Dylan and Maddy
The Best of: 3 Days in Dubrovnik, Croatia
Dubrovnik quickly became one of our favorite cities in Europe — and honestly, one of our favorite cities we’ve visited anywhere in the world.
Between the incredible Old Town, beautiful Adriatic views, beaches, islands, historic buildings, and some seriously good food, Dubrovnik has a little bit of everything.
We visited in early July, so it was definitely hot, but thankfully we didn’t experience the extreme heat that we’ve dealt with in some other parts of Europe during the summer. The water was pretty chilly, but after walking around in the heat, it was honestly pretty refreshing.
We spent three days in Dubrovnik and packed a lot into our time there. From walking the famous city walls early in the morning to relaxing at Banje Beach and exploring Lokrum Island, here’s exactly how we’d spend three days in Dubrovnik.
Table of Contents
How to Get to Dubrovnik
We arrived in Dubrovnik from Kotor, Montenegro, which made for a pretty easy addition to our trip through the Balkans.
We took a bus from Kotor to Dubrovnik, and the trip took about 4 ½ hours. It was supposed to be 3 hours, but we got caught in really bad traffic, which stunk. The route itself was beautiful, and traveling by bus is a popular way to connect the two cities.
If you’re flying in, Dubrovnik also has an international airport, so you don’t have to arrive by bus or car.
That said, getting to Dubrovnik from the United States can take some planning. There aren’t always a ton of convenient nonstop options from the U.S., and even traveling from other European cities can sometimes require a connection.
For us, adding Dubrovnik to a larger Croatia/Montenegro itinerary worked really well.
Day 1: Explore Dubrovnik Old Town
Start With the Dubrovnik City Walls
If there’s one piece of advice we’d give you for Dubrovnik, it’s this: Get up early.
We recommend getting to the Old Town early through Pile Gate and walking the Dubrovnik City Walls right when they open at 8:00 AM. Not only is it much more comfortable before the heat of the day kicks in, but you’ll also beat a lot of the crowds.
The views from the walls are incredible. You get a completely different perspective of Dubrovnik, with the orange rooftops of the Old Town on one side and the bright blue Adriatic Sea on the other.
And trust us — you’ll want to take your time here because there are plenty of photo opportunities along the way. Going early made a huge difference for us.
Walk Around Old Town Dubrovnik
After walking the walls, spend some time simply wandering through Old Town.
This is one of those places where you don’t necessarily need a strict plan. Just walk the streets, look up at the architecture, stop for photos, and take in how beautiful the city is.
One of the most recognizable spots is the Jesuit Stairs. We actually haven’t watched Game of Thrones, so we didn’t have the same connection to the filming locations that many visitors have.
But even without being Game of Thrones fans, we still thought the Jesuit Stairs were really cool to see. We usually think “They’re just stairs, whatever”, but it was fun, especially since we were alone there and Maddy’s dad is a fan of the series. A Game of Thrones walking tour is available if you’re a fan of the show!
Going early was once again a huge advantage. When we visited in the morning, there was hardly anyone around. If you’re looking for that classic photo without hundreds of people in the background, morning is the time to go.
Visit the Franciscan Monastery
Another stop we recommend adding to your Old Town walk is the Franciscan Monastery.
The monastery is right in the heart of the Old Town and gives you a chance to step away from the busy streets and see another side of Dubrovnik’s history.
It’s worth adding to your itinerary while you’re already exploring the area.
Check Out Rector's Palace
From there, make your way to Rector’s Palace. This was one of our favorite historical stops in Dubrovnik.
The architecture inside was beautiful, and the palace gives you a really interesting look at Dubrovnik’s history. Even if you’re not someone who normally spends a ton of time visiting museums and historic buildings, we thought this one was worth seeing.
Visit Fort Lovrijenac
Just outside the western walls of Old Town is Fort Lovrijenac, a historic fortress perched dramatically on a cliff overlooking the Adriatic Sea.
The fortress dates back centuries and was built to help protect Dubrovnik from attacks by sea. It’s also another popular Game of Thrones filming location.
Even if you’re not a Game of Thrones fan, Fort Lovrijenac is worth checking out for the history, architecture and incredible views of Dubrovnik and the surrounding coastline.
Dinner at Bona Fide
After spending most of the day exploring, it was time for food. We stopped at Bona Fide, where we were able to get gluten-free pizza and nachos.
Was it the best pizza we’ve ever had? No. But it was good, and having a gluten-free option in the middle of Old Town was a huge plus for us.
The nachos were also really good, making this a solid option if you’re looking for a casual meal while exploring Dubrovnik.
Finish With Gelato at Peppino's
And then came one of our favorite food finds in Dubrovnik: Peppino’s. Their gelato was SO good.
