12 Cool Things To Do In Dubrovnik Croatia

Looking for cool things to do in Dubrovnik? We recently spent time exploring this UNESCO World Heritage city first-hand, and we’re sharing the things we think make the biggest impact on a visit here – along with the practical details on getting there, getting around, and where to stay.

Before we get into it, there’s one Croatian word worth learning before your trip: pomalo. It loosely translates to “take it easy” or “don’t rush” – a gentle reminder to slow down and enjoy the moment rather than racing through a checklist. Dubrovnik is a city that rewards that mindset, whether you’re wandering its marble streets or watching the sun dip into the Adriatic with a drink in hand. Keep it in your back pocket – you’ll want it.

1. Old Town

Dubrovnik’s Old Town is the reason most people come here in the first place, and it lives up to the hype. The marble-paved streets, polished smooth by centuries of foot traffic, run between honey-coloured stone buildings and terracotta rooftops that glow at golden hour. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the entire walled city is essentially an open-air museum, but there are several dedicated museums worth carving out time for if you want to go deeper than the architecture alone.

The Rector’s Palace houses the Cultural and Historical Museum, with period furniture, paintings and a look at how the city was governed during the Republic of Ragusa. Architecturally, it’s a beautiful blend of Gothic and Renaissance styles, with an elegant courtyard often used for concerts during the summer festival season.

The Maritime Museum, inside Fort St John, traces Dubrovnik’s seafaring history and naval power, easy to forget given how peaceful the harbour feels today. The Ethnographic Museum, housed in a former granary, is full of traditional Croatian textiles, lace and artefacts – and one we’d genuinely recommend. For something more recent and considerably more sobering, War Photo Limited gallery documents the conflicts of the 1990s through photojournalism, offering a powerful counterpoint to the polish of the rest of the Old Town.

Beyond the museums, simply getting lost in the side streets off the main Stradun is one of the best ways to spend an hour here. Pomalo applies heavily in this section of the city – resist the urge to tick off every sight and let yourself wander instead.

2. City Walls

Walking the full loop of the City Walls is, for most visitors, the single most memorable thing to do in Dubrovnik. The walls date back to the 9th century, with major fortifications added in the 14th, and they encircle the entire Old Town almost two kilometres in length. The walk takes around two hours at a comfortable pace, and the views are constantly changing – looking down into the Old Town’s terracotta rooftops on one side, and out across the Adriatic to the islands on the other.

Cruise ships tend to dock and unload in the morning, so you’re better off timing your walk for mid to late afternoon to avoid the worst of the crowds. There are also a couple of bars actually on the walls themselves if you fancy a drink with your view, plus restrooms along the route – useful to know given how long the loop takes.

It’s not a cheap ticket, but it’s genuinely one of those rare attractions where the price feels justified the moment you’re up there.

Main Entrance Address: Stradun 1, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia

3. Cable Car to Mount Srđ

The cable car up to Mount Srđ is a short ride (just a few minutes) but it delivers one of the best views in the whole of Croatia. From the top, you get a complete panorama over the Old Town’s walls and rooftops, the full sweep of the Adriatic coastline, and on a clear day, the islands beyond. There’s a restaurant at the top (book ahead in summer, as it fills up), a bar – worth knowing it’s high tables only, no seating – and a small souvenir shop.

One practical tip worth following: huge queues build up for the cable car back down after sunset, since everyone has the same idea. To avoid getting stuck, either time it so you’re right by the cable car station when the queue starts forming, or consider your options in advance – if you’ve got a hire car, there’s ample free parking at the top, or you could buy a one-way ticket up and book a cab back down instead of queuing for the return trip.

Address: Ul. Kralja Petra Krešimira IV. 10A, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia

4. Cave Bar More

We highly recommend Cave Bar More for something genuinely different – it’s set inside a natural cave, with sunset drinks served against a backdrop of dramatic rock formations and sea views. Our tip: have dinner at Restaurant More just above it, then head down to the Cave Bar for sunset – a perfect way to round off the evening. It’s located in Lapad, so it’s ideal if you’re staying in that area; if not, it’s roughly a 30-minute drive from the Old Town.

