Dubrovnik Scams to Avoid in 2026 (Croatia)
Dubrovnik's Game of Thrones fame has boosted tourist numbers and scams. Unofficial tour guides, overpriced taxi boats, and restaurants with hidden service charges are common.
Tour & Activities scams are the most documented risk in Dubrovnik — 4 of 11 reported incidents fall in this category. See all 4 →
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Last updated: April 2, 2026
Old Town Tourist Restaurant Overcharge
Restaurants inside the walled Old Town charge tourist premiums — €25–40 for a basic pasta — and commonly add cover charges, bread charges, and service fees not prominently displayed on menus.
📍Restaurants inside the Dubrovnik Old Town walls (Stari Grad), particularly along Stradun (the main promenade) and in the narrow side streets. Cliff-top terrace restaurants with sea views charge the highest tourist premiums.
How to avoid: Eat just outside the city walls or in the Lapad neighbourhood for similar food at a quarter of the price.
2
High Risk
8
Medium Risk
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Low Risk
Dubrovnik · Croatia · Europe
Open map →📍Where These Scams Are Most Active in Dubrovnik
Specific areas and landmarks with the highest concentration of documented incidents.
Old Town Tourist Restaurant Overcharge
Restaurants inside the Dubrovnik Old Town walls (Stari Grad), particularly along Stradun (the main promenade) and in the narrow side streets. Cliff-top terrace restaurants with sea views charge the highest tourist premiums.
Duplicate Listing Deposit Fraud
Listings claiming to be in Dubrovnik Old Town (within the city walls), the Ploce district east of Ploce Gate, and properties near Banje Beach
Taxi from Port Overcharge
Outside the Gruž Port cruise ship terminal and at the ferry terminal. Also at the Pile Gate area near the Old Town entrance, where unofficial taxis congregate alongside licensed ones.
ATM Dynamic Currency Conversion
ATMs throughout the Dubrovnik Old Town and in Lapad Bay near tourist hotels. DCC is offered by most standalone ATMs and is especially common near the Pile Gate entrance to the Old Town.
Fake Boat Tour Sellers
The Old Town harbor (Stara Luka), the harbor area near the Pile Gate, and the seafront promenade below the city walls. Multiple operators both legitimate and unofficial sell tours from the same location.
Overpriced Taxi Boats to Lokrum
The Old Town harbor (Stara Luka). Both the official National Park ferry and unofficial boats operate from this location, making it easy for tourists to board the wrong one.
These areas are safe to visit — knowing the setups in advance makes them far easier to recognize and avoid.
How it works
Restaurants inside the walled Old Town charge tourist premiums — €25–40 for a basic pasta — and commonly add cover charges, bread charges, and service fees not prominently displayed on menus.
How it works
Fraudulent rental listings clone photos and descriptions from genuine Dubrovnik Old Town and Ploce neighbourhood apartments, posting them on secondary booking sites or responding to accommodation searches on social media and travel forums. Victims pay a deposit of 100 to 300 euros via bank transfer or cryptocurrency to secure the booking, then find the listing is fake on arrival. The scam peaks in May through September when demand for Dubrovnik accommodation far exceeds supply and tourists accept unusual payment methods under pressure to secure any available property.
How it works
Taxis at the cruise port and cable car area quote flat rates far above the metered fare. Some drivers claim taxis do not use meters in Dubrovnik, which is false.
How it works
ATMs in the Old Town and cruise terminal area prompt tourists to pay in their home currency, applying exchange rates 5–8% worse than the interbank rate.
How it works
Individuals near the Old Port sell informal boat tours to islands like Lokrum or the Elaphiti Islands at prices that seem competitive. The tours are shorter than advertised, or the boat is overcrowded and uncomfortable.
How it works
Unofficial boat operators near the Old City port charge tourists for trips to Lokrum Island at prices far above the official ferry operated by Lokrum concessionaire.
How it works
Scooter rental operators retain deposits by blaming tourists for scratches that existed before the rental. Condition reports are rarely completed thoroughly before handover.
How it works
Touts positioned at the Pile Gate entrance to the Old Town approach tourists by placing a rope or woven bracelet on their wrist without asking, then insisting it is a gift before immediately demanding payment of 5 to 15 euros to remove it. Refusal to pay triggers aggressive pressure or deliberate obstruction of the narrow gateway. The same operators work along Stradun (Placa), the main pedestrian street inside the walls, particularly near the Onofrio Fountain.
How it works
Individuals near the entrance to the city walls sell discounted entry tickets that are counterfeit or already used. The fraud is discovered only at the turnstile.
How it works
Private accommodation operators (sobe owners) in the Lapad and Babin Kuk peninsulas advertise sea-view rooms with balconies on booking platforms at attractive rates. On arrival, guests are told the booked room is unavailable and are moved to a smaller interior room at the same price. The sea-view photos used in the listing often depict a single premium room that is quietly reserved for walk-in guests paying higher rates. This bait-and-switch is common during peak July and August when guests feel unable to dispute and risk losing accommodation entirely.
How it works
Touts selling Game of Thrones filming location tours in Dubrovnik charge premium prices (€60–100 per person) for self-guided walks that follow freely available maps found online.
Dubrovnik Safety — Frequently Asked Questions
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Similar scam patterns are active across the Europe region. Before visiting Krakow, Berlin, and Prague, review each city's guide — tactics vary and local setups differ even for the same scam type.
Editorial note: Scam warnings for Dubrovnik are compiled from government travel advisories (US State Dept, UK FCDO, Australian DFAT), verified news sources, travel community reports, and traveler-submitted incidents. All entries are reviewed for accuracy and local specificity before publication. Read our full methodology →