When you think of Croatia, you don’t think of its capital or its biggest coastal cities. You dream of Dubrovnik. It’s the crown jewel of the country, shining on the Adriatic Sea.
I have a running theory that once you’ve seen one medieval European city, you’ve seen them all because many of them look the same. But Dubrovnik is different. Its polished limestone streets give it a regal vibe, and walking the city walls makes you feel as important as a king or queen.
The heart of Dubrovnik is Old Town, and while there’s more to the city than this small walled section, it’s the main attraction for travelers. Old Town can be explored in just a few hours, giving you time to venture outside of Dubrovnik — even on a short trip.
And, for such a small city, a short and sweet trip to Dubrovnik is best. This itinerary assumes you have two full days to explore, which is all you need. To make the most out of your time here, you’ll want to spend three nights. Three nights is the max you should stay in Dubrovnik. If you have more time, go to Hvar, Split, or even Montenegro.
For each day of this itinerary, we’ll spend half the day in Dubrovnik and the other half exploring nearby islands or villages.
Let’s get into it.
Day 1: Exploring Old Town + Cavtat
On the first day, you’ll get acquainted with Old Town by walking the streets and hitting all the sights. Then, you’ll hop on a boat to visit the nearby seaside village of Cavtat. Spoiler alert: Cavtat is even better than Dubrovnik if you like a more lowkey vibe.
Walk the city walls
Wake up bright and early to walk Dubrovnik’s famous city walls. On your walk, you’ll get amazing views of Dubrovnik’s orange-tiled rooftops and the Adriatic Sea. The route is about one mile long and takes about two hours to complete with stops for photos.
Start your adventure at the ticket office near Onofrio’s Large Fountain (close to the Pile Gate). You’ll want to arrive around 8 a.m. or earlier to beat the heat and the crowds. Along the route, there are cafes closer to the water, but it’s best to grab a pastry at a bakery before you head up. It costs 40 euro per person to walk the walls. It’s a steep price but well worth it for the #1 attraction in Dubrovnik.
ThatPlannerFriend Tip: There is barely any shade along the walls, so getting there before the midday sun and wearing light clothing is important.
Visit the Lovrjenac Fortress
Your ticket to the city walls includes entrance to the Lovrjenac Fortress, a stone medieval stronghold that towers above the sea. You’ll see the fortress on your walk along the walls before you even reach it. To get there, you’ll need to exit the walled city through the Pile Gate (another important sight to see). You won’t spend a lot of time in the fortress, but it has great views so make the trip out there.
Wandering around Old Town
Dubrovnik’s Old Town encompasses the entire walled city. Go back through the Pile Gate to wander the polished limestone streets. Here is a list of the sights you don’t want to miss on your stroll around the city:
- Placa/Stradun (the Main Street)
- Clock Tower of Dubrovnik (Zvonik)
- Port of Dubrovnik
- Rector’s Palace
- Saint Blaise’s Church
- Jesuit Stairs
Most of these stops are on the east side of the Old Town. You don’t need to enter every church or palace to get to know the city. It’s enough to take photos from the outside and continue to your next destination.
Lunch at Pizzeria Olivia
After you’ve checked all the sights off your list, it’s time for lunch. For a light lunch, go to Pizzeria Olivia.
Get ready to go to Cavtat
By this time you’ve done a lot of walking around. Go back to your room and change into your bathing suit to get ready to relax in the village of Cavtat. Once you’re ready, head to the Old Port to catch a water taxi. Adriana Dubrovnik Boat Tours regularly runs water taxis between Cavtat and Dubrovnik’s Old Port from April 1 to November 1. A one-way ticket costs 10 euros, and you can easily get your tickets on the spot at the Old Port. Check their website for departure times.
The water taxi takes 45 minutes. You could also catch an Uber to Cavtat, but the boat ride is way more scenic.
Pit stop at the port: Peppino’s Gelato Garden
While you wait for a water taxi, treat yourself to a gelato from Peppino’s Gelato Garden.
Exploring Cavtat
The water taxi will drop you off right in the middle of the village of Cavtat. There’s one main road with cafes and tourist shops. It will take you all but 10 minutes to see the village itself. Cavtat is way more laid back and less touristy than Dubrovnik, so it’s a nice reprieve from the crowds.
