Dubrovnik is one of the most enthralling cities to visit in Croatia. A beautiful port city with an ancient history, it loves calling itself “Pearl of The Adriatic” and while that may be cliché for many reasons, there are maybe just a few places more captivating than this little corner on earth! For this reason, we created the list of top 10 Awesome Things to do in Dubrovnik only for you!
Walk the old town of Dubrovnik and be overwhelmed by its beauty. With castles, towers, gatehouses as well as squares you will never run out to see all that this historic city has to offer! You can enjoy a coffee or cocktail at an outdoor cafe while taking in these sites before continuing your exploration on foot through winding cobblestone streets lined with centuries-old buildings made from stone!
The Old Town is only one thing on the list. Get your feet wet and enjoy the thrill with your Private Boat Tour or boat rental while exploring the Elaphite Islands. Join a very popular Dubrovnik Game of Thrones Tour or sea kayaking tour around the city walls. Treat yourself to some fine dining with fresh local seafood at sunset while overlooking some great views high above the city.
There are many Awesome Things to do in Dubrovnik, but all of them start with a new day. If you don’t stay long in our beautiful city, it might be hard to decide where to begin and it might be challenging to do all of them. That’s why our list of best things to do in Dubrovnik has something for everyone to enjoy! What is certain, is that you’re going to have an awesome time exploring this magnificent medieval city on the Adriatic Sea.
When you first lay eyes on Dubrovnik, it is hard not to be impressed. Surrounded by huge stone walls and surrounded by many fortresses and castles, this walled city was designed to withstand any attack and last for ages.
The city is standing here for centuries, but most of the walls and fortresses you see today are dating back to the 14th and 15th centuries. Until this day, the walls withstood the earthquakes, sieges and invasions, and most recently the Balkan conflicts when Yugoslavia broke up in 1991.
City Walls are definitely a must-see as there are many gates and fortresses to explore like Minceta, St. John, Lovrijenac and Bokar while you will need approximately 2 hours to complete it fully. Still, there are several exits if you get tired. Make sure that you wear soft shoes and don’t forget to bring plenty of water with you.
As of 2019, Dubrovnik City Wall tickets cost 200 HRK (around $30) per person. Tickets include one-time access to the Dubrovnik City Walls including the entrance to the nearby Lovrijenac Fortress within 3 days of purchasing the ticket.
The walls and fortresses of old Dubrovnik are an integral part of the city’s UNESCO World Heritage listing. Once you are on the Walls there is no doubt you’re will be impressed by the scale and beauty of this marvellous work of heritage.
The Old Town of Dubrovnik dates back for centuries, and besides laying in the shades with a cocktail in your hand at one of numerous Dubrovnik Beaches, uncovering the layers of history of the Old Town is one perfect option for you!
We suggest taking a guided tour of the Old Town because, if it’s your first time in Dubrovnik, we guarantee you’ll get lost. This is a maze-like networked assortment of red-roofed houses and historic churches with stone-paved streets that seem to go on forever! There are charming alleyways just waiting for exploration as well as steep flights steps leading up into plazas and squares. There are numerous leisurely seating areas provided by cafes and bars overlooking scenic views below them while enjoying your cold drinks on the hot summer days… What more could anyone ask outta life?!
You’ll love the mixture of medieval, Gothic and Renaissance architecture that you can find in Dubrovnik. Right from the entrance from Pile Gate, you will see famous spots such as Franciscan Monastery and Onofrio Fountain. Don’t miss the Rector’s Palace which is now serving as a museum, and don’t forget to stop at Sponza Palace where you can learn a lot of local history!
Dubrovnik is a must-see destination for any tourist looking to take in the local culture and enjoy some of Croatia’s most beautiful scenery. One other thing you can do while exploring all that Dubrovnik has to offer is to have a coffee at one of many outdoor cafes, and watch people go by – it doesn’t get more peaceful than this!
