Things to do in Dubrovnik: the walls, the old town and the sea
Dubrovnik is a walled old town on the Adriatic, small enough to cross in ten minutes and busy enough to need a plan. Two days cover the walls, the lanes and the sea. The one thing to know: cruise ships fill the old town from mid-morning, so do the walls early and the lanes at night.
The short answer
- First trip
- Stay in or just outside the old town. Walk the walls first thing, then add the cable car and one boat trip.
- Where to stay
- Ploče or Pile for views and walking distance. Lapad for beaches and value. The old town itself for atmosphere, with noise.
- How many days
- Two days for the old town and walls, three if you add the islands or a day trip.
- Best time to go
- May, June, September and early October. July and August are hot and crowded.
- Book ahead
- Walls tickets in summer, a table at the better restaurants, and any boat or day trip.
- From the airport
- The airport bus meets flights and takes about 30 to 40 minutes to Pile Gate. A taxi is quicker but costs more.
Where to stay in Dubrovnik, in brief
Old town
atmosphere on foot
Stone lanes, churches and the sea at the end of every street. Everything is a walk. The catch is the stairs, the noise on warm nights and the daytime crowds, so ask about luggage access.
Ploče
views and a short walk
East of the old town, a few minutes from Ploče Gate. Many rooms look back at the walls. The streets climb, so expect steps.
Pile and Boninovo
bus links and calm
West of Pile Gate, with the main bus stop close by. A good base if you are arriving by coach, and quieter than the old town at night.
Lapad
beaches and value
A residential peninsula about 15 minutes from the old town by bus. Pebble beaches, a seafront promenade and wider choice of rooms at lower prices.
Babin Kuk
resort stays
Beside Lapad, with larger hotels and pools. Pleasant if you want a beach holiday with an old-town visit, less so for evenings in the center.
Things to do in Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik city walls
Walk the full circuit of the medieval walls, about two kilometers with steps. Start at opening time, before the heat and the groups.
Buy tickets online in summer, or arrive at opening.
Stradun
The limestone main street, polished by centuries of feet. Walk it early and again in the evening, when the day crowds have left.
Dubrovnik cable car
A short ride to the top of Srđ for the view over the old town and the islands. Go before sunset and stay for the light.
Queues build before sunset in summer.
Rector's Palace
A Gothic and Renaissance palace that is now the city museum. A good place for an hour when it rains or the lanes are packed.
Fort Lovrijenac
A fortress on a rock outside the western wall, with a view back at the old town. It is included in the walls ticket.
Lokrum island
A short boat ride from the old port to a car-free island of pines, rock swimming and a ruined monastery. Check the boat times and weather before you go.
Banje Beach and the cliff bars
Banje is the pebble beach just east of the old town. Bars on the rocks below the walls are good for a drink at the end of the day.
Sea kayaking around the walls
Paddle along the base of the walls and out to Betina Cave. Choose a morning slot, when the water is calmer.
A few days ahead in summer.
Franciscan Monastery and pharmacy
A cloister near Pile Gate with one of the oldest working pharmacies in Europe. Quiet, and short.
What to book before you go
These sell out. Most of the rest of Dubrovnik can be decided on the day.
Every tour and ticket in Dubrovnik, and which to pick- A table at the best restaurants1 to 2 weeks ahead in peak season
The well-known seafood places and the tasting-menu restaurant fill in summer.
- City walls and cable carA few days ahead in summer
Online tickets save time in the queues and let you plan around the heat.
- Boat trips and day toursA week or more ahead in July and August
Small boats to the islands and tours to Ston and Montenegro sell out.
What to skip in Dubrovnik
- The old town between 10:00 and 16:00 in summer
Cruise passengers fill the lanes. Walk the walls early, go to the beach midday, and come back after 17:00.
- Restaurants on the Stradun with photo menus
The setting is fine for a drink. For dinner, walk a street or two away from the main axis, where the prices are lower.
- Fitting everything into one day from a cruise ship
Pick the walls or the cable car, not both, and eat a simple lunch away from the main street.
Best time to visit Dubrovnik
Late spring and early autumn are the best months: May, June, September and early October. The sea is warm enough to swim from June, the walls are walkable and the old town is manageable.
July and August are hot and crowded, and prices peak. Winter is quiet and mild, but some restaurants and boat services close and the days are short.
- From Dubrovnik airportThe airport shuttle bus meets flights and runs to Pile Gate in roughly 30 to 40 minutes. A taxi is quicker and costs more.
- In the old townThe old town is closed to cars and is all stairs and cobbles. Pack light if your room is inside the walls.
- By city busBuses from Pile Gate cover Lapad, Babin Kuk and Ploče. Check the current ticket system at the stop.
- By taxi or boatTaxis are useful at night and for luggage. In summer, small boats run to Lokrum and along the coast from the old port.
Dubrovnik in three days
- Day 1
Walk the city walls at opening time, then Stradun and Rector's Palace. Have dinner away from the main street.
- Day 2
Take the cable car up Srđ in the morning or at sunset. Spend the afternoon at Banje Beach or on Lokrum.
- Day 3
Take a day trip to Cavtat or Ston, or kayak around the walls and finish at a cliff bar.
Day trips from Dubrovnik
- CavtatA small harbor town south of Dubrovnik, about 30 minutes by road or by boat in summer. Good for a long lunch on the waterfront.
- Ston and the Pelješac peninsulaAbout an hour north by road. Oysters, the long defensive wall and wine from the peninsula's vineyards.
- Elaphiti IslandsA boat day to Koločep, Lopud and Šipan, with swimming stops and a seafood lunch.
- Kotor, MontenegroAround two hours each way, plus a border crossing. Doable but long, so take your passport and start early.
Dubrovnik: questions people ask
How many days do you need in Dubrovnik?
Two days covers the old town, the walls and the cable car. Three lets you add a boat trip or a day trip. A fourth is only useful if you want the beach or the islands.
Is Dubrovnik worth visiting?
Yes, the old town and walls are exceptional. Go outside July and August if you can, and plan around the cruise-ship hours.
What is the best time to visit Dubrovnik?
May, June, September and early October give warm weather, swimmable water and fewer people than midsummer.
Where is the best area to stay in Dubrovnik?
The old town for atmosphere, Ploče for views, Lapad for beaches and value. Pile suits you if you arrive by bus.
Do I need to book the city walls in advance?
In summer, buying online is sensible. Out of season you can usually buy at the gate.
Can you visit Dubrovnik on a day trip?
You can, from the coast or by cruise ship, but you will see it at its most crowded. One night lets you walk the old town in the evening and morning.