There are plenty of things to do in Dubrovnik, largely thanks to the sheer number of attractions packed into and around the city. History, architecture, and coastal scenery all come together within a relatively small area.
At the heart of it all is the walled Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979, whose streets and buildings have retained much of their historic character despite centuries of change.
Add to that clear blue waters, excellent Mediterranean cuisine, natural spaces, and plenty of options for daytime and nighttime entertainment, and it’s easy to see why the city attracts so many visitors.
For years, Dubrovnik is one of the most visited cities in the region. It is often referred to as the Pearl of the Adriatic and was once important enough to rival Venice.
Its popularity increased even further after the Old Town became a filming location for movies such as Star Wars and, above all, Game of Thrones.
30 Best Things to Do in Dubrovnik
1. Walk Along Stradun, the Main Street of the Old Town
If, like me, you prefer discovering a city on foot and at your own pace, start with a walk along Stradun. This is the main street of Dubrovnik’s Old Town.
It begins to the east at Pile Gate, eventually reaching the area near the Old Port. Simply walking along Stradun gives you a great introduction to the city.
You’ll have the chance to see some of the city’s most important monuments and buildings while taking in the lively everyday atmosphere of old Ragusa.
It’s also a great place to stop for a coffee on a terrace or browse the many shops along the way.
2. Climb the Walls to See Dubrovnik
One of my favorite ways to see Dubrovnik is from above. You can walk along the city walls for around 20 euros, following the edge of the historic center.
Along the way, you’ll enjoy beautiful views over the Old Town and the Adriatic Sea, making this one of the best ways to get a different perspective of the city.
One of the highlights is Minceta Tower, the highest point of the walls. Located to the north of the Old Town, it was once the city’s main defensive point.
From up here, you can see almost the entire Old Town, with the Adriatic stretching out behind it and creating an impressive contrast of colors.
3. See Dubrovnik From Higher Up
Climbing the city walls is one of the most popular ways to see Dubrovnik from above, but there is another option that I particularly recommend: taking the cable car up Mount Srd.
The departure point is outside the Old Town, to the north, on Petra Kresimira Street. The journey takes around 15 minutes and takes you to the summit.
Mount Srd rises to 413 meters, making it the highest area of the city. The views from the top are impressive, and there are also some tourist attractions to explore once you arrive.
You can walk up instead, but be warned: the climb is quite steep.
4. Follow the Game of Thrones Locations
“Shame, shame, shame!” is the cry that Cersei Lannister, played by Lena Headey, had to endure during the famous “Walk of Shame” in Game of Thrones.
The iconic scene was filmed in Dubrovnik, and the city is home to plenty of other Game of Thrones locations. You can discover many of them on foot and at your own pace while exploring the Old Town.
Start at Gundulić Square and climb the famous Jesuit Stairs, where Cersei’s Walk of Shame begins. From there, follow St. Dominic Street towards Ploče Gate, another location used in the scene, and continue through the nearby streets that became part of King’s Landing.
You can also explore Stradun, the Rector’s Palace and the city walls, where you’ll find other locations from the series, including Minčeta Tower and Fort Bokar.
If you’re a die-hard fan of the series, following these locations at your own pace is a fun way to discover both King’s Landing and some of the most atmospheric corners of Dubrovnik.
Recommended tour: Game of Thrones Tours + Lokrum & Iron Throne
5. Escape to Fort Lovrijenac or St. Lawrence Fortress
Just outside the historic center, on the western side of Dubrovnik, you’ll find a small peninsula topped by a 37-meter-high cliff rising above the Adriatic.
At the top sits Fort Lovrijenac, one of Dubrovnik’s most impressive fortifications. Built to defend the city against foreign powers such as Venice, its dramatic position made it an important part of Dubrovnik’s defenses.
You can easily walk there from the Old Town. Leave through Pile Gate and follow the path around the outside of the walls before climbing the steps to the fortress. The short walk is worth it for the views back towards the Old Town and across the Adriatic.
Lovrijenac is a powerful symbol of resistance to foreign forces. At its main entrance, you’ll still find a saying that perfectly reflects the irreducible spirit of Ragusa: “Freedom cannot be sold for all the gold in the world.”
Once inside, I recommend taking your time to wander through the stone passages and terraces before stopping to look back at the Old Town. From here, you get one of the most striking views of Dubrovnik, with the massive city walls rising directly opposite you.
Down below the fortress is the small West Harbor, a pleasant place to stop for a while before heading back into the Old Town.
