Cruise Port of Dubrovnik Guide 2025: Location, trasport, tips and maps

Last updated: May 2025.

Written by: Martina, a former cruise line employee

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Your essential guide to visiting the port of Dubrovnik, based on the experience of a former cruiseline employee! Find out how far it is from the Old town, the facilities, transport options and what Dubrovnik shore excursions to take to maximize your day.

Here's what you will find in this article:

Why visit the port of Dubrovnik on a cruise ship?
Where do cruise ships dock in Dubrovnik?
How to get from Dubrovnik port to the Old Town?
Bonus for our readers: Dubrovnik port map
Dubrovnik port facilities and services
Top things to do in the port of Dubrovnik

🧳 Dubrovnik Cruise Port – At a Glance

Port: Gruž (2,5 km/2,2 miles from Old Town)
Shuttles: Available from most ships
Bus: #1A, 1B, 3, or 8 to Pile Gate
Taxi: ~€13 one way
Facilities: ATM, toilets, supermarket, souvenir stalls
Accessibility: Port = Yes | Old Town = Partial

Why visit the port of Dubrovnik on a cruise ship?

If you take a cruise to Dubrovnik Croatia, you can enjoy a spectacular sail-in through some of the thousand islands that make up the Croatian coast, take advantage of the easy connection to the Old Town hidden behind the old medieval walls, and warm and friendly shore excursions that let you soak up the essence of this city's rich history.

As a former cruise port and shopping guide, I have helped thousands of guest get around this port - keep reading to find out everything you need to know!

Where do cruise ships dockin Dubrovnik?

FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCE: Want to know how I experienced getting into the port of Dubrovnik when I worked for cruiselines? As your luxurious cruise ship slowly sails into the Dubrovnik port, you get a chance to enjoy the view of the lush green landscape around Dubrovnik town and charming traditional grey stone houses on one side.

On the other side of the port of Dubrovnik you cannot but notice a relatively new white suspension bridge of Dr. Franjo Tudjman, the first president of Croatia, at the very entrance into Dubrovnik.

If you are standing outside on the open deck, take a deep breath, enjoy the seductive smell of clean sea, pine and cypress trees and get ready for an amazing day in beautiful Dubrovnik, Croatia.

The new, commercial port of Dubrovnik is located in the Gruz neighbourhood.

It is about 2,5 km (2,2 miles) northwest from the Old Town of Dubrovnik, which is where you will want to spend your day.

The port of Gruz, and Dubrovnik in general, is one of the busiest cruise ports in Europe.

Some 10 years ago, there used to be up to 5-6 big cruise ships in town in the same day, which made it impossible to enjoy its beauty fully.

That is why the authorities limited the number of cruise ships visiting to two a day, i.e. 5000 passengers entering the town.

Still, the numbers that visit this spectacular port make Dubrovnik port the third in the Mediterranean and the tenth in the world! Also, in 2016 Dubrovnik won the Best Mediterranean Cruise Port Award.

In the past, before the port of Gruz existed, cruise ships also used to ancor in front of the walls of the Old town and ancor into the old port in the town center.

I actually experienced it myself in my first years working for cruise lines.

How to get from Dubrovnik cruise port to the Old Town?

View of Dubrovnik’s Gruž cruise port with Franjo Tudjman Bridge in the background

The port of Gruž is in the shadow of Franjo Tudjman bridge

There are a few options when it comes to getting to Pile gate which is the entrance in the wall taking you into the Old Town Dubrovnik.

For a quick overview, you can:

Take a cruiseline shuttle from the port to the Old town
Take a taxi
Take one of the local Dubrovnik shore excursions
Take a local public bus
Walk

RECOMMENDATION: You can read a detailed, step-by-step guide as well as the pros and cons on all of these options on our page Complete Guide to Getting to Dubrovnik and decide what is the best way of getting from the port to the Old town for yourself. It's a must read for all of you visiting this port!

Bonus for our readers: Dubrovnik port map

Open the map to see the pins explained.

Dubrovnik port facilities & services

In the port of Dubrovnik you will find the basic facilities that will make your day there comfortable but you still need to get to the Old town of Dubrovnik to experience why everyone raves about this port!

🚌 LOCAL BUS TERMINAL: The Port of Dubrovnik is within walking distance to the local public bus terminal where you can take buses to other towns and cities in Croatia (in case you are disembarking here!)

🚏 LOCAL PUBLIC BUS STOP: As you exit from the cruise terminal to the main road, you will see one public bus stop. The next one is outside the port building.

Read more about taking a public bus from the cruise port to the Old town in Getting to Dubrovnik article.

⛴️ FERRY PORT: the ferry port is also within walking distance from the cruise terminal, in case you finish your cruise here and wish to head further to the city of Split or the neighbouring islands.

🛒 SUPERMARKET: there is a big supermarket right next to the port, and that is where cruise staff stocks up on snacks. To experience some real local shopping, you need to get to the Old town.

