Which place is cheaper, Dubrovnik or Marbella?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Marbella or Dubrovnik, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Marbella is a high energy, ritzy, and glamorous resort town. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the shopping, nightlife, and live music.
Dubrovnik is a cultural, coastal, and historic coastal town. It's considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. It also has a unique and quaint vibe that attracts lots of visitors. Visitors also love the food, beaches, and hiking.
Both Dubrovnik and Marbella have plenty of things to do for visitors. Both offer a variety of sights, activities, and attractions for tourists. Marbella is more popular for its nightlife, music, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, and shopping, while Dubrovnik is known for its museums, food, historical sights, hiking, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere. Dubrovnik is more touristy than Marbella and is known for its well-preserved medieval old town that is surrounded by stone walls and has been the production sight for many major movies and television shows. Marbella is popular for its luxury hotels, beautiful beaches, and lively nightlife.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Dubrovnik and Marbella. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
Dubrovnik is a very popular place for its museums and history. However, Marbella does not have museums and landmarks.
With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Dubrovnik can be an interesting and educational experience. The old town is a living museum that is filled with historic landmarks like the old town walls, the Dubrovnik Cathedral and Treasury, and Loggia Square.
Marbella does not have museums and landmarks.
Dubrovnik is very popular for its restaurants. Also, Marbella is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.
Known for it's food and restaurant scene, Dubrovnik is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. Restaurants are usually locally-sourced with fresh produce and seafood. Traditional local dishes include black risotto (made with squid ink), pašticada (a beef dish), and various pasta dishes.
There are many up and coming restaurants in the Marbella area. The area is filled with tourists, so finding an authentic dining experience can be difficult. Several favorite dishes include croquetas, boquerones, and pulpo.
Marbella is a must-visit destination for its evening party scene. Also, Dubrovnik is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal town for nightlife.
Marbella is a world class party destination. European tourists flock to the town for its beaches and resorts. The town has a glamorous nightlife scene with exclusive clubs and ritzy cocktail bars, particularly in Puerto Banus and along the Golden Mile.
There's a variety of activities in the evening in Dubrovnik. There are many bars around town that take advantage of the unique architecture of the city. There are far less clubs, but for a drink in a laid back setting, you'll find plenty of options.
Marbella is a great resort town for its music scene. However, Dubrovnik is not a live music destination.
Marbella has a thriving music scene. Some of the best music venues include Starlite, Kitch Social Club, and Momento.
Dubrovnik is not a live music destination.
Marbella is a must-visit destination for its luxury resorts. Also, Dubrovnik is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal town for its resorts.
For the ultimate resort vacation, Marbella is a great choice. From luxury to family-friendly, this area has plenty of resorts to choose from. Popular resorts in the area include Marbella Club Hotel, Puente Romano Marbella, and Don Carlos Resort and Spa.
Vacationers can choose from a number of terrific resorts in Dubrovnik. The old town is the most famous and charming part of the city, but you'll find most of the resorts spanning the coastline outside of town. Inside the old town there are a few boutique hotels and a number of rooms available for rent, but make sure you book early during peak seasons. For a resort, look outside of the old town with popular options including Hotel Dubrovnik Palace, the Hilton Imperial, and Rixos Premium.
Marbella is a must-visit destination for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Dubrovnik is not known for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling.
The clear water and abundant marine life make Marbella a world-class scuba diving and snorkeling destination. There are more than 100 dive sights and endless snorkeling opportunities in the area. There are deep offshore reefs that you can explore as well as shallower wrecks and caves.
Snorkeling is an option in Dubrovnik. On clear days, snorkeling can be a fun activity, but the weather and visibility can vary so conditions are unpredictable. Buža is a popular snorkeling spot in town, but you can also organize tours to other areas.
Marbella is a must-visit destination for the beach. Also, Dubrovnik is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal town for its beaches.
Travelers come from around the world to visit the beaches in Marbella. The area boasts some of the best beaches in Europe. They are hubs of activity with lots of energy, and there are more than 18 miles of sandy beach in the area. Popular options include Guadalmina Beach, San Pedro de Alcántara Beach, and Nueva Andalucía Beach.
