Croatia Travel Guide – The Best Things to Do in Dubrovnik

Croatia is a beautiful country that has exploded in popularity in recent years. Dubrovnik in particular has seen a huge increase in tourism, thanks in part to its role as a filming location for Game of Thrones. If you’re planning a trip to Croatia, here’s my Dubrovnik Travel Guide which includes the top things to do in Dubrovnik, where to eat, best hotels, how to get around, and more!

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How to Get to Dubrovnik

The most common way to get to Dubrovnik is by flying into Dubrovnik’s international airport. From there, it’s pretty easy to get to the city center. You can take the Airport Shuttle Bus which drops off at Pile Gate right outside of Old Town for around 10 euros one way. The shuttle takes about 30-40 minutes, so if you want to get into town quicker you can also take an Uber or Taxi. It takes about 20-30 minutes to get to the city center by car and you can expect to pay about 30 euros for an Uber/Bolt. 

Best Time to Visit Dubrovnik

While the most popular time to visit Dubrovnik is in the summer months of July and August, in my opinion, the best time to visit is May, June, or September. The weather is still warm, there’s fewer crowds compared to peak season, and hotel prices will be lower. 

While July and August do have great weather for laying on the beach and swimming, there’s also a LOT more tourist crowds and hotel prices will also be highest during this time. So if you’re trying to plan a trip on a budget, I would avoid July and August if you can. It can also be difficult to get dinner reservations in July and August, especially if you’re trying to get into one of the restaurants with a sunset view of the water.

10 Best Things To Do In Dubrovnik

1. Walk the City Walls

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Dubrovnik’s City Walls are probably the city’s most iconic landmark, with its massive stone walls completely surrounding the Old Town. There’s incredible panoramic views at the wall viewpoints, as well as several towers and forts. It takes around 1.5 to 2 hours to walk the full length of the walls, and you’ll want to go either as early as you can, or at sunset in order to avoid the cruise ship crowds. There’s also no shade on top of the walls, so try to go earlier in the day to beat the heat.

2. Explore Dubrovnik’s Old Town

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Dubrovnik’s Old Town is probably one of the most beautifully preserved medieval cities in the world. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it’s filled with marble streets, beautiful architecture, and of course its iconic red terracotta rooftops. Within the Old Town you’ll want to visit Pile Gate, Rector’s Palace, Dubrovnik Cathedral, the Jesuit Stairs, and Stradun Main Street. 

3. Visit Fort Lovrijenac

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Game of Thrones fans will instantly recognize this spot as the famous Red Keep in King’s Landing, but Fort Lovrijenac is actually a centuries old fortress just outside the Old City Walls. Today it’s used as a theater venue during the summer so you can actually see plays and concerts inside. It also has beautiful views of the sea and entrance is included with your ticket to the City Walls, so make sure to stop by!

4. Visit the Elaphite Islands

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The Elaphite Islands are a small archipelago off the coast of Dubrovnik. While there’s twelve islands in total, only three are inhabited – Koločep, Lopud, and Šipan. They have great swimming spots, secluded coves, blue caves, and picturesque beaches. You can take a small cruise to easily see all three islands or you can take a ferry and visit one or two of them.

5. Croatian Wine Tasting

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If you’re a fan of wine, then you’ll definitely want to try out the wines of Croatia. Croatia’s mediterranean climate means the country produces incredible wines of all varieties. You can take a trip to a vineyard for panoramic views, or if you want a more relaxed environment you can visit one of the city’s wine bars. We went to D’Vino wine bar and loved it!

6. Game of Thrones Tour

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If you’re a fan of Game of Thrones, then you’ll probably recognize a lot of sites around Dubrovnik’s Old Town. The show filmed many of its iconic scenes around Dubrovnik and other parts of Croatia, and you can take guided tours to see all the iconic spots like the walls of King’s Landing, or the staircase steps of Cersei’s walk of shame!

7. Bosnia Day Trip

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Did you know that you can visit another country on a day trip from Dubrovnik? Mostar, a city in Bosnia & Herzegovina, is just a 3 hour drive away, making it an easy day trip. The main highlights are Stari Most (the Old Bridge), the Old Bazaar, and Kravice Waterfalls just outside the city. If you’ve rented a car with Green Card insurance for cross-border travel, you can make the drive yourself and go at your own pace. However, if you don’t want to drive or just want an option that’s more convenient, there’s also a ton of guided tours available with transportation included. If you do decide to do a day trip to Mostar, remember to bring your passport!

8. Visit Lokrum Island

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Located just 15 minutes away by ferry, Lokrum Island is a beautiful hidden gem. It has beautiful gardens, swimming spots, ruins, and plenty of nature. Cars aren’t allowed and you can’t stay overnight either, but you can easily explore the island in a few hours since it’s small.

9. Cable Car to Mount Srđ

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If you want incredible panoramic views of Dubrovnik, you can take a cable car up to the top of Mount Srđ. It has amazing 360 degree views of the city, a small museum, and a restaurant called Panorama. Panorama Restaurant is super popular, especially at sunset, so you’ll need to book reservations several weeks in advance in order to get a table!