One of the things we really appreciated as people who eat gluten-free was that all of the flavors we saw were gluten-free, and they even had gluten-free cones. If you travel gluten-free, you probably already know how rare it can be to find a good gluten-free cone.
We loved Peppino’s so much that we went every day we were in Dubrovnik. They also have multiple locations, including one right near the entrance to the Old Town, making it incredibly easy to stop by while exploring.
Day 2: Banje Beach & Dubrovnik at Night
Spend the Day at Banje Beach
After a busy first day exploring Old Town, we spent a good portion of Day 2 at Banje Beach. Banje is one of the most famous beaches in Dubrovnik, and it’s easy to see why.
The best part for us wasn’t even the beach itself. It was the view. Looking back toward Dubrovnik’s Old Town from the water creates one of the coolest beach views we’ve ever seen.
The historic buildings, orange rooftops, and city walls sit right above the Adriatic, with Lokrum Island visible in the distance. It’s a pretty spectacular setting.
The water was definitely chilly when we visited in early July, but after spending time walking around Dubrovnik in the summer heat, it felt incredibly refreshing.
If you want to relax for a few hours during your Dubrovnik trip, we’d definitely recommend spending some time at Banje Beach.
Grab a Burger at Guloso
After the beach, we stopped at Guloso for burgers. They had gluten-free bun options, which was a huge win for us, and everyone in our group really enjoyed their burgers.
It was nice to have another solid gluten-free-friendly option during our trip.
Walk Dubrovnik at Night
One of our favorite things to do in Dubrovnik ended up being one of the simplest: Walk around Old Town at night.
During the day, Dubrovnik can be busy and crowded, especially during the summer. At night, the city takes on a completely different feel. The stone streets and historic buildings are beautifully lit, and there’s something about walking through the Old Town after dark that makes the city feel even more romantic.
Dubrovnik is often considered one of the most romantic cities in Europe, and after walking around at night, we could definitely see why. Even if you spent the entire day in Old Town already, we highly recommend coming back after sunset.
Day 3: Dubrovnik Photos, Mount Srd & Lokrum Island
Start With an Early Morning Photoshoot
For our third day, we started incredibly early with a photoshoot around Dubrovnik’s Old Town. And honestly, these ended up being some of our favorite travel photos we’ve ever taken.
Dubrovnik is one of those cities where it’s almost impossible to take a bad photo. The architecture, stone streets, orange rooftops, and surrounding water make the entire city feel like one giant backdrop.
We highly recommend booking an early morning photoshoot if you’re looking for memorable photos from your trip. The biggest bonus?
You’re out before the Old Town gets packed with people.
Take in the Views From Mount Srd
After our photoshoot, we headed up to Mount Srd, which overlooks Dubrovnik. To get up here, you have a couple of options. A popular choice is taking the Dubrovnik Cable Car, which gives you great views of the city as you head up the mountain, or you can drive up yourself.
The Cable Car costs €30 per person round trip, which we couldn’t really justify. Instead, we took a Bolt up, which cost us €30 total for all six of us. If you’re traveling with a group, taking a rideshare can be a much more affordable option.
The main reason we went to Mount Srd was to see the views. And the views did not disappoint. From the top, you get an incredible panoramic look at Dubrovnik, the Old Town, and the Adriatic Sea. You could easily spend several hours up here if you wanted to. There are restaurants, activities and places to explore, including a sky bike and ATV experiences.
For us, though, we mostly wanted to walk around, take in the views, and enjoy the scenery. If you’re looking for one of the best viewpoints in Dubrovnik, Mount Srd is definitely worth adding to your itinerary.
Spend the Afternoon on Lokrum Island
For the second half of our day, we headed to Lokrum Island.
You can take a short ferry ride from Dubrovnik’s Old Port, and this ended up being one of the biggest surprises of our trip. We absolutely loved Lokrum!
The island has beautiful historic architecture, walking trails, gardens, swimming spots, and plenty of wildlife. And yes, there are peacocks everywhere.
If you like animals, nature, and exploring, you’ll probably love it here.
Sit on the Iron Throne
Even though we’re not Game of Thrones fans, there was one thing we definitely wanted to see on Lokrum: The Iron Throne.
You can actually sit on it and get your very own “King of Westeros” moment. It’s obviously one of the island’s most famous attractions thanks to Game of Thrones, and even if you haven’t watched the show, it’s still a fun stop.
Take Your Time on Lokrum
One thing we’d recommend is not rushing Lokrum. We only spent half of the day there, but you could easily spend a full day — or even longer — exploring the island.
There are trails, parks, historic areas, swimming spots, the Botanical Gardens, and plenty of places to simply sit and enjoy the scenery.
We spent some time swimming and relaxing, which was the perfect way to end our three days in Dubrovnik. The official Lokrum Reserve currently operates its own ferry from Dubrovnik’s Old Port, with admission and return transportation included in the standard ticket. Schedules can change throughout the season, so check the official Lokrum website before your visit.
