Getting to Dubrovnik by Train

Can I get a train to Dubrovnik is a question that I get often in emails from people who would like to travel around Croatia by train.” No, you can’t” I answer as there is no train to Dubrovnik anymore.

I find it amazing that nowadays Dubrovnik has no train station as Dubrovnik was part of the European railway network for over 75 years. That was in the period from 1901, when the first train arrived in Dubrovnik, until 1976 when train service to Dubrovnik was unfortunately closed.

A narrow gauge train line ‘vlak Ćiro’ (aka ‘train Ćiro’ – pronounced ‘ch-ee-ro’) used to link Dubrovnik via Mostar to Sarajevo (and further to Zagreb and Belgrade).

Vlak Ćiro was a small train having just a few carriages in addition to an engine, connecting Dubrovnik with Sarajevo via Hum, Gabela, Mostar and Konjic.

In the above photo, you can see train Ćiro arriving at Dubrovnik’s train station at Gruž / Kantafig back in 1969. Also, see photo of this train station in 1904 here

Although train Ćiro is not in operation anymore, there are some indications that it might be back in Dubrovnik 🙂 !

I have been reading in the papers there is an initiative for reconstruction of 17 kilometers long narrow gauge railway line that will connect Konavle (a small region southeast of Dubrovnik) and Dubrovnik.  Let’s hope this will happen soon..

Back to nowadays – if you would like to travel by train it is good to know that Dubrovnik’s closest train/railway station is at Ploče which is about 2-hour bus ride along the Adriatic coast north–west from Dubrovnik.  From Ploče, there are train connections to Sarajevo via Mostar (for other trains see the trains in Croatia page).

There is also a train station in Split (about an hour’s bus ride from Dubrovnik or a bit longer if you get there by ferry) from where you can take trains towards Zagreb and further to North Europe.

Read more about getting to Dubrovnik