As you are coming into Dubrovnik, Srđ Hill is one of the most prominent features that you will spot, standing at 400 meters (1,640 feet) above sea level. One of the best things to do in Dubrovnik is to take a ride on the cable car. In just a few minutes, you’ll be transferred from the city bottom right on top of Mount Srđ from where you can enjoy stunning views and iconic panoramas that are hard to beat! The views from the top are spectacular and there’s no better way to see them than in person!
If you seek adventure including some hiking, prepare yourself for some intense climbing to the summit of Mount Srđ. If it’s not too hot or challenging, a steep hike trail will lead you all the way to the top. Don’t forget to take plenty of water with you! You can also take the cable car up and then walk down – but we’ll let you decide!
Once up there don’t forget to visit the Imperial Fortress where the war museum is located!
Head to the Old Town harbour in Dubrovnik, and you’ll find locals and tourists waiting for every 30 minutes departure over to Lokrum Island. This is one of the tops of the list of best things that any visitor can do while visiting this magnificent city. At the same time, it’s the best way to avoid crowds during the day.
You can see Lokrum Island from many places around Dubrovnik as it is located just in front of the Old Town. It is very close to town but you’ll quickly see how secluded and isolated the island feels, even in the middle of the season. Lokrum Island is home to a botanical garden and a crumbling monastery, and it’s packed full of flora and fauna.
The best way to enjoy Lokrum is by spending the day exploring its many natural treasures. The salt lake and hiking trails are great for lovers of fresh air, while those looking into local history can explore the ruins of the monastery on this island – where they will find plenty more intriguing facts about what life was like back then!
If all this sound interesting you can book your Private Lokrum Island Boat Tour with Dubrovnik Boat Rent. Speaking as a local, Lokrum was always my favourite place for spending summer days when I was younger with friends and family.
If you’re looking to add some adventure and excitement to your vacation, we recommend taking an Elafiti Islands Boat Tour in Dubrovnik. Located in the Adriatic Sea just north of Dubrovnik these stunning islands offer an array of activities like diving or snorkelling among its rocky coastlines with plentiful fish populations and crystal clear waters.
There are numerous beautiful spots to discover and many spacious and beautiful beaches to explore while enjoying your day in the commodity of Private Boat Tour in Dubrovnik. It sounds as good as it tastes! To fully experience the Islands and to rest your senses, a full-day tour is our warm recommendation. Although the half-day tour is also a possibility for those who are in rush but still would like to feel the vibe of the untouched nature of Elaphite Islands.
The largest island is Šipan, where you’ll find gorgeous but rugged scenery, old harbours and fortresses, and glistening blue lagoons. Head to Kolocep Island, you can discover a blue cave that’s perfect for snorkelling, as well as isolated beaches and wonderful viewpoints. Take a rest on Lopud and the most amazing sandy beach Sunj.
Spend your day island hopping, swimming, snorkelling, and trying out all the local food and drink. Seriously, we can’t think of any better way to spend the hot summer day when you’re in Dubrovnik!
If you’re looking for something a little more unusual to do when ticking off the top things to do in Dubrovnik, why not consider an interactive tour of The Red History Museum? The museum takes you on a journey through the more recent history while Croatia was part of Yugoslavia. It’s not just any old history lesson, it has personality!
Now you can explore this modern storytelling masterpiece by yourself as you take an inside look at life in Croatia under the former Communist regime and its lasting effects on society today. In addition, you’ll find out what happened after the fall, when Yugoslavia divided into smaller nations, which resulted in Homeland War, during which Dubrovnik and its citizens suffered much destruction.
The Red History Museum is the perfect place for any history buff who wants to learn more about what life was like under Tito’s rule. You’ll find old soviet-style cars on display, replica socialist era living rooms and kitchens as well a myriad of items on display that highlight both good aspects and drawbacks from Yugoslavia’s communist regime, all in an engaging way!
Summer in Dubrovnik is the best time to be, even if it’s busy. That’s because every year for two months there are all sorts of festivities going on in the town, better known as The Dubrovnik Summer Festival!
The Summer Festival is yet another top of the list of best things to do in Dubrovnik and, actually, it takes the place as a must-do thing in Dubrovnik. If you’re looking for something to do this summer, then look no further than these cultural events. The long schedule has plenty that will fit any interest or mood; whether are cultural activities like open airplay or concerts in many different locations throughout the town!