From the main village, walk along the water to Beach Bar Little Star. Next to this beach bar is a tidal pool where you can take a dip and lay out. Bring cash to get yourself a beer or Aperol spritz by the water.
Sunset at Lucky Beach Bar
Before heading back to Dubrovnik, get a drink at Lucky Beach Bar in the village to watch the sunset. You can take a dip into the harbor from here if you just can’t get enough of the ocean.
Because you stayed past sunset, there’s a possibility that you can’t get a water taxi back to Dubrovnik, but don’t worry, it’s easy to get an Uber.
Late dinner at Gradska Kavana Arsenal
Go for a late dinner at one of Dubrovnik’s best restaurants: Gradska Kavana Arsenal. The restaurant is by the Old Port, but you’ll likely want to go back to your hotel to freshen up first. Gradska Kavana Arsenal serves traditional Croatian food in an elevated setting.
The later you go, the easier it is to get a table without a reservation. We arrived around 9 p.m. and waited 30 minutes for a table. You can get a glass of wine while you wait and enjoy the view of the port at night.
Day 2: Outside of the City Walls + Lokrum
On your second day, you’ll explore outside of the city by going on a hike (or easy cable car ride) and spending the day on the island of Lokrum.
Hike up Mount Srd or take the cable car
Get a bird’s-eye view of Dubrovnik from Mount Srd. You can hike up to the top in about an hour, or take a quick cable car ride up. The hiking trail is about three miles long with switchbacks most of the way up.
The cable car costs 30 euros per person for a round-trip ride. When you get up to the top, they’ll even try to charge you an extra 3 euros for a better unobstructed view.
Candidly, if you don’t care for more views of the city, you can skip this activity, but the hike is a great way to get a workout in.
Spend the day on the island of Lokrum
It’s easy to lose track of time on Lokrum, an uninhabited island and nature preserve off the coast of Dubrovnik. Peacocks and people roam the island exploring the gardens and beaches. Ferry tickets to Lokrum cost 30 euros round trip. It’s a 15-minute boat ride from the Old Port with ferries leaving every 30 minutes.
Dinner at Taj Mahal for Bosnian food
Now that you’ve tried Croatian food, it’s time to taste the flavors of the region by going to a Bosnian restaurant. The plates at Taj Mahal are reminiscent of Middle Eastern dishes with spreads and spices.
Because Dubrovnik is a small city, many restaurants get booked up in advance. Make a reservation for Taj Mahal here.
Sunset at Buža Bar
Sunsets on the Dalmatian coast are a thing, and Buža Bar is the place to be in Dubrovnik when the sun comes down. Go here after dinner to catch a sunset show of brave souls cliff diving into the sea. The bar is hidden on the other side of Dubrovnik city walls. You’ll need Google Maps to guide you because it can be tricky to find.
Getting into town
Dubrovnik is about a 30-minute drive from the airport. You can catch an Uber to Old Town for about 25 euros. The drive along the coast to reach the city center is scenic, especially if you’re lucky enough to catch the sunset. Cars can’t enter the walled city, which leads us to…
Where to stay in Dubrovnik
Because Dubrovnik is a walled city, the closer you are to the entrances and exits of the walls, the more convenient your stay will be. There are three gates to get into the city: Pile, Ploče, and Buža. Pile is the most central to most of the big sights, but the whole city is very walkable so you can’t go wrong with an Airbnb within the city walls.
Alternate itinerary: stay in Cavtat
In this guide, we spend the majority of our time in Dubrovnik, but you can also choose to spend the night in Cavtat. Cavtat is closer to the Dubrovnik Airport than Dubrovnik itself, making it an easy jumping-off point for the beginning or end of your Croatia trip. While Cavtat was my favorite place to stay in the area, the food is better in Dubrovnik, so if you’re a foodie, stick to Dubrovnik.
We flew into Croatia with a round-trip to Dubrovnik for our vacation on the Dalmatian Coast. We stayed in Dubrovnik for the first two nights of the trip and one night in Cavtat on our way out. For a full guide to Croatia’s coast read the First Timer’s Guide to Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast.
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