Taxi Driver in Gruž Refuses Local Dubrovnik Resident
After work, a local resident sought a ride to Čibača, but the first driver at the stand refused him, while moments later, tourists were boarded without issue.
After work, a local resident sought a ride to Čibača, but the first driver at the stand refused him, while moments later, tourists were boarded without issue.
An unpleasant experience at the taxi stand in front of Jadrolinija in Gruž was had by a Dubrovnik resident, whose details are known to the Dubrovnik Insider editorial team. After a day's work, in his work uniform and sweaty from the extreme heat, he tried to find a ride to Čibača, but the first driver at the stand refused him with an offensive explanation.
As he told Dubrovnik Insider, he approached the first taxi and asked if he could be taken to his destination. "To my surprise, the driver told me he wouldn't take me because I was 'sweaty and stinky,'" he recounted. "I was genuinely taken aback and deeply offended by such a response."
Fortunately, the situation was quickly resolved. "The driver behind him immediately offered to take me, and I'm grateful to him for that," he added. However, what particularly struck him happened just moments later.
"Tourists approached the first driver. Despite also being visibly sweaty due to the temperatures, the driver took them in without any problem and drove off," the Dubrovnik resident recounted, highlighting the double standards.
Although he doesn't want to generalize, he believes that such treatment of local residents is unacceptable. "If someone needs a ride after an honest day's work, I don't think they should be humiliated and turned away for being sweaty and in work clothes, especially during these summer temperatures," he stated.
He contacted the Dubrovnik Insider editorial team after seeing their earlier report about a conflict between transport workers in Pile. "Maybe this seems trivial to some, but I felt very uncomfortable and humiliated," he explained. "We locals also use taxi services, and I believe we deserve fair and courteous treatment."
The incident occurred on Saturday, August 8, 2026, at the taxi stand in front of Jadrolinija in Gruž.
