Planning a trip to Dubrovnik, Croatia? This post covers 18 of the best things to do in Dubrovnik: exploring ancient city walls, island hopping, touring cinematic filming locations, and more. If we haven’t met yet, I’m Gina, and I’m an aesthetic traveler who never misses a chance to match her outfit to the coastal vibe. This post includes top sights, local gems, scenic photo spots, and a few travel tips — but if you have any questions after reading, leave a comment at the bottom and I’ll be happy to help!
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The reason I decided to go to Dubrovnik is because I heard countless people tell me it was the most beautiful place they’ve ever been. As an aesthetic traveler (someone who appreciates beauty, along with the vibes and emotions that come with it), I knew I had to put Dubrovnik, Croatia at the top of my list.
If you asked me to describe Dubrovnik, I would say it’s the masculine version of Greece. While they share a lot of similarities (the water, some of the food, etc), Greece has white buildings with blue domes and brightly colored flowers, whereas Dubrovnik has forts, castles, and orange terracotta tile roofs. Grab your sun hat, your bedazzled sandals, and don your favorite vacation dress—because if you’re not matching the mood of your destination, are you even doing it right? – let’s explore the best things to do in Dubrovnik!
Dubrovnik At A Glance
The Best Things To Do in Dubrovnik, Croatia
1. Walk Along the City Walls
In Dubrovnik, walking the city walls is like seeing the Eiffel Tower in Paris. You just have to do it. These massive stone fortifications date back to the 13th century and once protected the Republic of Ragusa from invaders. Today, they’re here for our enjoyment. The 1.2-mile loop offers panoramic views of the Old Town’s terracotta rooftops, the shimmering Adriatic, and nearby fortresses. You can walk the entire loop in 1.5-2 hours, depending on how many times you stop for photos and to take in the scenery.
There are 2 entrances to get up into the walls – one on the east side of Old Town, and one on the west. There are also cute bars and places for snacks along the way. At the time of this post, tickets are 40 euro and can be bought at one of the two entrances to the walls. Not only will you get access to the walls, but the ticket also grants you access to Fort Lovrijenac, amongst a few other things.
- Pro Tip: The tickets are valid for 3 days and only allow entrance to the walls one time
2. Explore Dubrovnik’s Old Town
Dubrovnik’s Old Town is a UNESCO world heritage site and the main part of the city. It’s where you’ll likely spend the majority of your time when you’re not island-hopping. Old Town is a blend of medieval charm and coastal beauty. You’ll get great views of the Adriatic Sea while also feeling like you’re in a Game Of Thrones scene (well, because you kind of are, but more on that later…).
Old Town is filled with cobblestone streets, stone buildings and walls, old churches, narrow alleyways, and some of the best food I’ve ever had. The main street is the Stradun, which is also called Placa. This street runs parallel to the ocean about halfway up into Old Town. You’ll know you’re here because it’s wider than the other streets nearby.
3. Take In The Views From Fort Lovrijenac
Fort Lovrijenac, often called “Dubrovnik’s Gibraltar,” is a dramatic cliffside fortress that stands just outside the city walls, rising 37 meters above the Adriatic Sea. Built in the 11th century to defend the city from Venetian invasion, it became a powerful symbol of Dubrovnik’s independence. Today, it offers views like this:
I know. I KNOW. It’s literally the most gorgeous thing you’ll see in your life. This was my personal favorite vantage point of the city. It gave a great view of the town along with the water. Although the water is clear around much of Croatia, I thought the water looked especially blue in this area.
Don’t forget about the 3 day ticket that I mentioned earlier when we toured the city walls. It will also cover your admission to Fort Lovrijenac as long as you go within the 3-day timeframe. You’re welcome. 😘
4. Have Dinner in the Sky
Wait…what?! Oh yes, you read that correctly. In the words of Fat Joe, we’re all the way up.
Get Your Guide has a top-rated Dinner in the Sky activity that allows you to eat, drink, and take in the views of this gorgeous city from all the way up. You can choose between a 3-course meal or a 2-course “bites and wine” option. Unfortunately, I ran out of time to do this, but that doesn’t mean I can’t live vicariously through you. If you do this activity and love it, LMK in the comments below!
5. See the Filming Locations from Game of Thrones
A lot of the reason Dubrovnik exploded in popularity is because it was used as a filming location for many of the King’s Landing scenes in Game of Thrones. I’ll confess, I only watched the first 2 seasons, but that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate a good castle, fortress, or throne when I see one. I was originally going to do an entire post about the scenes that were filmed here, but there are just too many to keep track of.
I took this Game Of Thrones filming tour and loved it (shout out to Ivan for being the best tour guide!). This tour has an option to go to Lokrum Island, which will cost you around 30 euro extra but is 100% worth it. The official “Game of Thrones” throne is located here, so you can have your Mother of Dragons moment AND explore the island afterward. For more about Lokrum Island, keep scrolling!
