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Things To Do In Dubrovnik in 2020

March 3, 2020/17 Comments/in Activities /by Frank G

If you are planning to visit Dubrovnik, below you will find our list of essential things to do in Dubrovnik. We've done the hard part, we've kayaked, cliff-jumped drank wine, cruised on a motor yacht, tested local restaurants, so you don't have to :).

What To Do in Dubrovnik Croatia | Croatia Travel Guide & Blog

All jokes aside, you'll find tons of things to do in Dubrovnik. For the best experience, we encourage you to go beyond the city walls. Also, don't forget to check these fourteen day trips from Dubrovnik.

And now it’s time to discover all things to do in Dubrovnik.

Contents

1 50 awesome things to do in Dubrovnik
2 Must-see attractions in Dubrovnik
3 Tour Dubrovnik city walls
4 Explore Dubrovnik old town
5 That cable car ride!
6 Lokrum, baby!
7 Explore Dubrovnik museums
8 Game of Thrones tour
9 Have a thematic walk
10 The most popular activities in Dubrovnik
11 Sea kayaking
12 Rock climbing
13 Dubrovnik cliff jumping
14 Jet Ski
15 Scuba diving
16 Deep-sea fishing
17 Fly board
18 SUP
19 ATV-Quad Safari
20 Horseback riding
21 Escape Room Dubrovnik
22 Cadmos Village Adventures
23 Spend a night in a treehouse
24 Cycling in Dubrovnik
25 Jeep safari
26 Hiking in Konavli
27 Best things to do in Dubrovnik for hedonists
28 Eat like a king
29 Taste local wines
30 Tour the brewery
31 Have a drink at Dubrovnik cliff bar
32 Have an ice cream
33 Visit Green Market
34 Day tours from Dubrovnik
35 Visit Peljesac
36 Cross the border to Montenegro
37 Explore Korcula
- 37.1 How to reach Korcula from Dubrovnik:
38 Mljet National Park
- 38.1 How to reach Mljet from Dubrovnik:
39 Discover Mostar
40 Neretva River Safari
41 Boat excursions and half-day Dubrovnik tours
42 Sunset cruise
43 Visit Dubrovnik’s haunted island
44 Cruise Elafiti Islands
45 Enjoy Dubrovnik panorama from the sea
46 Capture the moment
47 Trsteno Arboretum
48 Sokol Tower
49 Explore Vjetrenica cave
50 More free things to do in Dubrovnik
51 Beach time
52 Art time with Stjepko
53 People watch
54 Chase the views
55 Old Napoleon’s road
56 Visit Konavle Valley
57 Prevlaka Nature Park
58 A quick Dubrovnik travel guide
- 58.1 Dubrovnik Accommodation
- 58.2 Restaurants in Dubrovnik
- 58.3 Bars in Dubrovnik
- 58.4 Events in Dubrovnik
- 58.5 Getting around Dubrovnik
- 58.6 Dubrovnik transfers
- 58.7 Car rental in Dubrovnik
- 58.8 Further reading

50 awesome things to do in Dubrovnik

With its historic old town, lovely pebbly beaches, tiny islands in the vicinity, and wine-growing Konavle valley, Dubrovnik is one of the best known, and most visited towns in Croatia. It’s a perfect place to visit either for a day or longer.

Our family lives near Dubrovnik, and we visit it often, at least two, three times a year.

Sometimes we are discouraged with crowds, and high prices, but all in all, we always find Dubrovnik lovely, and kind of inspiring. And besides, the weather down south is always better than in Istria where we live.

Beware that this post is kind of long, as we committed to going beyond top things to do in Dubrovnik, and give you instead of a comprehensive guide on what to do in Dubrovnik.

When friends tip us about new activities and things to do in Dubrovnik, we regularly check back with this post and add those we find noteworthy.

NO TIME TO READ THE ENTIRE POST? CHECK 5 MOST POPULAR THINGS TO DO IN DUBROVNIK & DAY TOURS FROM DUBROVNIK!

Must-see attractions in Dubrovnik

It is called the “Pearl of Adriatic” for reason. Dubrovnik history dates back to the 7th century and the town offers a load of attractions for visitors to enjoy.

Dubrovnik prospered the most in the medieval times, from its independence of Venice, in 1358 until the dissolution of Dubrovnik Republic in 1808.

The most prosperous years for Dubrovnik, the time when the majority of the town as we know it today was built, happened in the 15th and 16th centuries.

The highlights include the town’s two km long city walls, Dubrovnik’s Cathedral
and the treasury, the main pedestrian street Placa or Stradun, Rector’s Palace and the Sponza Palace, Fort Lovrijenac, Lokrum island, and the mount Srd.

Tour Dubrovnik city walls

Because they are incredible, and because you ought to

If you plan to do only one of all possible things to do in Dubrovnik, then tour the city walls. Dubrovnik defensive walls encircle the entire old town of Dubrovnik. Two kilometers long, and consisting of 17 towers, 5 bastions, two corner fortifications, and the St. John Fortress, they are Dubrovnik’s main attraction.

City walls date back to the 13th century, although the walls were also constantly reinforced in later years.

Walking the city walls is one of the things to do in Dubrovnik that every visitor should do.

Dubrovnik city walls cost | 200 Kn per adult (18+), and 50 Kn for kids

Few tips for visiting Dubrovnik city walls:

Plan your visit as early or as late as possible in order to avoid the crowds, and the heat (besides, the lights for photography are much better at that time of the day).
Wear a hat, and sunscreen at all times.
Bring enough water with you.
Don’t forget the camera. Take awesome photos!

Explore Dubrovnik old town

Things To Do In Dubrovnik | Explore Old Town

Dubrovnik's old town is located within the city walls. And the city walls, although the most popular site to visit in Dubrovnik, are just one of many attractions in Dubrovnik's old city.

Built entirely of the white stones, polished with ages, the old town abounds in Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque palaces, churches, and monasteries.

Walk up and down the Placa (Stradun), Dubrovnik’s main street.

Visit the Rector’s Palace, once the siege of the government and the most important public building in Dubrovnik.

A former custom building, the Sponza Palace, constructed in 1520, houses today town’s archive that keeps the most important documents about Dubrovnik’s history.

Get away from the crowd in the back streets of Dubrovnik, or relax watching the sea and small boats in Dubrovnik’s old port.

Visit museums, churches, and the oldest operating pharmacy in Europe.

You can do a walking tour Dubrovnik on your own or you can also check guided Dubrovnik city tour.

Or take a private guided tour to learn more about the town. Find the latest prices and full itinerary here.

That cable car ride!

… because views are great

Things To Do In Dubrovnik | Cable Car Ride

A cable car takes you from downtown Dubrovnik 778 m up to Mount Srd. The ride takes less than 5 minutes. Views from the top over the old town are wonderful. There is a cafe/bistro where you can have a drink or a bite while enjoying the views.

A round-trip ticket costs 170 Kn for adults, and 60 Kn for kids (4 to 12 years old).

More info here. Or check this combo tour: Cable Car and Walking Tour

Lokrum, baby!

A small island, just 600 m off the coast of Dubrovnik, Lokrum is a protected natural reserve and a monument of landscape architecture. Lokrum is also the largest park of Dubrovnik.

It’s a popular swimming spot and a place to spend a day away from the city, for locals and tourists alike.

Lokrum is open to the public from April through October. However, overnight stays on the island are prohibited.

