Why I Chose to Live and Work Remotely from Dubrovnik, Croatia, and Tips to Make the Most of Your Experience
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The view of Dubrovnik’s Old City from Tvrđava Minčeta, on the City Walls Walk
I’ve been working remotely for over four years, and began fully embracing the digital nomad lifestyle as soon as travel started reopening again post-pandemic. I have a lot of flexibility in choosing to where I work from, so when I decided to make my temporary home along the Adriatic coast, I was continually asked, “Why Croatia?” and “Why Dubrovnik?”
I spent a month traveling across Croatia in the summer of 2021, and loved it so much that I decided to come back the following summer in 2022. In addition to Dubrovnik, I also spent time in Brač, Split, Hvar, Primosten, and traveled to Plitvice and Krka National Parks. Each area, town, and island has its own draw, but I personally loved Dubrovnik and thought it was a great fit for my lifestyle. The people, the climate, the cost of living, the views, the sea, the food, and the charm of its historic architecture are all obvious reasons why anyone including myself would love to spend time in Croatia, but this article more specifically addresses why I chose Dubrovnik based on my personal preferences as someone who likes to travel slowly while working remotely.
Why I Chose to Live and Work Remotely from Croatia
1. Dubrovnik has the charm of a small town, with the offerings of a big city
The old city of Dubrovnik and the surrounding area is walkable (as long as you don’t mind lots of stairs and hills), incredibly picturesque, and relatively small. While the Old City does cater mostly to tourists, the more modern areas of Dubrovnik like Lapad and the port area which have malls, service centers, administrative offices, and beauty salons, are only a short drive or a scenic 45-minute walk away. I personally like staying close to, but just outside, the Old City of Dubrovnik because it’s breathtakingly beautiful and is a lively area that’s close to beaches, with plentiful options for meals, snacks, and grocery shopping.
2. The Dubrovnik Airport (DBV) is close and convenient
Airport access is an important factor for me when choosing a base. The Dubrovnik Airport is only 25 minutes away from the Old City by car, and as an added bonus the drive is beautiful. The airport is also fast, efficient, and services direct flights to and from many major hubs across Europe, and even services direct seasonal flights to a few cities on the east coast of the US. It’s also easy to order an Uber as soon as you land at Dubrovnik Airport, and the pickup area is right outside the arrivals exit.
3. Ubers are affordable and readily available in Dubrovnik
Not only are Ubers convenient to take from the airport, the fares are also reasonably priced and drivers seem to be readily available any time of day. (This was not the same experience for me in Split). People in Croatia are lovely and friendly, and the Uber drivers are no different. Everything in Dubrovnik is relatively close, but if the weather is too hot or you’re exhausted from climbing too many sets of stairs, you can call an Uber to take you where you need to go. Note that there are no roads for cars inside the Old City of Dubrovnik, but you can be dropped off or picked up at or near any of the entrances.
Danče Beach is one of my favorite swimming spots in Dubrovnik, and it’s an easy walk less than 10 minutes from the old city
4. Some of Dubrovnik’s best beaches can be reached by walking
The fact that my favorite beaches and swimming areas are accessible by foot was one of my biggest motivating factors for choosing to stay in Dubrovnik. When comparing to the other larger towns I stayed in the previous year, I felt like the best beaches in Hvar and Split could only be reached by boat or by car. My favorite swimming area, Plaża Danče, is walking distance and less than 10 minutes away from Dubrovnik’s Old City. Another beautiful beach that offers stunning views is Banje Beach, which is located just outside the Old City’s Ploče Gate. You can find more details (and links to all locations on Google Maps) on these beaches and more of my favorites in my Travel Guide to Dubrovnik.
5. Other towns and islands are only a ferry ride away from Dubrovnik
Croatia’s ferry lines (the largest being Jadrolinija and Krilo Kapetan Luka) connect Dubrovnik to many other islands and towns in Croatia. You can easily book your ferry tickets online, or if it’s not high season you can purchase tickets at the ports before boarding. The ferry schedules are posted on each of the operator’s websites, and are frequent enough that you can easily coordinate day trips or longer getaways with their many options.
6. Croatia was outside the Schengen Area
If you’re traveling on a tourist visa, the amount of time you can stay and travel within Europe may be limited if you only visit countries within the Schengen Area. Prior to 2023, Croatia was part of the EU, though it was not a member of the Schengen Area and had its own restrictions on how long visitors can stay while traveling on a tourist visa (up to 90 days within a 180 day period). Because Croatia was outside the Schengen Area, I was able to extend my ability to travel in Europe by splitting my stay across countries that are inside and outside the Schengen Area.
