5 Coolest Things to do in Dubrovnik, Croatia

Looking for the coolest things to do in Dubrovnik Croatia? Hey, you are in the right place! This guide will answer all your Ws about Dubrovnik, Croatia.

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Visiting Dubrovnik: An Introduction

An evening stroll through the cobbled streets along the ancient city walls was all it took to fall in love with the Dubrovnik Old Town. Follow our one-day Dubrovnik itinerary to plan a perfect trip to Dubrovnik.

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It is absolutely ravishing! Of course, a dream come true for every GoT lover. It has to be one of the best places to visit in Croatia.

On a side note, I was sad to see how the “Pearl of the Adriatic” is overrun with tourists. It’s impossible to feel the charm of any place while knocking on other tourists.

I was wondering if this is a scene at just the start of peak season (June), then I don’t even want to think about how chaotic it would be during high season (July and August).

For all who have Dubrovnik on their list – our Airbnb host in Dubrovnik recommends you visit the city in May which is one of the quieter months as per him.

Oh! And Dubrovnik or for that matter Croatia is sizzling in June.

We avoided stepping out during the afternoon and chose to go sightseeing in the evening. Evenings are pleasant.

Best Things to do in Dubrovnik, Croatia

1. Tour Old City Walls and Fortresses

One of the best-preserved and most beautiful in Europe, Dubrovnik’s medieval fortifications are about 2 km long with 16 towers and bastions, and 5 fortresses – Minceta, Bokar, St. John’s, St. Lawrence’s, and the Revelin.

The entire circuit takes about 2 hours to complete and the views over the town all the way to Lokrum island are mesmerizing. It took us about 3 hours as we stopped at a cafe to relax and breathe in the views.

Make sure to climb the Minceta Tower for the views to die for!

The entrance fee is 35 EUR (263,71 HRK) per adult and 15 EUR (113,02 HRK) per child up to 18 years which includes a visit to the Lovrijenac Fortress. And, a ticket is valid for 72 hours but allows a single visit. Hours vary as per the season. Click here for detailed information about hours of operation and ticket prices.

Pro-Tip: Tour the city walls early in the morning or late in the evening during summer to beat the heat and crowds.

Did you Know? Dubrovnik’s old name was Ragusa.

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2. Walk the Old Town and Explore Its Cultural and Heritage Gems

dubrovnik old town streets filled with cafes

Take a leisurely stroll through the lovely streets of the Old Town, get lost in the narrow side streets, or sit at one of the cafes or restaurants along the streets to observe life as it goes by. These are our favorite things to do in Dubrovnik Old Town.

The Old Town brims with Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture that includes various palaces, churches, and monasteries.

Wander the Stradun or Placa, the principal pedestrian street through the Old Town that connects the Pile Gate in the west to Ploce Gate in the east.

stradun or placa main streets dubrovnik old town croatia

couple dancing at stradun street dubrovnik old town

Spot the attractions on the Stradun as you walk – The big Onofrio Fountain near the Pile Gate, the small Onofrio Fountain near the Ploce Gate, Dubrovnik Bell Tower, Sponza Palace, and Orlando’s Column.

Don’t miss making a wish while rubbing the nose of Marin Držić – a bronze statue of Dubrovnik’s own Shakespeare!

dominican monastery staircase in old town dubrovnik

Spend time appreciating beautiful churches and monasteries inside Dubrovnik Old Town – Church of St. Blaise, Church of St. Saviour, Franciscan Monastery with its famous Oldest Pharmacy in Europe, Dubrovnik Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, and Church of St. Dominic with its Dominican Monastery.

Take time to visit the loveliest and most important building in the town, Rector’s Palace. It now houses a Culture History Museum.

If a visit to the museum tickles your fancy, there are plenty of those for you in the Old Town – Dubrovnik Natural History Museum, Ethnographic Museum Rupe, Maritime Museum, Museum of Modern Art Dubrovnik, The Birthplace of Marin Drzic, and The Synagogue and Jewish Museum.

At the eastern end of the town, Dubrovnik’s Old Port or Old Harbour crammed with small, private boats still remains the departure point for Lokrum Island though all other Dubrovnik ferries depart from Gruz Ferry Port.

3. Explore Game of Thrones Locations

dubrovnik game of thrones locations king's landing

I assume, more than half of the tourists that visit Dubrovnik are GOT fans. The town has been the iconic King’s Landing location. The round-up of the best things to do in Dubrovnik, Croatia is incomplete without a GoT locations tour.

I’m not a GOT fan and contemplate more often than not as to why the world is so crazy about it.

