Dubrovnik is one of the best cities in Europe. It’s small and easily walkable, with a great range of things to do. Here are the top things to do in Dubrovnik.
Dubrovnik is a great city to visit. It’s a small city, but it’s truly beautiful. The whole of the historic centre is amazingly well preserved. It feels like you’re suddenly transported to a different century. There’s a good variety of different things to do in Dubrovnik for all different types of travellers. So keep reading for my guide to the best things to do in Dubrovnik for a great trip to Croatia.
How long do I need in Dubrovnik, and do I need a car?
Dubrovnik is a small city, so you only need a couple of days here to enjoy the main things to do in Dubrovnik. You definitely don’t need a car to get around Dubrovnik. The whole of the historic centre is pedestrianised, so it’s the perfect city to walk around. You can definitely spend a few days in Dubrovnik and enjoy the best sights without a car. Stay in a hotel that’s in or very close to the historic centre and enjoy walking around Dubrovnik.
When is the best time of year to visit Dubrovnik?
Dubrovnik is a very popular city to visit. So it can get very busy here in the peak summer months of July and August. Even though the weather is hot and sunny at this time of year, a lot of travellers find the crowds in Dubrovnik overwhelming at this time of the year. The crowds are particularly bad during the daytime, where the city is filled with cruise ship passengers on day trips.
To enjoy the things to do in Dubrovnik with less crowds, I recommend visiting in spring or autumn. The months of May and June, or September and October, are good times to visit Dubrovnik. The weather is usually warm and sunny. It’s not quite as hot as July and August, which is more comfortable for exploring. While there are still some cruise ships at this time of year, meaning the city can still be busy in the daytime, the cruise ship passengers will leave in the evening so you can enjoy more peaceful evenings in Dubrovnik.
Even though Dubrovnik is a popular tourist destination and can get very busy, it’s still a beautiful city to visit. Don’t let fears of the crowds put you off visiting and enjoying all the city has to offer. Keep reading for my top things to do in Dubrovnik.
Walk the Old City Walls in Dubrovnik
My favourite thing to do in Dubrovnik is to walk the Old City Walls. The views here are just amazing. It’s a great activity for your first morning in Dubrovnik, as it really gives you a sense of the size and layout of the small, old city.
You need to pay to walk the Old City Walls in Dubrovnik. You can buy your tickets in advance. It’s best to book your tickets in advance so you can skip the queues. If the weather is forecast to be hot, then I recommend booking your ticket to walk the Old City Walls fairly early in the morning. There’s no shade and it can get really hot with the walls on each side of you. Visiting earlier in the day will be a slightly more comfortable temperature, especially as there are quite a lot of steps. Check out the ticket prices and opening times here.
Walking Dubrovnik’s Old City Walls is definitely worth it. I just loved the amazing views over the red rooftops. Expect to spend a few hours walking the walls. You can do it quicker, but it’s worth taking your time to enjoy the views and take lots of photos.
Go wine tasting to try some local Croatian wines
Croatia has a great climate for vineyards, and produces a lot of great wines. You can try some local Croatian wines at various wine bars in Dubrovik. A lot of these wine bars offer wine tasting, where you can try several different types of wine. It’s a really nice way to spend some time in the early evening in Dubrovnik before getting dinner.
Take the Cable Car to see views over Dubrovnik
Another of my favourite things to do in Dubrovnik is to take the cable car up the nearby hill, for amazing views over the city. You can check out the cable car prices and opening times here.
The queue for the cable car moves fairly quickly, as each cable car takes quite a lot of people. The ride up to the top only lasts a few minutes, and it’s relaxing with good views. But the best views are when you get to the top.
You can walk around the area at the top, enjoying the fresh air and the views. There’s also a restaurant at the top, which is a great place for lunch with an amazing view.
Enjoy fresh seafood at Dubrovnik’s restaurants
Croatia has miles of coastline, which means that there are lots of options to eat fresh seafood. Dubrovnik has a good variety of seafood restaurants. Some of the best seafood restaurants will have a varying menu, depending on what fish is caught that day. Some highlights are swordfish, or fresh tuna steak. Octopus is also a great option to eat in Croatia. I loved spending evenings in Dubrovnik enjoying the seafood restaurants.
Shop for souvenirs and get lost in Dubrovnik’s narrow streets
Another of my favourite things to do in Dubrovnik is just to walk through the streets. I spent an afternoon just walking around the city. I didn’t follow a map, and just walked around wherever I thought looked interesting. Dubrovnik is a small city so you can’t get too lost. But it’s nice to walk around freely, without trying to follow a map.
The narrow streets of the Old City are really pretty. There are lots of good shops in the city. You can browse the shops and buy souvenirs to take home, as well as just enjoying the ambience of the cute, historic streets.
Wander along Dubrovnik’s waterfront and look at the boats
Dubrovnik is on the coast of Croatia, so no visit to Croatia is complete without spending some time by the sea. You can just wander down to the seafront and see the cute boats bobbing around in the water. I found it less crowded down by the water than in the main shopping areas. So it felt like place to enjoy some quieter, more peaceful time in Dubrovnik.
Eat Croatian ‘burek’ from a bakery in Dubrovnik
Another great food to eat in Dubrovnik is ‘burek’. These traditional Croatian pastries are filled with cheese. You can get them at lots of different bakeries around Croatia. They’re quite filling, and they’re so good. The Croatian cheese-filled burek are a great option for a quick lunch while you’re exploring the city.
Take a Game of Thrones tour to see filming locations
If you’re a fan of the TV series ‘Game of Thrones’, then a lot of Dubrovnik might feel familiar. A lot of places in the city were used in the filming of the popular TV series. If you’re a Game of Thrones fan, you can take a Game of Thrones walking tour. The tour leader will take you to some of the iconic filming locations and show you where some of the famous scenes were filmed.
Try local Croatian olive oil
Another of Croatia’s delicious local foods is the olive oil. Croatia’s warm climate is the perfect place to grow olives. And this means that you can get delicious, fresh olive oil in Croatia and in Dubrovnik. You can try local Croatian olive oil at restaurants or at some of the speciality olive oil shops in the city.
Watch the sunset over the sea
The last of my recommended things to do in Dubrovnik is to watch the sunset over the sea. There are some great sunset-viewing bars. Sit at one of the outside tables at these bars and watch the sunset. It’s a great way to end your time exploring Dubrovnik.
Enjoy the top things to do in Dubrovnik! There are more great things to see and do in Croatia, so check out my itinerary for one week in Croatia, where you can see all the top things to do in Croatia and also explore the best islands in Croatia. You can also try sailing to see some of Croatia beyond the city of Dubrovnik, so check out my guide to sailing in Croatia.