Many people head to Dubrovnik to enjoy the beach. The old town is the main appeal of the area, but there are several beaches that are nice for taking a swim or sunbathing. They are often pebbly, but the water is blue and the views are beautiful.
Dubrovnik is very popular for its old town. Also, Marbella is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its historic old town charm.
Dubrovnik has a world-famous historical area. This walled old town is among the most famous in Europe. It's sits beautifully along the coast and it is pedestrian only. You can spend plenty of time exploring the historic lanes, popping in shops and restaurants, and soaking up the charming atmosphere.
Marbella offers a nice historic old town area. Head into the old town to explore a quaint area with small, meandering streets, churches, restaurants, shops, and cafes.
Dubrovnik is a very popular place for its hiking trails. However, Marbella is not a hiking destination.
Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Dubrovnik. There are a number of hikes outside of town that take you along the dramatic coastal. The paths offer spectacular views back towards town or along the water.
Marbella is not a hiking destination.
Marbella is a must-visit destination for its shopping areas. Also, Dubrovnik is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal town for shopping.
Many people travel to Marbella specifically to go shopping. This area attracts vacationers from around Europe and the shopping is some of the best in Europe.
Dubrovnik is a great destination for shopping. The old town offers some nice boutique shops where you can buy designer clothes, jewelry, or trinkets.
Marbella and Dubrovnik are both very good destinations for the whole family.
Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Marbella is very family-friendly. The area has beautiful, family-friendly beaches and many resorts with pools that are great for kids.
Dubrovnik is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. The city has nice beaches, beautiful hikes, and historic city walls that are fun to explore with kids. The food is also kid-friendly and the locals love meeting children.
Marbella and Dubrovnik are both fantastic to visit as a couple.
Marbella has so much to offer for a romantic couple's vacation. The area has luxury resorts, nice beaches, water sports, golf, and water activities that are perfect for a honeymoon or a romantic weekend or a honeymoon.
Dubrovnik is a great resort town for couples, as it has plenty to offer. With its beautiful old town, nice beaches, and laid back atmosphere, this makes the perfect couple's getaway destination. Pop in a local restaurant and try the seafood before exploring the charming squares and historic buildings.
Dubrovnik is very popular for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Marbella is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for backpackers.
With so many budget-friendly offerings, Dubrovnik is extremely popular for backpackers. It's not hard to find a room in a local's home near old town at an affordable price. The food is delicious and affordable as well, and you'll find plenty of other backpackers in town to hang out with.
Marbella is a good resort town to visit for backpackers. There are a few good hostels in the area for backpackers who want to enjoy this part of Spain's cost. There's also a lively nightlife scene and plenty of opportunities to meet others.
Dubrovnik is a nice place to visit for times when you don't have a car. However, Marbella is lacking in good options for its public transit.
Dubrovnik has some public transit options. There are 12 bus lines that connect all parts of the city with the city center.
Public transit is generally limited in Marbella. There is a bus system through the area, but most visitors prefer to get around by car.
Dubrovnik is very popular for its high level of walkability. Also, Marbella is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its ease of walking around.
It's very easy to get around on foot in Dubrovnik. The old town is completely pedestrian-only and you can also explore the city's historic walls on foot.
Marbella is a very walkable destination. The old town is particularly walkable and there are a number of hotels and nice resorts within a short walk of the town along a nice promenade.
For even more information, also check out Is Marbella Worth Visiting? and Is Dubrovnik Worth Visiting?.
In either Marbella or Dubrovnik, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. In our opinion, Dubrovnik has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Dubrovnik than Marbella. In general, 2-5 days is a good amount of time for Marbella, and 1-5 days is enough time in Dubrovnik.
Families should spend more time in Dubrovnik than Marbella. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Dubrovnik, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Dubrovnik than Marbella if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Dubrovnik.
You'll find nightlife and live music around the resort town of Marbella. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.
The beautiful coastal town of Dubrovnik offers food and shopping. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.
