Dubrovnik is a very cool place! This iconic city is known for its history, its distinctive old town and its incredible coastline. There’s a pretty good chance if you’ve watched Game of Thrones, you’ll be well aware of it!
When planning our trip to Croatia, we knew that Dubrovnik was going to have to be a main feature, and we’re so glad we made it one. Dubrovnik really amazed us.
Yes, it’s hot and busy, yes there are a lot of cruise ships and noise. But it’s also buzzing, effortlessly gorgeous, full of incredible sights and amazing people.
Through our time in Croatia, we learnt a thing or two about the best things to do in Dubrovnik. We also learnt a thing or two about what to avoid!
We want you to love your time in Dubrovnik. We’ll help you feel prepared and make your planning as easy as possible, so you can enjoy your trip to the fullest.
Our guide covers everything you need to know to plan a trip you won’t forget and what to leave out of your Dubrovnik itinerary. We’ve got lots of suggestions to cover those bucket list items and plenty of unique things to do in Dubrovnik too.
10 of the Best Things to do in Dubrovnik
This list of the top things to do in Dubrovnik, Croatia, will give you some inspiration of the main things to enjoy. You can use it as a starting point based on where your interests sit as there’s options for everyone.
Whilst Dubrovnik is a pretty bustling city with a lot going on, the actual things to do that you’ll want to ‘tick off’ are fairly minimal. We loved this as it meant we could spend a pretty good amount of time just exploring.
Dubrovnik Old Town is quite small so it’s easy to see it all in a limited time. This gives you time to do the more touristy things and more of the unusual things to do in Dubrovnik too off the tourist path.
Here are our top 10 things to do in Dubrovnik:
1. Walk Around Dubrovnik Old Town
How to get there: Arrive at Pile Gate for entry, which is free
One of the first things we did when we arrived in Dubrovnik was head to the Old Town. Dubrovnik Old Town is set within stone walls which were constructed in the 13-17th centuries!
It’s pretty much impossible to stay right in the Old Town (as there is only really one hotel there). So, we stayed relatively close by and got Ubers in, which were cheap.
You will know you’re coming to Dubrovnik Old Town as you reach Pile Gate. There will be what feels like millions of people around, all waiting, starting a tour or just relaxing.
Walking around the Old Town is one of the best free things to do in Dubrovnik. Once we walked through Pile Gate, we were taken aback by the streets that in the sun looked wet because of how polished and slick they were.
The ambience of the buildings, the sense of history and scale here is incredible. Yes, it feels touristy, but it’s also beautiful to look around.
As it’s relatively small, you can look around the Old Town itself in a couple of hours, and there are plenty of cathedrals, museums and towers to go and enjoy.
If you’re looking to see some amazing sights that were used in Game of Thrones, we’d recommend this tour on GetYourGuide.
We also enjoyed this walking tour on GetYourGuide of Dubrovnik Old Town and we think it’s one of the top 5 things to do in Dubrovnik. It was pretty affordable, and it allowed us to learn a lot about the history of the area from a local guide as we went.
2. Head to the Beach and See Fort Bokar
How to get there: Head toward Pile Gate, and you will see Fort Bokar in front of you. The beach area can easily be accessed from around here.
Croatia is well known for its stunning beaches (which was one of the reasons we wanted to visit). Dubrovnik is no different, and this is one of the things we loved the most.
The combination of beautiful historical architecture with rocky coastlines and clear turquoise water was breathtaking. We were also really happy when we found the beaches surrounding Fort Bokar just outside of Pile Gate.
This view is unreal. Fort Bokar is an oceanside fortress that was built in the 15th century. When we visited, people were jumping into the crystal-clear waters from the rocks above.
There are plenty of other beaches in the area, but this one had a big hold over us. It was so picturesque and made for some amazing photos. Jumping off into the water from here is one of the fun things to do in Dubrovnik!
We spent a couple of hours longer than we’d really planned here, as we just loved the vibe. But this worked out well as it meant by the time we were looking around the Old Town, the heat of the sun had calmed (a little).
3. Enjoy the Interesting Dubrovnik Craft Beer Scene
How to get there: Dubrovnik Beer Company Google Maps location
We’re very lucky in that where we live, we have some incredible independent breweries. So, whenever we’re traveling, we love to check out what other places are offering up in terms of craft brews.
