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Flights to Dubrovnik

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Dubrovnik is the most popular tourist destination in Croatia and flights to the historic city are frequent, if sometimes a little spendy. The key to finding cheap flights to Dubrovnik is to start looking early. It can be done, but the earlier you start your search, the more likely it is you’ll find a fare that doesn’t upset your stomach.

Flights coming in to Dubrovnik often originate out of several large European hubs, so searching for an inexpensive flight to one of these hubs and then switching airlines may yield a cheaper overall ticket price. It can be risky to switch airlines on an international or even domestic flight, however, because with one delay or missed connection you may find the next leg of your trip voided for failing to show up on time. It is also a bit of a hassle to claim bags and check in for a flight again, so leave plenty of time between tickets if you do try to save money this way.

Dubrovnik airport (DBV) is served by 16 airlines, with flights to Zagreb four times a day and two daily flights to London. The airport also sends flights to Rome and Barcelona as well as Stuttgart, Cologne and Vienna. The airport is located outside of Dubrovnik, about 12.5 miles south of the city. The airport served over 1.1 million people in 2006 and its traffic, along with Croatian tourism in general, has been rebounding since the Balkan wars in the early nineties. 2006 was the second year in a row that Dubrovnik airport saw more than a million people come through its gates, a number that the airport had not reached since 1990.

You can find a cheap flight to Dubrovnik with bootsnall’s fair finder. Enter DBV for Dubrovnik’s airport code and search for the best travel dates for you. Be aware that the day of the week may influence the price you are quoted and searching for flights on “off” travel days like Wednesday and Saturday may lower the price several hundred dollars.

Dubrovnik also receives four flights from Zagreb each day and flights are often cheaper into the less-temperate capital city. Consider a flight into Zagreb and then finishing your trip to Dubrovnik by train or car. Better yet, add a few days to your trip and see the sights of Croatia north of Dubrovnik on your way down the coast.

Another option is a bus ride from Zagreb to Dubrovnik, which takes about 12 hours. If you want to travel in comfort, consider a ferry from Istria or one of the many port towns along the way. There are also ferries from Italy that are a cheaper but slower option than a flight, but they do offer the chance to stop at several islands along the way.

Weigh all of these options against the amount of time you’ll spend traveling to Dubrovnik instead of enjoying it. The attractions of northern Croatia are often beautiful and historically significant, but once you’ve experienced Dubrovnik in the summer time, you may wish you saved every second to enjoy the clear blue waters and sublime sunshine.

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