10. Relax on the Beach

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Dubrovnik’s location on the Adriatic Sea means crystal clear, perfectly blue water. There’s several beaches in Dubrovnik as well as plenty of beach clubs and bars to rent sunbeds and relax with a cocktail!

Where to Eat and Drink in Dubrovnik

Best Bars in Dubrovnik

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Cave Bar More | Cave Bar

D’Vino Wine Bar | Wine Bar

Mr. Foster Bar | Cocktail Bar

Beach Bar Dodo | Beach Bar

Buza Bar | Beach Bar

M’Arden Dubrovnik | Wine Bar

Love Bar | Rooftop Bar

Where to Stay in Dubrovnik

Old Town: Dubrovnik’s Old Town is the heart of all the action. It’s super walkable, has lots of character and beautiful architecture. One quick warning, no cars are allowed inside the Old Town, so if you stay in this area you’ll need to carry all of your bags across cobblestones and potentially up lots of stairs as well. It also can get pretty busy with cruise day trippers and hotel prices tend to be higher in this area as well.

Ploče: Located just outside the Old Town, Ploče is great for luxury stays and stunning views. It’s less than a 10 minute walk to the Old Town so you still have easy access to all of Dubrovnik’s main attractions. It’s definitely more peaceful than the Old Town, but be aware many hotels are on top of hills with steep steps.

Lapad: This area is great if you want to stay by the beach. It’s about 10-15 minutes from Old Town by bus so the main attractions are still fairly accessible. You can also take sunset walks with amazing views along the promenade.

Babin Kuk: Babin Kuk is a resort style area with lots of hotels and access to nature. It’s a bit further away from the Old Town though, and takes 15-20 minutes to get into the main area by bus or taxi. It’s more of a peaceful area compared to Old Town, but this also means there aren’t as many restaurants, so a lot of tourists end up eating at their hotels.

Hotel Spotlight

Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik

Hotel Class: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Best For: Families, Friends, Couples

Avg. Rate: $400+

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Hotel Highlights:

🏠 Close to Old Town

👟 Fitness Center

🍽️ Restaurant & Bar

💧 Indoor Pool

🍸 Executive Lounge

🧖🏾‍♀️ Spa Facilities

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The Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik is a beautiful 19th century hotel with a classic, luxurious European feel. It’s located right outside the main gates to Dubrovnik’s Old Town, so you can easily reach the city’s main sites in just a few minutes’ walk. We stayed in an executive twin room and had a lovely stay.

The property has tons of amenities like an indoor pool, sauna, spa, fitness center, and more. The main restaurant, the Imperial Terrace offers a mix of Mediterranean and Dalmatian cuisine, and it also has an outdoor patio terrace. We had dinner at the hotel our first night since our flight arrived late at night, and found the food to be very good. Diamond members also have access to the Executive Lounge, which has complimentary breakfast as well as evening snacks and wine during happy hour. 

Book Your Stay Here

Best Beaches in Dubrovnik

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Uvala Lapad Beach

Bellevue Beach

Banje Beach

Sveti Jakov Beach

Copacabana Beach

How to Get Around Dubrovnik

Walking: Dubrovnik’s Old Town is fairly small, so you can easily get around on foot. In fact, you can get from one end to the other in around 15 minutes! The city does have a lot of steps and cobblestones though, so make sure to wear comfortable shoes.

Buses: Dubrovnik’s bus network is great for taking day trips. You can take the bus from the city to places like Lapad, the ferry port, and the airport. There is also a shuttle that goes from the airport to the city center available to book.

Uber/Bolt: Rideshare apps like Uber and Bolt are available across Croatia and usually offer better prices than taxis. 

How Many Days to Spend in Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik is a fairly small city, and Croatia has so many places to see, so I would recommend spending 2-3 days in Dubrovnik if you are planning a trip to the region. 3 days in Dubrovnik is plenty of time to explore the city, and you’ll be able to see the major sites without rushing.

Is Dubrovnik Safe?

Dubrovnik is generally considered to be pretty safe for tourists, and has a fairly low crime rate. However any time you are traveling you’ll want to take the usual precautions like watching your bags, avoiding poorly lit areas, etc. Most issues in the tourist areas of Dubrovnik are related to petty theft like pickpocketing or taxi scams so just be sure to stay alert in crowded areas.

What to Wear in Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik has a mediterranean climate, which means hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters. If you’re visiting in the summer, you’ll want to wear clothes that are light, breathable and comfortable. The sun in the Mediterranean region is also much stronger than you think, so it will often feel hotter than what the forecast says. It’s a great time to wear any linen outfits you’ve been wanting to show off, and cotton is another breathable fabric that I’d recommend. And of course, don’t forget your swimsuit!

If you’re visiting in the off season, then layers will be your best friend so you can quickly adapt to the changing temperature throughout the day. A light cardigan or jacket is perfect for chilly mornings and evenings.

If you’re planning to visit churches, I’d also recommend bringing a light scarf or shawl to cover your shoulders with. Also, Dubrovnik’s Old Town is mostly cobblestone, so you’ll want to wear comfortable shoes and leave your heels at home!