowded, the service isn't always the best and, above all, the queues get long, sometimes very long (an hour's wait) in front of the best restaurants in the old town (which don't take reservations). This is especially true in the evening. To avoid them, there's only one solution: dine early (7pm) or late (10pm). Lunchtime is simpler, also because restaurants often work around the clock, without a break.
Take a break Dubrovnik
In season, cafés are open every day from dawn to dusk. In winter, they close earlier in the evening and sometimes only open at weekends (especially if they are concert bars).
(To) please yourself Dubrovnik
When the summer season is in full swing, Dubrovnik's stores are open from around 9 a.m. until 10 p.m., seven days a week. Beauty salons and spas usually close earlier in the day, as do Sundays. For massages and treatments, remember to book in advance during the summer. In the off-season, opening hours are reduced, and some establishments close completely between January and February.
Get out Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is a relatively lively city, although it's far from being the busiest Croatian town! A number of bars and cafés are on hand to quench the festive thirst of tourists of all ages (in high and mid-season only, from April to October). Out of season, you'll have to hold on to a national holiday, the end-of-year festivities or student parties to enjoy a lively old town... As for the rest, we'll take a rain check! That said, there are plenty of good places to go out in Dubrovnik.
Bars generally close at 2 a.m., cafés at 11 p.m.-midnight (but a café often turns into a bar in the evening), by which time the crowds have taken refuge in the clubs (if they haven't already!).