🏧 💱 ATM MACHINE AND MONEY EXCHANGE SERVICES - they can be found at the local bus terminal, which is just a few steps away from the port.

🛍️ SOUVENIR SHOPPING - When you return back to the cruise ship terminal at the end of the day, you will find some souvenir stalls to browse through in front of the ship but the selection is much smaller than it is in the city center. This is just a last minute shopping solution, so make sure you buy your Dubrovnik cruise souvenirs in the Old town. There, you will find a much larger selection and it will be the only place to get some quality, locally made souvenirs.

Top things to do near Dubrovnik port

Dubrovnik is a beautiful city with plenty of things to see and do, even if you're only there for a day on a cruise. Here are some suggestions on what to do in Dubrovnik port from a cruise ship:

Walk the city walls: Dubrovnik's historic city walls are one of the city's most iconic landmarks, offering stunning views of the city and the sea. Walking the walls is a must-do activity for any visitor to Dubrovnik. Find out more in our article on Dubrovnik Walls and other attractions or book your tour right now:

2. Visit the Old Town: Dubrovnik's Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with narrow streets, historic buildings, and picturesque squares. It's a great place to explore, shop, and eat, and there are plenty of museums and landmarks to visit, including the Rector's Palace and the Dubrovnik Cathedral.

3. Take a cable car ride: A cable car ride to the top of Mount Srd offers breathtaking panoramic views of the city and the surrounding coastline. The ride is short but spectacular, and there's a restaurant and souvenir shop at the top.

4. Swim or sunbathe at Banje Beach: if this is your second or third visit to Dubrovnik, you may consider taking a dip at Banje Beach - it is a popular spot for swimming and sunbathing, located just outside the Old Town walls. It's a great place to relax and enjoy the beautiful views of the Adriatic Sea.

5. Explore Lokrum Island: A short ferry ride from Dubrovnik's Old Port, Lokrum Island is a nature reserve with lush gardens, walking trails, and swimming spots. There's also a historic monastery and a botanical garden to explore. It's a pedestrians only area, no cars allowed. In short - it's heaven on earth!

6. Explore Cavtat, Konavle and Trsteno: Dubrovnik Old Town is quite small, so if you get off the ship early, you can book yourself a tour that will take you to one of the charming places just outside the town, too.

Cavtat is a quaint waterfront place with a livery cafe and restaurant scene, Konavle is a countryside area famous for traditional costumes, embroideries and gastronomy while Trsteno is a famous arboretum with a unique collection of trees, plants and flowers from around the world.

7. Enjoy oyters in Ston: Ston is a small town located on the Peljesac Peninsula, about an hour's drive from Dubrovnik. It's known for its ancient city walls, which are among the longest in Europe, and its delicious oysters and other seafood.

Dubrovnik FAQ

Here are the 10 most frequently asked questions by cruise passengers about the Port of Dubrovnik:

1) Where do cruise ships dock in Dubrovnik?

Cruise ships dock in the Port of Gruž, close to the white suspendion bridge you can see as you sail in.

2) How far is the cruise port from Dubrovnik’s Old Town?

The cruise port of Gruž is some 2,2 miles away from the Old Town.

3) Is there a shuttle from the port to Old Town?

Many cruiselines will provide a shuttle bus service to the Old town. It is a service provided by the local authorities.

4) Can I walk from the port to the Old Town?

Technically, you can. But it is not really advised.

5) Which public buses go from the port to Old Town?

It's public buses 1A and 1B that are most frequent, but you can also catch no.3 & 8.

6) Are taxis or Uber available at the cruise port?

Yes, taxis and Uber are available at the port.

7. What facilities are available at Dubrovnik port

ATM, money exchange, Wi-Fi, restrooms, a supermarket, souvenir stalls, taxi stand are available at or near the port.

8. What’s the best shore excursion from Dubrovnik?

I have prepared a collection of Dubrovnik shore excursions for cruisers.

9. ♿ Dubrovnik cruise port wheelchair accessible?

The port and the cruise terminal building are wheelchair accessible. There are shore excursions offered that cater to limited mobility passengers. However, you need to be aware Old Town Dubrovnik itself is not fully accessible — it has cobblestones, steps, and steep streets. So consider a private transfer or an adapted shore excursion:

Accessible and senior friendly Dubrovnik

10. How crowded is Dubrovnik during cruise season?

Dubrovnik is very crowded during cruise season, although local authorities have limited the number of big cruise ships to two a day.

To sum it up, Dubrovnik is gorgeous but chaotic when cruise crowds hit. Knowing your port, timing, and transport options ahead can make or break your visit. Use this page as your pre-cruise planner — written by someone who's walked that same hot pier!

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With over seven years working aboard cruise ships as a port guide and shopper assistant, I’ve helped thousands of passengers get the best from their days ashore in Dubrovnik. Now, I want to make you Med confident!