6. Spend the Night at Banje Beach Restaurant
Located on Banje Beach, this venue is much more than a restaurant. At night, it becomes one of Dubrovnik’s most popular beach clubs.
Lights add to the atmosphere and the beach turns into a large dance floor, creating a very different side of Dubrovnik after dark.
It’s a lively place visited by both locals and tourists, and the atmosphere is excellent. Prices are also not particularly expensive, making it an appealing option for a night out.
7. Visit Cavtat
The Adriatic coast is packed with places where you can enjoy a relaxing holiday, and Cavtat is one of them. Located between Dubrovnik and its international airport, it is easy to reach from the city.
Thanks to its good transport connections, Cavtat makes an easy day trip from Dubrovnik, offering a chance to enjoy a quieter coastal setting away from the crowds of the city.
The area stretches across two peninsulas and has several interesting cultural attractions, including the Vlaho Bukovac House Museum, dedicated to the popular 19th-century painter who was born in the area.
You’ll also find entertainment areas and restaurants around the bay, as well as coves where you can go scuba diving.
8. Take a Walk Through the Forest
Dubrovnik even has its own forest: Šuma Velika i Mala Petka Park, located on the Lapad Peninsula to the west of the city.
It’s easy to reach by public transport and is a great option if you want to escape the crowds and enjoy some peace and quiet without going far from the city.
The park is set on a hill above the sea, offering magnificent views of the coast and surrounding area.
There are several paths and a small road where you can go for a hike or rent a bicycle and explore the area at your own pace.
9. Visit Sponza Palace
Let’s head back into the Old Town to discover another of Dubrovnik’s famous monuments: Sponza Palace, located at the end of Stradun Street. It is also known locally as Divona and was built in just five years, between 1516 and 1521.
The building combines Gothic and Renaissance architecture in a particularly elegant way, especially on its façade.
As for the name Sponza, it doesn’t refer to an important figure from the city. It comes from the Italian word spongia, because water was collected here.
The building also served as a customs house, bank, and business center, giving it an important role in the city’s commercial life.
It’s worth remembering that the palace survived the earthquake of 1667, when almost the entire city was destroyed. Today, it serves as the city’s main archive and houses more than 100,000 documents, some of them a thousand years old.
You can visit the palace today by paying a small entrance fee.
Do you already have accommodation booked? If not, make sure you check out the best areas to stay in Dubrovnik… the city center is not your only option!!! Where to Stay in Dubrovnik
10. Discover Dubrovnik’s Temples
The Old Town is home to several temples belonging to different religious denominations, making a walk through its religious heritage particularly interesting.
Among the most important is the Dubrovnik Cathedral, or Cathedral of the Assumption. It was built on the site of an earlier Byzantine cathedral that collapsed during the earthquake of 1667.
Another highlight is St. Blaise’s Church, a great example of late Baroque architecture in the Balkan region.
At the beginning of Stradun Street, at number 2, you’ll find the Franciscan Monastery, which dates from the 14th century and was rebuilt in the 17th century.
11. Visit Trsteno Arboretum and Its Seaside Village
Take a trip to Trsteno, a small coastal village just outside Dubrovnik, and discover one of the most beautiful gardens in the region. You can easily visit it independently from Dubrovnik by bus or car, with the journey taking around 30–40 minutes by bus
The highlight is the Trsteno Arboretum, a historic Renaissance garden filled with Mediterranean plants, centuries-old trees, fountains and beautiful views over the Adriatic.
After exploring the arboretum, walk down towards the small port of Trsteno, where you can relax by the sea or take a swim in the clear waters. You can then have lunch at one of the local restaurants before heading back to Dubrovnik.
It’s a great half-day trip if you want to combine nature, history, swimming and a quiet coastal setting away from the crowds of Dubrovnik.
12. Spend Another Day Exploring Museums
The Old Town is also packed with museums, so there is plenty to discover when you want a break from walking its streets.
In the northwest, at Ploce Gate, which separates the Old Town from the Ploce neighborhood, you’ll find the Archaeological Museum. In the southwest, on Rupa Street, you’ll find the Rupe Ethnographic Museum.
Up on Mount Srd, you can visit the Museum of the Homeland War. Beyond Ploce Gate, along Frana Supila promenade, is the Museum of Modern Art of Dubrovnik.
As you can see, there is no shortage of interesting museums to visit in Dubrovnik.
13. See the Clock Tower in Luza Square
The Clock Tower is one of the city’s most beautiful buildings and certainly one of the essential sights in Dubrovnik. It stands 31 meters high and dates back to the 15th century.
The tower was demolished and rebuilt in 1928, before eventually collapsing onto Stradun Street.
