ULTIMATE DUBROVNIK TRAVEL GUIDE 2024: THINGS YOU MUST DO AND SEE!

Coming to King’s Landing? Read this Ultimate Dubrovnik Travel Guide for ALL the information you need!

Dubrovnik is probably Croatia’s most sought-after location, so if you ever visit Croatia, you’re surely going to find your way to Dubrovnik.

As Dubrovnik is a small yet quite pricey city, people still have their doubts about visiting, especially if you want to avoid the crowds surrounding the old town during the high season. But trust me, once you decide to come, you won’t be disappointed.

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This blog post is going to take you through everything you must know about Dubrovnik and how to have the best time while visiting this gem of the Adriatic coast.

WHERE IS DUBROVNIK?

Dubrovnik is one of Croatia’s most beautiful cities and definitely the most popular one. It’s situated in southern Croatia.

HOW TO GET THERE?

The easiest way to get to Dubrovnik is by flying directly into Dubrovnik. Dubrovnik Airport is located in Čilipi, a small village 20 kilometers from the city.

To get from the airport to the city center you can use an Airport Shuttle bus which runs often and it’s not that expensive.

If you want to travel more comfortably, you can get a taxi or a private transfer ranging from 40-60 Euros. You can also rent a car at the airport and indulge in some additional day trips!

You can also easily come to Dubrovnik from many other cities in Dalmatia. Use the Croatian highways with no fear, as they are quite modern and quick. The highway is the easiest way to come to Dubrovnik from Split or Zadar.

If you’re coming from one of the islands, like Hvar or Korčula, you should check out the ferries. They are usually up to 25 euros and last 1-3 hours.

It’s also possible to come from Zagreb but that’s a much longer trip. My advice – if you’re driving from Zagreb, make a few stops on your way south to split up your drive. An ideal day trip would be Plitvice Lakes!

There is also a plane connection between Zagreb and Dubrovnik. For around 100 euros, your long road trip can easily turn into an hour-long plane ride!

WHEN TO COME TO DUBROVNIK?

I’m sure you’re well aware that summer is the high season in Dubrovnik, much like for all coastal places. From May until mid-September, Dubrovnik is CROWDED. The worst month to visit Dubrovnik is August – the high temperatures are often unbearable, and the crowds are at their peak at this time.

The best months are April and early May or September and early October. The spring temperatures are quite high, which is excellent for exploring and there are less tourists at that time. In the fall, the crowds are almost gone but the sea is still warm enough to take a swim!

WHERE TO STAY?

As Dubrovnik evolved into this mammoth of a tourist attraction, the locals evolved with their accommodation facilities. In Dubrovnik, you can find EVERYTHING – cheap hostels, homely AirBnB’s, affordable hotels, and those luxurious ones.

First of all, set your budget. You can find accommodation to fit anyone’s budget if you choose wisely. The prices are much higher in the high season.

If you choose to stay in the old town, the prices are always going to be high, as there aren’t that many options in the old town, so the owners raise their prices.

Tip #1: stay outside of the old town. There are many affordable apartments and hotels in the “newer” part of Dubrovnik, such as Lapad. You can still easily reach the old town by taxi, frequent buses, or even by walking.

Tip #2: Stay on one of the Elaphiti islands. The small archipelago of islands is only 30-60 minutes away by ferry, yet the islands are completely calm and offer much more peace and quietness.

Choose between Hotel Bellevue Dubrovnik and Rixos Premium Dubrovnik if you want luxury, or stay in one of the apartments like Dubrovnik oasis or the incredible Villa King if you want your own space!

RELATED: DUBROVNIK: HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST HOTEL FOR YOUR BUDGET!

WHAT TO SEE IN DUBROVNIK?

Dubrovnik has a lot to offer when it comes to sightseeing. The medieval town is one of the most unique towns in Europe (or even in the world) and it’s on UNESCO’s World Heritage list.

Here is the list of places you MUST see when you come to Dubrovnik!

STRADUN

Stradun, also called Placa, is Dubrovnik’s most famous street in the old town. It starts at the Pile Gate entrance all the way to Ploče Gate.

It’s been the main street of Dubrovnik since the 12th century, and it has hosted so many people that the ground is almost worn out. That gives it an additional charm though!

By walking through this street, you can access almost any other important landmark in Dubrovnik’s old town. Be mindful that the most popular street during summer is also the most crowded one.

In August it’s normal to walk in lines of people, one behind the other, as there is no space to walk freely. Choose wisely whether you want to experience that!

DUBROVNIK WALLS

The most important and the most beautiful part of Dubrovnik are its city walls. At 1940 meters in length, with 6 fortresses to see, you will need a significant amount of time to walk all around the city of Dubrovnik.