In any way, these cultural events will give you a fresh insight into the people and traditions that make this city so vibrant. The schedule and lineup of the Dubrovnik Summer Festival do vary every year, but you can expect to find something special for every soul. Whether you prefer to listen to some orchestras playing in old town plazas or late-night DJs playing in beach clubs, in Dubrovnik, you will find plenty of cultural and gastronomic experiences taking place each year.
If you’re deciding which Dubrovnik attractions to visit on your next trip, then don’t forget about the Best Dubrovnik Beaches. Given the city’s impressive architecture, it can be easy to dismiss Dubrovnik’s natural beauty, particularly if you’ve only got a few days to explore. But make time for a beach day, and we guarantee you’re going to love it!
The closest beach to the old town is Banje Beach, where you can cool down while having some great views of the Old Town city walls and harbour. Take a stroll a little further, and you’ll find Sveti Jakov Beach, which, is also one of the quieter beaches with some stunning views of Lokrum Island overlooking the Old Town as eternal guarding, while the sunset is one of the best times of the day to experience from this beach.
There are several other beaches in Dubrovnik worth visiting and they are located mostly in the Lapad area which is just a few minutes taxi ride from the Old Town. The most famous of Lapad area beaches is the Sunset beach, the liveliest, and one of the most fun beaches in the area. Not far from Sunset beach, Copacabana Beach awaits your visit, where you’ll find plenty of beach bars and restaurants.
If you love fine dining with a view, then book yourself in for some mouthwatering dishes at some of the best restaurants in this beautiful town. A dramatic coastal location combined with access to fresh seafood makes Dubrovnik an ideal destination when looking forward to both delicious food as well breathtaking scenery!
There are several cliff-top restaurants offering stunning views over Dubrovnik and its surroundings while you enjoy some good company and food like lobster, fish and shellfish that were swimming in the very blue water just a few hours ago.
In the Lapad area, there are quite several restaurants stretching from Uvala Lapad (Sunset) Beach towards Royal Blue Resort hotels. Restaurant Zoe is a part of this luxury resort hotel where you can treat yourself to local seafood delicacies prepared by restaurants master chefs. Sit down for an a la carte meal while enjoying one of the most beautiful views of the Adriatic Sea in the sunsets!
Just close by Restaurant Levanat awaits your visit. It is one of those unique places where you can dine with a view. The restaurant is offering a wide variety of Mediterranean cuisine specialities such as fish and local traditional specialities. Just below the terrace, there is a beautiful beach where you can relax and enjoy your afternoon.
Just by the water with a beautiful view of boats and in the shade of pine trees in the Gruz area you’ll find the restaurant Yacht Club Orsan. An oasis of peace and a good mood where you will enjoy homemade food and good wine.
The list just goes on with fine dining seafood restaurants but one that stands out for its special location is definitely the Panorama Restaurant & Bar on the top on Mount Srdj where you can literary awake all your senses. Enjoy enchanting views of the Old City from high above, from where the views of Lapad Bay and the unavoidable Elaphite islands are just breathtaking.
If you are a gourmet person and fine dining is part of your everyday life we suggest to take a look at our blog about the best Dubrovnik restaurants to get some better insight on where to start and what restaurants are unavoidable during your Dubrovnik vacation.
Game of Thrones is one of the most popular TV shows in recent history, so it’s no surprise that Dubrovnik is used to stand as King’s Landing where much of the action took place during all seasons of the series. The Old Town has become an instant hit for tourists who want to see where their favourite scenes took place!
Because of the series, it’s not unusual that this has caused a very popular new activity; the Dubrovnik Game Of Thrones walking tours. Even if you are not a fan of the show, this tour might still be an interactive way to explore the history and contemporary stories with local insights from a guide who is specialized in the topics!
The producers of Game Of Thrones have finished filming the show in Dubrovnik for years now, but you’ll still find plenty of places and sites where scenes were shot and where replicas of set items are located! One such spot is at Lokrum Island where the Iron Throne replica can be found.
