Living in Dubrovnik, Croatia

An Introduction to Dubrovnik

Near the southern-most part of Croatia lies the city of Dubrovnik, built in the 7th century as a refuge from marauding Barbarians. Enclosing the enchanting limestone architecture, defensive walls were erected in the 13th century after the republic declared itself an independent state. That independent spirit has been maintained through empires rising and falling and sieges destroying over half of the city. Dubrovnik’s beauty is earned. It’s radiance has been molded by it’s people’s resilience.

As an independent city-state for centuries, Dubrovnik developed it’s own unique cultural and artistic traditions that continue to thrive today. The city itself has its own theaters, museums, and art with fresh exhibitions from artists like Salvador Dalí. Dubrovnik also takes pride in its influence in the literary world. Dubrovnik’s own Marin Držić, widely considered their best Croatian playwright of all time, has his plays still performed on the city’s stage. One of the most exciting times of the year is during the summer months from early July to late August, where there are nightly performances as part of the Dubrovnik Festival. The festival hosts some world famous conductors, composers, and orchestras amidst the backdrop of centuries old architecture.

The recent pandemic has nearly decimated the tourism industry and only recently has it begun to trickle back. As a star location in Game of Thrones, the city has felt the bittersweet surge of tourism. The inhabitants have become more prosperous, but some of the city’s soul has been replaced by commerce. Many residents are looking forward to a new wave of tourism that looks and feels different from the past. This retreat of visitors has allowed Dubrovnik’s leaders to reevaluate its tourism to support longer and more sustainable stays.

Living Conditions in Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik is considered one of the safest places in Croatia and very safe for incoming foreign visitors. Additionally, there is a strong admiration for traditional and strong families units, so Dubrovnik citizens willingly take part in developing strong community bonds for foreigners moving as a family.

Transportation is well connected in the city. Many residents can survive without cars as there are numerous bus, rail, and ferry routes. When all else fails, though, it is very easy to walk the city from end to end if you’re willing to endure an occasional ascent. The Dubrovnik airport is small, but as a top destination, it is a large hub for international flights. Ubers are easy to get and will be cheaper than any of the local taxi rates, especially for short drives.

The quality of life is very good. The city itself is situated harmoniously with nature and locals lavish in their surroundings. Secluded beaches are a short drive away and there are islands for the occasional weekend trip.

Croatia has a universal healthcare system administered by HZZO and treated as a form of public insurance. The system was designed to cover the basic healthcare needs of its populace, foreigners and residents alike. All residents pay into the system to cover all basic needs, but there are additional forms of health insurance to improve coverage and non-covered health related costs.

Expats in Dubrovnik

The expats in Dubrovnik tend to be slightly older. The sort of slower-paced life resonates with a middle-aged or early retiree crowd. However, there is plenty of students who study abroad that become permanent residents, enlivening the city’s night scene. Also, the populace in Dubrovnik is one one of the most multilingual in Croatia because of their economic reliance on the tourism industry. It's rare to find people who aren't directly or indirectly work in the industry and as a result English is well spoken all over the city.

With so many activities and a strong community ties, many lay their roots here in Dubrovnik and call Croatia home. The journey to permanent residency is tough, but not impossible. When one wants to start the process, the Croatian bureaucracy is notoriously challenging and often expensive. However, with the right connections its possible to navigate the regulations.

The Digital Nomad Community in Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik is largely left out of the top digital nomad destinations in Croatia. It has all the intangibles that make it a desirable spot; great weather, people, and scenery. Dubrovnik does not have the population density of Split or Zagreb to support the same digital community, but as companies are building coworking infrastructure and as the government creates incentives to work there, Dubrovnik is posed to be one of the top destinations in Croatia for nomads.

In October of 2020, Dubrovnik has hosted its first conference, “Dubrovnik for Digital Nomads”. Nearly a year later in May of 2021, the city administration started a program to welcome ten digital nomads to stay for free as an experiment to understand how best to accommodate a new wave of digital and professional workers. By the city’s actions, it’s clear that they are positioning Dubrovnik to be competitive as a destination for the ever-growing digital nomad community. One of the major announcements from this program was the creation of a new city sponsored coworking space.

January 1st, 2021 marked the change of the Aliens Act in Croatia, which set the legal framework to allow digital professionals to live and work within Croatia. Although the rollout of this Digital Nomad visa has been slow, foreigners are now being accepted into the program and are successfully working in Croatia. Although called a digital nomad visa, the terms are more akin to a residency permit, allowing temporary stays for up to one year within Croatia for employees or entrepreneurs of other countries. There are additional stipulations that are important to follow when applying for this visa. More information on the digital nomad visa can be found from the official Croatian source.

Challenges to Living in Dubrovnik

Since Dubrovnik is a small city in Croatia largely dependent on tourism, it is much easier to find hotel accommodations and weekend adventures than it can be to get trusted information for how to live and work within the city. We’ve interviewed many expats who have struggled with this endeavor, relying mostly on word of mouth and meeting residents to learn more about the technical challenges in moving to Dubrovnik.

Ciao was started to help you with these challenges. We work directly with vetted and local service providers who have a track record of customer trust and service fulfillment. If you'd like to learn more or you have unique circumstances, Ciao's experts can help you on your journey to explore all of Dubrovnik’s beauty.