We researched this in detail before we visited Dubrovnik, and whilst craft beer is still a relatively small scene here, what is on offer is pretty awesome.
The place to visit is DBC or Dubrovnik Beer Company. They are located about a 10 minute drive from the Old Town walls, so perfect if you’re staying nearby like we were.
Like many craft breweries, DBC is located in the former industrial center and the taproom is a cool space to go and spend some time.
They also have bands playing too. We’d recommend checking it out – one of the many cool things to do in Dubrovnik away from the more touristy stuff.
4. Walk Around the Old Town Dubrovnik Walls
How to get there: Use our AllTrails map of the Dubrovnik City walls walk Cost: 40 Euro for adults to access the wall, 15 euro for kids (up to 17 years old).
Walking the city walls is one of the top things to do in Dubrovnik. It’s touristy and busy, but you also get to see some truly gorgeous sights of the coast, streets and historical buildings. You also need to pay 40 Euro per adult, which we did look twice at, but we’re so glad we did it.
We headed onto the wall later in the day hoping to catch the last glimpses of the sun, and it didn’t disappoint. You do need to keep in mind that once you’re on the path, you can’t turn around and do need to complete the whole thing.
We also asked if it was possible for you to stop part way through and come back and were informed that this isn’t possible. So, you do need to be able to commit to it.
We’d recommend giving yourself around 2 to 3 hours to complete the walk. Whilst it can be done in much less time, it’s going to be busy, and we had to walk much slower than we normally would. But this just gave more time to check out the views.
We’d also recommend that if you want to learn more as you go, that you book onto a walking tour of the wall. This is one we’d had bookmarked that comes highly recommended on GetYourGuide.
5. Get Specialty Coffee
How to get there: Google Maps location for Cogito Coffee, Google Maps location for Kawa
If you’re anything like us and love to enjoy good coffee wherever you visit, then this is absolutely one of the best things to do in Dubrovnik. When we visited, we found a couple of good options.
Cogito Coffee is a stunning little shop that has a few select locations around Croatia and one that sits in the Old Town of Dubrovnik. They serve artisanal independent coffee, and it was some of the best we tried in the city.
Depending on the time of year you visit, seasonal closures may mean it’s not open. But for the main tourist seasons, you should find it open and making perfect cups of third wave coffee.
If you can’t visit Cogito, Kawa, located just outside the Old Town also serves Cogito Coffee and is very good! We’d recommend this as a really good back up (or just go to both).
6. Take a Cable Car to Mount Srd (Dubrovnik Cable Car)
How to get there: Google Maps location for the Dubrovnik Cable Car
Cost: 27 Euro per round trip
If you want to get some stunning photos whilst you’re visiting, then getting the cable car to the top of Mt Srd is one of the best things to do in the Dubrovnik region, without a doubt!
You’ll have to get up the steep steps from the Old Town or pretty steep from the road. So, if you want to make it easier on yourself, get a taxi or uber!
The cable car is a quick journey to the top which felt like it took about 5 minutes. It gives some breathtaking views of the city, but you also get to see out to the coast too.
At the time of writing, it’s currently 27 euro for a round trip, which is pricey, but we think it’s worth it. You don’t need a ticket in advance, and you can just turn up. Even on busy days, you shouldn’t wait long.
This is something you can easily add on with about an hour to spare. As there isn’t a lot to do at the top other than take photos, you’ll be ready to head down again fairly soon.
7. Visit Buža Bar
How to get there: Google Maps location for Buža Bar
We hadn’t actually heard of Buža Bar before our trip to Dubrovnik, we sort of just stumbled on it when we were out exploring. Turns out it’s one of the coolest things to do that you won’t forget.
Depending on what you’re into, you may not like the vibe. It can get a bit rowdy, but we enjoyed taking it all in.
Buža Bar is set right on the cliff edge just outside the Old Town walls. You get to it through a little stone doorway/alley and then along some narrow steps and stairs that cut down the side of the cliff.
You’ll know you’re there when you are waiting for other people to pass you coming back up. It’s got a really nice vibe and you can watch the sea as you see boats heading past.
The drinks are pretty expensive, but it makes sense based on its location. You’ll see lots of people jumping off into the water below from the rocks.
We were a bit too chicken to jump from that high, but it was amazing to watch. It’s such a great place to soak in the views and get chatting to other travelers from all over the world.
