Dubrovnik Travel Guide

The Old City Walls are the main tourist attraction of Old Town Dubrovnik and the reason why the city is known as the Pearl of the Adriatic. The walls were first built in the 9th century and continually strengthened with forts and other additions throughout the years to fend off invaders - and they’ve remained basically impenetrable ever since. Almost perfectly preserved, the walls are 2 kilometers long, featuring 6 fortresses, and 25 meters tall. No visit to Dubrovnik is complete without a walk along the Old City Walls. They are accessible from the Pile Gate, the Ploče Gate, and the Maritime Museum. The view from the walls is arguably the best in Dubrovnik. From the top of the walls, you’ll be able to see the old town with its red rooftops and the Adriatic Sea beyond. You can walk the walls on your own and choose your own pace or take a guided tour and learn more about the history of the ancient walls you’re walking.

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As a coastal city, it’s a given that Dubrovnik is home to a plethora of beaches for you to explore. The portion of the Adriatic Sea surrounding Dubrovnik has been rated “excellent” by environmental regulators, so you can rest assured that the water is squeaky clean. The water here is also some of the warmest water in Croatia. Banje Beach is the beach closest to Old Town, but it’s also the busiest and most popular. In addition to swimming and sunbathing, you can also try parasailing, kayaking, water skiing, or wakeboarding through the crystal clear waters. Lapad Bay is a string of pebbly beaches lined by rocky coves. Popular with the locals, it’s a good way to beat the crowds and is surrounded by beachfront restaurants and bars. Bellevue Beach is also a good place to swim with locals. A pebbly beach surrounded by high cliffs, you can go cliff diving if you dare or opt to relax in the shade the cliffs provide. And of course, there are many more beaches to explore around town!

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Mount Srd rises above the city of Dubrovnik at 412 meters tall. Because of its position overlooking the city and the sea, Mount Srd was chosen as the ideal spot for Fort Imperial, built in 1810 by the French during the Napoleonic Wars. The Austrians conquered the fort shortly after its construction and proceeded to expand and renovate it. It was then left unused until the attack on Dubrovnik in 1991. As you can imagine, the views from the top of Mount Srd are incredible. You can either hike to the top or take the cable car, which takes you to the top in just four minutes. In addition to seeing the fortress, which now houses a museum dedicated to the Croatian War of Independence, you’ll also get to see the enormous white cross at the top, made from white stone from the island of Brač. At the peak of Mount Srd, there are restaurants and souvenir shops. If you’re feeling more adventurous, take a dune buggy safari to explore the mountain’s peaks and seek out some other views.

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If you’re a fan of the popular TV series Game of Thrones, you’re undoubtedly aware of the fact that a large portion of the show was filmed in Dubrovnik. Now, diehard fans can take a private walking tour of the filming locations throughout the city and even take photos on the Iron Throne. The Old Town of Dubrovnik served as King’s Landing in the show, and you’ll recognize many of the sights from some of the most famous scenes. Walk through the Gates of King’s Landing, see the Red Keep and the Sept of Baelor, where Cersei’s famous walk of shame took place. Stroll through the Trsteno Arboretum, which served as the filming location for the Tyrells’ Gardens. Explore the Lovrijenac fort, the setting for the Battle of Blackwater. You’ll see these sights and many more, so don’t forget your camera!

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If you’re looking to add a more active aspect to your vacation in Dubrovnik, sea kayaking is the way to go. While you can rent kayaks at many of the beaches to take on your own little adventure, you can also go on guided sea kayaking tours to see some of the best sights in Dubrovnik from a unique point of view. There are several types of tours you can choose from, including a Game of Thrones kayaking tour. You can paddle to Lokrum Island for lunch before heading back to see the Old City Walls from the water. You’ll also get to explore hidden caves, coves, and beaches while you’re at it, and some of these places are only reachable by sea. Kayaking through the serene waters of the Adriatic is a one-of-a-kind experience, and the views of Dubrovnik from the sea are some you won’t soon forget.

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Lokrum Island, just a short ferry ride from Old Town Dubrovnik, is a favorite of locals and visitors alike. This green forested island’s history dates back to 1023 when its Benedictine monastery was built. The island is also steeped in legend: the tales say that Richard the Lionheart was cast ashore here after a shipwreck when he was returning from the crusades. Once you get to the island, you can take in some history and enjoy nature all at once. Take a stroll through the monastery’s botanical gardens, which are home to agaves, palm trees, olive trees, and more. Or, you can visit the beach and take a swim in the Adriatic or in the small saltwater lake nicknamed the Dead Sea. Enjoy sunbathing and snorkeling along the coast for a nice, relaxing day away from the city.

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Just a few hours’ drive from Dubrovnik, the beautiful country of Montenegro will blow your mind. Its history begins in the Middle Ages, and having lived through seven different eras, Montenegro’s borders and populations have changed drastically throughout the years. This is evident in the remnants left behind by each culture that has dominated and inhabited the region, like the Illyrians and the Romans, and the Slavs and the Turks. It finally declared independence from Serbia to become the country it is today. Montenegro is a gem of a country and has a lot to offer. First off, the landscape will take your breath away. From stunning mountains to beautiful beaches, there’s a photo opportunity everywhere you look. For all you nature enthusiasts, there’s plentiful hiking, exploring, sunbathing, and swimming opportunities. For all you history buffs, you’ll be awed by the sheer diversity of the architecture. Full of Roman villas and mosaics, ancient churches and monasteries, fortresses and mosques, the contrast of the different buildings placed right next to each other will astound you. And, as an added bonus, the locals are some of the friendliest people you’ll ever meet!