6. Take a Day Trip to Lokrum Island
One of the best things to do in Croatia is to island hop, and when you’re staying in Dubrovnik, Lokrum Island is arguably the most popular day-trip destination spot. It is located 600 meters (~0.4 miles) from Dubrovnik and takes about 15 minutes by ferry. You can explore the botanic gardens, hiking paths, swimming holes, and more. One of the most popular spots I saw people swimming is Dead Sea Lake, pictured below. You’re able to easily float here thanks to the high salt content!
Another cool thing about Lokrum Island is you will see peacocks everywhere. I have never seen a peacock as close up as I did here, and the colors are magical. This ended up being one of my favorite things about exploring the island.
Even if you don’t do the GOT tour I just mentioned, you can still take a day trip to Lokrum Island on your own. In fact, this is something I absolutely recommend you do. There are also a few restaurants and ice cream shops so you won’t starve (I ate at Lacroma Restaurant, and it was really good!). You can even go up to Fort Royal Castle, which is built upon the highest point in the island and able to be seen from the ferry. Bring your swimsuit, water shoes, and towel, and spend half the day exploring!
- You can purchase a one-way ticket to Lokrum Island at the ferry port, or check out this Lokrum Island and Betina Cave boat tour from Get Your Guide
7. Get a Drink At Buža Bar
Buža Bar is a bar in the actual cliffs of Dubrovnik where you can get a drink AND the best views of the ocean. As you can imagine, she gets packed…but thankfully, it’s open all day for you to try your luck!
Two things to note: 1. Buža Bar does NOT serve food, and 2. They only take cash. If you, like me, never carry cash, you can go to Bard (Mala buža) Bar nearby, which takes credit cards. The views here are not quite as high up, but IMO, every bit as good.
8. Take a Boat Tour Through The Blue and Green Caves
Note – this is NOT photoshopped whatsoever…these caves actually look this blue!
At some point during your stay in Croatia, you have to make an attempt to see the blue caves. I did this when I stayed in Hvar, but there are plenty of options in Dubrovnik as well.
These caves are similar to the blue grotto you may have heard about in the Amalfi Coast. Keep in mind, you may not get to go into the cave depending on the weather. However, I have read in numerous reviews that a lot of people still enjoyed their tour because they were able to spend time on the boat and swim in the water.
Book Your Top-Rated Blue Cave Tour Here
9. Have a Beach Day
When it comes to the beach here, you have a few options. You could have your beach day when you do Lokrum Island like I previously mentioned. I saw a lot of people in the water there, and there are bathrooms for you to change in towards the island’s entrance. On the mainland of Dubrovnik, top-rated beaches include Buža Beach, Banje Beach, and Dubrovnik City Beach.
The water in the Adriatic Sea is some of the clearest water you’ll ever see in your life, so swimming is a must! But keep an eye out for sea urchins – these little creatures are the reason the water is clear, but they also hurt if you step on them!
- Pro Tip: In addition to having sea urchins, the beaches in Croatia are all pebble beaches – make sure you have these water shoes so you don’t hurt your feet!
10. Kayak Along The Adriatic Sea
Who says you can’t get a great workout on vacation? I’m all about doing activities that let me experience a city AND keep myself in shape…and in Dubrovnik, kayaking is one of the best ways to ensure you have the best of both worlds. I saw a lot of people doing this while I was there.
Get Your Guide has plenty of top-rated kayaking tours to choose from (see links below). My tour got cancelled due to high winds, so I unfortunately did not get to experience the magic of kayaking here…but if you get to, know I’m already jealous.
Book Your Dubrovnik Kayaking Tour Here!
11. Eat All the Gelato
It didn’t take me long to realize gelato is a thing here. I felt like everywhere I looked, people were carrying gelato cones. I need absolutely no one to twist my arm when it comes to ice cream, so I didn’t need much convincing. Two of the places I would recommend you try are Gianni’s and Peppino’s – I had both and was not disappointed. (If you only have time for one place, I would say I probably liked Peppino’s a liiiiittle bit better, but you really can’t go wrong.)
12. See The Famous “Walk Of Shame” Steps
You can’t leave Dubrovnik without snapping a photo of the Jesuit Stairs. These baroque-style steps remind you of something you’d see in Rome and connect Gundulić Square (at the bottom) with St. Ignatius Church (at the top). GOT fans will also recognize these steps as the filming location for Cersei Lannister’s Walk of Shame. In fact, the bar to the left of these steps (Zox Box) created a Walk of Shame cocktail that is a fan favorite among Old Town visitors.
13. Do A Wine Tour
Did you know that Croatia makes some amazing wine? I didn’t either…until I went there. Their most famous white is Pošip, and their most famous red is Plavac. I have to admit, while I’m more of a red wine girlie at baseline, I was not a huge fan of the reds here. The whites, however…I was down.