Where to Stay in Dubrovnik
One thing you’ll notice pretty quickly when looking for accommodation in Dubrovnik is that staying inside the Old Town walls can get expensive.
There are plenty of hotels and Airbnbs in and around the city, so don’t feel like you have to stay directly inside the walls. We stayed at an Airbnb that was about a 15-minute walk from the gates of Old Town and only about 7 minutes from Banje Beach.
For us, this was the perfect location. We were close enough to walk into Old Town whenever we wanted, but we weren’t paying the premium that comes with staying directly inside the historic center. And then there was the view.
Our Airbnb had what was probably our favorite view from an Airbnb we’ve ever stayed at. We could see all of Old Town and the beach from above.
Every morning and evening, we’d sit outside and enjoy the sunrise or sunset while looking over Dubrovnik. It was absolutely beautiful.
Our advice: Don’t automatically book a place inside the Old Town walls just because it sounds like the most convenient option. Look around the neighborhoods just outside the center. You may be able to get a better view, more space, and a better price while still being within easy walking distance.
Best Day Trips From Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is an amazing destination on its own, but its location also makes it a great home base for exploring some other incredible places in the Balkans.
If you have an extra day or two, here are a couple of day trips we’d recommend.
Day Trip From Dubrovnik: Bosnia and Herzegovina
One of our favorite day trips from Dubrovnik was actually across the border into Bosnia and Herzegovina.
We visited Kravice Waterfalls and Mostar, and we absolutely loved the experience. We’re going to save the full details of this day for another post, but if you’re looking for a day trip that gives you a completely different experience from Dubrovnik, this is one we’d highly recommend.
Between the beautiful waterfalls and the historic city of Mostar, there was plenty to see and do, and we thought it was well worth taking a day away from Dubrovnik to explore. If you have the time, we’d definitely recommend adding Bosnia and Herzegovina to your Dubrovnik itinerary.
Day Trip From Dubrovnik: Kotor, Montenegro
Another popular day trip from Dubrovnik is Kotor, Montenegro — which is actually where we came from before arriving in Dubrovnik. Kotor makes for a great day trip if you want to experience the incredible Bay of Kotor and some of the surrounding coastline.
One of the best ways to experience the area is by taking a boat tour out onto the bay. You can visit Our Lady of the Rocks, a small island with a beautiful church and an interesting history.
You could also spend time walking around Kotor’s Old Town and taking in the incredible mountain scenery surrounding the bay. We personally recommend spending more than one day in Kotor if you have the time, but if Dubrovnik is your home base, a day trip is still a great way to get a taste of Montenegro.
Want more information on traveling to Kotor or want to go for longer than a day? Check out our blog post about our 3 Days in Kotor, Montenegro.
Day Trip From Dubrovnik: Elafiti Islands
Another popular day trip from Dubrovnik is a boat trip to the Elafiti Islands, a small group of islands just off the coast. Tours typically include stops at islands such as Koločep, Lopud and Šipan, where you can enjoy beaches, swimming, small villages and beautiful scenery.
We didn’t make it to the Elafiti Islands during our trip, so we can’t give you our firsthand opinion. However, if you have an extra day in Dubrovnik and want to spend some time on the water, this is another option worth looking into.
Final Thoughts: Is Dubrovnik Worth Visiting?
Absolutely. Without a doubt. Dubrovnik is a top-five favorite city we’ve ever visited.
There are so many things that come together to make this city special. It’s incredibly beautiful; there’s tons to see and do, and the history and architecture make simply walking around feel like an experience. We especially loved the medieval feel of Dubrovnik.
One of the things that made it stand out to us is that, despite being a popular destination, it doesn’t really feel like you’re in a big city. We’re not always the biggest fans of huge, bustling cities, so Dubrovnik’s combination of historic streets, beautiful views, and a more relaxed atmosphere was right up our alley.
Three days was a great amount of time for us to experience Dubrovnik and see the major highlights without feeling rushed. We were technically there 4 days, but one of the days was a day trip to the country of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
That said, you could easily extend your trip by another day or two if you want more time to relax, spend time at the beach, explore Lokrum or take additional day trips. And honestly, Dubrovnik is one of those places where we could see ourselves doing something very different someday.
We could genuinely picture ourselves having a vacation home here and spending a few weeks at a time just relaxing, enjoying the views, swimming in the Adriatic and living the good life.
That’s how much we loved it. There are plenty of beautiful cities around the world, but every once in a while you visit somewhere that just hits differently. Dubrovnik was one of those places for us.
If you’re planning a trip to Croatia or traveling through the Balkans, Dubrovnik is not one to be missed.
As always, thank you for supporting our blog, and safe travels!
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