It’s known as the “clock” tower because it marks the hours with the sound of its bell, while one of its sides also features a more modern clock.
At the end of Stradun, Luza Square is a lively tourist area with plenty of restaurants and cafés where you can sit outside and watch the city go by.
14. Rector’s Palace: Discover Where Dubrovnik Was Governed
It may not be the city’s most beautiful building, but it is undoubtedly its most important from a historical perspective.
The rulers of Ragusa resided in Rector’s Palace from the 14th century. The rectors themselves governed the city for just one month at a time, a system designed to prevent one family from accumulating too much power.
The building’s Gothic-Renaissance façade is one of its main features and has been remodeled several times throughout history.
Today, the palace houses the City’s Historical Museum.
15. Admire the Monumental Onofrio Fountain
Onofrio was one of Dubrovnik’s most popular Renaissance architects. Among his various monuments and structures, he built this fountain in 1423 to collect water brought from a nearby mountain through an aqueduct.
The fountain has 16 sides, with water flowing from each one. It is located in front of Pile Gate.
16. Enjoy Several Days of Sun and Beach
Dubrovnik is well worth a few days of sun and beach, as the city has several beaches spread along its coastline. They are all outside the walled area and are mainly made up of rock, pebbles, and coarse sand.
The waters, like those found throughout much of the Adriatic, are clear and beautifully blue, making these beaches ideal for swimming and diving.
Among the most important is Banje Beach, east of the Old Town and very popular with both locals and tourists. Farther east is Sveti, surrounded by a tourist complex.
On the western side of the city, in Uvala Bay, you’ll find Sunset Beach, while Copacabana and Cava are located north of the Lapad Peninsula.
It’s also worth remembering that most of these beaches have plenty of tourist facilities, including hotels, restaurants, breweries, and beach clubs for both daytime and nighttime entertainment.
17. Walk Around the Old Port at Sunset
The Old Port is one of the oldest areas of Dubrovnik and one of those places I would recommend visiting without rushing.
Located east of the city walls, it’s a lovely spot for a peaceful walk at sunset, when the atmosphere becomes particularly pleasant.
Small boats also leave from here during the day to explore the coastline. You can simply find a terrace, sit down with a drink, and watch the sun go down over the port.
18. Discover the Oyster Farms and Walls of Ston
Take a trip to Ston and Mali Ston, on the Pelješac Peninsula, and discover two of the area’s highlights: its impressive medieval walls and its famous oysters. You can easily visit the area independently from Dubrovnik by car or bus.
Once in Ston, walk around the small historic town and climb part of the Ston Walls, an impressive defensive system stretching across the hills above the town. The walls offer beautiful views over Ston, the surrounding countryside and the salt pans.
After exploring Ston, continue to nearby Mali Ston, where you can try the area’s famous oysters at one of the local restaurants or visit an oyster farm and taste them fresh from the sea.
It’s a great day trip from Dubrovnik that combines history, hiking, local food, wine and the Adriatic coast, and feels quite different from the usual Dubrovnik sightseeing.
19. Visit One of the Best Aquariums in Europe
Right in the port, beneath St. John’s Fortress, you’ll find the Dubrovnik Aquarium and Maritime Museum. The aquarium has more than 20 tanks, where you can see most of the marine species found in the Adriatic Sea.
There are also several glass tunnels, while some of the tanks have been built into the foundations of the fortress itself, giving the visit a particularly unusual setting.
20. Discover the Story of the Balkan War
Croatia was one of the federal states of Yugoslavia and suffered through the terrible war of the 1990s.
To honor the victims of that conflict, there is a permanent exhibition at 6 Antuninska Street, close to Stradun, called War Photo Limited.
The exhibition occupies two floors and contains hundreds of photographs showing places where fighting took place, victims of the war, and other scenes connected with the conflict.
21. Visit Lokrum Island
Just off the coast, about one kilometer from the Old Town, lies Lokrum Island. This beautiful green escape is covered in Mediterranean vegetation, with paths and trails that are perfect for exploring on foot.
Among its attractions are the ruins of a defensive fort, a botanical garden, and several small beaches and secluded coves.
There’s also a restaurant area around the small port where you disembark, making it easy to combine a walk around the island with a relaxing break by the sea.
22. Escape to the Elaphiti Islands
Just northwest of Dubrovnik, the Elaphiti Islands are one of my favorite day trips from the city. Regular boats connect Dubrovnik with the main islands, each offering a different experience.
Koločep is the closest, at around 20 minutes by boat, and is ideal for hiking, snorkeling and peace and quiet.