Address: Šetalište Nika i Meda Pucića 13, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia

5. Franciscan Church and Monastery

The Franciscan Church and Monastery is easy to walk past without realising what’s inside. It’s home to one of the oldest functioning pharmacies in Europe, dating back to the 14th century and still in operation today. The adjoining cloister is one of the quieter, more contemplative spots in the Old Town, with a lovely garden at its centre.

Address: Poljana Paska Miličevića 4, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia

6. Buža Bar

Perched directly on the cliffs outside the city walls, Buža Bar is exactly the kind of spot where pomalo comes to mind – there’s no rush here, just simple drinks, the sound of waves against the rocks, and the sea seemingly right beneath your feet. It’s very popular with tourists, so don’t expect a quiet hidden gem, and worth knowing there are no restrooms here, since it’s built directly onto the rocks.

Go for sunset if you can. Just bear in mind that there are no restrooms!

Address: Crijevićeva ul. 9, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia

7. Game of Thrones Filming Locations

We spotted several Game of Thrones filming locations ourselves within the Old Town, where Dubrovnik served as the primary backdrop for King’s Landing throughout the series. The City Walls and Fort Lovrijenac were used extensively for scenes set within the capital, and St Dominic Street near the Jesuit Staircase is instantly recognisable to fans as the setting for Cersei’s “Walk of Shame.” If you want to go deeper than spotting locations on your own, several local operators run dedicated Game of Thrones walking tours with behind-the-scenes anecdotes from the production.

8. Lokrum Island

We didn’t have time to visit Lokrum Island ourselves on this trip, but it’s a short ferry ride from the Old Town’s harbour and comes highly recommended for anyone with a spare half-day. The island is largely a nature reserve, with botanical gardens, a saltwater lake known as the “Dead Sea,” and peacocks that roam freely – descendants of a pair gifted to the island decades ago.

There are also the ruins of a Benedictine monastery to explore, and it’s a great spot to put pomalo into practice if the Old Town crowds have worn you out. The ferry leaves from the main harbour – the Old Town Port (Porporela). Buy your ticket at one of the official ticket kiosks there.

9. Other Islands to Visit Near Dubrovnik

Beyond Lokrum, the Elaphiti Islands make for a popular full-day escape. This small archipelago just off the coast has three inhabited islands – Koločep, Lopud and Šipan – each reachable by ferry or, more commonly, via an organised boat tour with lunch included. Expect quiet beaches, pine forests, small village restaurants and a noticeably slower pace than Dubrovnik itself.

For something more adventurous, Mljet National Park is a bit further afield but worth the extra effort. It’s known for its saltwater lakes, lush greenery, and the legendary Odysseus Cave, where many visitors stop to snorkel or swim.

10. Dubrovnik Beaches

Dubrovnik isn’t traditionally known as a beach destination, but there are some lovely spots worth knowing about. Banje Beach is the most central, just outside the Old Town walls, with calm, clear water and a beach club atmosphere backed by restaurants and bars. For something quieter, Sveti Jakov (St Jacob’s) Beach involves a steep walk down via several hundred steps, but rewards you with a far less crowded pebble beach and excellent views back towards the Old Town.

We stayed near the beach in Lapad, and while we didn’t sit and swim ourselves, there’s a lovely pedestrianised cliff walkway running along the coast there, leading to Cave Bar More and beyond – a beautiful spot for a sunset stroll even if you’re not after a beach day.

11. Day Trip to Montenegro

We’ve travelled to Montenegro via Dubrovnik before, opening up the Bay of Kotor, where the coastline shifts to dramatic fjord-like scenery. Kotor’s own Old Town is a smaller, quieter cousin of Dubrovnik’s, with its own walls to climb for sweeping views over the bay. One thing to be aware of: traffic at the border crossing can back up significantly at the height of summer, so if you’re planning this as a day trip, build in extra time both ways – or consider going outside peak season if you have the flexibility.

