Flights between Madrid and Dobrovnik

Can you leave on the 19th in order to get one of the few non stop flights? If so, look at Iberia Airlines. Have you looked at Google.com/flights?

Thanks for your suggestion. I did a quick google search which showed pricier tickets than I expected. I am hoping to find a local/Europe-only airline that services that area. There is Croatia Airlines , I think, I will research that next.

Thanks again!

You have not chosen a route that is serviced by a lot of flights. I learned that there are not a ton of flights going into Dubrovnik when I went there last summer. I ended up having to fly to Vienna to depart and I arrived one day earlier than I wanted to because that was the only non-stop flight of the week from my departure point. The thing is that Croatia Air, to the best of my knowledge, does not fly to Madrid from Dubrovnik and vice versa. You will have to fly to London, Vienna, Zagreb, or Frankfurt, etc. which will make this an approximately 8 hour trip.

Thanks for great advice...

so do you think its worthwhile for just 3 days ? Seems like more travel time than actual vacation time. We may need to reconsider.

Here is our situation:
My husband and I are visiting my daughter, who is studying in Madrid, for just 9 days total. We wanted to include a brief , 2-4 day side trip, "somewhere."..Dubrovnik looks amazing as does Croatia in general. Since its still chilly in mid/late march I am more towards southern Europe options...

Your help is appreciated, thanks!

Usually, www.skyscanner.com is useful for researching air fares in Europe, covering low-cost carriers as well as the traditional lines. As the previous answer suggested, the choice may disappoint you -- no non-stops, and at stiff prices. Yet it does not show Norwegian Air Shuttle which does have non-stops, much cheaper, but only a couple of times a week.
You could get to other Spanish cities easily by train, at moderate cost. Madrid-Barcelona is high-speed service. Or you could go north to Basque country, either by train or air to Bilbao, to see contrasts in Spanish life.

I really enjoyed Dubrovnik though it was crowded and given over to tourism in a big way but it was August and blazing hot when I was there. I probably would not go in March for basically one day at the cost that the flights will be. As mentioned above, Barcelona would be a lovely add-on to the trip and it is an easy train trip from Madrid or maybe you could go south from Madrid to one of Spain's coastal cities. If you want to leave Spain, how about Rome (lots of non-stops between those two cities) or Paris (I know, not on the water and not warmer, but it's Paris), or Venice (a totally different experience from Madrid and on the Adriatic). March might be a good time to go to Venice. All I know is that after our last trip there in 2012 in the summer, we vowed never to return to Venice during peak times. All of these cities have multiple non-stop early morning flights from Madrid so you get an afternoon, one full day and even the morning of your return day if you take a late flight back to Madrid.

Flying somewhere for 2-4 days means really 1-2 days in a place. If that is worth it to you - go for it. If not, then there are plenty of places within a few hours ride of Madrid that are exceptional. Sevilla/Grenada/Cordoba comes to mind....

I would recommend a 2-4 day side trip within Spain - it's a big country and there are countless interesting destinations just a train ride away (that would be just as beautiful). Definitely not worth the hassle to go to Dubrovnik for that short time period. I would even say Dubrovnik is only worthwhile if you're already traveling elsewhere in Croatia, and preferably somewhere in the middle Dalmatian region like Split.

Thank you for all the excellent suggestions.
We have been to previously Spain and also my daughter wants to "take advantage " of us being with her for the spring break to travel elsewhere since she will be traveling within Spain over the next semester. But I totally agree...Spain is beautiful and can't get too much of it.

Thanks again for everyone's advice.