The first boat departs at 10 am from Dubrovnik's old harbor. It runs every hour. The last boat departs at 4 pm. The crossing takes 10 minutes.

A return ticket costs 200 Kn per adult. Children 5 to 15 years of age pay 30 Kn. You can buy a ticket on the spot. The boat doesn't sail in case of bad weather, and in winter.

Tip: If you purchase a Dubrovnik Card, you get a discount of 20% (3-day card), or 30% (7-day card).

Explore Dubrovnik museums

Things To Do In Dubrovnik | Explore Museums

Dubrovnik is full of history, apparent at every corner of the old town. But the town also features many interesting museums worth exploring.

Our favorite museum is the Ethnographic museum Rupe. Tucked away in the back streets of the old town, and housed in the ancient granary, the Rupe museum features over 5.000 pieces showcasing Dubrovnik social life, customs, and traditions of its people throughout the history.

A Dominican Monastery also houses important artworks from ancient Dubrovnik. A monastery has wonderful architecture, especially a cloister featuring splendid stonework, and lovely landscaped garden.

The tower Gornji Ugao was an original cannon foundry. It spreads on over 600 m2, and it has preserved all parts of the production process. The museum is super interesting, and the guide – Divo makes a visit really worthwhile.

A recently open Love Stories Museum attracts visitors with its unique exhibitions of love and romance. Through a series of unique items, the exhibitions tell love stories from movies and TV shows that were filmed in Dubrovnik (Game of Thrones is there too!); from the music through the people who were inspiration for famous love songs; then local love stories and myths as well as global collection of love stories donated by various people from all over the world.

Red History Museum brings an insight into what life was during the socialist times in ex-Yugoslavia. It does so in an interesting, interactive way combining augmented reality, interactive audio, and good old role-playing (if you wish). It does so also in a humorous way. Get more info here!

There are many other museums in town, but these are our favorite four. We’ll cover all the other museums in a separate post.

Game of Thrones tour

And it isn’t only for die-hard GoT fans.

Things To Do In Dubrovnik | Fort Lovrjenac as seen on Games of Thrones

This walking tour of Dubrovnik takes you to many filming locations of HBO series Game of Thrones. Guides on these tours have all been extras on sets and can tell few anecdotes from behind the scene.

We highly recommend booking Game of Thrones Dubrovnik tour in advance.

Expect to pay around 53 € (60 US$, 46 £) per person, but it also includes a panoramic cruise. Save on Game of Thrones Dubrovnik Tour & Cruise by booking in advance.

Or book a Game of Thrones walking tour. Check availability here!

Have a thematic walk

Dubrovnik, with so many years of history, tells many different stories. You can explore the town anew every time you walk it through, always looking for some other aspect of its rich history.

Do you know that back in the time of Dubrovnik Republic no political decision could be made on days when the south wind was blowing? Or that the Dubrovnik Republic had no army at all, and yet, it was one of the most important maritime trading centers of its time? You can discover these and other Dubrovnik’ intriguing stories with Myths & Legends tour.

Another interesting aspect of Dubrovnik’s past is the town’s Jewish heritage. In fact, Dubrovnik’s synagogue is the oldest functioning Sephardic synagogue in Europe. Since 1407 Dubrovnik Senate allowed Jewish people to settle in Dubrovnik. However, it wasn’t until the late 15^th century and an expelling of Jews from Spain that a larger number of them chose Dubrovnik as their permanent home. The life wasn’t always easy for Jews in Dubrovnik, and today they remain less than 50. The community might be small, but it is strongly determined in preserving Jewish heritage in Dubrovnik. Take a private walking tour to learn more about it.

We also like a kind of quirky ghost tour of Dubrovnik. To add a thrill to the story, this walk starts at twilight at Dubrovnik’s cemetery – Boninovo. It takes you from there to the old town, through narrow streets, and back alleys, revealing many scary stories from Dubrovnik’s past. True or not, who could say, but these stories will certainly give you the chills.

The most popular activities in Dubrovnik

Don’t forget that Dubrovnik lies by the beautiful Adriatic Sea and, besides culture and history, it also offers a wealth of outdoor activities.

The most popular outdoor activities include sea kayaking, cycling, cliff jumping, horseback riding, and various water sports like diving, fishing and jet ski.

Sea kayaking

Because it's awesome, and everybody's doing it!

Things To Do In Dubrovnik | Sea Kayaking

The best way to experience Dubrovnik in all its beauty is to see it from the sea. High-rising defensive walls and its forts and towers look even more impressive when seen from the sea.

Sea kayaking is one of the most popular ways to experience Dubrovnik from the sea. Many agencies offer half-day and full-day sea kayaking tours.

A tour usually starts at the small beach just below the Pile Gate and takes you around the city walls, and the island of Lokrum, to the small pebbly cave beach.

Expect to pay around 30 € (28 US$, 25 £) for a 3-hour day tour, and around 35 € (40 US$, 32 £) for the sunset kayaking tour.

Rock climbing

In the vicinity of Dubrovnik, you'll find a couple of rock climbing sites. The most visited rock climbing site, although not the most exciting, is Brgat.

Brgat is a small site, attractive for its vicinity to the town, really easy access, and the ease of climb. Here you can test your skills on 15 climbing routes. Routes have an average length of 12 m, and they are suitable for beginners.

If you are a beginner climber, consider booking one of the guided rock climbing tours. You'll get a brief climbing and safety instruction, and experience free rock climbing using only your hands, feet and body.

YOU CAN BOOK THIS EXPERIENCE IN ADVANCE THROUGH OUR PARTNER.

Dubrovnik cliff jumping

Dubrovnik cliff jumping attracts many young tourists in search of some adrenalin rush. The most popular cliff jumping spot is near the Buza Bar. However, cliff jumping at Buza is also a cause of the majority of fatalities and injuries in Dubrovnik in the last years, as more tourists started taking a dive here.

A perhaps less thrilling, and less convenient, but safer option for Dubrovnik cliff jumping, you’ll find on the island of Lokrum. The entire coastline here is rocky, and there are lots of spots for cliff diving. Cliffs range from few meters to 20 m in height. And many have ladders to climb up from the sea.

Jet Ski

What a better way to explore the coast around Dubrovnik than riding around on a jet ski. In fact, you don’t need any boating license to ride a jet ski (if you want to rent a boat, you’ll need a boating license).

There are few places in Dubrovnik where you can rent jet skis. Jet Ski Rental is located on Lapad peninsula, and Gari transfer just across the bridge toward Mokosica (Gari transfer, being out of the town, offers a pick-up and drop-off to your desired location).

The prices start at 500 Kn (approx. 70 € / 75 US$ / 60 £) for a 30-minute rent, to 1300 Kn (175 € / 190 US$ / 150 £) for a 4-hour rent. If renting for a half-day or full-day, count on spending an additional 500 to 750 Kn (approx. 70-100 €) for fuel.

However, if you are not familiar with the surrounding area, and want to see as much as possible in a short time that you’ll spend on a jet ski, both companies offer jet ski safaris. On these safaris, you join a group tour with a local guide who will show you all the highlights.

YOU CAN ALSO RENT A JET SKI OR JET SKI SAFARI TOUR THROUGH VIATOR.

