In this guide
💡 The Short Version: The airport is 22.5 km from Dubrovnik (Dubrovnik Airport). The Platanus shuttle leaves from outside Arrivals about 30 minutes after each flight lands, calls at Ploče Gate (the Old Town’s main entrance) after about 30 minutes and ends at the Gruž bus station after about 35. A ticket is €10 one way or €15 return and is valid on any departure that day (Platanus). Taxis wait outside the arrivals terminal, and Libertas lines 11, 27 and 38 also serve the airport. Or book a tour: Dubrovnik: Shared Airport Transfer to/from City Centerad (from €15, 4.4 stars from 1,381 reviews) books the seat in advance, which saves queueing at the Platanus booth in summer.
⚠️ To go back to the airport, board at Gruž bus station, Grawe or the Cable Car stop. The shuttle to the airport does not call at Ploče Gate, and its departures follow the flight schedule.
The options
| Option | Time | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Platanus shuttle | About 30 minutes to Ploče Gate, 35 to Gruž | €10 one way, €15 return | Leaves about 30 minutes after each flight lands; no tickets sold on board |
| Libertas public bus, lines 11, 27, 38 | See the Libertas timetable | €2.50 for one ride bought on the bus in Dubrovnik | The airport lists these lines as running daily |
| Taxi | 30 to 35 minutes by road on average | Price list at the airport taxi window | Taxis wait outside terminal B (arrivals) |
| Private or shared transfer | 30 to 40 minutes | Shared from €15; private from €58 per group | Booked in advance; see the tours section below |
Fares: Platanus, Libertas and Dubrovnik Airport.
Transfers and tours
A pre-booked transfer beats the shuttle when you arrive at night, travel as a group of three or four, or have a hotel outside the Old Town and want a door-to-door ride. The shuttle’s fixed €10 a person is cheaper for one or two people going to Ploče Gate.
Shared transfer
From €15 · 4.4 stars from 1,381 reviews
Dubrovnik: Shared Airport Transfer to/from City Centerad is a shared ride between the airport and the city centre, booked in advance.
Private transfer to a hotel
From €58 per group of up to 3 · 4.7 stars from 182 reviews · 35 minutes · free cancellation
Dubrovnik Airport Private Transfer to Dubrovnik Hotelsad is a private car from the airport to your hotel. It suits a group of up to three with luggage.
Private transfer for four
From €75 per group of up to 4 · 4.9 stars from 33 reviews · 40 minutes · free cancellation
Private Transfer: Dubrovnik Airport to/from Dubrovnik Areaad is a private car for up to four people, in either direction.
Official shuttle or booked transfer: the prices side by side
GetYourGuide prices are the lowest option in each listing; private transfers are priced per group.
| Option | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Platanus shuttle, one way | €10 per person | A flight-linked bus to Ploče Gate and Gruž |
| Platanus shuttle, return | €15 per person | The same, valid 15 days from the start of the journey |
| Shared transfer on GetYourGuide | From €15 per person | A seat booked in advance |
| Private transfer on GetYourGuide | From €58 per group of up to 3 | A car to your hotel |
Ploče Gate, the first shuttle stop. Photo: Bernard Gagnon, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The Platanus shuttle
Platanus says it is the licensed shuttle operator for Dubrovnik Airport. The bus waits at a white post marked “Shuttle bus” just outside Arrivals, near the main entrance. It has one stop at Ploče Gate, then continues to the main bus station in Gruž, 500 m from the ferry port, which is the final stop. A ticket is valid on any departure that day, so a delayed flight does not cost you the ticket.
- Tickets: online, at the Platanus booth in the Arrivals area (card or cash), at the bus station ticket offices and at the office by the cable car station near the Old Town. Platanus does not sell tickets on board.
- Return ticket: €15, valid for 15 days from the start of the journey. Children under 6 travel free.
- Luggage: the ticket includes one suitcase, stored in the hold by staff.
- From the city: the bus leaves the main bus station (platform 8) and calls at Grawe station 5 minutes later and at the Cable Car stop 10 minutes later. It takes about 35 minutes from the bus station, 30 from Grawe and 25 from the Cable Car stop.
- On board: air conditioning, no wi-fi, tickets scanned on entry; show the QR code on your phone.
For the Old Town, get off at the first stop. Gruž suits a ferry to the islands, since the port is 500 m away (Platanus).
Gruž Harbour, the shuttle’s last stop. Photo: Ardfern, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Public buses and taxis
The airport’s own page says Libertas lines 11, 27 and 38 run daily from and to the airport. On the Libertas east timetable they are listed as line 11 Dubrovnik to Molunat, line 27 Dubrovnik to Vitaljina and line 38 Dubrovnik to Gruda (Libertas east timetable). A one-ride ticket bought on a city bus is €2.50, and the fare for the Dubrovnik to Cavtat route is €4.00 (Libertas price list).
Taxis wait in front of terminal B (arrivals) during airport working hours. The price list is at the taxi information window in the terminal, or on +385 20 640 100, and drivers must give a receipt (Dubrovnik Airport). The drive is 22.5 km and takes 30 to 35 minutes on average, up to an hour in summer.
If you rent a car, the airport lists around twenty rental desks, including Avis, Europcar, Hertz, Sixt and Enterprise. Old Town hotels have no car access, so a rental suits a stay in Lapad or outside the walls.
If your flight is late or early
Platanus buses follow the flight schedule from the first flight to the last, every day including weekends and holidays (Platanus FAQ). If you land late, the shuttle meets the flight, and a booked transfer waits for you.
An aircraft taxiing at Dubrovnik Airport. Photo: VynedJ, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0.
If you leave the Old Town hotel before your flight and want to keep your bags for the day, Platanus has an office at the Cable Car stop (Petra Krešimira IV. 5D) with a luggage storage service.
What to see next
- Getting around Dubrovnik: Libertas buses, tickets and the walk into the Old Town.
- Where to stay in Dubrovnik: hotels by area.
- 3 days in Dubrovnik: a route for a short stay.
- Money in Dubrovnik: cards, cash and the tourist tax.
- Cavtat day trip: the Konavle seaside town, reached by Libertas bus (€4.00).
Common questions
How do I get from Dubrovnik Airport to the Old Town?
Take the Platanus shuttle bus from the stop outside Arrivals. It leaves about 30 minutes after each flight lands, stops first at Ploče Gate, the main entrance to the Old Town, after about 30 minutes, and ends at the main bus station in Gruž after about 35 minutes.
How much is the Platanus airport shuttle?
€10 one way and €15 return, valid for 15 days from the start of the journey. Children under 6 travel free, and one suitcase is included. Platanus does not sell tickets on board.
Where do I catch the shuttle back to the airport?
From the main bus station in Gruž, platform 8, or from the Grawe stop (5 minutes later) or the Cable Car stop (10 minutes later), which is the closer of the two to the Old Town. The journey takes about 35 minutes from the bus station.
Is there a public bus from Dubrovnik Airport?
Yes. The airport says Libertas lines 11, 27 and 38 run daily from and to the airport. A single ticket bought on a Libertas bus in Dubrovnik is €2.50.
How far is the airport from Dubrovnik?
22.5 km. The drive takes 30 to 35 minutes on average, and up to an hour in summer, according to the airport.
Is there luggage storage near the Old Town for a late flight?
Platanus has an office at the Cable Car stop (Petra Krešimira IV. 5D) with a luggage storage service. Check availability and price with the storage operator it names.