12. SKYBIKE Dubrovnik

One activity we didn’t get to try ourselves this time, but plan to next visit, is SKYBIKE Dubrovnik. We came across it near the top of Srđ hill (close to the cable car station) and stopped for a chat with the owner, who talked us through how it works – you’re harnessed onto a bicycle suspended on a cable high above the ground, pedalling your way across with panoramic views over the Old Town, Lokrum Island, and the Adriatic below.

It looks like a brilliant way to combine adrenaline with sightseeing, and we’re already planning to give it a go on a future trip.

Address: Srđ ul. 2, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia

Where to Stay in Dubrovnik

We stayed at Hotel Dubrovnik Palace, just outside the Old Town, and it’s hard to beat as a base if you want a slower, more resort-style pace to balance out the busier days of sightseeing. The hotel’s design means every room has a sea view, which is a genuinely rare feature. There are three outdoor beachfront pools to choose between depending on the mood you’re after, walking trails through the grounds, and several restaurants on site – meaning you don’t have to leave the property at all if a pomalo kind of day is what you’re after.

Dubrovnik Pass – Is It Worth It?

We’d say yes. The Dubrovnik Pass comes in three options – 1-day (around €40), 3-day (around €50) and 7-day (around €60) – and gives free entry to a long list of attractions, including:

• City Walls, Lovrijenac Fort and the Outer Wall
• Cultural History Museum at Rector’s Palace
• Maritime Museum at Fort St John
• Ethnographic Museum
• House of Marin Držić
• Dubrovnik Natural History Museum
• Friars Minor Franciscan Monastery Museum
• Museum of Modern Art Dubrovnik
• Pulitika Gallery
• Fort Revelin archaeological exhibitions
• House Bukovac

It also includes unlimited city buses for the duration of your pass. Given that the City Walls alone cost roughly the same as the 1-day pass, it more or less pays for itself before you’ve even stepped into a museum.

The real value, though, is in the museums you’d probably skip otherwise. We found ourselves visiting places we wouldn’t normally have paid separately for, and the Ethnographic Museum was a real highlight – it’s full of traditional Croatian textiles, lace and artefacts, housed in a beautiful old granary building. It’s the kind of museum that’s easy to overlook but genuinely worth your time once you’re inside for free.

One important thing to know: each attraction included in the pass can only be visited once during its validity period, and there’s no re-entry once you’ve left. We learned this the hard way on the City Walls – we had to come down partway round due to pelvic pain, and weren’t allowed back on to finish the loop. So pace yourself accordingly, and don’t assume you can step off for a break and pick back up where you left off.

How to Get There

We flew direct with British Airways from London to Dubrovnik, and there are direct flights available from numerous airports worldwide, so it’s worth checking what’s on offer from your nearest hub before connecting elsewhere. Once you land, getting to your hotel is straightforward – we booked a cab on arrival and it took around 25 minutes to reach our hotel in Lapad, though this can take considerably longer at the height of summer when traffic builds up.

There are plenty of taxis available, plus ride-hailing options like Bolt and Uber, which tend to be the easiest way to get around once you’ve landed.

How to Get Around

We stayed in Lapad and took the bus directly into the Old Town, which is a simple, affordable way to get around without needing a car. That said, June, July and August can bring long queues for both buses and taxis at peak times, so our advice is to set off early in the day and save your return trip for later in the evening, once the crowds have thinned out. One thing to watch for: surge pricing. We noticed this ourselves on a rainy day, when fares climbed noticeably for the ride back from the Old Town.

Best Time to Visit Dubrovnik

June is a good time to visit Dubrovnik – it’s not too crowded, so we’d recommend avoiding July and August if you can. One thing worth knowing if you’re hoping to swim: most outdoor hotel pools aren’t heated at this point in the season, so the water can still feel quite cool even when the air temperature is warm.

Cool Things to Do in Dubrovnik: Final Thoughts

Whether you’ve got a couple of days or a full week, Dubrovnik rewards visitors who slow down and embrace a bit of pomalo along the way. From walking the City Walls and exploring the Old Town’s museums, to sunset drinks at Buža Bar or Cave Bar More, there’s no shortage of cool things to do in Dubrovnik – and plenty of reasons to come back for more.

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Get more tips on things to see from the Croatian National Tourist Board