Scuba diving

Caves, wrecks, walls, and reefs await divers in waters around Dubrovnik. The most popular sites include caves, walls and house reefs in the sea near the hotel Dubrovnik Palace, Cape Bezdan and Jabuka on the island of Kolocep, waters around Lokrum Island, and islands off the coast of Cavtat.

Blue Planet diving put together a list with a detailed description of all major diving sites in and around Dubrovnik.

You can check here 1-Day Discover Scuba Diving Course or 1 Dive for Certified Divers.

Deep-sea fishing

Deep-sea fishing is fishing that you never know how it will go. So, you even might catch something.

But, if there is one place to go deep-sea fishing in Croatia, then it must be Dubrovnik. The Adriatic Sea is generally very shallow, and it only gets deeper in the southern part of Croatia. Thus, Dubrovnik!

Guys behind Dubrovnik's deep fishing tours know the area in and out. Their local knowledge helps increase chances for successful fishing. The best time to go deep-sea fishing is from late August on, as it’s tuna and bonito fishing season.

Prices start at 100 € per person (with full capacity of 4). Check availability and prices here.

Fly board

If you are looking for water-related things to do in Dubrovnik, a fly board can add some fun to your Dubrovnik trip. Few places offer fly board experience in Dubrovnik: Jet Ski Rent, and Dubrovnik Water Sports, to mention few.

Fly board propels you up to 15 m into the air, that you’ll feel like flying.

Prices start at 480 Kn (65 €) for a 20-minute fly.

SUP

Paddleboarding is fun. However, it seems that stand-up paddles still haven’t hit Dubrovnik. We found SUP rentals in nearby Cavtat, and Zaton. At 90 kn per hour, there is no excuse not to take on paddleboarding while in Dubrovnik. You should be able to easily reach Cavtat and Zaton by public transportation.

ATV-Quad Safari

There are a couple of agencies in Dubrovnik offering a quad safari tour through Dubrovnik countryside. However, we highly recommend Kojan Koral ATV tour. Pero, the owner, used to work with us on a cruise ship, prior to opening Kojan Koral in his hometown.

The tour starts at their premises, in a village of Radocici, just 30 km south of Dubrovnik (transfer is included in the price of the tour). After brief safety instructions, you embark on a 2.5-hour ride through swamp, river, hills, and meadows. A snack is served at the Kojan Koral upon return.

The price is 600 Kn (80 € / 90 US$ / 72 £) per person for two-persons quad, and 700 Kn (93 € / 105 US$ / 85 £) per person if only one person takes a quad.

Horseback riding

12 Great Day Trips From Dubrovnik | Konavle

Things To Do in Dubrovnik | Horseback riding with Kojan Koral

For horseback riding in Dubrovnik, we again recommend our friends at Kojan Koral. Their horses are beautiful, and well cared about. The tour lasts two hours. The trail is 11 km long, and it takes you through forests, and along the rocky coastline.

The tour is suitable for beginners. It’s super relaxing. The price starts at 112 € per person, and it also includes wine and snacks upon your return to the ranch, but also a transfer to and from your accommodation.

Escape Room Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik Escape Room offers two distinctive escape games. Both have similar rules: 2 to 5 players, 60-minute time slot to find clues, solve the puzzle, and get you out of the room. However, themes differ: in one you are trying to save the kingdom, and in other, you help find the hidden treasure while learning about the history of Dubrovnik.

The prices go from 185 Kn to 230 Kn per person, depending on the number of players, and season.

Cadmos Village Adventures

In the forest near a village of Komaji, just a 30-minute drive from Dubrovnik, you’ll find Cadmos Village, an adventure park offering three-level adventure course, four zip lines, giant swing, archery, and paintball. The place is run by two friends, and they built it from scratch.

This is a great place to spend a morning or afternoon out and away from seaside crowds.

More info at their website.

Spend a night in a treehouse

Things To Do In Dubrovnik | Treehouse | Photo credit: Cadmos Village

You can spend a night in a real treehouse, over at the Cadmos Village. The treehouse is built on a 50 m2 wooden platform, on the oak tree. It’s fully equipped and comfy with its own bathroom and kitchen. The outdoor terrace is amazing, featuring deck chairs, but also a hammock (I am a big fan of hammocks!).

It’s a unique spot to spend your holidays in Dubrovnik.

Prices start at 100 € a night in high season, and the treehouse can accommodate 6 persons.

MORE INFO HERE.

Cycling in Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik town offers little opportunities for cycling. Dubrovnik is very hilly, and also busy with car traffic. Thus, not easy to cycle. However, you can do some decent recreational cycling on Lapad peninsula.

For an enjoyable ride, you’ll need to get out of town. Popular cycling trails, you’ll find on Elafiti Islands and in Konavle.

You can cycle both, Elafiti islands and Konavle, on your own. Or, you can also book a group cycling tour to Elafiti.

Jeep safari

A great way to discover Konavle Valley is taking a jeep safari tour. This tour takes you sightseeing through Konavle region, from the flat terrain of Konavle Valley across streams of Ljuta River to cliffs rising high above the Adriatic sea along with villages of Radovcici and Popovici.

The tour also includes an off-road demonstration ride on a polygon, a visit to old watermills on Ljuta River, and a snack and drinks in a local tavern.

More info here.

Hiking in Konavli

If you like hiking, this 4-hour Konavle hiking tour can be just the right thing to do in Dubrovnik.

The hike starts at the former train station in Vojski Do (today this property houses a restaurant), and takes you along the former railroad, through nature and villages beneath Snjeznica Mountain.

You’ll pass through two former railroad tunnels. The tour ends in Cadmos Park Adventure Park. The views all along the paths are awesome. The hike itself is only 2-hour long. The hike is easy to moderate, as you mostly walk downhill.

CHECK PRICES AND AVAILABILITY.

If you would like to hike the Konavle region on your own, check a few hiking trails explained here.

Best things to do in Dubrovnik for hedonists

Embarrassed (not) to say that more often than not Vera and I travel to eat. Don't judge! We do love architecture, we do love meeting locals, we do love nature and some activities, but above all, we really love to eat.

So if you are a little bit like us, below you will find a couple of ideas on what to do in Dubrovnik for foodies.

Eat like a king

We still love eating out in Dubrovnik! However, as the prices keep augmenting, and ingredients keep losing its freshness (hello, frozen potatoes!), to be honest, we also keep getting more difficult to please.

Anyways, thanks to few personal favorites (like Bota Sushi Bar!), we still consider that Dubrovnik, along with Zagreb, Split, and Istria, has the best restaurants in all Croatia.

Don’t miss fresh and elegant seafood at the Oyster and Sushi Bar Bota, a fusion of Croatian and Asian dishes at the Azur, great value for money and friendly service at The Gaffe Pub, the classical Mediterranean at the Proto, and laid back atmosphere and simple but tasty seafood dishes at Glorijet, locals' favorite place for a marenda (light lunch).

Read our full post on best restaurants in Dubrovnik Croatia. Or check this lovely food and wine tour of the town.

Taste local wines

Wine is super popular in all Croatia. And Dubrovnik is no exception. Wine-growing Konavle Valley lies just 20 km south of Dubrovnik, and it's famed for white wine Malvasija Dubrovacka.

Up north, 30 km from Dubrovnik, lies Peljesac peninsula, famed for its Plavac mali grape, an offspring of Zinfandel & Dobricic. The best Croatian reds are Dingac and Postup, both made of Plavac mali grapes grown on the south slopes of Peljesac.