You'll find live music and food around the fun-filled destination of Marbella. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this resort town has to offer. This resort town offers a variety of activities to choose from.
Dubrovnik is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this coastal town makes for a great vacation. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Dubrovnik, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.
You'll find food and scuba diving and snorkeling around the ritzy resort town of Marbella. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. If you have five days, this resort town makes for a great vacation. It's also a relaxing resort destination. Five days should give you a good understanding of everything this resort town has to offer.
Dubrovnik is a popular choice for travelers. Five days here is typical. It's no surprise that food is why people visit. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Dubrovnik, five days is sufficent for most. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.
Marbella is a popular choice for travelers. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.
Dubrovnik is a great place to explore. It's no surprise that food is why people visit. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This coastal town offers something for everyone.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Spain, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Spain, The Best 2-Week Tours from Split, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Croatia.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Marbella is €117, while the average daily cost in Dubrovnik is €98. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Marbella and Dubrovnik in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Marbella or Dubrovnik? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Also for Marbella, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Dubrovnik:
Also for Dubrovnik, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Dubrovnik and Marbella change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
For Marbella, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Dubrovnik:
For Dubrovnik, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
For Marbella, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
For Dubrovnik, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dubrovnik.
Also in Marbella, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Dubrovnik:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Marbella and Dubrovnik, we can see that Marbella is more expensive. And not only is Dubrovnik much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Dubrovnik would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Dubrovnik and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Marbella would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Marbella than you might in Dubrovnik.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Marbella Expensive? and Is Dubrovnik Expensive?.
Marbella has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Dubrovnik. When comparing the sizes of Marbella and Dubrovnik, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Marbella and Dubrovnik. Many visitors come to Marbella in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, most visitors come to Dubrovnik for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In the summer, Marbella is around the same temperature as Dubrovnik. Typically, the summer temperatures in Marbella in July average around 25°C (77°F), and Dubrovnik averages at about 25°C (77°F).
In July, Marbella usually receives less rain than Dubrovnik. Marbella gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Dubrovnik receives 26 mm (1 in) of rain each month for the summer.
The autumn brings many poeple to Marbella as well as Dubrovnik. Most visitors come to Marbella for the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Additionally, the autumn months attract visitors to Dubrovnik because of the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Marbella is generally around the same temperature as Dubrovnik. Daily temperatures in Marbella average around 19°C (67°F), and Dubrovnik fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
It's quite rainy in Dubrovnik. Marbella usually gets less rain in October than Dubrovnik. Marbella gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Dubrovnik receives 162 mm (6.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Dubrovnik and Marbella are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The winter months attract visitors to Marbella because of the shopping scene and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Dubrovnik this time of year.
Marbella is a little warmer than Dubrovnik in the winter. The daily temperature in Marbella averages around 12°C (54°F) in January, and Dubrovnik fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Dubrovnik. In January, Marbella usually receives less rain than Dubrovnik. Marbella gets 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Dubrovnik receives 139 mm (5.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.
Both Dubrovnik and Marbella during the spring are popular places to visit. The beaches and the natural beauty are the main draw to Marbella this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Dubrovnik for the beaches and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Marbella is a little warmer than Dubrovnik. Typically, the spring temperatures in Marbella in April average around 16°C (60°F), and Dubrovnik averages at about 14°C (57°F).
Dubrovnik gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Marbella usually gets less rain in April than Dubrovnik. Marbella gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Dubrovnik receives 104 mm (4.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
Marbella | Dubrovnik | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 12°C (54°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 139 mm (5.5 in) |
Feb | 13°C (55°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 125 mm (4.9 in) |
Mar | 14°C (57°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
Apr | 16°C (60°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
May | 19°C (66°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
Jun | 22°C (72°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 26 mm (1 in) |
Aug | 25°C (78°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
Sep | 23°C (74°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
Oct | 19°C (67°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 162 mm (6.4 in) |
Nov | 15°C (60°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) |
Dec | 13°C (55°F) | 102 mm (4 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 178 mm (7 in) |