The ship schedule. The port publishes the year’s cruise arrivals at portdubrovnik.hr, under Traffic. Ships berth at Gruž from about 8 a.m. and their passengers are inside the walls from 9:30 a.m. to around 4 p.m. The old town empties after 5 p.m. and is yours before 9 a.m. On the heavy days, get out of town for Lokrum or an island, and do the walls at 8 a.m. or on a quiet day.
The walls and the pass. The walls ticket is €40 from March to October and €15 in winter, one entry, including Fort Lovrijenac; the Pile gate opens at 8 a.m. in season, so be there then. The Dubrovnik Pass is €40 for 24 hours, €50 for 72 and €60 for a week. The one-day pass costs the same as the walls and adds the Rector’s Palace (€15), the Franciscan museum (around €8), the Maritime Museum and city buses. It starts at first use and does not cover the cable car or Lokrum; the three-day version gives 20% off Lokrum.
The cable car and Lokrum. The cable car is €30 round trip or €17 one way from outside the Buža gate to Srđ. It stops in strong wind, announced only at the lower station; the path down takes about forty minutes. The Lokrum boat leaves the Old Port from around 9 a.m., roughly every half hour; €30 covers the crossing and the reserve, and the island closes from November to March.
City rules. Carry your suitcase rather than roll it early and late, no drinking in the streets outside a bar terrace (fines reported from €300), shirts on, and no climbing on the monuments.
Buses and the airport. Libertas buses are €1.73 for an hour from a kiosk, €2.50 on board and €5.31 for 24 hours; 1A and 1B link Pile and Gruž. The Platanus shuttle runs from the airport to Pile and Gruž in 30 to 40 minutes for €10 one way or €15 round trip, bought online or at the desk, not on board.
Game of Thrones. The walking tours take a couple of hours and show you the Jesuit stairs, Fort Lovrijenac and the cove below Pile, all free to reach on your own. Take one if you want the stories.
Kotor. Two hours by bus on the schedule, plus the Montenegro border: 15 to 30 minutes off season, two hours or more in July and August. Take the first bus and carry your passport. Both countries use the euro.
On the day. Check the ship list for your dates first and build the day around it. Fill a bottle at Onofrio’s fountain, since the walls have no shade. Waystop’s hours check will flag Lokrum in winter; the wind on Srđ you check at the lower station.