Things to see and do on your trip to Dubrovnik?

Dubrovnik is known as the Pearl of the Adriatic for the beauty of its coastline and crystal clear waters that reflect the mountains surrounding the city. But it’s not all about the sights, there’s plenty to see in Dubrovnik, between the beaches and the walled city centre you’re sure to have the time of your life. Get your notepad ready and we’ll tell you everything you need to know before you set off on your trip.

What are the best places to see in Dubrovnik?

Organising your trip to Dubrovnik? Then you’ve come to the right place. Here’s a list of the city’s main attractions, so you won’t miss anything to see in Dubrovnik. We’ll tell you about the best spots, beaches and places of interest to visit.

1. Dubrovnik Cathedral

Dubrovnik Cathedral (Katedrala Marijina Uznesenja) is one of the city’s most spectacular and photographable buildings. Its blue dome is unmistakable and stands out from the rest of the city’s buildings. Originally the cathedral was of Byzantine-Romanesque style, but after the earthquake of 1667 it was rebuilt in the Baroque style. Admission is free and it can be visited every day.

2. Dubrovnik historic centre

One of the best things to do in Dubrovnik is to stroll around the historic Old Town, a World Heritage Site since 1979. Probably the best way to see every nook and cranny is with a guided tour, which usually lasts about 1 hour 30 minutes. But if you prefer to see it on your own, these are some of the must-see stops.

Stradun is the city’s main street, where you’ll find plenty of life and where you can do your shopping or have a drink. Another interesting sight to see in Dubrovnik is a Luza Square. It is amazing that although it was built in the 15th century, it still looks as good as new thanks to conservation work. In the same square there are several emblematic buildings such as the Bell Tower, the Church of St. Bals and the Sponza Palace.

3. Beaches of Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik’s main attraction lies in its pebbly beaches and turquoise waters. That’s why thousands of tourists travel to the city every year in search of sun and tranquillity. The best beaches to see in Dubrovnik are Banje, Sveti Jakov, Buza and Danje. Here you can do activities such as kayaking or have a drink in the beachside bars.

In July and August, the beaches are very crowded, and it can be a little disappointing to see the town like this. However, a few kilometres away there are smaller coves such as Lapad, where you can escape the tourists. Finally, bear in mind that the beaches are pebbly, so don’t forget to pack a pair of crab shrimps in your suitcase. If you’re looking for sun and sand, here’s another post with the best beaches in Croatia that might interest you.

4. City walls

The city walls are the most characteristic and essential sight to see in Dubrovnik, and the best thing is that you can visit them. For €16 you can walk the 2km around the old town and enjoy views of the city and the coastline. The main gate of the wall is the Pile Gate, which we recommend you enter because of its grandeur. An interesting fact about Dubrovnik’s city wall is that it was used as a set for the filming of Game of Thrones. Does this ring any bells?

5. Mount Srd

It’s a small hill next to the old town from where the views are postcard-perfect. You can walk to the top, although it’s quite a hike. Otherwise, there’s a cable car from the city centre that costs €20. One way to save money and not die trying to get to the top is to pay for the cable car ride up (€11) and walk back down.

Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.

What to see around Dubrovnik?

Dubrovnik is very close to Montenegro and Serbia, which means you can take day trips to some of their most beautiful cities or spectacular beaches. Just make sure you have your papers in order because you’ll be passing through non-EU countries. Here are some ideas for day trips you can take from Dubrovnik.

1. Kotor, excursion to Montenegro

This amazing town in Montenegro is just 92km from Dubrovnik and is well worth a visit for its incredible views. The town is built on one of the hillsides that protect the bay, whose clear waters reflect the mountains that border the coast. In the valley you’ll also find a multitude of palaces and churches to visit.

The easiest way to get to Kotor is to hire a car, but there are also regular bus services from Dubrovnik for day trips. The journey takes about 2 hours. Another option is to take the ferry, which costs €4.5 and takes 15 minutes.

2. Mostar, excursion to Bosnia

Mostar is one of Bosnia’s most beautiful towns and despite the ravages of war, it has rebuilt itself to welcome hundreds of tourists every year. The town is built around a river, whose banks are joined by the most famous bridge in the country. In summer, you can see people swimming, and as well as wandering the streets, it’s worth a trip to the surrounding area, such as a visit to the Kravice waterfalls.

3. Best islands around Dubrovnik, Croatia

Around Dubrovnik there are many incredible islands to visit, such as the islands of Korula, Mljet, or the Elaphite islands. The latter are a group of 14 islands off Dubrovnik, only 3 of which are inhabited. They are perfect for a relaxing day of sunbathing on the beaches.

All the islands are connected by ferry and in the case of the Elaphites, there are also organised cruises that visit all the islands during the day. The price of these cruises is €48 for adults and €26 for children. It is a highly recommended activity to do in Dubrovnik.