Thus, when in Dubrovnik, don't miss tasting some local wines. You can do so at Wine Bar D'Vino that has a good choice of Croatian wine by the glass. Or you can do so by going to the source: visiting wine producers in the region. We highly recommend visiting Karaman Winery in Konavle, or Milos Winery and Saints Hills Winery on Peljesac.

Check availability and prices of this great Dubrovnik wine tasting tour.

Tour the brewery

Croatia has always been a wine-producing country, and while Croatians like beer and they certainly drink more beer than wine, the beers here were mostly mass-produced lagers.

However, in the last few years, craft beer has gained real momentum in Croatia. And we hope it's not just a temporary fashion, but rather a phenomenon that is here to stay.

If you would like to taste local craft beer from Dubrovnik, head to the Dubrovnik Beer Company. The brewery and the taproom are both located in the former salt storage in the port of Gruz.

Dubrovnik beer company offers a very informative and interesting guided brewery tour. It goes without saying that the visit should end with a tasting of DBC's four craft beers: Maestral, Goa, Fortunal, and Grego.

The price per person is 240 Kn (32 €) and it includes a brewery tour (approx. 40 min), followed by craft beer sampling accompanied by a light snack (charcuterie, cheese, bread).

This tour is available daily, at 4 pm and 5 pm, from February through October. The taproom is open daily from February through December.

FIND MORE INFO AT BREWERY WEBSITE.

Have a drink at Dubrovnik cliff bar

Buza 1 and Buza 2 are two tiny bars located on the cliffs at the outer edge of the city walls. Both Dubrovnik cliff bars are extremely popular throughout the day.

Have a drink, ~~cliff jump in blue Adriatic~~ (or better not for your own safety), or watch the sun sets over the sea.

Have an ice cream

You'll notice ice cream parlors on every corner of the old town. But one place, in particular, is famed for its creamy ice creams, and yummy crêpes – Dolce Vita. Tucked away in a side street, just off the Stradun, Dubrovnik's main street, Dolce Vita is equally frequented by locals and tourists.

It offers 28 different flavors of ice cream, a selection of homemade cakes, and awesome pancakes with a choice of different toppings.

Contacts | a: Naljeskoviceva 1a, Dubrovnik | m: +385 98 944 9951

Another ice cream parlor is gaining in popularity since it opened in 2017 – Peppino's Confectionery Lovers' Club. Find it at Ulica od Puca 9 street!

Visit Green Market

Dubrovnik has two open-air green markets: one is in Gruz neighborhood, and another one in the old town, at Gunduliceva Poljana, just behind the main street.

The market is open daily until 1 pm. Go early in the morning to buy fresh fruits and vegetables. This can especially be handy if you are staying at an apartment in the old town.

Day tours from Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik's main attractions can all be seen within two days, even within a day if you are pressed with time. However, if you are staying in Dubrovnik for more than two days, Dubrovnik is a great base to explore the surrounding areas.

First, you can visit two other countries, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Montenegro, in a less than two hours drive from Dubrovnik. In fact, a visit to Mostar in Bosnia, and Kotor Bay in Montenegro are two single most popular day trips from Dubrovnik. I don't know about you, but visiting yet another country is always exciting for us.

Other popular day tours from Dubrovnik include a visit to the wine-growing Peljesac peninsula, Korcula and Mljet Island, and our personal favorite Neretva Valley Safari.

We've also written a post on the best day trips from Dubrovnik if you would like to explore further.

Visit Peljesac

Peljesac is one of our favorite parts of Croatia. And despite being so close to Dubrovnik (Ston, where peninsula joins the mainland, is only 60 km from Dubrovnik), and being famed for its red wine, wonderful beaches, and serving as the main gateway to Mljet and Korcula islands, Peljesac peninsula still remains under the radar to many tourists.

If you wish to visit Peljesac on your own, you’ll need a car (you can rent one for a day here). It takes about an hour to reach Ston, where you can visit the longest fortification walls in Europe (Ston Walls), and saltworks.

From Ston, you can drive up north, all the way to Orebic (where you can take a ferry to Korcula if you have time). On the way, stop for a wine tasting at Milos or Saints Hills Winery, take a scenic road through the wine-growing Dingac Hills where you can admire wonderful views over the sea, and the vineyards, or beach hop among some of the nicest beaches in Croatia.

If you are short with time, or you prefer not to drink and drive, look into this small-group tour of Peljesac & Korcula.

Cross the border to Montenegro

Border crossing to Montenegro is only 40 km south of Dubrovnik. If you stay in Dubrovnik for a couple of days, visiting Montenegro can be a good idea (especially if you still get excited about visiting multiple countries on your holidays).

Kotor town and Kotor Bay are within easy reach from Dubrovnik, and well worth a visit.

The walled old town of Kotor is full of history, and lovely medieval architecture, including churches, palaces, narrow cobbled streets, lively town squares, and cozy cafes.

If you travel by car, take a ferry boat Lepetari-Kamenare. It will cut your driving time significantly. However, on your way back from Kotor, we highly recommend that you take a coastal road around the bay of Kotor. Stop in a lovely village of Perast, and time-permitted visit a small island Our Lady of the Rocks (CRO. Gospa od Škrpjela) with a church of the same name. You can also plan a meal at Catovica Mlini restaurant in the village of Morinj.

You can also consider visiting Budva, and Lovcen National Park. Budva, today, it’s the most popular seaside resort in Montenegro, with a very nice old town, awesome sandy beaches in the vicinity, and active nightlife.

We also liked climbing up the mountain to the Lovcen National Park. The road up from Kotor is old, narrow, and with a couple of serious serpentines. To meet another car, or a bus, on this road can give you serious chills. However, the views are well worth a climb.

You can easily visit Montenegro on your own. At least parts of it, like the itinerary that we’ve suggested above. However, if you don’t fancy driving in a foreign country, through the narrow and winding roads, plus you are budget-minded, you might consider booking this GROUP TOUR TO MONTENEGRO.

Explore Korcula

What to do in Dubrovnik | Visit Korcula Town For A Day

Korcula Island is one of the most popular, and most visited Croatian islands, along with Hvar, Brac, and Krk.

Every time we travel to Korcula, I keep repeating to myself how beautiful this area is. First, that ride through Peljesac to Orebic, with wonderful views opening first near Drace over the sea, the small islands, and the mainland; then, the second view over Orebic, Korcula, the sea, and the wine-growing Postup hills. Seriously, the views here are to die for.

As the boat leaves Orebic toward Korcula, the new views emerge. Arrival in the town of Korcula is spectacular. You are immediately transferred to medieval times as you approach this walled town entirely built of white stone.

Korcula Town is also called “Little Dubrovnik” due to its layout and architecture resembling Dubrovnik old town.

How to reach Korcula from Dubrovnik:

In June, July, and August, passenger catamaran leaves Dubrovnik for Korcula and then back daily. At 130 Kn per person (one-way ticket), this is perhaps the most convenient and the cheapest way to reach Korcula. Once in Korcula, you can rent a scooter, and check other places on the island, or have a lunch in Tavern Mate, or Pagar in Pupnat (for us two best restaurants on the island). The catamaran sails daily at 7.00 from Dubrovnik and arrives in Korcula at 9.00 am. The return from Korcula is at 7.25 am with arrival to Dubrovnik at 9.25 pm.
By car through Peljesac peninsula to Orebic, and then with a ferry boat across to Korcula. It takes 2 hours to reach Orebic from Dubrovnik. Ferry crossing from Orebic to Korcula takes 15 minutes.
Ferry boat from Orebic departs all year round. Jadrolinija operated car ferry takes you to Domince, a ferry port 5 km south of Korcula Town. If you travel by car, this is OK. But, if you travel on foot, this can be inconvenient. In that case, rather look for passenger boats in Orebic that take you directly to Korcula town.