Nevertheless, I watched a few episodes of it before traveling to Dubrovnik so I could relate to the locations. While strolling the streets of Dubrovnik, I literally felt like I was on a Game of Thrones set and it was a nice feeling.

If a GOT non-admirer like me can enjoy being here then I can imagine the excitement it’d bring to the GOT admirers.

The most famous Game of Thrones locations in Dubrovnik are:

Pile Gate
Ploče Gate
Bokar Fort
Fort Lovrijenac
Dubrovnik West Harbor
Minceta Fortress
Jesuit Staircase
Rector’s Palace
The Stradun
St. Dominic Street
Dominican Monastery
Abandoned Hotel Belvedere
Gradac Park
Ethnographic Museum
Lokrum
Trsteno Arboretum

If you want to see the original Iron Throne from Go, visit Lokrum Island (more details below). You can sit and take a selfie on the iconic throne for free!

4. Breathe in Beautiful Views Over Dubrovnik

There are many viewpoints from where you can take in the stunning views of Dubrovnik and the adjacent islands – undoubtedly, one of the most beautiful things to do in Dubrovnik.

SRD Mountain

A cable car (runs every 30 minutes) from above the Old Town takes you to the 415-meter high Mount Srd which offers panoramic views of the Old Town and surroundings and is thus, one of the most Instagrammed sites in Croatia.

You can reach Mount Srd on foot too.

Sunset is the best time to be up there. Dine at Panorama Restaurant right next to the upper cable car station to admire the ravishing views of the Adriatic Riviera while having a scrumptious meal.

The Fort Imperial houses at Mount Srd the Homeland War Museum, a museum dedicated to the memories of the Croatian War of Independence (1991-1995).

Park Orsula

Head to Park Orsula to drink in the gorgeous views over the Dubrovnik Old Town, all the way to Lokrum and Cavtat. The park is about a 20-minute walk or a short bus ride (bus no. 10) away from the Old Town.

5. Visit Lokrum Island

A short (15-minute) ferry ride from Old City Port transports you to another world – the island of Lokrum. An oasis of nature and peace, Lokrum is a perfect place to take a break from the city’s hubbub.

You can visit the ruins of Benedictine Abbey and a Monastery, take a nature walk in the Botanical Garden, swim in a small lake called Mrtvo More (Dead Sea) while admiring the peacocks roaming around the lake’s shores, or just relax at one of Lokrum’s stunning beaches.

If you are a GoT fan, I’m sure you wouldn’t want to miss out on your chance to get a photo of you sitting on the iconic Iron Throne placed in Lokrum Visitor Center.

The island can be visited from April to October. The first boat departs from the Old Town at about 9 am and the last one leaves Lokrum at 7 pm or 8 pm depending upon the season. It’s prohibited to stay on the island.

The ferry tickets are available at the pier.

Dubrovnik Travel: Things to Know

Best Time to Visit Dubrovnik

If you go by the book, the summer months of June, July, and August are the best months to travel to Dubrovnik. We visited in June and it was crammed with tourists so much so that we couldn’t walk the Stradun without impinging into other people. Also, the

How to Get to Dubrovnik

By Air

Dubrovnik Airport is located in Čilipi about 20 km away from the center. There are quite a few flight options from the rest of Europe to Dubrovnik. British Airways, Croatia Airlines, Ryanair, Jet2, and Easyjet are the major carriers that connect Dubrovnik to other European cities.

Croatia Airlines and Trade Air connect various Croatian cities to Dubrovnik.

There are no direct flights from North America and India. You can fly to Zagreb and then maybe fly or drive to Dubrovnik from there.

The regular Dubrovnik airport shuttle bus is available for transfers to and from Čilipi Airport and the Main Bus Station in Gruž Port.

We use Skyscanner to research, compare, and book flights.

By Car

Dubrovnik can be easily reached by car from other Croatian cities or for that matter other European cities.

Renting a car is easy in Europe. Here’s how you can rent a car in Europe.

We use and recommend Discover Cars as they are the best and biggest online car rental service where you can first compare and then book a car that fits your bill.

We drove from Split to Dubrovnik. It was an easy and beautiful drive.

