Dubrovnik tours and tickets
Dubrovnik is a summer queue. The city walls and cable car are the two tickets to plan: buy online or arrive at opening, because cruise passengers fill them by mid-morning. Boat trips and day tours need a week or more in July and August. Fort Lovrijenac, the old town and the cliffs can be done any day. Winter is quiet and needs little booking.
Book these first
- A table at the best restaurants
- 1 to 2 weeks ahead in peak season. The well-known seafood places and the tasting-menu restaurant fill in summer.
- City walls and cable car
- A few days ahead in summer. Online tickets save time in the queues and let you plan around the heat.
- Boat trips and day tours
- A week or more ahead in July and August. Small boats to the islands and tours to Ston and Montenegro sell out.
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Monuments and landmarks
Dubrovnik city walls
A two-kilometer walk on top of the medieval walls, with views of the red roofs and the sea. The route is one way, takes about ninety minutes and has steep steps. Tickets are sold at two gates and online.
Which to pick. Go at opening or after 16:00, and bring water. Buy online in summer, and avoid the middle of the day in July and August.
A few days ahead in summerVisitor guideOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorDubrovnik cable car
A cable car climbs Mount Srđ in four minutes, with a panorama terrace and a café at the top. It closes in strong wind. Queues build before sunset in summer.
Which to pick. Go in the late afternoon for the sunset light, or at opening for fewer people. Buy online to skip the ticket line.
A day or two ahead in summerVisitor guideOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorFort Lovrijenac
A fortress on a rock outside the western gate, with a view of the walls and the sea. Entry is a separate ticket or part of the walls ticket. It was a Game of Thrones location.
Which to pick. Combine it with the walls ticket if it is included. Go in the morning, since the stone steps are hot at midday.
On the day is fineVisitor guideOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorRector's Palace
A Gothic and Renaissance palace in the old town, now a museum of furniture, portraits and the city's history. A visit takes about an hour.
Which to pick. Buy at the door. It is a good plan for a hot afternoon, and a tour adds little.
On the day is fineOfficial siteTours and tickets on Viator
Guided walks and tours
Old town walking tour
A guided walk through the Stradun, the cathedral, the Franciscan monastery and the side streets, usually two hours. Guides explain the republic's history and the 1991 siege.
Which to pick. Take one early, before the cruise groups. A guide helps with the layers of history that signs miss.
A day or two aheadTours and tickets on ViatorGame of Thrones walking tour
A guided walk to the filming spots for King's Landing, including the Red Keep and the Walk of Shame steps. Tours take about two hours.
Which to pick. Join it if you know the show. Book a morning time, when the sites are less crowded.
2 to 4 days aheadTours and tickets on Viator
On the water
Sea kayaking around the walls
A guided paddle under the walls and into the caves, with a swim stop at Betina cave. Tours last about three hours and run mornings and sunsets.
Which to pick. Pick the sunset trip for the light. Book a few days ahead, since weather can change the date.
A few days ahead in summerTours and tickets on ViatorLokrum island
A forested island ten minutes by ferry, with a botanical garden, a monastery ruin and a salt lake. Ferries leave from the old port, and the last boat back is early evening.
Which to pick. Take the morning ferry and swim at the Dead Sea. Check the return time before you leave.
On the day is fineOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorElaphiti Islands cruise
A full-day boat to Koločep, Lopud and Šipan with swim stops, a lunch and time on the islands. Boats leave in the morning and return by late afternoon.
Which to pick. Book in July and August, and choose a small boat if you can. Bring a towel and sun cream.
A week or more in July and AugustTours and tickets on Viator
Day trips
Cavtat
A seaside town 20 minutes south by bus or 50 minutes by boat, with a harbor and a family mausoleum. It is quiet and good for lunch and a swim.
Which to pick. Take the boat out and the bus back, or the reverse. No tour is needed.
On the day is fineOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorSton and the Pelješac peninsula
A day to the salt pans and the long walls of Ston, with oysters and wine on the peninsula. Tours include tastings, and the drive takes about an hour each way.
Which to pick. Book a tour with a driver if you want wine. Reserve a table for oysters in summer.
A few days aheadTours and tickets on ViatorKotor, Montenegro
A walled town on a bay across the border, about two hours each way. You need a passport, and border queues can add an hour in summer.
Which to pick. Take a full day with a guide who handles the border. Bring a passport and check entry rules before you go.
A few days aheadOfficial siteTours and tickets on Viator
City and museum passes in Dubrovnik
- Dubrovnik PassA pass with entry to the city walls and several museums, plus free city bus rides, over a few days. It pays off if you plan the walls and two or three museums. Official page
Booking tours and tickets in Dubrovnik
Do I need to book the city walls?
Not strictly, but buying online helps in summer, and the cheapest way to avoid the crowds is to arrive at opening. The ticket is sold at the Pile and Ploče gates.
Is the cable car worth it?
Yes, for the view of the old town and the islands. Go in the late afternoon, and check the weather, since strong wind stops it.
Is Dubrovnik Pass worth it?
Only if you plan to visit the walls and several museums, since the walls usually take most of the value. For the walls and a few sights, single tickets are simpler.
How many cruise ships come?
Many in summer, with queues at the gates between 10:00 and 16:00. Use the early morning and the late afternoon, or visit in May, June or September.
Can I visit Kotor from Dubrovnik?
Yes, as a full day with a passport. Border waits are the unpredictable part, so choose a tour that handles the stops and book a few days ahead.
What can wait until I arrive?
The old town, Rector's Palace, Lokrum and Cavtat can be bought the same day. Book kayaking, the cable car in peak season and island cruises first.