The stress-free way to visit Korcula from Dubrovnik is on a guided group tour from Dubrovnik. MORE INFO HERE.

Mljet National Park

Mljet is a small, and quiet island in the southern Dalmatia. It’s within an easy reach from Dubrovnik and a nice place to escape for a day or two if you enjoy nature.

There are very few settlements on Mljet. And all of them are just small, tranquil villages. One-third of the island is a national park. The national park is Mljet’s main attraction.

Mljet National Park stretches over 5400 hectares, including sea area, lakes, forests, cliffs, and islets. Two main attractions within the park are Malo (small) and Veliko (big) Lakes, two deep, almost enclosed bays connected to the open sea, and thus filled with saltwater.

Within a big lake, there is a St. Mary’s Island where you’ll find St. Mary’s Church, and Benedictine monastery dating back to 12^th century.

Admission to the park is 125 Kn per adult from June through September, and 70 Kn in other periods. It includes an entrance ticket to all land sights. However, if you wish to cross over to the St. Mary’s Island, the boat ride will set you back an additional 30 Kn per person (return ticket). You can also rent bicycles in the park (not included in a ticket price). Hiking and swimming are popular activities in the park.

If you would like to explore the island beyond the park, we highly recommend visiting Odyseuss cave and sandy beaches of Saplunara.

How to reach Mljet from Dubrovnik:

By catamaran: In July and August, catamaran departs from Dubrovnik port Gruz daily at 8 am (Tuesday, Thursday), or 9.15 am (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun). It arrives in Polace at 9.50 am or 11.05 am respectively. A one-way ticket costs 70 Kn per person. More info at G&V website.
By car ferry: Car ferry connects Prapratno on Peljesac to Sobra on Mljet Island. From June through September, ferry sails 5 times a day. The crossing takes 45 minutes. A one-way ticket costs 28 Kn per person and 140 Kn per car. Find additional info at Jadrolinija website.

If you plan to visit Mljet from Dubrovnik only for a day, we highly recommend booking a group tour. This way, you’ll be able to see the island’s highlights, without a need to navigate the complex world of the catamaran, and ferry connections, or transfers on the island. Check availability and latest prices here.

Discover Mostar

We love visiting Mostar. The old town is small but nicely preserved. It’s full of history, interesting ottoman architecture, mosques, oriental stores, and lovely restaurants, many with river views. The central point of the old town is the old bridge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Mostar is 150 km far from Dubrovnik, so a one-day visit to the town is still doable. You should take a whole day for this trip. While 150 km isn’t that far, bear in mind that you need to cross the border in Bosnia – twice. First in Neum (the only coastal town in Bosnia & Herzegovina), and then again in Metkovic.

Due to the distances, and multiple border crossings, actually the best way to visit Mostar is on a guided coach tour.

CHECK AVAILABILITY AND PRICES HERE.

Neretva River Safari

Things To Do In Dubrovnik | Take Neretva Valley Safari

Vera comes from Neretva Valley, and we absolutely love this region. It’s underrated, undiscovered, mostly agricultural, and very little touristy. Yet, it’s a beautiful part of Croatia, with its rugged hills, olive groves, mandarin orchards, rivers, channels, and large Neretva River estuary.

The area is famed among kite-surfers and bird-watchers. It’s also popular for its distinctive regional food including frogs, and eels.

Here throughout history, people lived off and depended heavily on the river. They used specially designed boats to move people and goods along the river. Those boats are called: trupa (a small wooden boat), and ladja (a larger wooden boat typical for Neretva valley).

Today these boats aren’t so essential for the everyday life of people here, but they are rather kept as a part of the tradition, and put in use for tourists who like to explore the area. There is a yearly race of ladje boats, held on a second Saturday each August.

If you are interested in exploring Neretva valley on a traditional boat, you can do so on your own. Many local restaurants offer a boat ride and even serve a meal aboard a boat. You can check it here.

Boat excursions and half-day Dubrovnik tours

If you don't stay in Dubrovnik long enough to take advantage of some full-day tours listed above, you can still visit interesting places, attractions, and have new experiences in and around Dubrovnik.

Sunset cruise

Things To Do In Dubrovnik | Sunset Cruise | Photo credit: Andrew Price & Flickr

Dubrovnik is gorgeous from the sea. Whether you decide to sea kayak around the old town, rent a motorboat, or book a sunset cruise, you'll enjoy magnificent views of the old town, and the city walls.

We highly recommend a sunset dinner cruise aboard Karaka, a true replica boat, a galleon from the time of the Dubrovnik Republic, and its seafaring golden age.

The tour includes a 2.5-hour cruise around the old town, and the island of Lokrum, a glass of sparkling wine, and a buffet dinner aboard.

INTERESTED? SAVE ON THIS TOUR BY BOOKING EARLY!

If you are larger party (up to 12), you might consider taking a Private Dubrovnik Champagne Sunset Cruise on board a luxury yacht or a speedboat.

Visit Dubrovnik’s haunted island

Well, if you like those bizarre stories, and like to visit off-the-beaten-path locations, Daksa, a small uninhabited island off the coast of Dubrovnik can be a real find. Yet, only if you find someone willing to take you there. As very few locals do.

This tiny island’s disturbing history dates back to 1944 when almost 50 people accused of being Nazi-sympathizers were killed on the island.

Since then, the island is believed to be haunted, and very few locals ever visit it. The island today features nothing but ruins of the 13th-century Franciscan monastery, villa, and lighthouse, heavily overtaken by nature.

If you are interested in Daksa, Darmon Richter’s shares his experience about visiting Daksa over at The Bohemian Blog.

Cruise Elafiti Islands

Things To Do In Dubrovnik | Cruise Elaphiti Islands

Elafiti is a small archipelago off the coast of Dubrovnik. The archipelago consists of several islands, but only three of them are inhabited: Kolocep, Lopud, and Sipan.

All three islands are small, each with only a couple of settlements. Lopud and Kolocep are both car-free. Elafiti are nice to visit if you like to escape hustle and bustle of Dubrovnik for a day, if you like sandy beaches (Lopud’s Sunj beach is one of the rare sandy beaches in the area), if you like hiking, or if you look for a special place to dine out with your significant one (Kolocep’s Villa Ruza has an awesome seafront terrace, and offers yummy seafood; the restaurant Obala on the island of Lopud prepares one of the best buzara we have ever tasted).

We’ve visited Elafiti back in 2014 aboard a Jeanneau Prestige 42 Fly motor yacht. What a great experience! If you have some money to spare, we highly recommend a private motor yacht tour of the islands.

Otherwise, check some of these awesome boat tours to Elafiti Islands: Elafiti Islands Day Trip with Lunch from Dubrovnik, and Elafiti Islands Day Cruise on a Karaka Ship, a replica of a traditional medieval boat.

