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Car rental in Dubrovnik is the way to combine the pedestrian Old Town with the southern Dalmatian coast, the Pelješac wineries and easy day trips into Montenegro or Bosnia. Inside the city walls a car serves no purpose — Stari Grad is fully pedestrianised. Everything around it, though, opens up only on wheels.
Most guests split the day in two: Old Town on foot in the morning, then by car to Cavtat, Šunj beach or the Pelješac vineyards after lunch.
The logistics are straightforward. Čilipi airport sits 20–24 km from the Old Town, parking outside the walls comes in clear options, and the routes north and south are well marked. The one thing to plan for is what to do with the car in peak season — you cannot take it inside the walls.
Old Town and Smart Parking
Stari Grad is fully pedestrianised — you cannot drive inside the walls. From 2 June 2025, Dubrovnik has run a Special Traffic Regulation Zone: access to the streets nearest the Old Town is controlled by registering your number plate through the Smart Parking app (iOS and Android, run by the City of Dubrovnik). Rental cars are not exempt.
A family rolling in from Pile Gate at midday got a Smart Parking fine before they reached reception. Five unregistered minutes on a side street and the system catches the plate.
Far cheaper is the Gruž area: street and covered parking from $2.40–3.30 an hour, around $24 a day. Gruž to the Old Town is a 10–12-minute walk along the harbour, or a few minutes on bus 1A or 1B.
Leave the car in Gruž or at the hotel in Lapad and walk into the Old Town. That saves $30–50 a day and a lot of nerves at Pile Gate.
On cruise days (4–6 ships at once) the D8 near Pile Gate jams from 9 am to 1 pm. If you need to drive into or out of the Old Town, plan it before 8:30 am or after 5 pm. The Port of Dubrovnik publishes the cruise schedule online, so a quick check the night before saves the morning. Pile Gate parking itself runs up to $11 an hour and $260 a day in peak — among the most expensive tourist parking in Europe, useful only for a quick in-and-out.
Why book with TakeCars
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Real reviews on the actual car
You see the supplier, the host you're renting from, and the experience of past guests on that specific vehicle.
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Transparent terms for Dubrovnik
The deposit amount, payment method and exactly what the insurance covers are visible before checkout — no surprises at the desk.
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City delivery and on-the-spot support
Hotel delivery in Lapad, Gruž or Ploče, free cancellation up to 7 days, and direct messaging with the supplier.
Day trips from Dubrovnik
Three day-trip directions stand out from Dubrovnik, each very different in feel.
For Montenegro, the nearest crossing is Karasovići — 35 km from DBV and about an hour from the Old Town. Beyond it lies the Bay of Kotor, with Kotor itself, Budva and Sveti Stefan. Most suppliers allow the trip with written approval and a Green Card. The cross-border fee varies: from $0 (some waive it on rentals over three days) to $80 for the rental. Confirm at booking.
A traveller crossed Karasovići at 7:40 am, was back through at 9 pm. Same border, midday on both sides would have meant three hours of queue.
For Bosnia, the natural day trip is Trebinje — 30 km, about an hour over the mountain pass. Mostar is further: 2.5 hours via Pelješac and through Doljani. Bosnia is outside the EU and Schengen, so a Green Card and explicit supplier permission are required.
The islands are the third option. Croatia is one of the few European countries where you can take a hire car on the ferry. From Dubrovnik the popular runs are Korčula via Orebić–Domince (15 minutes) and Mljet via Prapratno–Sobra (45 minutes). In peak season, arrive 1–2 hours before departure.
Frequent Questions
Čilipi airport (DBV) sits 20–24 km southeast of the Old Town. The drive on the D8 takes about 25–30 minutes. In peak season and on cruise days, allow an extra 15–20 minutes — particularly in the afternoon.
Smart Parking is the City of Dubrovnik's official app for registering your plate and paying in the zone around the Old Town. You'll want it if you plan to drive close to Pile Gate or anywhere inside the Special Traffic Regulation Zone in force since 2 June 2025. Rental cars are not exempt.
At peak it runs up to $11 an hour and as much as $260 a day. It's the most expensive tourist parking in Europe, and demand stays high throughout the season. Use it for a quick in-and-out drop, not a full day.
The Gruž area is far better value: street and covered parking from $2.40–3.30 an hour, around $24 a day. From Gruž, the Old Town is a 10–12-minute walk along the harbour, or a short hop on bus 1A or 1B. In peak season this is the sensible default.
A cruise day means 4–6 ships in the port at once. The D8 near Pile Gate jams roughly 9 am to 1 pm. To drive into or out of the Old Town, plan for before 8:30 am or after 5 pm. The Port of Dubrovnik publishes the cruise schedule online.
Only inside the Special Traffic Regulation Zone with a number-plate registration via Smart Parking. Access opens for short windows. Most hotels close to the walls organise unloading themselves — contact reception in advance and they'll point you to the drop-off spot.
Yes — it's the most popular day trip from the city. The closest crossing is Karasovići, 35 km from DBV. Most suppliers allow the trip with written approval and a Green Card. The cross-border fee depends on the company: from $0 (some waive it on longer rentals) to $80 for the rental.
In peak season the wait can run 30 minutes to 1.5 hours each way. The fastest windows are before 9 am and after 8 pm in both directions. Plan an early start and a late return, especially at weekends, to keep the border time down.
About 90 km and roughly 2 hours, before the border check. With Karasovići and peak-season traffic, allow 2.5–3 hours each way. The road itself is part of the appeal — coastal switchbacks along the Bay of Kotor with several worthwhile viewpoints.
Via the Pelješac Bridge and on through Doljani — about 2.5 hours each way. Bosnia is outside the EU, so you'll need a Green Card and written approval from the supplier. Take your passport and the V5/registration document. Leaving around 7 am gives you time for the Old Bridge and a return before sunset.
Yes — it's one of the most popular one-way routes in Croatia. The drop fee with local suppliers is usually $215–325. With the Pelješac Bridge in place, the drive is around 3 hours and skips the Neum corridor, which is now the standard route.
Yes. The Orebić–Domince ferry crosses in about 15 minutes; a car with driver costs roughly $40–55 one way depending on season. In peak summer, arrive 1–2 hours before departure, especially without an online booking, as the car deck fills quickly.
For peak July–August departures to Korčula and Mljet, booking online a few days ahead is worth doing. In shoulder season, arriving 1–2 hours before departure is normally enough. Operators are Jadrolinija and Krilo (Kapetan Luka) — check both for the timing that suits your route.
It depends on the supplier. Some run 24/7, others close at 11 pm. If your flight lands later, pick a 24-hour operator and confirm the late-night format before booking. The fallback is to stay near the airport and pick up the car in town the next morning.
The lowest rates are from November to March: economy from $16–22 a day. The best balance of price and weather is May, early June, September and early October. July and August are the peak — prices rise by half to double, and economy cars are often booked six to eight weeks ahead.