Backpacking Dubrovnik (The Definite Budget Guide)

This guide is part of our main page where you can compare all hostels in Dubrovnik. Instantly find the best-rated hostels and real-time prices from Hostelworld and Booking.com. Compare prices side-by-side and save money every time. Learn how we compare prices.

Find your Perfect Hostel in Dubrovnik

Backpacking Dubrovnik guide in five words: walls, waves, cats, stairs, wallet-stretching.

The Pearl of the Adriatic comes with TV-show fame, clear water you can drink (please don’t), and food that costs less the farther you walk from Old Town.

I’ve done the climb up those polished stone steps—twice—so let me help you dodge rookie mistakes, pick smart neighborhoods, and still afford gelato every day.

Top Picks: The Best Hostels in Dubrovnik

Best for Hostel Newbies

Dubrovnik Backpackers C...9.3

from $17.17 | More Details

Best for Female Solo Traveler

Hostel Petra Marina8.8

from $18.57 | More Details

Best Party Hostel

Hostel Angelina - Old T...8.4

from $17.54 | More Details

This is not an ad. We help you find the perfect hostel and compare prices from Hostelworld and Booking. You can save up to 23.7%

Budget & Estimated Daily Costs in Dubrovnik

• Shoestring €60 – €75: Dorm bed outside the walls, bakery breakfast, grocery lunch, fast-casual dinner, city bus pass, one paid sight.
• Comfort €100 – €130: Central dorm or cheap private, café meals, ferry to Lokrum, cliff-bar drinks.
• Dubrovnik is pricey for Croatia—think “Mediterranean lite”—but still cheaper than Italy if you plan.

Typical Daily Expenses in Dubrovnik

• Hostel dorm: €25 – €35 in shoulder season; €45 in high summer.
• Food total: €20 – €30 with snack hacks.
•  Breakfast: €4 – €6 for burek and coffee.
•  Lunch: €7 – €10 for a stuffed baguette or pizza slice + drink.
•  Dinner: €12 – €18 for seafood risotto away from main street.
• Transport: €1.99 per bus ride with Dubrovnik Card; many sights walkable.
• Attractions: €0 – €35; city-wall ticket is the wallet killer.
• Extras: €10 – €15 for two beers, kayak rental, or souvenir lavender.

€70/day = survive; €110/day = thrive.

Money Saving Tips

• Stay in Lapad or Gruž; beds drop 20 – 30 % and buses run late.
• Buy the one-day Dubrovnik Card if you plan city walls + museums—it bundles bus rides.
• Fill water bottles at public fountains; it’s the same mountain spring the cafés pour.
• Eat marenda (cheap set lunch) before 3 p.m.; dinner menus double the price.
• Skip ATMs inside Old Town—hidden fees. Use bank machines in Gruž port.
• Free cliff jumping at Buža Bar—pay only if you order a drink.
• Mini-markets mark up cold drinks; grab 2-liter water from Konzum supermarkets instead.

Short and crisp: The Best Hostels in Dubrovnik

1. Old Town
2. Hostel Marker Dubrovnik Old Town - best for Solo Traveller
3. My Way Hostel - best for Solo Traveller
4. Villa Divine - best for Party Hostel
5. Hostel Beta Old Town

Old Town

8.7

"…Rooms are spacious and cozy with awesome brick walls and dark curtains. Beds are large and more

Hostel Marker Dubrovnik Old Town

8.7

Old Town

Svetog Ðurda 6... more

My Way Hostel

8.0

"…Very unfriendly staff, they didn’t meet agreements without intervention of the travel agency. The more

Villa Divine

8.7

Babin Kuk

"Great - Best hostel I've ever stayed at. Very welcoming hosts in Mia and perro, great at putting more

Hostel Beta Old Town

8.6

"More of a guesthouse than a hostel - Lovely clean rooms and is nice to have a bed rather than a more

Getting Around Dubrovnik on a Budget

• Old Town is pedestrian—bring shoes with grip, the stones are ice-rink slick.
• Local buses (Arriva) link Lapad, Gruž, and Old Town every 15 min; use contactless tap.
• Walk the coastal road to Sveti Jakov beach—30 minutes, zero kuna.
• Ferries to Lokrum cost €27 return; swim there only if you’re an Olympic seal.
• Taxi apps (Bolt) beat street cabs by 30 % at night.