Enjoy Dubrovnik panorama from the sea

Things To Do In Dubrovnik | Enjoy Dubrovnik from the sea | Photo credit: Anemone123 & Pixabay

There is no view over Dubrovnik, like a view from the sea. A couple of years ago, we’ve rented a motor yacht and cruised from Gruz port all the way to St. Jacob beach. An approach to the old town is amazing. We couldn’t stop taking photos, although at the end of the trip they all seemed pretty much the same (still beautiful, though!).

There are few ways to take a panorama of Dubrovnik from the sea.

In style, booking a cruise around the old town, preferably at sunset. However, this is the most expensive option.

Other idea is to hop on big boats, exclusively for panorama, or as a part of another boat tour (like one to Elafiti islands), and then to enjoy Dubrovnik panorama as you sail away from the old port.

Third, and the cheapest option is to hop on a boat to Lokrum. This option will set you back 200 KN, but the views are also limited, because the boat doesn’t make a ride around the old town, but rather southwest toward Lokrum. This way, you’ll only see the south part of the walls.

Capture the moment

We've heard about professional photographers whom you could hire to take photos of you on your travels for the first time from some fellow travel bloggers. Since then the service spread across the globe, and now you can do it in Dubrovnik too.

Dubrovnik is a picture-perfect town, and it offers ample possibilities for photo shooting. However, with all those crowds, tricky light in the compact old town and narrow streets, taking a nice photo of you can prove difficult. You can snap photos yourself, using a selfie-pole, or you can simply make a professional do it for you.

Prices start at 250 US$ for a 30-minute photo shoot.

Find out more here.

Trsteno Arboretum

This beautiful botanical garden dates back to the late 15^th century. Ship captains brought various plants from their worldwide travels and planted them in Trsteno Arboretum.

Protected as a monument of landscape architecture, Trsteno Arboretum is a peaceful oasis just 20 km north of old town Dubrovnik.

You can spend a couple of hours walking through the gardens and enjoying views.

Trsteno Arboretum also served as a filming location for HBO’s Games of Thrones. It doubled as Red Keep Palace gardens in King’s Landing.

You can reach Trsteno by local bus on your own, or you can visit Arboretum as a part of Game of Thrones walking tour.

Sokol Tower

A large, fortified tower, Sokol Grad lies just 30-minute drive from Dubrovnik. It was first open to visitors in 2013 after extensive restoration works.

The site has an interesting history; some artifacts found there date back to Bronze time. However, in 1420 the site became a part of Dubrovnik Republic, and the tower was erected to today’s size.

The restoration is excellent. You can really easily imagine what an everyday life of the 15th-century soldiers stationed there looked like.

You can also see different weaponry including original canons.

Ticket costs 70 Kn per adult, and 30 Kn per child (5 to 18).

Read our full post on our visit to Sokol Tower.

Explore Vjetrenica cave

Vjetrenica Cave is located in neighboring Bosnia & Herzegovina, just 40 km northeast of Dubrovnik.

Vjetrenica is the largest cave in this area. It’s rich in stalactites, stalagmites, halls, galleries, and corridors, and many underground streams, and lakes. It’s also one of the richest caves in the world in terms of biodiversity.

The largest hall is around 600 m long, and it's open to the public.

Not too many tourists wander here. So we highly recommend that you call in advance should you wish to visit a cave on your own. Bear in mind that a part of the road to Vjetrenica is a bit narrow. Also, don’t forget your passport, as you’ll be crossing the border into Bosnia.

An adult ticket cost 15 KM (around 8 € / 9 US$ / 7 £). The tour takes 40 to 60 minutes.

Opening hours | Apr, May: 9 am-4 pm; Sunday: noon-4 pm | June-Aug: 9 am-7 pm; Sun: noon-7 pm | Sept: 9 am-5 pm | Oct: 10 am-2 pm; Sun: noon-2 pm

Otherwise, consider booking a group tour to Vjetrenica Cave from Dubrovnik.

More free things to do in Dubrovnik

When it comes to food, drink, accommodation, and activities, Dubrovnik is ~~one of~~ the most expensive towns in Croatia. However, not all things to do in Dubrovnik need to cost a lot. Sometimes it isn't even about the money. Sometimes you simply want to kick back and relax.

Whether you look for exploring Dubrovnik on budget or you simply want to slow down and take it easy, here are few more ideas on what to do in Dubrovnik for free.

Beach time

Things To Do In Dubrovnik | Beach Banje in Dubrovnik has a great view

While many people visit Dubrovnik for its historical and cultural sites, don't forget that this Croatian gem is located right at the Adriatic.

Soak in the sun on many beaches in and around Dubrovnik. Here is our full post on the best beaches in Dubrovnik.

Art time with Stjepko

Among a load of shops in Dubrovnik old town selling the Game-of-Thrones-inspired t-shirts, other memorabilia, and cheap souvenirs, it's a real refreshment to stop by Stjepko Mamic's gallery. Stjepko is a sea captain, turned painter, whose paintings of fish and underwater world are vibrant, and vivid.

This little gallery is worth visiting even if you don't plan to buy any paintings.

Where to find the gallery? Address: Celestina Medovica 2, Dubrovnik | Phone: +385 95 906 1703 | Website

People watch

Things To Do In Dubrovnik | Old Port

The old port is our favorite spot to chill out, and people-watch in Dubrovnik.

Located in the east part of the town, the old port is an excellent place to relax, watch the world go by, and take a walk along the Porporela breakwater.

The old port was built in the 15th century and completed in the 16th century.

Chase the views

Things To Do In Dubrovnik | Chase the views | Photo credit: Mikko Muinonen & Flickr

Dubrovnik simply calls for photos. And then, it calls for some more. However, good photos require some planning. And part of the planning is to find a perfect location for a photoshoot.

City walls are perfect for taking a lovely photo of Dubrovnik’s red roofs, the main street, some close-ups, and hidden spots that you normally don’t see but from the bird’s perspective.

Just out of the Pile Gate, past Hilton Hotel, and then up the hill, you’ll find Gradac Park. This is a lovely little park and a good place to chill out from the crowds. However, from the parking next to the park, you can also snap a few nice photos of Lovrjenac Fort. This fort is doubled as the Red Keep in HBO’s Game of Thrones series.

Park Orsula is our favorite place to enjoy panoramic views over Dubrovnik’s old town. We recommend taking a walk along the sea, via Vlaho Bukovac Street all the way to Orsula Park. Views are spectacular all along, but this Dubrovnik neighborhood is also interesting to explore.

Also, don’t forget Srd mountain. The views from the top are spectacular. You can reach the top by walk, by car, or by cable car.

There are also few restaurants in Dubrovnik that offer amazing views, like Stara Loza’s rooftop terrace, Prora beach restaurant at the Hotel Excelsior, or Komarda restaurant.

Old Napoleon’s road

We love taking a small detour when driving down to Dubrovnik. In a village of Slano, we climb up the hill, to the old road built in the time of Napoleon. The road is narrow but asphalted throughout. It goes from Slano to Trsteno. It takes you up the hill where views over the sea and surrounding islands are spectacular.

Besides, it’s a free activity to do in Dubrovnik.

Visit Konavle Valley

Despite a great number of visitors that visit Dubrovnik every year, Konavle valley manages to remain an authentic and peaceful place away from the crowds, but yet only a 30-minute drive from the old town Dubrovnik.

This valley has always been considered a belly of the town, feeding people of Dubrovnik from many centuries. To this day, people here grow olives, grapes, veggies, and fruits, including figs, lemons, and mandarins.

