Known as the Pearl of the Adriatic, Dubrovnik captivates visitors with its ancient walls, picturesque streets, and stunning coastal areas. Whether you’re a history buff, avid swimmer, fan of cultural experience or Game of Thrones expert, there is a so much to do and see in Dubrovnik for all.
In this guide, we will cover unique things to do in Dubrovnik, must see sights and attractions in Dubrovnik and the top things to do.
First off, let’s go through the basics and common questions about visiting Dubrovnik.
When is the best time to visit dubrovnik?
The best time to Visit Dubrovnik Croatia is dependent on your preferences and the activities you want to do. If you want to soak in some sun on the beach, swim in warm waters and island hop, the best time to visit Dubrovnik is in the summer months. For slightly fewer crowds, travel in the shoulder season end of May to Mid June and in September.
If you’d prefer to visit with much fewer crowds and are okay with cooler weather, then around Jan and Feb will be best. According to a local tour guide, February has the least number of tourists.
How Many Days In Dubrovnik?
Dubrovnik is the perfect location for a city break and I would recommend spending at least 3 days in Dubrovnik. The city really does have a lot to offer – fairytale old town, right by the sea with numerous beaches and nearby islands to visit and explore.
For a more in-depth visit, with time to explore the nearby islands, take a day trip or two to nearby countries, 5 days is enough for a trip to Dubrovnik.
How long to spend in Dubrovnik depends on how much time you have!
Read more: Croatia Travel Guide: 2 Week Croatia Itinerary
is the Dubrovnik city Pass worth it?
If you will be climbing the city walls in Dubrovnik, then the Dubrovnik city pass is definitely worth getting. The Dubrovnik card includes access to the city walls, free public transportation, as well as museums in the city.
Now let’s get into the best things to do in Dubrovnik. There is a bonus section at the end that covers the best day trips from Dubrovnik and what to know before your trip.
1. Walk the City Walls for Panoramic Views of Dubrovnik
This is an absolutely must do in Dubrovnik and if you have only one day in the city, walking the walls has to be a priority. On your walk you will have a panoramic view of Old town Dubrovnik, which happens to be a UNESCO World Heritage site.
In the summer, Dubrovnik gets really hot, so you will be better off walking the walls early in the morning which we did. This guided tour of the walls starts early to avoid the intense heat. The walls are also a perfect place to watch sunset in the evenings, especially as day trippers would have left.
The walls are approximately 2km long and it took us around 2 hours to walk the full length, including admiring the views and taking photos. On the walls itself, there are a couple of cafes and bars, dotted around so you can take breaks when you need.
The scenery is really gorgeous, as you have wonderful views of the red-hued terracotta roofs, stones houses, all against the sea. This has to be my favourite thing to do in Dubrovnik Croatia.
Top tip: The ticket for the city walls costs €30, but is included in the Dubrovnik pass which costs €35, so definitely worth getting the pass!
2. Wander Dubrovnik Old Town
One of the best things to do when visiting a new and picturesque place is to just wander and that’s what we did. The whole area of Dubrovnik Old Town is UNESCO World Heritage site, so strolling through the narrow limestone streets and taking in the beauty of the buildings has to be on your list of what to do in Dubrovnik.
Fancy learning a little history of Dubrovnik? On this tour you will visit Dubrovnik’s most significant landmarks, explore the heart of the old town and hear stories of how Dubrovnik became one of the world’s most prosperous republics.
3. Ride the Cable Car to Mount Srd
Take a scenic ride on the Dubrovnik Cable Car to Mount Srd for breathtaking 360 panoramic views of the city, surrounding island and coastline.
There is a free viewing platform at the end of the journey on Mount Srd and we couldn’t help but take photos!
You can either get tickets in advance here or you can purchase them at the origin, but there might be long queues. Tickets can be bought as singles or return journeys as you can also hike up or down the mountain and this takes around 2.5 hours.
4. Explore Fort Lovrijenac
Climb to the top of Fort Lovrijenac for stunning views of Dubrovnik and the Adriatic Sea, and learn about its history as a defensive stronghold. The fort is also known as St. Lawrence Fortress.
The fort is perched on the side of a stone hilltop and is a little way outside the city walls. It can be accessed via 200 stairs from the western harbour in the Pile area. With a ticket for the city walls, the fort is free to enter.
5. Sunset dinner with Panoramic view of Dubrovnik
Couldn’t have a guide without a restaurant recommendation, now could I? This has to be the most epic eating spot in Dubrovnik, Restaurant Panorama. The 360 view of Dubrovnik is incredible and you guessed right, it’s on Mount Srd!
