How do Dubrovnik taxi fares work?
There is no single city-wide taxi fare in Dubrovnik. Under Croatia’s Road Transport Act each licensed taxi operator sets its own price list, and the City regulates only the taxi permit, not the price. Fares therefore differ from one company to the next, and between day and night.
Two typical numbers help. The city’s main taxi association, Plavi Taxi, quoted its 2026 tariff in local media as a €2 start fee and up to €2.10 per kilometre in a standard car, or €3.50 per kilometre in a van. The same association said city rides typically cost €5 to €9, with a maximum of €25 displayed on its vehicles.
How much is a taxi from the airport?
Travel guides checked in 2026 put a taxi from the airport rank to the Old Town at roughly €35–55, depending on the operator and the time of day. The rank is directly in front of the arrivals building, and the airport displays the price list at the taxi information window in the arrivals hall, according to Dubrovnik Airport. The airport also reminds passengers that drivers are legally obliged to issue a receipt.
A pre-booked transfer to the Old Town costs €50 by car for up to four passengers, or €65 by minivan for up to eight. The two prices are close; the difference is what you get for them.
What changes for taxis in 2027?
From 1 January 2027, Croatia caps taxi fares nationally. According to the decision published in the Official Gazette, a taxi may charge at most a €10.00 start fee, €2.50 per kilometre and €0.50 per minute of driving, with each cap 40% higher for vehicles with seven or more passenger seats. Compulsory booking fees and second start fees are banned.
Taxis may still offer fixed prices on common routes such as airport to city, but a fixed price may not exceed what the vehicle’s maximum tariff would give for the standard road distance. On those rules, the legal ceiling for the airport–Old Town run in a standard taxi works out at roughly €84–89, our own calculation, so most published fares sit well below it.
How do you recognise a licensed taxi?
Licensed taxis in Croatia must meet strict marking rules set out in the taxi regulations:
- a TAXI sign on the roof;
- the word TAXI with the operator’s name and town on both sides;
- a price list on the back of the front seats;
- a vehicle card in the lower right corner of the windscreen;
- since 2025, for metered taxis, the maximum tariff and the maximum price of a 5-kilometre, 15-minute ride on the front doors, in Croatian and English.
The driver must also display a taxi driver card with a QR code, issued by the state agency AKD. If a car has none of these, it is not a licensed taxi.
How do taxis and transfers compare?
| Taxi | Private transfer | |
|---|---|---|
| Booking | None needed at the rank | Booked in advance |
| Price | Operator’s tariff; meter or quoted price | One fixed price per vehicle, agreed in writing |
| Airport to Old Town (2026) | About €35–55 | €50 by car, €65 by minivan |
| Meeting | You queue at the rank | Driver waits in arrivals with a name sign |
| Delayed flight | Not affected | Tracked; first 60 minutes free |
| Groups of 5–8 | A larger taxi, or two cars | Minivan for up to eight |
| Child seats | Not guaranteed | Free on request |
| Long distances | Metered or quoted by the operator | Fixed price, tolls included |
When is a Dubrovnik taxi the better choice?
Take a taxi for short, unplanned trips within the city: from your hotel in Lapad to the Old Town for dinner, or back again late at night. Typical fares are a few euros, there is nothing to book, and taxis with a City pass may stop closer to the Old Town gates during the zone season than other vehicles.
Rough Guides advises insisting on the meter, especially at airports, ferry ports and late at night. In any taxi, ask for the price or check the meter before you set off, and keep the receipt.
When is a transfer the better choice?
Book a transfer when certainty matters more than flexibility:
- Airport arrivals, especially late at night or with children, when you want a driver waiting rather than a queue.
- Groups of five to eight, who fit in one minivan instead of two taxis.
- Child seats, which taxis do not guarantee.
- Long distances, such as Split, Kotor or Mostar, where a fixed price agreed in advance protects you from traffic and border queues.
For more detail, compare Uber, Bolt and transfers, see the airport transfer page or read our guide to getting from the airport to the Old Town.
Questions about taxis and transfers
How much is a taxi from Dubrovnik Airport to the Old Town?
Travel guides checked in 2026 put it at about €35–55, depending on the taxi operator and the time of day. The airport displays the taxi price list at the taxi information window in the arrivals hall.
Do Dubrovnik taxis use a meter?
Within the city, yes, or they quote a fixed price. Every licensed taxi must display its maximum tariff on the doors and its price list inside, and the driver must give you a receipt.
Is there a fixed taxi price from the airport?
There is no city-wide fixed fare. Each taxi operator sets its own prices, and the airport rank displays them. From 1 January 2027, national rules cap any fixed fare at what the maximum tariff would give for the distance.
How do I recognise a licensed taxi?
Look for a TAXI sign on the roof, the operator's name and town on both sides, a price list on the back of the front seats and a vehicle card in the windscreen. The driver must display a taxi driver card with a QR code.
When is a taxi the better choice?
For short, unplanned trips within the city, such as from your hotel to the Old Town in the evening. Typical city fares are a few euros, and taxis with a City pass can stop closer to the Old Town gates during the zone season.