Dubrovnik is a walled city on the southern Dalmatian coast of Croatia, facing the Adriatic beneath Mount Srd. More about Dubrovnik →
October 2026 · from today · all times local (Central European Time)
Showing 10 of 15 calls in October
Today and the next 7 days · all times local (Central European Time)
Thousands of people in port, guests plus crew. Crowd level compared with a typical Dubrovnik day.
The crowd calendar shows every ship and how busy the port is, hour by hour, plus the quietest and busiest days for the next 90 days.
Cruise ships dock at the Port of Gruz (Luka Dubrovnik) on Obala pape Ivana Pavla II in Gruz bay, about 4 km by road (around 15 minutes) north-west of the Old Town's Pile Gate; the cruise berths run along the Batala–Kantafig quay next to the ferry terminal and main bus station. The walk is about 5 km and 70 minutes over a hill, so most passengers take the Libertas bus, a taxi or a ship shuttle.
Some ships instead anchor off the Old Town and tender passengers to the Old City Port (Gradska luka), inside the walls by the Ploce side; the port authority's arrivals schedule lists each call as Gruz or Old Town. Since 2025 the port authority allows at most two cruise ships and 4,000 passengers at the same time, with minimum stays of 8 hours (12 hours for ships over 4,000 passengers).
4 km · ~15 min by car
Pile Gate is the western entrance to the Old Town and the terminus of the city buses; it is about 4 km by road (driving) and 5 km/70 minutes on foot. Buses stop at 'Luka Gruz' on the waterfront road outside the port.
Typical prices, approximate. Fares change with demand, traffic and time of day.
Typical prices, approximate. Fares change with demand, traffic and time of day.
Ships anchoring off the Old Town tender passengers directly to the Old City Port, so they do not need transport into town. Ship shuttle buses from Gruz often drop near Pile; cruise lines usually charge for them. A Dubrovnik Pass (1 day) includes the city walls and 24 hours of city buses. Cavtat is reachable by Libertas bus (EUR 4) or by taxi boat from the Old City Port.
1 terminal
The Dubrovnik Port Authority's cruise berths along the Batala–Kantafig quay on Obala pape Ivana Pavla II in Gruz bay, beside the ferry terminal, main bus station and 'Luka Gruz' bus stop. Ship-to-berth assignments vary by call and are not fixed per cruise line.
Dubrovnik is mainly a port of call; ships dock at the Gruz cruise quay or anchor off the Old Town and tender. The Dubrovnik Port Authority publishes no cruise-passenger parking, and no long-stay cruise car park was found.
Pick the area first. Typical nightly prices, approximate.
Steps from the cruise quay
Typical hotel
Simple hotels and guesthouses on the port waterfront.
Beach hotels near the port
Typical hotel
Peninsula of 3–4 star resort hotels and a beach promenade, a few minutes from Gruz.
Walled city atmosphere
Typical hotel
Rooms and boutique hotels inside or by the city walls.
Port times are measured to the Gruz cruise quay.
Prices are approximate. Croatia uses the euro.
Restaurants in the lanes off Stradun, busiest on cruise days.
Waterfront terraces next to the tender landing.
Cafes and the morning market steps from the cruise quay.
Pedestrian street of cafés and casual restaurants near the beach hotels.
Dubrovnik is a walled city on the southern Dalmatian coast of Croatia, facing the Adriatic beneath Mount Srd. Once the capital of the maritime Republic of Ragusa, its car-free Old Town is ringed by almost 2 km of intact medieval walls and holds the limestone main street Stradun, the Rector's Palace, the Franciscan monastery and baroque churches rebuilt after the 1667 earthquake. The Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and became internationally famous as a filming location for Game of Thrones.
A cable car climbs to Srd for views over the red roofs, the wooded island of Lokrum lies a short boat ride offshore, and the Elaphiti Islands and Cavtat are easy day trips. Cruise traffic is now capped at two ships and 4,000 passengers at a time to protect the Old Town.
Walk the full 2 km circuit of the medieval walls for views over the Old Town's roofs and the sea, then explore Stradun, the Rector's Palace and the Franciscan monastery. The 2026 ticket is EUR 40 for adults (1 March–30 November) and includes Fort Lovrijenac. Go at opening time, as the walls have little shade and get crowded on cruise days.
Ride the cable car from just above the Old Town's northern walls up Mount Srd (about 405 m) for the classic view over the walled city, Lokrum and the Elaphiti Islands. Adults pay EUR 30 return or EUR 17 one way; children 4–12 pay EUR 8 return. It runs April–November and stops in strong wind, and the lower station is a 10-minute uphill walk from Pile Gate.
Take the 10-minute boat from the Old City Port to this wooded nature reserve with a ruined Benedictine monastery, botanical garden, peacocks and a small saltwater lake for swimming. The EUR 30 adult ticket covers the return boat and reserve entry; children 7–18 pay EUR 5. Allow at least 2–3 hours including the crossing, and check the last return boat.