Best Free & Budget Friendly Attractions

Free things to do

• Squeeze through Pile Gate at dawn for empty streets and stray-cat greetings.
• Climb Mt. Srđ on the zigzag trail—sunset for zero euros if you skip the cable car.
• Window-shop artists along Prijeko Street; many chat for fun, no pressure to buy.
• Swim at Danče or Bellevue beaches—locals’ favorites, no chair rental needed.
• Catch free choir practice in St. Blaise Church evenings (check signboard).

Low cost attractions

• City walls: €35, but go at 8 a.m. for cooler temps and lighter crowds.
• Fort Lovrijenac: €15 or free with wall ticket—best throne-room vibes.
• War Photo Limited: €10, thought-provoking and air-conditioned.
• Bota Wine Bar tastings: €12 for three local reds, bread on the house.

Food and Drinks on a Budget

• Bakeries (pekaras): Cheese or spinach burek + yogurt under €4.
• Cheap lunch: Pizza by the slice on Boskoviceva for €3.
• Gruž market: Pick up fresh figs, tomatoes, and a hunk of cheese for picnic dinners.
• Student canteen: Restaurant Sesame offers €9 lunch specials outside the gate.
• Drinks: Happy-hour local beer €4 in Lapad vs €7 inside walls.
• Meet people: Pub crawl starts at 8 p.m. at Pile Square—€25 all-in with shots.

Experiences for Backpackers

• Kayak around the walls at sunset—group deals €25 with snorkel stop.
• Cliff jump from Šulić Beach rocks (check tides, aim feet first).
• Day trip to Mljet National Park—catamaran €24 return, bike rental €10.
• Game of Thrones walking tour—€20 if you split with hostel mates.
• Island-hop Elaphiti trio (Koločep, Lopud, Šipan) on Jadrolinija ferry for under €15 total.

Additional Tips & Final Thoughts

• Best time: May or late September—sea warm, crowds lighter, beds affordable.
• Book ahead: Hostels inside Old Town, wall-walk tickets in peak months, ferry seats on festival days.
• Avoid traps: Restaurants with “Old Town View” signs add cover charges; check menu fine print.
• Safety: Watch slippery stones after rain; petty theft is rare but use hostel lockers.
• Cultural respect: Wear shirts in Old Town, even to fetch gelato; locals fine topless tourists.

Backpacking Dubrovnik can drain a budget fast if you stick to postcard paths. Use these tips, wander a block past the crowds, and you’ll find affordable seafood, secret swimming coves, and sunsets better than any filter. Enjoy those walls—your calves will forgive you eventually.

Backpacking Dubrovnik? Here's What You Need to Know

These are the guides I wish I had before visiting. I've been there, had fun, did some minor mistakes, and now I'm passing the best tips on to you. Safe travels!

Must-Read

I stayed in a Backpacker Hostel in Dubrovnik

My experience and what you can expect

How to Pick a Hostel in Dubrovnik

What to Expect (and what not!)

Solo Travel Dubrovnik

My experience and what you can expect

Where to Stay in Dubrovnik as a Solo Traveler

Best Areas and how to get around

Where to stay in Dubrovnik for First Time

My experience and what you can expect

About the author: Anna Kiefer

My travels have taken me from the vibrant streets of Vietnam to the tranquil beauty of Spain, each destination adding a new chapter to my journey. For me, travel isn’t about counting countries or ticking off lists; it’s about the freedom it brings and the stories that unfold with each new adventure. At Hostelgeeks, my goal is to infuse our brand with this sense of freedom and discovery.

Whether it’s finding the perfect 5 Star Hostel or sharing a hidden gem in a bustling city, I’m here to ensure that our travelers get more than just a journey – they get an experience that resonates with the joy of exploration and the freedom of the open road.