Supermarkets in Dubrovnik: Konzum, Tommy, Lidl and More

Which supermarket chains you'll see in Dubrovnik

Konzum is the chain you will notice first, with a large store in Gruz and smaller branches around the centre, including near Ploče. Tommy, Studenac, Pemo and Lidl also appear in and around the city, with Pemo in the Ploče area and Lidl out at Čibača. Branch sizes vary a lot, and the smaller city stores stock a narrower range than the Gruz shop.

For a self-catering kitchen, the useful plan is dry goods, dairy, bread and wine from Konzum or Tommy, and fresh fish, vegetables and fruit from the markets. That keeps you out of the Old Town for groceries, where an open market sells at higher prices than the neighbourhood alternatives.

Konzum in Gruz: the big shop near the Old Town

The Konzum in Gruz bay is the practical choice for a full basket: it is a large grocery store rather than a corner shop, and it is about a fifteen-minute bus ride from the Old Town. Do this shop once on arrival, then rely on smaller stores for the rest of the stay. Gruz is also where the local fish market sits, so you can combine a supermarket run with a look at the day's catch.

Bear in mind that this is a working neighbourhood, not a tourist strip, which is exactly why it works for self-catering. Buses run frequently between Gruz and the Old Town, but walking back with heavy bags is a false economy; take the bus in one direction.

Smaller Konzum stores in the centre and near Ploče

If you are staying inside the walls or near Ploče, the small Konzum branches are for breakfast supplies, water, bread and a bottle of wine rather than a week's shop. Expect tighter aisles and a shorter range; the upside is that you are not hauling bags across town. For anything more ambitious, plan one trip to Gruz and keep the centre stores for emergencies.

These small stores are also the easiest place to pick up basics for a simple breakfast before heading out, alongside the bakeries. If you would rather sit down for the first meal of the day, our guide to The Best Breakfast in Dubrovnik covers where to eat instead.

Tommy, Studenac and Pemo: the neighbourhood alternatives

Beyond Konzum, Tommy, Studenac and Pemo turn up as local options in different parts of the city, and Pemo has a store in the Ploče area. Stock and size vary by branch, so treat any of them as a convenient top-up rather than a guaranteed one-stop shop. If you are staying outside the centre, the nearest of these is often the sensible default.

Compare what is actually on the shelves rather than assuming one chain outranks another: a small Studenac may have better bread than a bigger store, and a Tommy may be the closest thing to your apartment. For a single meal, one good shop beats three rushed ones.

Lidl near Čibača: cheaper bulk, but only worth it with a car

Lidl sits outside the city at Čibača, roughly fifteen minutes by bus from Gruz, which makes it a car trip rather than a walk. If you are driving, it is a good place to stock up on food and drinks for a self-catering week. Without a car, the bus ride out and back with shopping makes the saving questionable for a short stay.

For most visitors staying in the Old Town, Gruz or Lapad, the local Konzum plus a market is the better trade: less travel time, fresher produce, and no need to plan the trip around a bus. Choose Lidl only if you have a car and a long list.

Shopping in the Old Town versus Gruz and Lapad

The Old Town is the worst value for groceries: the open market there is more expensive than the neighbourhood markets, and small shops inside the walls price for convenience. Gruz and Lapad give you the large Konzum, fresh markets and normal neighbourhood prices. Base your shopping on where you sleep, then make one deliberate trip to Gruz if you are staying centrally.

This matters most for anyone on a tight budget: a self-catered breakfast and a picnic lunch bought outside the walls can leave more for one good dinner. If you are eating out instead, the Cafés in Dubrovnik are a cheaper daytime option than a full restaurant meal.

The Gruz fish market (ribarnica) and what to buy there

The Gruz fish market, or ribarnica, is where self-caterers buy fresh fish, and the price depends on the night's catch and the size of the supply. Sardines are the cheap buy when a good landing has come in. Ask for the fish cleaned and scaled, then cook it simply with olive oil and lemon.

Fish is sold by weight, so ask the price per kilo before you commit. Go on a morning when the catch is good and buy only what you will cook that day. If you would rather eat fish cooked for you, that is a restaurant decision, not a market one.

The Lapad and Gruz fresh produce markets

The fresh fruit and vegetable markets in Gruz and Lapad are the practical places to buy salad, tomatoes, peaches and herbs for a self-catered meal. They are a better bet than the Old Town open market, and you can buy in the quantities you actually need. Bring a bag.

Pair a market visit with a bakery run for bread, and you have lunch without touching a restaurant. Burek, the flaky pastry filled with meat or cheese, is the cheapest hot option in most pekaras.

Self-catering practicalities: apartments, hostel kitchens and what to cook

Apartments, studios and hostels with communal kitchens make self-catering straightforward, and choosing one with cooking facilities is the single biggest saving on a Dubrovnik trip. A simple rotation works: grilled fish with blitva (Swiss chard and potato) one night, pasta with a tomato sauce the next, and a market salad for lunch. Buy fish the day you cook it, and keep the rest of the basket to dry goods and dairy.

Stock the basics once, then top up daily: olive oil, salt, coffee and bread from a small Konzum, produce from the market. For a treat, buy a dessert from a slastičarnica rather than making one.

What a self-catering day costs against eating out

Eating out in Dubrovnik is expensive, and a self-catered breakfast, market lunch and one home-cooked dinner can cut a day's food bill substantially. The bare essentials for a simple meal, such as pasta, tomatoes, cheese and a bottle of local wine, come from a Konzum or Tommy shop. Fresh fish and produce from the markets add variety without restaurant prices.

Weigh the saving against your time: a trip to Gruz costs you a bus ride, so batch your shopping and cook two meals from one visit. If you are eating out, choose lunch over dinner for better value, and keep the Old Town for one splurge meal.

When you are ready to eat out, the Cafés in Dubrovnik are a lighter daytime option, and they sit well between market shopping and an evening meal.

Which shop should you use?

For most self-catering stays, do the bulk shop at Konzum in Gruz, top up at a small Konzum or Tommy near where you sleep, and buy fish and produce from the Gruz and Lapad markets. Choose Lidl only if you have a car and a long list. Skip the Old Town market for groceries, and keep your food budget for the meals you actually want to eat out.