Make sure you have at least 2 hours, but also try not to go in the middle of the day. The sun is unbearable at that time and there’s no shade on the city walls. In summer, the city walls are open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and the ticket is 35 Euros. If you’re a student, bring your student ID and your ticket will be only 13 euros! More info on the city walls find here!

RECTOR’S PALACE

In the 14th century, the Rector (today that would be Mayor) of the Republic of Ragusa lived here. Today it’s a history museum of Dubrovnik, and it still looks incredible with its well-preserved mix of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture.

For the price of 15 euros, you can enter the Rector’s Palace and experience the life people of Dubrovnik once lived!

DOMINICAN MONASTERY

Dominican Monastery, established in 1225, is of extreme importance for Dubrovnik. Not only is it one of the oldest parts of Dubrovnik, but most of Dubrovnik’s cultural and artistic heritage is kept in the monastery.

You can visit the Dominican Monastery Museum any day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and see the best Croatian art pieces, documents, paintings, and much more!

SRĐ

If you’ve ever seen an incredible aerial view of Dubrovnik, you’ve seen the view from the top of Srđ. The fort on top of Srđ, Fort Imperial, played an important role in Croatia’s Homeland War. That’s why there is a Homeland War Museum you can visit once you get to the top.

Ok, but how to get there? Well, you can always walk! There are many small pathways all the way up to the top but trust me you will get TIRED.

There’s also a cable car, which is fast but not really good value for money in my opinion. The cable car ride is 4 minutes long and it’s 27 euros round trip. You will surely get an incredible view of Dubrovnik’s old town from the cable car, so choose wisely! During summer, the cable car operates from 9 a.m. to midnight.

If you have a car you can drive up to the top or pay a local to drive you up in a buggy car.

Once you’re there, you can have a drink or a meal at the incredible Panorama restaurant – the picture above was taken from our seat at the restaurant!!

LOVRIJENAC FORTRESS

The Lovrijenac Fortress is an incredible 16th-century fort that the people of Dubrovnik built to protect their access to the sea.

You need to climb 175 steps to get to the entrance of the fort, where you will be greeted by the saying “NON BENE PRO TOTO LIBERTAS VENDITUR AURO” (in Latin; Freedom is not sold for all the gold of the world).

The entrance to the Fortress is covered by your ticket for the city walls, but the ticket lasts only 24 hours so be sure to visit them the same day.

WHAT TO DO IN DUBROVNIK?

GO TO THE BEACH

Although Dubrovnik is Croatia’s most famous coastal city, the beaches are not that great. Dubrovnik is built on stone, therefore it’s practically impossible to find a nice beach you can walk in, instead of jumping straight into the depths.

In the city, you can choose between Banje beach or St. Jakov beach, but both are extremely crowded during summer. Dubrovnik’s prettiest beach is 30 minutes away from the city and it’s called Pasjača. The stairs leading to the beach are tiresome when you’re coming back but they make for an incredible photo location!

Read more >>> 10 BEST DUBROVNIK BEACHES FOR THE ULTIMATE SUMMER ESCAPE

GO KAYAKING

There are a lot of kayak tours in Dubrovnik, all of them allowing you to explore different parts of Dubrovnik. You can explore the Old Town, the Bettina Cave, or even go from Dubrovnik to Lokrum in a kayak!

VISIT LOKRUM ISLAND

Lokrum island is a green oasis for anyone who wants to escape the gravel of Dubrovnik for a while. The boat that takes you to Lokrum leaves from the Old Town port every 15 minutes and it’s 27 euros. There are no traditional beaches there, only stone ones, but it’s less crowded than Dubrovnik.

VISIT THE ELAPHITI

Northwest of Dubrovnik there is a small archipelago of islands – the most popular islands being Lopud, Šipan, and Koločep. All of them have different things to offer, and all of them are reachable by a ferry for only 10 euros! If you have the means, you can even get a private boat tour to one of the islands!

Read more >>> HOW TO SPEND A PERFECT DAY ON LOPUD

WHERE TO EAT IN DUBROVNIK?

Dubrovnik has excellent culinary scene, but it’s also quite pricey when it comes to eating and drinking. We have a detailed restaurant guide you can check out for restaurant inspiration, from the cheap and quick bites to fine dining in Michellin star restaurants!

WHERE TO PARTY IN DUBROVNIK?

Dubrovnik is well-known for its party scene, especially in the old town. A place that will surely knock your socks off is Culture Club Revelin – a night club situated in one of the city walls’ towers. Not only is their location top notch, they are the 20th best club in the world according to DJ Mag. For more information on where to party check out our list of promising places to party in Dubrovnik!