Here are the driving distances, time-taken, and driving directions from the major Croatian cities and neighboring European cities:

Zagreb: 600 km, 6 hours 28 minutes via E71
Zadar: 349 km, 4 hours 15 minutes via E65
Sibenik: 279 km, 3 hours 35 minutes via E65 and D8
Rijeka: 608 km, 6 hours 27 minutes via E71 and E65
Split: 230 km, 3 hours 20 minutes via E65 and D8
Rovinj: 693 km, 7 hours 35 minutes via E71 and E65
Pula: 712 km, 7 hours 50 minutes via E71
Ljubljana: 659 km, 7 hours 30 minutes via E71
Vienna: 956 km, 10 hours via E71
Budapest: 942 km, 9 hours 30 minutes via E71
Sarajevo: 236 km, 4 hours 30 minutes via M18 and M20
Belgrade: 503 km, 8 hours 30 minutes via M20
Podgorica: 150 km, 3 hours via E762 and M6

You can park your car at a multi-story car parking – Ilijina Glavica in the Old Town or at a Gruz Harbor public car parking garage. They operate 24X7.

By Bus

The Dubrovnik Bus Terminal is located near Gruz Harbor. Dubrovnik has daily international as well as domestic bus lines to all major Croatian cities and neighboring European cities.

By Ferry

Dubrovnik has great ferry (Jadrolinija) and catamaran (Kapetan Luka) connections to other Croatian ports and to Bari in Italy. It also has boat services to the nearby islands of Lopud, Sipan, Korcula, Mljet, and Kolocep.

Gruz Harbor is 3 km from the Dubrovnik Old Town. Orange bus lines 1a, 1b, 1c, 3, and 8 take 12 kunas per person and 10 minutes from the harbor to the old city.

How to Get Around Dubrovnik

It’s easy to navigate Dubrovnik using an extensive public transport system.

The orange public bus lines run by Libertas Public Transport Company effortlessly connect all the districts and neighborhoods in Dubrovnik.

A bus ticket costs 12 kunas. You can get it directly from the bus driver by paying 15 kunas provided you’ve got the exact cash.

A day ticket costs 30 kunas.

If public transport isn’t your thing, you can rent a car, scooter, bike, or even a boat to navigate the city and nearby islands at your own pace.

A taxi or Uber is a good but of course, a pricey option to travel in and around Dubrovnik.

You may also arrange a whole or half-day excursion to explore Dubrovnik and nearby places.

Dubrovnik Card

Dubrovnik Card offers a great deal of savings in money and time. Depending on the duration of the stay in Dubrovnik, you can buy a 1-day, 3-day, or 7-day card.

With a purchase of a Dubrovnik Card, you get a bus card that allows you to use public transport for free until its validity.

Where to Stay in Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik has umpteen lovely accommodation options for every kind of traveler. While choosing a stay option, you’ll also like to choose the neighborhood you’d prefer to stay in.

Best Luxury Hotels in Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik has some of the finest hotels in Croatia. Hotel Dubrovnik Palace, Hotel Excelsior, and The Pucic Palace are the best of the lot.

Best Boutique Hotels in Dubrovnik

Stari Grad is a historic and stylish boutique hotel within the Old Town Dubrovnik walls. It’s been rated highly for its strategic location.

Best Family-Friendly Hotels in Dubrovnik

Mostly considered to be a romantic couple’s destination, Dubrovnik still has few good options for families with children. Sun Gardens Dubrovnik is rated highly for its family-friendly facilities and atmosphere.

Guest House Forty-Four has been rated 10 on 10 for being a kid-friendly accommodation.

Best Hostels in Dubrovnik

Not far away from the Old Town is Hostel EuroAdria is great for solo travelers or even couples. It offers clean, big, and comfy rooms and a shared lounge. The hostel has been rated great for its free Wi-Fi services.

Best Apartments in Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik has mind-boggling options when comes to apartment accommodation. Here are some of our recommendations to make things easy for you – Mala Vrata, Sea View Studio Positive Place – II, Apartments Villa Ankora, Kate’s Place, and Apartments Eleganca .

Airbnb in Dubrovnik

We love Airbnb. It’s a great option for family travelers who want their own space and freedom while traveling. Plus it gives you a sense of the local outlook.

You can choose from many cheap yet lovely options to stay on Airbnb.

Have you ever been to Dubrovnik? How did you like it? We are all ears. We sincerely hope our guide to Dubrovnik helps you plan a perfect vacation. If you have any queries, let us know in the comments section below. We’ll be happy to help.

Also, we’d be obliged if you could take five minutes of your time to share this post with the world if it helped you in any way.

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2 Comments

Chocoviv says:

October 29, 2019 at 8:34 pm

I visited here in May a couple years back…. and began GOT just like you to get a feel for it when I was flying there….

1. Anjali Chawla says:
  
  October 29, 2019 at 9:42 pm
  
  Really! How did you like Dubrovnik? I just loved it. It’s hard not to feel the sublime beauty that attracted the makers of GOT 🙂