FACTS AND MAPS
Croatia is a country in South Central Europe. Its location in Europe and the world is shown below (green area on the map).
[Click to enlarge]
The capital and the biggest city in Croatia is Zagreb (metro-area over 1 mil.). Other major cities include Split, Rijeka and Osijek. Dubrovnik (pop. abt 42,000) is located at the Adriatic sea coast, in the South Dalmatia region. [More from Dubrovnik tourist board]
The Dubrovnik International Airport (IATA: DBV) is located at Čilipi, abot 23 km (13 miles), to the southeast of Dubrovnik.
[See Dubrovnik airport on the web]
The conference venue, Dubrovnik Palace Hotel, is located on the beautiful Lapad peninsula. [More info on hotel web site]
TRAVEL
HOW TO GET TO DUBROVNIK
Dubrovnik is located at the Adriatic sea coast, in south east of Croatia. Due to its geographic position Croatia between the mountains and the sea, the best way to get there is by airplane.
Getting there by airplane
The easiest way to get to Dubrovnik is by airplane, directly (look for charter flights), or via Zagreb, Croatia.
Croatia Airlines, member of Star Alliance, operates several daily flights to/from Zagreb and some other European cities.
There are also several low-cost companies flying to Dubrovnik, including germanwings and easyJet.
Dubrovnik International Airport (airport code: DBV) is located at Čilipi, about 21 km (13 miles) to the southeast of Dubrovnik.
There is a shuttle bus operated by Croatia Airlines to and from Dubrovnik city to the airport, and there is also a taxi service. Taxis are quite expensive and have a reputation of overcharging tourists (try to settle the price and terms before you accept a ride). The trip to/from the airport takes about 25 minutes.
Getting there by ferry
Local ferries connect Dubrovnik to cities of Zadar and Split, as well as nearby islands. An international ferry from Bari, Italy, operates several times a week or more often during tourist season. Jadrolinija, the main Croatian passenger shiping line, based in Rijeka, Croatia, maintains the largest number of regular international and domestic ferry and shipping lines.
Getting there by bus
Direct bus lines to Dubrovnik are available from most Croatian cities, including Split, Zagreb, and Rijeka. You need to check connections from your departure city. Note the road distances - it's about 600 km from Zagreb, which translates to almost a full day spent on the bus (with local stops etc. included). The distance to Split (the secong biggest city and airport) is about 230 km, which is at least 3-4 hours' trip.
Getting there by train
There are NO trains to Dubrovnik.
Getting there by private car
A driver's licence, car papers and all relevant insurance documents (except for countries that have other regulations) are necessary to enter Croatia with a vehicle.
If you decide to rent a car, you can do so at any major airport, as well as in the city, but it is generally a good idea to make reservations in advance.
Again, keep distances and geography in mind: the 600 km from Zagreb easily translate to 7-8 hours of driving, out of which about 460 km on motorway (from Zagreb to Ploce, exit Ravca), followed by a regular road (scenic, but narrow, with hairpin turns, local trafffic, and speed limits). Exact journey times could vary depending on local traffic conditions. See ViaMichelin for details.
Also, note that the road from Split to Dubrovnik passes through Neum, which is part of territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina (another country). This means you must have a valid passport (and visa for Bosnia and Herzegovina, if needed) as well.