Traveling by car is a great way to visit Dubrovnik, because it gives you the freedom to explore Dubrovnik Region as well. There are numerous places and towns to be seen and a variety of things to be done. If you plan to stay in a hotel, private accommodation or camp you might experience parking difficulties in Dubrovnik due to limited parking spaces available.
If you are concerned about this issue, check with your accommodation provider, especially if the accommodation unit is located in or around the Old Town of Dubrovnik.
The Croatian motorways and highways are well-maintained and generally in excellent condition. They are identified by distinctive green-white road signs, similar to those used for motorways in Europe. To enter Croatia by car, a driver’s licence, an automobile registration card and vehicle insurance documents are required. Please note that an international driving licence is required for the use of rent-a-car services. Since there are numerous fascinating destinations all along Dubrovnik Region renting a car in enables you to visit them all at your own pace.
Speed Limits in in Dubrovnik and Croatia
- 50 km/h - within settled areas
- 90 km/h - outside settled areas
- 110 km/h - on major roadways designed exclusively for motor vehicles, and on highways
- 130 km/h - on motorways
- 80 km/h - for motor vehicles with a caravan trailer without brakes
- 80 km/h - for buses and buses with a light trailer; on motorways, buses are allowed to drive up to 100 km/h, except for those buses carrying children
OOOPS, my car is gone - Dubrovnik car towing service
If it happens that your car disappears from the place you remember leaving it, don't panic at once. Dubrovnik has a car towing service (popularly called the spider ) which towes cars that are misplaced (wrongly parked) to a special location where you can pick them up after paying a fine.
Since parking, especially around the Old Town can be a real adventure during summer, we recommend that you use public transportation. Dubrovnik has a good public transportation system with busses regularly going to and from the Old Town.
Towing Service - Dubrovnik Parking "Pauk" sluzba
Lichtenseinov put (Gospino polje)
tel:+385 20 640 135, +385 91-428-8589, direct contact with the towing car: +385 91 428-8590, Work hours: 0-24h
Parking is paid with parking coupons obtained at news-stands and at parking metres and by cellular phone.
Explore Dubrovnik Region by car
Exploring Dubrovnik Region is a great way to enrich your travel experience. The entire Southern Dalmatian coast is a car journey worth taking. You may find yourself stopping frequently to admire breathtaking views of the Adriatic Sea along the way. With sparkling turquoise waters on one side and the sloping trees of the Dinaric Alps on the other, the experience is truly unforgettable.
Otherwise, regular public transportation will take you to most places worth seeing. Sometimes it is wise to buy tickets in advance, depending on where you wish to go. Ask your host, tourist information offices or at the main bus terminal in Gruž for more information.
Be sure to also check suburban timetables for bus lines that connect Dubrovnik with towns, townships and villages along Dubrovnik Riviera.
Gas stations in Dubrovnik
Gas stations are generally open from 7 am to 7 or 8 PM every day; in the summer season, working hours are extended until 10 PM. On-duty Gas Stations in bigger cities and on main international roads are open 24 hours. All pumps sell Eurosuper 95, Super 98, Normal and Eurodiesel. In Dubrovnik there are at least one or two gas stations who are open all night. The list with the addresses of gas stations in and around Dubrovnik are bellow.
BP Dubrovnik-grad
Vladimira Nazora 2/c, Dubrovnik
Tel: +385 91 4971 032
Lukoil Dubrovnik
Ul. dr. Ante Starčevića 76, Dubrovnik
Tel: +0800 900 800
BP Dubrovnik-Komolac
Komolac, Ogarići 10, Dubrovnik
Tel: +385 91 4971 033
BP Dubrovnik-Komolac - marina Dubrovnik
Komolac, Na Skali 5, Dubrovnik
Tel: +385 91 4971 034
BP Dubrovnik-Orsan
Lapadska obala 31, Dubrovnik
Tel: +385 91 4971 036
More info at INA - gas stations, gas prices INA company
Useful information about traffic conditions, road web cams and roadside assistance can be found at the Croatian Automobile Club (page available in several languages).
Driving distances from/to Dubrovnik
| Karlovac - 526 km | Osijek - 521 km | Pula - 711 km | Rijeka - 601 km | Šibenik - 305 km |
| Slavonski Brod - 472 km | Split - 216 km | Varaždin - 630 km | Zadar - 377 km | Zagreb - 572 km |
International Driving distances from/to Dubrovnik
| Amsterdam - 2061 km (1277 miles) | Athens - 1282 km (794 miles) | Barcelona - 2173 km (1347 miles) |
| Berlin - 1799 km (1115 miles) | Bern - 1404 km (870 miles) | Bonn - 1791 km (1110 miles) |
| Brussels - 1963 km (1217 miles) | Copenhagen - 2479 km (1536 miles) | Dublin - 2724 km (1688 miles) |
| Helsinki - 3275 km (2030 miles) | Istanbul - 1435 km (887 miles) | Vienna - 1151 km (713 miles) |
| Lisbon - 3470 km (2151 miles) | London - 2295 km (1422 miles) | Luxembourg - 1748 km (1083 miles) |
| Madrid - 2820 km (1748 miles) | Marseilles - 1635 km (1013 miles) | Milan - 1128 km (699 miles) |
| Munich - 1223 km (758 miles) | Oslo - 3067 km (1901 miles) | Paris - 2075 km (1286 miles) |
| Rome - 1377 km (853 miles) | Stockholm - 3110 km (1928 miles) | Zurich - 1200 km (780 miles) |
Driving in Croatia
The minimum driving age within Croatia is 18. For motorcycles the wearing of crash helmets is required for both the rider and the passenger. Dipped headlights must be used at all times.
Traffic regulations are similar to those enforced in other European countries. Croatia uses right-hand traffic with general speed limits of 100 km/h on overland roads, 130 km/h on motor ways and 50 km/h in built-up areas. While driving along the coast in Dubrovnik or the Dubrovnik Region, you may encounter many places where the speed limits are lowered. If you plan on driving to Dubrovnik in the winter, you may encounter tough travel conditions, especially in the Gorski Kotar Region. Winter tires are essential and it is strongly recommended that you bring along snow chains as well.
Drunken driving is punishable and can lead to confiscation of the driving license and severe fines. The permissible alcohol limit is 0.5 promiles.
24-hour information is provided by the Croatian Automobile Club
Hrvatski Auto Klub - Information center, Tel: +385 1 4640-800, web: Hrvatski autoklub