Map and travel itinerary to Dubrovnik

Here is our map with recommended places to visit in Dubrovnik to help you organize your trip quickly and easily. You can also add important documents such as travel tickets, hotel reservations and even invite your friends to be part of the itinerary organization. Using Passporter is free of charge and will help you travel in a more organized way.  You have the option to register on the website or download the app to keep everything centralized and in your pocket.

What to see on a 1-day visit to Dubrovnik?

Although there is plenty to do in Dubrovnik, the truth is that you can see the city in a day or two without any problems. To make the most of your time, we recommend taking a tour of the old town, which will tell you about the history of the city and take you to the main buildings of interest. Another must-see is the city wall, as well as the cathedral. Seeing the city will take you the whole morning.

In the afternoon you can relax on one of the beaches and recharge your batteries to climb Mount Srd, from where the sunset views are a marvellous sight. If you have time to spare, we also recommend a visit to Fort Lovrijenac and Gruž Market.

Where to stay in Dubrovnik?

Dubrovnik has a wide range of accommodation on offer, with flats being more common than hotels. Although the city is very touristy, it’s true that you can find rooms at a good price, you just have to know how to look for them. The best neighbourhoods to stay in are Old Town, Ploce, Lapad, Bubik Kuk and Gruz as they are closer to Dubrovnik’s main sights, but also more expensive. These are some of the best value for money accommodations you can find in Dubrovnik.

• Apartments & Studios Scalini: these are modern 4-star flats in the historic centre. They have a kitchen and terrace and prices start from €70.
• Royal Neptun Hotel: this is one of the city’s best four-star hotels. It has a swimming pool and a view of the sea, which is less than a minute’s walk away. The room costs around 80€ in low season.
• Luna: a cosy guesthouse in the heart of the historic centre. The rooms are en-suite, and include a fridge, air conditioning and a safe. The room costs 50€ per night.
• Dubrovnik Icy Guest House is an apartment complex with spectacular views of the city from its terrace. Each room has a private bathroom and kitchen, and then there is a common courtyard. The price of the flat is between €50 and €70.

Where to eat in Dubrovnik?

Eating well in Dubrovnik is not a problem. On the beachfront, as you can imagine, the fish is of the highest quality. The hard part is finding cheap places to eat as the city is one of the most touristy in the area and a beach destination for hundreds of tourists. Even so, here is a selection of some of the more affordable restaurants.

• Barba: this is one of the best fish restaurants in the area and at an affordable price. Its speciality is fish sandwiches. The only downside is that the place is small and fills up quickly.
• Ala Mizerija: This restaurant is near the Lovrijenac fort and from its terrace the views of the cove are spectacular, especially at sunset. They serve fish portions for around 70kn and also have sandwiches and salads.
• Presa: one of the most popular restaurants for its good prices. You can eat a burger or a sandwich for between 30 and 50kn. But run to get a table as it fills up fast.
• Heladeria Peppinos: this is probably the best ice cream parlour in town as they make their own ice cream. For less than 20kn you can enjoy a quality ice cream.

How to get to Dubrovnik?

The nearest airport to Dubrovnik is 20km away, in the town of Cilipi, and is one of the largest in the country. There are direct flights from all major cities in Spain, though not very frequently. The trip takes about 3 hours. Even so, the plane is the most convenient way to get to Dubrovnik. From there you can get to the city centre on buses 11, 27 and 38, which cost €3.7.

Another option for getting to Dubrovnik is to fly to Zagreb and take a bus there. The journey takes about 8 hours. However, one of the most common options in recent years is by boat. Numerous cruise ships arrive in the city’s harbour every week with tourists eager to enjoy the beaches. Otherwise, you can always hire a car at the airport.

Tips before travelling to Dubrovnik, Croatia

• The official currency of Croatia is the Kuna
• If you are travelling by car, the lights should always be switched on.
• We recommend that you exchange money before you set off on your trip, as it will be cheaper.
• As European citizens we don’t need a visa to enter the country either, just your ID card or passport is enough.
• The best time to travel to Dubrovnik is in spring and autumn, when there are fewer tourists and temperatures are more pleasant than in winter or summer.
• Buy museum tickets in advance to avoid queues.
• The city is safe, but as with any tourist destination, it’s best to be careful with your belongings.
• Be covered for possible medical emergencies: travel insured.

Plan your trip to Dubrovnik

Register or download the Passporter App and discover all its possibilities.

• Get inspired by the experiences of other travellers.
• Create your own itinerary and add suggestions from the app to it.
• Add the stops you’re most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference).
• Organise your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map (you can take inspiration from the routes we present in the post)
• Check out the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
• Make any modifications you need to make, and you’re all set for your trip.
• Share your experience. Upload photos of the places you visited on your trip to the app and recommend other travellers what to see in Dubrovnik

If you have doubts on how to do it, you can check our post: How to create a travel itinerary in Passporter.

Frequently asked questions on a trip to Dubrovnik, Croatia