8. Head to Mandrač Beach for Sunset
How to get there: Google Maps directions from Dubrovnik
We wanted a little break from the main hustle and bustle of Old Town Dubrovnik and headed to Mandrač which were glad we did. The sunset we saw here was beautiful and there was such a calm atmosphere as we lazed in the gentle shore waters of the sea.
If you have a rental car for your whole trip, then this is a great beach to go to and one of the best things to do in Dubrovnik with kids. We saw lots of families enjoying their time together which was lovely.
What makes this beach even more gorgeous is that it is looked after in the day by lifeguards and has plenty of space to spread out. It also has a free parking area which is just a short walk from the beach itself.
You’ll also get some very cool views back to the Port of Dubrovnik. The view of the Dr. Franjo Tudman Bridge is also pretty iconic in the background too.
9. Visit Dubrovnik Cathedral
How to get there: Google Maps directions for Dubrovnik Cathedral
Cost: Dubrovnik Cathedral itself is free to enter, but if you want to visit the Treasury, it’s 3 Euro.
When you’re checking out the Old Town, visiting the Cathedral is one of the best things to do in Dubrovnik, Croatia. It’s full of fascinating history.
What’s more, given how much trouble Dubrovnik has endured in the past, it’s a pretty big symbol considering it’s survived war damage and earthquakes. Whether you’re into religious art or not, it’s a stunning place to spend some time.
The Cathedral is well worth it, even if you visit for half an hour and nothing more. The building from outside is not the most beautiful we’ve ever seen, but from inside we were really wowed.
10. Go on a Dubrovnik Food and Wine Tour
How to get there: We’d recommend booking onto this tour through GetYourGuide
If you’re into food, then you will love your trip to Croatia. Whether Dubrovnik is at the start or end, a food tour is one of the best ways to learn more about the food of the places you visit.
We loved this food tour on GetYourGuide whilst we were in Dubrovnik. We also both agreed it was also one of the most romantic things to do in Dubrovnik too.
A food tour takes you around some fantastic little spots which the guide will explain in detail and you’ll get to try various plates and specialties. You’ll also get typical regional wines to enjoy and learn so much.
What we love about food tours is that it gives us so much inspiration for dishes to recreate when we return home. A tour like this will leave you inspired for some new dishes.
This will knock out most of an evening, but it’s well worth it. It may feel a little pricey, but if you have the budget, then we’d seriously recommend fitting something more unique like this in.
Dubrovnik Trip Planner
Our guide above should have given you some good inspiration of the best things to do in Dubrovnik, Croatia. However, there’s still a lot to think about when making your plan to visit.
Below, we’ve covered everything you need to know to make the most of your trip to Dubrovnik, whether it’s part of a wider trip to other areas like Split or if you’re covering places like Montenegro too.
We’ve also covered a couple of itinerary suggestions for a 2 day Dubrovnik itinerary, and a 3 day Dubrovnik itinerary if you want to see how something more planned out may look for you.
The Basics: How to get around Dubrovnik and where to stay
This section covers the logistical information you’re going to want to know when you’re planning a trip to Croatia and Dubrovnik. This will help everything run as smoothly as possible so you can focus on enjoying your trip.
How Long to Spend in Dubrovnik
One of the most important considerations here is how much time you actually have to spare. Especially if visiting Dubrovnik is party of a wider trip.
Though we think that you can enjoy the best of what Dubrovnik has to offer and take things at a relaxed pace with a 3-day Dubrovnik itinerary. 2 days still works, you may just feel more rushed.
3 days gives you time to enjoy more sunsets, more time checking everything out. However, if it’s a choice between 2 or 3 days in Split or 2 or 3 days Dubrovnik, we’d choose to spend the extra day in Split.
We thought there were so many amazing things to do in Split Old Town when we visited, that we wished we’d had more time!
Likewise, many guides will tell you to spend a day of your time in Dubrovnik going over the border to Montenegro, we think this needs to be kept separate.
You will spend a lot of your time at the border waiting to cross, which will massively eat into your time. More on this later.
How to Get to Dubrovnik
If you’re visiting Dubrovnik from outside the country, then there’s a pretty good chance you’ll either be coming on a cruise, or by airplane. Dubrovnik airport is pretty big and serves a lot of routes.
If you’re looking for how to get to Dubrovnik from USA, there’s a good chance you’ll need to fly into somewhere like London first, or somewhere in Italy. You will then be able to pick up a flight from there to Dubrovnik for not very much.