If you are interested in other European destinations that are currently outside the Schengen Area, you could consider Cyprus, Albania, England, Scotland, or Ireland.
7. Croatia is covered my by French data plan (Orange) so I don’t face any roaming charges
I use an Orange Holiday Europe SIM Card that I keep active due to my frequent travel to Europe, and my data plan thankfully provides coverage in Croatia without any additional roaming charges. This is beneficial for me because rather than being charged at least $10 a day for roaming on my US-based Verizon plan, I’m instead able to use the data on my Orange SIM for which I only pay €10 about every 10 days or so.
8. Wifi connectivity is strong and reliable
Of all the places I’ve stayed, traveled to, and visited in Croatia, wifi has always been readily available, reliable, and fast. I’ve never had a problem or interruption during video-conferencing calls, and have been able to use streaming services and download platforms without any issue. As a remote worker, my internet connection is my life-line, and being able to complete any deliverables efficiently and without interruption is an important factor when choosing where to work from.
Carina Otero Walking Dubrovnik’s City Walls
The view of Dubrovnik’s City Walls and Towers from the Terrace of an Airbnb I booked called “Apartment Karla”
Tips to Make the Most of Your Experience Living and Working Remotely from Dubrovnik, Croatia
1. Book a place close to, but not in, the Old City
While I mentioned earlier that the Old City caters mostly to tourists and can become unavoidably busy, it is still a lively area with many great restaurants and attractions. The best way to enjoy access to the Old City (and likely have a great view of it) while avoiding the crowds, foot traffic, and some of the noise is to find a place directly outside the city walls. One Airbnb that I stayed in and loved was called “Apartment Karla”, which had access to a rooftop terrace with unparalleled views of Minceta Tower and the city walls.
2. Book early
Researching and booking early is the best way to ensure that you find a great place that’s within your budget and has all your desired amenities and features. Especially if you plan on staying in Croatia during the peak summer season (like I’ve been doing), confirming your reservation early will get you in ahead of the crowds. For monthly rentals in Croatia, Airbnb is a great platform to find and compare many options. I wrote a guide to booking and living in monthly Airbnb rentals that’s full of more practical tips to make the most of your experience- you can click here to read it.
3. Bring noise-cancelling headphones or earbuds
I find it quite charming, but depending on how close you stay to the Old City, you will likely hear church bells ringing throughout the day. I’m not particularly bothered or distracted by background noise, but if I’m taking calls or video-conferencing with colleagues or clients I like to use my Apple Airpods Pro to minimize distractions and increase focus. I’ve written a full list of all the other products and essentials that have been beneficial to my experience working remotely as a digital nomad, which you can read here.
4. In addition to your monthly rental, treat yourself to a luxury hotel stay for one or a few nights
Dubrovnik is home to some of the world’s most beautiful hotels, and Croatian hospitality is generous and very friendly. I personally loved my stays at Hotel Excelsior (which is right next to the Old City) and Sun Gardens Dubrovnik (which is about 15 minutes away from the Old City by car). Because you will already be based in Dubrovnik, you will have the flexibility to potentially find a great last-minute rate or mid-week availability during high season. I found that staying at a luxury hotel in Dubrovnik is a wonderful experience that was likely more memorable and special than some of the traditional sight-seeing activities one would typically do when visiting.
5. Prepare for guests
Once word gets out that you’ll be based in Dubrovnik, you will likely have friends or family reach out and want to join you! Though Dubrovnik is a great destination for traveling solo and focusing on your remote work, it’s also a fun place to explore with friends and other travelers. In your search for accommodations you may even consider finding a two-bedroom apartment or large one-bedroom that’s spacious enough to host guests that come to visit you.
6. Find a balance between work and free time
There are a lot of fun ways to spend your free time when you have Dubrovnik as your home base, and while I’ve found it to be a great place to find focus, you could also fill your days with plenty of potential distractions. I’ve written a guide with practical tips for finding balance while traveling and working remotely, which can be applied to your stay in Dubrovnik or anywhere else in the world your remote work journey takes you. This guide includes tips for managing your time and planning ahead, among others. If you’re looking for inspiration for planning your trip to Dubrovnik, you can click here for for a full list of my favorite restaurants, activities, and beaches in my Travel Guide to Dubrovnik.
The view of the Old City and the iconic rock pool at Hotel Excelsior, Dubrovnik
Are you planning to live and work remotely in Croatia? Leave a comment below if you have a question about my experience or check out my other articles on the digital nomad lifestyle and tips for booking extended stays!
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