How much is a Dubrovnik Old Town transfer?
Both prices are per vehicle and include luggage, tolls and VAT. From the airport the drive is about 22 km; from the cruise port in Gruž it is about 3.5 km. These are the 2026 prices.
| Route | Distance | Drive time | Standard car 1–4 passengers | Minivan 5–8 passengers | Premium minivan 1–7 passengers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airport (DBV) → Old Town | 22 km | 30–35 minutes | €50 | €65 | €75 |
| Gruž port → Old Town | 3.5 km | 10–15 minutes | €25 | €35 | €45 |
2026 prices per vehicle, one way, in euros. Fuel, tolls, luggage and VAT are included. Drive times are for normal traffic; allow more in July and August.
Can a car drive into Dubrovnik’s Old Town?
No. The walled Old Town is a pedestrian area: its main street, Stradun, runs about 300 m from Pile Gate in the west to Ploče Gate in the east, and no vehicle may drive inside the walls. A transfer always ends outside a gate, and the last stretch is on foot.
There are two main gates and one small one:
- Pile Gate, on the western side, is the main entrance and the busiest.
- Ploče Gate, on the eastern side, leads towards the old port and the Ploče hotels.
- Buža Gate, on the northern side, is a smaller gate opened in the early 1900s.
The walk between Pile and Ploče gates along Stradun is about 560 m, or 7 to 8 minutes.
How does the traffic zone around the Old Town work?
Since 2025 the City has run a special traffic zone around the historic centre. A decision of the City Council of 9 May 2024 created it, and since 2026 it has applied every year from 1 April to 31 October, according to the City of Dubrovnik. Outside those dates the roads around the walls are open to normal traffic.
The zone starts at the traffic lights on Zagrebačka ulica by the public garage and covers the roads around the walls from Pile to Ploče. Cameras read every number plate. Only vehicles with authorisation may enter: residents, guests of hotels inside the zone, drivers with a pre-booked parking space, licensed taxis with a City pass, and minivans and coaches with a booked drop-off slot.
Minivans with seven or eight passenger seats may stop only in the designated area at Pile, in a slot booked through the City’s system, for no more than ten minutes. The City charges €35 for each such drop-off between 1 March and 30 November, with no fee late in the evening and overnight, according to the City’s decision on tourist vehicles.
Driving into the zone without authorisation is fined €260 for a private individual and €1,320 for a company. The Dubrovnik Tourist Board’s visitor guidance explains the rules for visitors who drive themselves.
Where does a Dubrovnik Old Town transfer drop you?
At the nearest point your vehicle is allowed to stop at that time of year. Depending on the vehicle and the date, that is the stopping area at Pile, a point on the Ploče side, or the edge of the zone by the public garage on Zagrebačka ulica, about an 8-minute walk from Pile Gate. We name the exact point in your booking confirmation, so you know where you will be set down.
Between November and March, when the zone is not running, drivers can stop much closer to the gates.
Which gate should we use?
Choose the gate nearest your accommodation. Addresses in the western half of the Old Town are closer to Pile; those in the eastern half and around the old port are closer to Ploče. If you are not sure, send us the address when you book and we will tell you.
Plan for steps. The Tourist Board notes that the Old Town is “often associated with steep steps and stone alleyways”, although Stradun and many landmarks are on flat ground. Side streets on the northern slope climb steeply, so travel light if your apartment is up the hill.
How do we get back to the airport?
Book the return when you book the arrival, or at least a day before. The driver meets you at the point named in the confirmation, usually where you were dropped off, and waits 15 minutes at no charge.
The drive to the airport is about 22 km and takes 30–35 minutes on average, but Dubrovnik Airport advises allowing up to an hour in summer. We suggest a pick-up time based on your flight and the season.
What if we drive ourselves?
You can, but parking is the problem. The nearest public garage, Ilijina glavica on Zagrebačka ulica, is outside the zone and about a 590 m walk from Pile Gate; it charges €7 an hour or €40 for 24 hours. The two car parks closest to the walls cost €20 for the first hour from May to October, according to the city parking company, Sanitat, and must be booked online.
Our guide to driving to the Old Town covers parking, the zone and the fines in more detail. For the transfer itself, see airport transfers or, if you arrive by sea, cruise port transfers.
Questions about Old Town transfers
Can a taxi or transfer drive into the Old Town?
No. The streets inside the walls are pedestrian only. From 1 April to 31 October the roads around the walls are also a restricted zone, so vehicles stop at points the City allows, a short walk from the gates.
Which gate is closer to my apartment?
It depends on the address. Pile Gate is at the western end of Stradun, the main street, and Ploče Gate at the eastern end, about 560 m apart. Send us your address and we will tell you which gate is the shorter walk.
Are there steps inside the Old Town?
Yes. Stradun and the main squares are flat, but the side streets climb in steep stone steps, especially on the northern side. Keep that in mind with heavy suitcases.
What happens if a car enters the zone without permission?
Cameras read every number plate. Unauthorised entry is fined €260 for a private driver and €1,320 for a company, which is why drivers keep to the permitted stopping points.
Where do we meet the driver for a departure?
At the meeting point named in your confirmation, usually the same place where you were dropped off. The driver waits there 15 minutes at no charge.
How early should we leave the Old Town for a flight?
The drive to the airport takes 30–35 minutes on average, but Dubrovnik Airport advises allowing up to an hour in summer. We suggest a pick-up time when you book, based on your flight and the season.