We always use Trip.com to book our flights. As it gives you the option of finding deals and seeing costings and flight times next to each other.
If you’re coming by car and are already in Croatia, then you will generally want a rental car. If you want to know how to get to Dubrovnik from Split for example, we’d say the best way to do it is drive (which is what we did).
We always use Rentalcars.com for our car rental. Similar to Trip.com, it gives you options of different price ranges and shows all the upfront costs.
If you plan to drive from Croatia and into Montenegro on your trip though, you must put this information in at the start of your booking. There are quite hefty fees involved in this, as Montenegro is outside the EU.
We wish we’d known about these fees in advance as they were a bit of a shock. We just booked to pick up and drop off from Dubrovnik, which we did. So, it’s good to know this in advance.
It’s pretty easy if you’ve got a rental car to get from the airport into Dubrovnik. If you’re staying a little way out from the Old Town, you will likely have parking with your hotel or accommodation.
If you’re looking for how to get to Dubrovnik from the airport without a car, there is a bus which takes about 40 minutes and currently costs 9 Euro. You can then get to the old town very easily from Dubrovnik bus station.
Taxis are also an easy way for how to get to Dubrovnik airport. Though this is quite pricey and not an option we did as we had a car. Uber works easily in Dubrovnik, and we think this is likely your best option to get a good understanding of the cost upfront.
How to Get Around Dubrovnik
Once you’ve worked out how to get to Dubrovnik, Croatia, you’ll want to think about the best ways to get around. We advise getting a car if Dubrovnik is part of a longer trip.
As you will need to stay likely a little out of the Old Town, most places come with parking spaces and in many areas there is free street parking. For your days actually looking around the Old Town, you can either walk or get a cheap Uber to the gates.
We’d recommend an Uber as they don’t cost a lot. This means you can save your energy for hiking up and down the many steps of Dubrovnik Old Town.
Trust us on this, there are plenty of uphill sections to actually get to the Old Town before you’ve even got there!
Where to Stay in Dubrovnik
If you’re looking for where to stay in Dubrovnik Old Town itself, then you might be disappointed to find out that there aren’t really many hotels in the Old Town. In fact, there’s only really one.
As you can imagine, this is really busy, so your best bet is to stay a little bit outside. When looking at where to stay in Dubrovnik, Croatia here are our suggestions:
Where to stay in Dubrovnik first time:
- Ploče: Good for quieter places with some luxury settings. A good range of prices. Booking.com is a great place to look for places in Ploče. And gives easy access to the Old Town, also good for where to stay in Dubrovnik for the beach.
Where to stay in Dubrovnik for nightlife:
- Close to the Old Town: The heart of nightlife in Dubrovnik is the Old Town. With loads of bars and big atmosphere. Get somewhere as close to the Old Town as you can if this is a priority. Great for also where to stay in Dubrovnik without a car.
Where to Eat in Dubrovnik
There is a long tradition of incredible food in Croatia, and many of the dishes you try here, you may never have experienced before. Making it a great place to go and enjoy the foodie scene.
Expect to spend a decent amount on a meal in Dubrovnik, as prices can be quite high. You can also get good food at the local shops and hole in a wall style cafes and vendors too.
This is a great tip for lunch if you want to keep things cheaper. You can easily find things like this dotted around the city. Also handy if you’re vegetarian as Dubrovnik isn’t massively veggie or vegan friendly!
Here are some of our favorite places to eat in Dubrovnik:
When to Visit Dubrovnik
We would recommend visiting Dubrovnik in either May or June or September and October. These times are much better as it won’t be as hot and it won’t be as crowded.
We visited at the end of June, and although it was busy, many people told us that it wasn’t a patch on how it would be in July. So based on how busy it was, we’d say that it really is best to stick with those times!
It gets very hot in Croatia, like melt as soon as you step outside hot. So unless you like that kind of in your face, muggy dripping with sweat feel, shoulder season dates are going to be your best bet.
Of course, these are also much sought after times too. So make sure you book your hotel, flights and car hire well in advance to get the best prices.
Dubrovnik Itinerary Suggestions
Whether you’re looking for things to do in Croatia in June, or in April, you’ll want to have an idea of how to make the most of your time. Our guide below covers some rough ideas to make the most of your trip.
2-Day Dubrovnik itinerary
A Dubrovnik itinerary over 2 days is possible. You won’t have as much time of course as if you did this over 3 days, but it is still possible.