This narrow strip of land nestled between mountain Snjeznica on one side, and the Adriatic Sea on the other side, covers about 200 km2. A lovely seaside town of Cavtat is a municipal center.

Forest covers about one-third of the region. There are also two rivers flowing through Konavle: Ljuta, and Konavocica.

Here you’ll find quaint villages, beautiful nature, traditional architecture (pay attention to interesting conical chimneys!), good local restaurants, and wine and olive oil producers.

Konavle is also famed for its embroidery. It can only be made of local silk that has been produced in Konavle for centuries. You can actually buy some of it in Dubrovnik from a local lady – Kate who sells and demonstrates traditional Konavle embroidery at the stairs near Dominican Monastery.

Prevlaka Nature Park

Prevlaka peninsula is the southernmost part of Croatia. It overlooks Montenegro and a town of Herceg Novi. The area is also a protected nature reserve.

I’ve visited Prevlaka for the first time some 10 years ago with my father in law. Vera had some business in Dubrovnik. And the two of us? Well, we had lots of time on our hands while waiting for her.

Visiting Prevlaka seemed like a good idea. And a good idea it was! Until we decided to rent bicycles and wander around without a map, and without any idea where to go. To make a long story short, we’ve ended up carrying our bicycles way more time than we actually rode them. Bad, bad idea!

Prevlaka sees very few visitors. But, it’s a lovely place to visit for nature aficionados, if you like hiking, cycling, or exploring old abandoned former military buildings and fortress. Add to that complete peace and quiet, and wonderful views over Montenegro and you have a winning formula for a perfect day out not far from Dubrovnik.

You can reach easily Prevlaka by car from Dubrovnik. Just follow signs for the border crossing to Montenegro. As you come closer to the border you’ll see multiple signs pointing to Prevlaka peninsula.

What To Do In Dubrovnik Croatia | Pin me for later!

A quick Dubrovnik travel guide

We hope we have helped you gathered at one place all the interesting things to do in Dubrovnik. We also wrote a complete travel guide to Dubrovnik, if you like to plan your stay in Dubrovnik further. However, if you don’t have time to read another of our long posts, we’ve put together a quick Dubrovnik guide here below.

Dubrovnik Accommodation

If you would like to plan your stay in Dubrovnik further, we’ve listed a few accommodation options down below. We know the Dubrovnik tourist offer very well. Not only that our family lives close to Dubrovnik, but Vera also worked for Valamar, the largest Croatian hotel chain that also owns and manages hotels in Dubrovnik.

READ OUR COMPREHENSIVE DUBROVNIK ACCOMMODATION GUIDE!

Dubrovnik Hotels

Dubrovnik offers a good choice of hotels for every style and budget: from 3star no-frills hotels to 5star luxury hotels. In fact, Dubrovnik, along with Rovinj, and Mali Losinj, has some of the best hotels in Croatia.

Below you will find some of the hotels in Dubrovnik that we recommend.

Hotel Berkley

There isn’t much choice among Dubrovnik 3-star properties. We like Berkley hotel for its friendly staff, simple, but stylish interiors, outdoor swimming pool, clean, and comfy rooms. We also like the fact that the rooms aren’t carpeted.

CHECK AVAILABILITY AND PRICES.

Hotel Kompas

This 4-star property is located at Lapad peninsula, right at the seafront, and it was fully-refurbished in 2015. We like its contemporary style, seafront location, views from the balcony, and excellent breakfast.

MORE INFO HERE!

Hotel Excelsior

A 5-star property, and an iconic Dubrovnik hotel, hotel Excelsior has the best location of all Dubrovnik hotels, with wonderful views over the old town. Its stylish fresh design, after an extensive renovation in 2017, makes hotel Excelsior more appealing than ever.

FIND MORE INFO HERE!

Hotel Bellevue

Perched on a cliff above the sea, Bellevue hotel is a 5-star property offering spectacular sea views. With its 91 rooms and suites, hotel Bellevue feels more personal than other Dubrovnik hotels. The staff is super-friendly and attentive. We also like on-site parking, proximity to the old town (15-minute walk), a lovely pebbly beach, and an onsite beach restaurant.

CHECK AVAILABILITY AND PRICES

Hotel Villa Dubrovnik

This small, boutique hotel features only 54 rooms, and offers splendid views over the old town, along with other perks, like plated breakfast, swimming pool, private beach, and a Venetian Vaporetto boat transfer to the old town (James Bond style!). Service is superb, as Villa Dubrovnik is part of Leading Hotels of the World, and follows their service standards. If you have money to spare, don't even think twice – Villa Dubrovnik is the best choice for a luxury stay in Dubrovnik.

CHECK AVAILABILITY AND PRICES.

Dubrovnik Apartments

Croatian people have been renting apartments and rooms to tourists for quite a long time. In fact, it is an integral part of the Croatian tourist offer, and it has been so much before Airbnb made this type of accommodation globally popular. If interested you can read more about Croatia apartments rental.

Below we have hand-picked some of Dubrovnik apartments worth staying in.

Dubrovnik Finest Apartments

These brand new studio apartments are pretty spacious for studios and come with all modern cons: free WiFi, flat-screen TV, and a kitchenette. The location is superb, just a few meters from the old town.

CHECK PRICES AND AVAILABILITY.

Old Town Apartments

These nicely decorated studio apartments in the proximity of Pile Gate and the old town, but also just around the corner from the sea, are a perfect choice if you stay in Dubrovnik for a day or two. Studios are a bit small but clean and comfy with a large bed, and a kitchenette where you can prepare simple meals, and coffee.

MORE INFO …

Villa Leoni

Located in our favorite part of Dubrovnik, in Ploce neighborhood, Villa Leoni offers three fully-furnished apartments. The property is just a short walk from the old town, and from the terrace, it has lovely views over Dubrovnik. The owners are very friendly.

MORE INFO …

Dubrovnik Hostels

If you are looking for a clean bed, decent shower, and meeting fellow travelers, what's better place to stay than a hostel. Dubrovnik has them tons. Below we list some of the most popular hostels in Dubrovnik.

Hostel 365 For U

Open in 2016, Hostel 365 For U offers 40 rooms, the majority of them are 4- and 6-bed dorm rooms. Furniture is modern, beds are comfy, and each comes with two electrical plugs. Bunk beds and single beds are both available.

GET MORE INFO HERE!

Hostel Angelina Old Town

Dubrovnik Hostel Angelina has a great location within the city walls, friendly staff, comfy beds, and an annex building with private rooms. The hostel is clean, well-maintained, air-conditioned and the towels and sheets are included in the room rate. Lockers are free of charge, and so are coffee and tea. SHared kitchen and a lovely terrace are at guests' disposal until 10 pm (in order to keep the noise down). Hostel Angelina in Dubrovnik is overall a great place to stay.

GET MORE INFO HERE!

Restaurants in Dubrovnik

Oh, how much we do like eating out in Dubrovnik! We find Dubrovnik restaurants super-exciting, Dubrovnik is definitely one of the best places in Croatia when it comes to food. Our other favorites include Istria, Split, Vis Island, and Zagreb.

Find below a few restaurants that we recommend in Dubrovnik. You can also read our entire post on best restaurants in Dubrovnik.