To get a spot on the terrace right by the barriers, we booked our table about 3 months in advance and you will definitely have to do this too. We booked our table for sunset and it was really magical.
6. Game of Thrones Walking Tour
If you’re a Game of Thrones fan, this is the one you have been waiting for. With this guided tour, transport yourself to King’s landing and visit all the game of thrones filming locations. You will also hear about behind the scenes production secrets from your guide.
This photo is taken around the start of Cercei’s infamous walk of shame, it’s one of the many places you’ll get to see on the walking tour! The tour guide may have been an extra in the show and will take you through behind the scenes stories.
7. Explore Lokrum Island
Only a short boat ride from Dubrovnik’s old town port, you will find Lokrum Island. This is more a half to full day trip, as there is a lot to do here. There is a historic Benedictine monastery, salt lake and a luscious botanical garden.
Lokrum island is actually also famous as one of the filming locations in Game of Thrones.
The boat ride from Dubrovnik to Lokrum Island only takes 15 minutes and you will also be required to pay entrance for the island. Visitors are not allowed to stay the night and the island is actually uninhabited.
8. Sunset Sea Kayaking
For a more adventure-filled end to your day, enjoy this sunset kayak tour. Beginning at a small port of Pile, explore the caves of Lokrum Island, swim at Betina Cave. Watch the gorgeous sunset and enjoy some local wine.
9. Enjoy the unique tastes of Gino's ice cream
Picture it – hot summer, sun shinning outside, you’re strolling through the Stradun (Dubrovnik’s Main Street) with a uniquely flavoured ice cream in your hand. Of course, I went for the Sichuan pepper cherry because why not right? You definitely have to try Gino’s if you want something a little different to your typical chocolate or strawberry flavoured ice cream.
Bonus: The Best Day Trips from Dubrovnik
10. Day trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina
Being able to take a day trip to a whole other country is one of the reasons I love living and travelling in Europe. This Mostar and Kravice Waterfall tour is an amazing day trip from Dubrovnik. The old town of Mostar resembles a Turkish bazaar and it was so different to what I’d expected.
Must see in Mostar is the old town bridge and the river underneath is so green and vibrant! We found that our money went a very long way here and you could get 2 scoops of ice cream for as little as €1!
Kravice waterfalls is really beautiful and in the summer you can take a short boat trip to bring you much closer to the falls and even swim in the river. When we visited in May, there had been a lot of rain so the river was flooded. I’d recommend visiting around June – September for a fuller experience.
11. Day trip to Korcula
I’ll start by saying I absolutely loved Korcula and think it deserves more than a day trip (Read more: Croatia Travel Guide: 2 Week Croatia Itinerary). However if you are short on time, then a day will do.
Korcula is a stunning island on the coast and I found that it’s one of the most peaceful islands to visit, especially of compared to Hvar.
Some people believe that the famous explorer Marco Polo was born and raised in Korcula. You can visit his home that has been turned to a museum very close to the old town.
This guided tour from Dubrovnik includes a guided visit to Peljesac Peninsula for wine tastings and Korcula where you can visit the birth place of Marco Polo.
FAQ: THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE GOING TO DUBROVNIK
Is Dubrovnik Expensive?
Before traveling to Croatia, I thought that Croatia was not expensive and the Pound (GBP) would go a very long way. However, this was not the case in every part of Croatia that I visited. My answer to the questions “Is Croatia expensive” or “Is Dubrovnik expensive?” yes it can be. In particular, I found Dubrovnik expensive compared to other destinations in Croatia (Zadar, Zagreb, Korcula and Split).
As I heard from Dubrovnik locals, this is due to the mass tourism into the city. In addition to tourists that fly directly to Dubrovnik airport and other cities in Croatia, you also get cruise ships that dock in Dubrovnik.
It’s possible to visit on a lower budget, you just have to be mindful of what part of the city you stay, where you eat etc
How to get to Dubrovnik?
Depending on your starting location, there are various ways to travel to Dubrovnik.
The most popular and convenient way to travel around Croatia is by bus or coach. For Split to Dubrovnik, you can book a direct coach which takes around 4 hours. There are just over 10 departures daily, so in the busy summer months buy tickets in advance. If you prefer water travel, you can also use a ferry from Split to Dubrovnik.
For Korcula to Dubrovnik or Hvar to Dubrovnik, the ferry is your best option. From Korcula, the journey takes just 2 hours while from Hvar, it takes just over 3 hours.
Dubrovnik has its own airport, so you can fly directly from quite a few cities in the UK including London, Manchester and Edinburgh.