Lopud takes around 40 minutes and is a great option if you’re looking for a sandy beach, restaurants and easy walks. There are no cars on the island, which makes exploring its paths particularly pleasant.
Šipan offers a more traditional Dalmatian atmosphere, with historic sites, local wine and peaceful villages.
You can also catch the boats from Dubrovnik’s Gruž Port, or join an organized boat trip to explore other islands and more secluded spots. I’d check the latest timetable before setting off, as services vary depending on the season.
Recommended tour: Elaphite Island Cruise w/ Drinks & Optional Lunch
23. Enjoy Europe’s Longest Summer Festival
Dubrovnik’s summer festival lasts 47 days, from July 10 to August 25, and has been held for around 60 years.
During these weeks, the historic center comes alive with artistic performances, concerts, markets, opera, and parties, creating a very special atmosphere throughout the city.
If your dates coincide with the festival, it’s undoubtedly one of the most memorable times to visit Dubrovnik, with the Old Town providing a spectacular setting for the events.
24. Buy Fresh Fruit, Vegetables and Fish at Gruz Market
Gruz Market opens early every day, except Sunday, at 6:30 in the morning. It’s one of the places to go if you want to buy some of the freshest produce available in Dubrovnik.
The market usually closes around lunchtime and is located in the port area of Gruz, where large ships and cruise vessels arrive, right on the waterfront.
If you’re staying in an apartment with a kitchen and want to prepare fresh local produce every day, this is definitely the market to know about.
25. Taste Croatian Cuisine in the Konobas
Konobas are small family-run restaurants where you can try some of the best traditional Croatian food. Their cuisine combines Croatian, Greek, and Italian influences, making a meal here a great way to experience the local flavors.
Eating at a konoba should definitely be on your list of things to do in Dubrovnik, especially if you enjoy trying traditional dishes while traveling.
The cuisine is essentially Mediterranean, with dishes such as Masticada, a meat dish served with potato gnocchi; Brodetto, a seafood and fish stew; and Kamenice, the famous oysters from Dubrovnik.
You can also try Cavapi, typical sausages from the area, or something sweet such as Orehnjaca, a pastry made with walnuts.
As for the most famous konobas, worth mentioning are Dalmantino Konoba, Kamenice, Drubovnik, and Oysters & Sushi Bar Bota.
These four establishments have a good reputation and reasonable prices, making them good places to try some of the traditional dishes mentioned above.
26. Have a Beer on a Cliff Facing the Sea
The Old Town is full of pubs, restaurants, cafés, and places where you can stop for a beer, both inside and outside the city walls.
But Buza Bar is something quite different. Its terrace is perched on a cliff outside the walls, giving you a spectacular setting overlooking the sea.
Part of the venue is actually built into the city wall, while the terrace extends out onto the cliff. It’s one of those places where the setting is just as memorable as the drink.
There are also stairs leading down to the sea, as well as an area where the more adventurous can jump straight into the water.
27. Have an Ice Cream at Dolce Vita
On a small street running perpendicular to Stradun, Naljeskoviceva, you’ll find the best ice cream parlor in Dubrovnik.
With dozens of flavors and different ice cream options, Dolce Vita prides itself on offering delicious and original flavors.
Make a note of this little spot, because stopping here for an ice cream is one of those simple pleasures you shouldn’t miss in Dubrovnik.
28. Enjoy the Nightlife in the Old Town
If you’re someone who enjoys going out at night, the Old Town has several interesting places where you can continue exploring Dubrovnik after dark.
Among the options are the Irish pubs The Gaffe and Karaka, as well as Buzz Bar and the cocktail bar The Bar by Azur.
They’re good options if you want to experience a livelier side of Dubrovnik once the day’s sightseeing is over.
29. Get Lost in Its Alleyways
One of the great pleasures of visiting a well-preserved medieval city is simply walking without a particular destination in mind.
Leave the main streets behind and wander through Dubrovnik’s alleys and narrow streets, where you’ll discover some of the city’s quieter and more charming corners.
With a little luck, you may even manage to escape the crowds for a while and experience a more peaceful side of the Old Town.
30. Taste Croatian Wine
Croatia produces excellent wines, and the Dubrovnik area is no exception. Around the city, you’ll find several vineyard areas with wineries that can be visited.
If you don’t have time for a vineyard visit, there’s an easier option: simply taste Croatian wines at one of the city’s bars or restaurants.
It’s a relaxed way to finish your Dubrovnik experience while discovering another part of Croatian food and wine culture.