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The Peljesac Peninsula is the largest peninsula in Dalmatia and lies just across the channel from the island of Korcula. The peninsula has been inhabited since ancient times by cultures like the Illyrians, Greeks, and Romans, and has been famous since these ancient times for its wines. Korcula, being so close to the peninsula, has a similar story. Both Korcula and Peljesac Peninsula offer unforgettable views. Characterized by majestic mountains, quiet coves, pebbly beaches, and rich vineyards, you’ll want to explore every bit of these areas. You can relax on the beach or explore a bit of tradition. In Korcula, you’ll find ancient religious traditions still being observed, live folk music being played cheerfully, and wine being tasted by enthusiastic locals and tourists alike. Peljesac Peninsula also offers wine tastings, along with the two historic towns of Ston and Orebic.

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Ston is a quiet town on the Peljesac Peninsula and is relatively uncrowded, so if you’re looking to escape the usual tourist destinations, this is the perfect place to go. Known as an economic center for harvesting salt and oysters since the Roman times, this town quickly became significant to the region. A former military fort of the Ragusan Republic, Ston boasts medieval architecture and town walls that are straight out of a storybook. Ston has 5.5 kilometers of defensive town walls, making up the largest fortress system in Europe. During a walk along the walls, you’ll encounter 40 towers and 5 fortresses, including the Pozvizd Fortress, where you can connect to the smaller town of Mali Ston. You can also visit the ancient salt mines that Ston grew so famous for. The town also hosts many cultural events that attract visitors from all over the world, such as the Ston Wall Marathon every September.

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Located across the border in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mostar is only about 2 and a half hours from Dubrovnik by car. Mostar has had quite a turbulent history. Starting as a Turkish garrison town in the 16th century, Mostar is most famous for its stone arch bridge, or Stari Most, for which it was named. The arch of the stone bridge was 90 feet wide and known as an Ottoman masterpiece. During the Bosnian Civil War, the bridge, and the majority of the city’s other buildings, for that matter, were damaged by artillery fire. After the war, a reconstruction project began, and in 2005, the restored bridge was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites. Settled in the mountains straddling the Neretva River, this city offers breathtaking views. You can visit the Old Bridge connecting two medieval towers, the city’s main landmark, and marvel at the river and the mountains surrounding it. Mostar’s city center is charming and quaint, full of shops, market stalls, and traditional restaurants. If you wander a bit further from the center, you’ll see the legacy of the civil war: bombed-out buildings and bullet holes. A charming city with a dark past, the mysterious Mostar is certainly worth a visit.

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The island of Mljet has a rich history dating all the way back to the Illyrians and changed hands many times throughout the centuries to finally become what it is today. The national park, which covers 5400 hectares of land and sea on the island, was established in 1960 in order to protect the natural and cultural heritage of the area. The Mljet National Park is the oldest protected marine area in the Mediterranean Sea, so here you can enjoy unspoiled and untouched nature. You can hike, stroll, or bike through the national park using one of its many shaded nature trails to explore its beautiful coastline, saltwater lakes, and ancient ruins. You can even go for a swim or do some sunbathing if you need a minute to relax. The national park also offers boat excursions from the two villages of Pomena and Polače, where you can take canoes to explore the coves and bays that are hidden from the mainland.

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Situated on the coast about halfway between Dubrovnik and Montenegro, this is the perfect place to escape the chaos of the city. Cavtat lies where the ancient Greek settlement of Epidaurum used to be, and it flourished throughout the Greek and Roman eras before its almost complete destruction in the 7th century. It was refugees from Cavtat during this century that established the city of Dubrovnik. Later, when Cavtat became part of the Dubrovnik Republic in the 15th century, the city was rebuilt on top of the ancient ruins, and the result is what we see today. Known as an artsy town, Cavtat is home to many museums and exhibitions dedicated to artists, such as the Bukovac House, where you can see the work of native painter Vlaho Bukovac. You can also visit the Račić Family Mausoleum, built from white stone by Croatian sculptor Ivan Meštrović. Other sights include the Baltazar Bogišić Collection, St. Nicholas’ Church, and Our-Lady-of-the-Snow Monastery. After your day of sightseeing, you can leisurely stroll down the seaside promenade or visit one of the city’s pebbly beaches to unwind.

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The Elafiti Islands are a string of small islands northwest of the city of Dubrovnik. Only three of the islands are permanently inhabited, and in total, that population is less than 1000 people. The islands are famous for having produced some of the most skillful mariners of the ancient times because of their strategic location out in front of Dubrovnik. Today, the islands are a perfect example of what traditional Adriatic life looks like: relaxed, leisurely, and slow. Dominated by forests and small villages, there's a lot to explore here. The three main islands of Koločep, Lopud, and Šipan are each famous for different reasons. Koločep is the closest one to Dubrovnik and is known for its tranquil forests and villages. Lopud is beloved for its beautiful beaches, and Šipan is the largest, which allows you to explore its small city by bike.

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