If you don’t want to do a full-blown tour, you can look for these wines on the menu at restaurants. If wine tours are your thing, check out the options below:
14. Grab A Drink At Lady Pi Pi
Lady Pi Pi is a restaurant on the street above Prijeko with a dreamy secret garden aesthetic and a gorgeous view of the Adriatic Sea and Old Town. They don’t take reservations, and they’re closed when it rains. In other words, you have to get lucky (or, just come early if you want a sunset view).
15. Ride The Cable Car Up to Srd Hill for Panoramic Views
Do I hear Fat Joe on repeat? That’s right…we’re all the way up again…
There’s a cable car that will take you up 778 meters in 4 minutes to the top of Srd Hill and give you the most incredible panoramic views of Dubrovnik. The entrance to the cable car is about a 8-12 minute walk from either Pile or Ploče gates.
Additionally, there’s also a restaurant called Panorama Restaurant at the top of the hill that gives you incredible dining views. I didn’t eat here, and I’ve been told it’s “not bad, but you’re mostly paying for the atmosphere.” In other words, get a drink here if you can for sure, but maaaybe don’t feel too bad if you can’t get dinner reservations…
- Check out this top-rated Panoramic Ride + Old Town Walking Tour here!
16. Take A Day Trip
IMO, one of the best things about Croatia is that a lot of its islands are close to each other, allowing for ease of day trips. Below are a few top-rated day trip options from Dubrovnik:
17. Walk Through Pile Gate
Pile Gate is the gate on the west side of the city and the main entrance into Old Town. You’ll see a statue of Saint Blaise – the patron saint of Dubrovnik – in the center (along with multiple other places in the city, but I digress). If you look closely, you’ll see he’s holding a model of the city in his hand.
While you’re here, make sure to check out the Saint Blaise church – a Venetian Baroque-style Catholic church that’s a 4 minute walk from Pile Gate. Notice the statue on the top: it was the only thing that miraculously survived after the church was destroyed by a fire in 1706.
18. See The Dubrovnik Cathedral
The Dubrovnik Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral of the Assumption, is a beautiful baroque church that stands in the heart of the Old Town. it houses impressive artwork, including a painting attributed to Titian and a treasury filled with relics dating back centuries.
What Is Croatia Known For?
Croatia is known for its pebble beaches, crystal clear turquoise/blue water, national parks, Game of Thrones filming scenes, wines, island hopping, history, cats, lavender, coral jewelry, and kayaking.
You’ll also see the word “Dalmatian” a lot when you’re here (ex – “Dalmatian cuisine/coast/wine/islands…” etc), and no, this is not a separate country! Dalmatia is a coastal region of Croatia and includes historic towns like Dubrovnik and Split. When you’re exploring this part of the country, you’re experiencing the best of Dalmatian charm within beautiful Croatia.
How Many Days Do You Need in Croatia?
TBH, this is debatable. If you’re coming to Croatia, you likely aren’t just going to Dubrovnik. The thing about “island countries” like Croatia and Greece is that you really need to…well…explore the islands. I am usually a fan of spending a few days in different countries in one Eurotrip, but if I were you, I would devote a decent amount of time here so you’re really able to experience a lot and take it all in.
I spent a week and a half in Croatia, and IMO, this was a perfect amount of time to be able to really explore the country. I stayed 3 nights each in Dubrovnik, Hvar Town, and Split – and really felt like I was able to see and do a lot. I would recommend this number of nights in each city.
What Type of Food is Popular in Croatia?
Croatia has officially become my favorite “foodie country” of all time. I didn’t eat anything there that I didn’t absolutely love.
Croatians enjoy a diet that’s somewhat of a Mediterranean/Italian hybrid. My favorite types of food fall into the Mediterranean/Italian wheelhouse, so needless to say, I was living. But even if this isn’t your go-to diet, I felt like you could find a variety of things (seafood, pasta, beef, chicken, lamb, etc) on one menu. Croatia is also known for its olive oil and truffle oil.
Dubrovnik Restaurants I Tried (and Loved!) Include:
- Trattoria Carmen
- Forty Four
- Dubravka Restaurant
- CIAO – La Cucina Italiana
- Richeta Dubrovnik
Where’s The Best Place To Stay in Dubrovnik?
In order to be able to walk to almost everything, the best place to stay here is in Old Town. I do want to point out that there are a lot of cobblestone stairs here, so be mindful you may have to drag your suitcase up or down the steps.
- Hilton Imperial – 5 star hotel (where the Game of Thrones cast stayed!)
- GAMA Dubrovnik 1 – room managed by private host. I stayed here, and it was very nice, but could be noisy.
- Luxury Room Sorgo Cerva – 3 stars; managed by a private host
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