You will need to leave some things out, but you can still make the most of it all! Everything we’ve outlined below, we’ve covered in more detail above.
Day One:
- Head up on Dubrovnik Cable Car first thing. It’s best to get a taxi here to avoid having to walk up all the steps.
- On your way down, walk into the Old Town and spend the rest of the day looking around here. There’s plenty here to enjoy and keep you busy. You could also join a walking tour. Get lunch in the Old Town from either a smaller place or a sit down meal.
- Watch the sunset from Buža Bar and take a jump into the water if you feel up for it!
Day Two:
- Start your day by walking the walls surrounding the Old Town. This will take you about 3 hours.
- Head to Pile Gate and see Fort Bokar and spend some time at the beach with some snacks from the Old Town for lunch.
- Check out any of the places in the Old Town you may not have got chance to see earlier on, or chill on the beach and enjoy the atmosphere.
- Enjoy a food tour in the evening, we’ve gone into more detail above on the food tour we did.
3-Day Dubrovnik Itinerary
A Dubrovnik itinerary over 3 days gives you more space to enjoy things that bit more. We’d suggest following our 2 day itinerary and adding this for your third day in Dubrovnik to cover the best things to do.
Day Three:
- Get specialty coffee to start your day in the Old Town. We’ve covered this in more detail above, and spend some time watching the city warm up and people watch.
- Enjoy a lunchtime drink at the Dubrovnik Beer Company. The craft beer here is stunning. But if you’re the one driving, just enjoy one as you’ll want to be able to go to the beach later.
- Go check out some of the viewpoints of the city. This is easy if you’ve got a car. We’d recommend driving around and checking out some of the beautiful spots all around!
- Head to Mandrač Beach. This is a gorgeous spot to enjoy the sunset and spend some time in the water.
What to Avoid in your Dubrovnik Itinerary
Many itineraries will suggest going over the border to visit the coast of Montenegro on your trip and cramming this into a day. We think this isn’t good use of your time for a number of reasons.
Firstly, whilst the coast of Montenegro, such a Kotor is quite close by, you have to cross the border. Because Montenegro isn’t in the EU, this means there are lengthy passport checks.
This can take a few hours depending on traffic so massively cuts down on your time in Montenegro. We would instead suggest that if you can, that you spend a few days in Montenegro too.
There are plenty of things to do in Montenegro that can make this a stunning trip. In fact, we have a whole article that covers the things to do in Podgorica, including the coast and Skadar Lake National Park (a must see).
You could also extend your trip and head up to Durmitor National Park, which we loved and was absolutely incredible! Plus, it was a welcome break from the busy feel of Croatia.
If you’re renting a car from Croatia and plan to go to Montenegro, you should also know that there are fairly hefty day fees for crossing the border. Make sure you’re aware of this beforehand, as this can add quite a sharp shock of a price increase to your car rental.
If in doubt, ring the rental company beforehand and find out how much this is based on the days you plan to visit Montenegro.
Things to be Aware of in Dubrovnik
The main things to be aware of are the accessibility issues and how hot Dubrovnik can become. In terms of the heat, if you visit in full summer, you can expect that it will be unbearable, which is why shoulder months are better.
If you have mobility issues, Dubrovnik isn’t very accessible. There are a lot of steep steps, and uneven cobbles.
To visit a lot of things like the wall surrounding the Old Town you will need to climb up a lot of steps and walk up some pretty steep hills.
Enjoy the Things to do in Dubrovnik
We hope our guide has given you some major inspiration of the best things to do in Dubrovnik. As you can see, it’s an amazing place, and whether you have a day or three, we’re sure you’ll love it as much as we did.
Of course, this guide just scratches the surface. We’ve covered touristy things and plenty of off the wall and unique suggestions. But one of the best ways to experience is to give yourself some time to wander off the beaten path and see what’s out there.
Depending on your plans, you should also read our things to do in Split, as this compliments a trip to Dubrovnik perfectly. You will also likely enjoy checking out the things to do in Podgorica, Montenegro which includes the Bay of Kotor and Skadar Lake National Park too.
Disclaimer: This article contains Affiliate Links. You won’t pay any more for buying through these links, but we may receive a commission from any purchases made through them. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you choose to support us by buying through our links, we thank you as it helps us to continue providing the resources we do to help you enjoy the outdoors more!