Our time in Dubrovnik was so much fun. It really combined our love of history and beaches. Let me tell you what you need to know to go.
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How much time for Dubrovnik
We spent four days in Dubrovnik and loved it. We really felt like this was enough time to enjoy the town itself. There are some things you can do from there by day trip and if you are looking to include them I would add on a few more days as well. I will list out some side trips you can do below so you’ll know if you need more time.
How to get to Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik has an airport that is about 30 minutes/ 22km away from the town. You can also get to Dubrovnik which is what we did. You can read about how we got from Split to Dubrovnik in this blog here.
Where to stay in Dubrovnik
We stayed in an Air BnB that was really well located but not one I would recommend. There are so many good places to stay here, just be prepared that it is a little more expensive. Book early is the best advice as you will get a better price.
I would find something in the same area next time as it was perfect to walk into the old city and explore the area. We stayed just opposite the Hilton Dubrovnik which looked amazing but expensive. If you can find a place near it this is the best area.
What to do in Dubrovnik Croatia
There is so much to do this town and a few really good day trips you can take from here as well. I will list out all the best things to do so you don’t miss out on anything!
The old city
The old city of Dubrovnik is the biggest tourist attraction in the area. It is huge and really beautiful to walk through. It is free to enter and there are tons of restaurants, shops, bakeries and bars to explore. The lanes through out the old city are so picturesque and we spent hours wandering them.
There is even a local fruit and veg market on the weekends where you can buy fruit, veg and locally made souvenirs such as lavender products and needlework linens. We bought some little lavender sachets and oil from a sweet grandmother there. It has beautiful light during early morning and comes alive in the evening.
Old Dubrovnik City Walls
You can do a tour of the city walls or walk them on your own. The site is big and although it doesn’t cost anything to enter the city you do pay for the city walls walk. You can book your tickets through Get Your Guide which is easy and simple and they offer a range of tours. The wall walk is one of the top attractions here and it really is worth it. The views are beautiful. Just note that the ticket to the wall entrance is valid for one entry only. Once you leave the wall area that is your ticket used up. I was surprised by this as they say it is valid for 5 days but that just means once in that 5 days.
Game of Thrones Tour
There are so many Game of Thrones tours that we saw taking place around the Old City and if you are a fan and want to learn more then I would book with Get Your Gide. They have a wide range of GOT tours you are sure to find one you like!
Spend Happy Hour at the West Harbour
There is a beautiful and quiet little spot just outside of the city walls that is called the West Harbour on Google Maps. It is the perfect place to spend happy hour, you can sit and buy drinks at the restaurant there or do what did and bring your own sitting on the waters edge. Great views and vibe here.
Banje Beach
Banje Beach is really close to the old city you can walk to it. We followed a path along the road along the coast and it was really pretty. There is a little supermarket on the way where you can stock up on drinks (no glass allowed on the beach) and snacks for your beach day. There is also the Banje Beach Club where you can pay for a chair and it serves food and drinks.
The beach is stunning and there are views back to the old city. The water was freezing during our visit in May but the days were so hot it was nice to jump in the cold water. Make sure to bring a towel as it is a rocky beach and uncomfortable to lie on, there are big rocks to the left that you can sit on as well.
Plaža Danče / Danče Beach
There is another really sweet beach that is close to the old city. Danče beach is a short walk uphill in the opposite direction from Banje Beach. You can check out the location in our Dubrovnik list on google maps, check them out here.
Buza Bar
There are actually two Buza Bars in the Old Town of Dubrovnik, the original got so popular that they found a second location. We visited the original and the views were stunning. It pays to get there as they open as it really gets busy. Sitting out of the edge of the cliffs with a cold drink is a nice way to spend some time in Dubrovnik!
Dubrovnik Viewpoint
We walked up to the viewpoint (check out our maps!) to see this stunning view. We loved it here and were glad we made the effort. There was no one there when we went after lunch.
Lovrijenac
This is a fortress built on the seaside and now hosts performances. We watched a lovely crowd head up to the Lovrijenac for a performance and there was a little 3 piece band performing on the side of the hill as they walked up. It looked like a great place to see a show. You can also visit it through the day. There are pretty views from the entrance and entry can be included as part of the city wall tickets.
Old Sea Cave Houses
On the way up make sure to detour to the left and check out the cute little houses that are carved in to the side of the mountain. They are still used today apparently.
The Sandwich Bar…Mikes favourite!
If you are looking for the best deal on food in Dubrovnik (food is a bit expensive than other places we travelled) this little sandwich bar is the best! The prices are really reasonable and the sandwiches are great. Mike ate almost exclusively there. Run by a family it is the best place to eat in Dubrovnik!
Day trip to Mostar and Kravica Waterfall
This day trip is really poplar from Dubrovnik. The town of Mostar and the Kravica waterfall is in Bosnia and Herzegovina and really not that far from Dubrovnik. This tour combines both of them in the one day and is a great way to see them both. In Mostar you will see the famous bridge where the bridge jumping championships are held. You will more than likely see people jumping as well. The town is pretty and the waterfalls are gorgeous! We recommend this tour with Get Your Guide as they are a trusted company.
Day trip to Montenegro
Montenegro is a great day trip from Dubrovnik and this tour with Get Your Guide covers the most popular bits. We really want to spend some time in Montenegro but until we can this trip is awesome! Montenegro is an easy visit from Croatia and kind of like Croatia before it became really popular.
Kayaking around Dubrovnik
There are some great kayaking tours around Dubrovnik where you can start off on a beach just outside the old city walls and visit to Lokrum Island. Check it out below
Click on the map below to check out our list on Google Maps of places to check out while in Dubrovnik
We loved visiting Dubrovnik. For more info see our blog on out top 10 photo spots in Dubrovnik, What to do in Split Croatia and Best things to do Hvar Croatia.