Pantarul

Locals’ favorite restaurant, Pantarul offers a good choice of cold and warm starters, meat and fish main dishes, as well as homemade pasta and risottos. We like eating at Pantarul as you can taste a variety of dishes. And it’s never boring. The place is always full of locals and tourists alike.

More info …

Oyster & Sushi Bar Bota:

Located in the very heart of the city, but still, in a quiet side street with views over Dubrovnik Cathedral, Oyster & Sushi Bar Bota offers Mediterranean style sushi and sashimi, and locally sourced oysters (from Ston where owners own another seafood restaurant). Highly recommended if you like sushi.

More info …

Barba

Tuna sandwich, fried fish, octopus burger, or a bowl of fresh salad are all to be found on Baraba's menu. The place opened a few years ago, and it quickly gained customers among locals and tourists. This is a lovely bistro for a light lunch or dinner with a good atmosphere, and simple, but yummy dishes.

More info …

Bars in Dubrovnik

Whether you are a wine aficionado, craft beer addict, or just a coffee lover, you'll find your glass of joy in many hip Dubrovnik bars.

Below we list some of them!

for wine

D'Vino Wine Bar

A tiny wine bar tucked away in a side street just a minute away from Dubrovnik’s main street – Stradun, D’Vino offers a wide choice of Croatian wine by the glass. The atmosphere is convivial. Waiters are knowledgable, and always ready to suggest a local wine in accordance with your preferences. We know Croatian wines pretty well, but yet we managed to discover a few new ones at D’Vino thanks to the waiter’s recommendations. Must-visit bar in Dubrovnik if you like wine.

Malvasija Wine Bar

Just a few streets down the main pedestrian street from D'Vino, Malvasija Wine Bar has a similar concept, and as friendly staff and patrons as D'vino. Malvasija has a good choice of Croatian wine by the glass, and staff eager to explain each wine, and a variety of cold cuts and cheese plates to accompany your wine tasting.

More info …

for beer

The Croatian craft beer scene is booming. And although Dubrovnik has joined it with some delay, it's catching up the rest of Croatia and pretty fast. Below you will find a couple of bars where you can taste a variety of Croatian and international craft beers.

Glam Café

A teeny tiny bar, just up north of Stradun, in one of the alleyways, Glam Café is a great place to taste a variety of Croatian craft beer in Dubrovnik. Glam has an outstanding selection of Croatian craft beers (from Zmajska, Visibaba, San Servolo, Medvedgrad, Fortunal, Garden, etc.), Serbian craft beer from Kabinet Brewery, and few international labels from Mikkeller, and BrewDog. Must-visit bar in Dubrovnik for beer aficionados.

More info …

Buzz Bar

Friendly staff, good atmosphere, a mix of locals and tourists, a good selection of craft beers, and affordable prices, you’ll find that all in Buzz Bar in Dubrovnik. Away from the crowds, one street up from Stradun, Buzz is a nice place to chill out, sipping local beer, coffee, or a shot of Croatian spirit.

More info …

for coffee

Coffee is huge in Croatia. And cafe bars are scattered all over the town. Majority of them open as early as 7 am, and stay open as late as midnight. Besides, coffee, all these bars also serve other alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

Art Café:

We love this quirky bar, with funky bathtub chairs, vinyl disc drink list, and lovely, shaded terrace. You’ll find Art Café just out of the old town, past Hilton Hotel, on the right. With American college nearby, and being out of the old town, you’ll always notice more locals here than tourists. Art serves a wide variety of drinks, and they even have a good choice of smoothies.

Tinel:

A lovely local place with good coffee and affordable prices, Tinel is located in one of the side streets of the old town. Tinel also serves other drinks, but we like it for a long afternoon coffee away from the crowd.

More info …

Events in Dubrovnik

FestiWine Festival

This wine festival takes place in Dubrovnik in late April / early May. The festival’s main aim is to promote and award the best wines from the Dubrovnik region. Besides the program targeted at wine producers, and other wine industry professionals, visitors can enjoy wine and food pairings at various Dubrovnik restaurants taking part in this event.

Check the full program here.

Runners’ Days Dubrovnik:

The last weekend of April in Dubrovnik is made for runners. Activities include a half-marathon, run along the city walls, 5K charity race, and kids’ race. If you are in town these days, join in the fun. You can check full program at the official website.

Dubrovnik Summer Festival

Between 10 July and 25 August, Dubrovnik hosts Summer Festival since 1949. The festival takes place at various open-air venues throughout the town. The program consists of opera, theater, classic music, and dance performances. Find more information at their official website.

Festival of Jams & Marmalades

In an effort to protect the heritage and traditions of the Dubrovnik region, a non-governmental organization DESA organizes the Festival of Jams & Marmalades in Dubrovnik. The event takes place on Stradun, near the St. Blaise church, where local producers bring their homemade jams, marmalades, and preserves for tastings and sale. The event takes place in early October.

Check more info here.

Good Food Festival:

This culinary festival takes place in October. It offers a load of activities such as educational culinary workshops, wine tastings, special & promotional menus in participating Dubrovnik restaurants, Sights & Bites tour of Dubrovnik, and more. Find more info on this fun gourmet event here.

Getting around Dubrovnik

By bus: Getting around Dubrovnik and to the surrounding villages is easy using public transportation. Libertas is the company that operates Dubrovnik city buses. You can find the schedule, line map, and prices at their website.
By car: Traffic in Dubrovnik can be heavy, especially in the summertime. You’ll also notice that locals generally don’t fancy walking, they rather take the car everywhere. This makes some streets of Dubrovnik really congested. Also, the area around the old town consists mainly of one-way streets. The only time you’ll need a car in Dubrovnik is if you decide to make day trips. For that, we highly recommend that you rent a car for a day or two, and for the rest use buses or walk.
By walk: Dubrovnik is small enough to walk everywhere. Even if you stay in neighborhoods further away from the old town, like Lapad, Gruz, or Babin Kuk, worry not, the old town is at most 30-minute walk from anywhere. However, some parts of Dubrovnik are on high slopes of hills above the town. If you aren’t up for climbing, choose your accommodation wisely, and avoid staying up in the hills.
By taxi: Taxis in Dubrovnik are generally expensive. UberX service is available since June 2016, but UberX seems to have similar prices to other taxi providers (but still a notch cheaper!). Expect to pay 250 Kn (around 35 euro) from Dubrovnik Airport to Dubrovnik Bus terminal. From Gruz Port to Pile gate you will pay anywhere between 80 Kn – 100 Kn (11-14 euro).

Dubrovnik transfers

We often get asked by readers of our blog if we could recommend a transfer company for them to use in Dubrovnik, particularly for airport transfers. However, until recently we avoided such a recommendation.

First, we couldn't really guarantee for anybody, and second, we couldn't know if the person we would consider recommending would be available for the time needed.

Now finally there is an online solution for pre-booking your transfers – RIDEWAYS. You can easily pre-book your transfer the moment you know your arrival date and time using the Rideways platform, and cancellations are possible up to 2 hours before pick-up time.

At the moment the Rideways have fares similar to Dubrovnik taxis, but hey at least you don't need to queue in line for a ride.

Car rental in Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik has a good choice of car rental companies. However, the demand for car rentals in the main season is very high.

For this reason, we always suggest that you rent your car well in advance if you plan to visit Dubrovnik. You can check the Rentalcars website for the best deals, and price comparison. Also, the earlier you book, the better price you'll get.

OUR FULL POST ABOUT CAR RENTAL IN CROATIA