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The Pucic Palace, Dubrovnik

Things to do guide

The best things to do in Dubrovnik

Updated 1 October 2026 · 17 things to do

Pictured: The Pucic Palace

Dubrovnik is a medieval city that fits inside a wall, and the wall is the star. A ring of pale limestone ramparts encloses a polished main street, red-roofed lanes and a harbour of small boats, all dropping into a bright blue Adriatic. It looks so much like a film set that it has been used as one, but the real thing is better.

You can see the Old Town in a day, and then you should leave it. Ride the cable car up for the sunset, take a boat to an island, drive up the Pelješac peninsula for oysters and wine. The surrounding coast is as good as the city itself.

Don't miss

  1. 1Dubrovnik's City Walls
  2. 2Stradun
  3. 3Mount Srđ
  4. 4Fort Lovrijenac
  5. 5Lokrum

Inside the Old Town

Compact, car-free and made of stone. Allow a day, and do it slowly.

  1. Dubrovnik's City Walls

    Landmark

    The city walls of Dubrovnik above the Old Town
    Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Walking the top of the ramparts is the single best thing to do in Dubrovnik. The circuit takes you past towers, forts and little gardens, with the terracotta roofs of the Old Town on one side and the sea on the other. Allow at least a couple of hours, with stops for photographs.

    Tip: Go first thing in the morning or late in the afternoon: the stone is hot and the walkway is crowded in the middle of the day.

  2. Stradun

    Neighbourhood

    The limestone-paved Stradun, the main street of Dubrovnik's Old Town
    Photo: László Szalai (Beyond silence), Public domain

    The main street of the Old Town runs straight from Pile Gate to the clock tower, paved in limestone worn smooth and shiny by centuries of feet. Cafés and shops line it, narrow lanes of restaurants branch off, and it's at its best in the early evening.

  3. Pile Gate and Onofrio's Fountain

    Landmark

    Pile Gate is the grand western entrance to the Old Town, a stone gateway over a drawbridge, and just inside it stands the domed Onofrio's Fountain, the end of a water system that once supplied the city. It's the traditional place to start a visit.

  4. Rector's Palace

    Museum

    The Gothic and Renaissance Rector's Palace in Dubrovnik
    Photo: Neoneo13, Public domain

    The seat of the rulers of the Republic of Ragusa, as Dubrovnik was called, is a Gothic and Renaissance palace with a graceful arcade and courtyard. It now houses a museum of the city's history, and it shows how rich and independent the little republic once was.

  5. The Old Port

    Landmark

    Boats in the Old Port of Dubrovnik beside the city walls
    Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 4.0

    The small harbour at the eastern end of the Old Town is where fishing boats, water taxis and excursion boats tie up under the fortress walls. Sit at a café with a drink and watch the boats come and go, or take a short boat ride to Lokrum.

  6. Franciscan Monastery

    Museum

    Just inside Pile Gate, this quiet monastery has a peaceful cloister and one of the oldest working pharmacies in Europe. It's a calm place to step out of the crowds on the Stradun.

Views and beaches

  1. Mount Srđ

    Nature

    The Old City of Dubrovnik seen from the cable car viewing area on Mount Srđ
    Photo: S J Pinkney, CC BY 2.0

    A cable car climbs from just above the Old Town to the top of Mount Srđ, where the whole city, the island of Lokrum and the coastline spread out below you. It's the best place to watch the sun go down, and there's a restaurant and a small museum in the old fort at the top.

    Tip: Go up in the late afternoon and stay for sunset, and book a table if you want to eat there.

  2. Fort Lovrijenac

    Landmark

    Fort Lovrijenac on its rock beside Dubrovnik's walls
    Photo: Sumitsurai, CC BY-SA 4.0

    A fortress built on a sheer rock just outside the western walls, guarding the approach to the city. Climb the steps for views back over the walls and out to sea. It has also stood in for the Red Keep in Game of Thrones.

  3. Banje Beach

    Beach

    Banje Beach below the walls of Dubrovnik
    Photo: Marcin Konsek, CC BY-SA 4.0

    The city's best-known beach is a stretch of pebbles just outside the Old Town, with a view of the walls and the island of Lokrum across the water. It's lively, with sunbeds and bars, and a popular spot to cool off after sightseeing.

The islands

  1. Lokrum

    Nature

    Lokrum island off the coast of Dubrovnik
    Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 4.0

    A short boat ride from the Old Port takes you to Lokrum, a wooded, car-free island with pine woods, an old Benedictine monastery, a botanical garden and rocky spots for swimming. It's a lovely half-day escape from the heat of the city.

  2. The Elaphiti Islands

    Day trip

    A chain of small islands north-west of Dubrovnik, of which Koločep, Lopud and Šipan are the best known. They are car-free or nearly so, with village harbours, walking paths and, on Lopud, the sandy beach of Šunj. Boats leave from Dubrovnik's Gruž harbour.

Day trips

  1. Ston and Mali Ston

    Day trip

    The fortifications of Ston on the Pelješac peninsula
    Photo: László Szalai (Beyond silence), Public domain

    On the Pelješac peninsula, the twin towns of Ston and Mali Ston are linked by a long medieval wall that climbs over the hills between them. Mali Ston bay is famous for oysters and mussels, so plan lunch at a waterside restaurant.

  2. Korčula

    Day trip

    The old town of Korčula
    Photo: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0

    A handsome walled town on a small peninsula on the island of Korčula, with a cathedral, small museums and a cluster of lanes that claims to be the birthplace of Marco Polo. In summer you can reach it by boat or by road via the Pelješac peninsula and a short ferry.

  3. Cavtat

    Day trip

    A harbour at Cavtat south of Dubrovnik
    Photo: Tiia Monto, CC BY 4.0

    A relaxed little resort town south of Dubrovnik, with a palm-lined harbour promenade, a hill with pine woods and the Račić Mausoleum, designed by the sculptor Ivan Meštrović. It's a short bus or boat ride from Dubrovnik and an easy lunch stop.

  4. The Pelješac wine road

    Activity

    The steep Dingač vineyards on the Pelješac peninsula
    Photo: Quahadi Añtó 09:05, 18 December 2013 (UTC), CC BY-SA 3.0

    The Pelješac peninsula is one of Croatia's best wine regions, famous for powerful reds from the Plavac Mali grape, especially from the steep seaside vineyards of Dingač. Small family wineries along the road offer tastings, often with a view.

Eat and drink

  1. Rozata

    Food

    Dubrovnik's own dessert is a silky egg custard, much like a crème caramel, flavoured with rose liqueur. Order one after dinner, ideally somewhere with a view of the harbour.

  2. Dalmatian seafood

    Food

    The coast's cooking is simple and superb: grilled fish, black risotto, octopus salad and fresh mussels and oysters. Wander the lanes of the Old Town, pick a konoba (a traditional tavern) and order whatever the staff recommend.

Where to stay in Dubrovnik

Not sure which area suits you? Read our guide: Where to stay in Dubrovnik →

Getting around

The Old Town is pedestrian-only and easy to explore on foot, but it has a lot of steps. Local buses link the Old Town with Lapad and the ferry port at Gruž, and boats run to Lokrum and the Elaphiti Islands. A hire car is useful for Ston and the Pelješac peninsula, but parking in the centre is difficult.

When to go

May, June and September are the best months, with warm weather, swimmable sea and thinner crowds. July and August are hot and very busy, particularly when cruise ships are in port, so visit the walls at the edges of the day.

Questions about visiting Dubrovnik

What is Dubrovnik best known for?
Its medieval walled Old Town, the walk along the city walls, the polished Stradun, its setting on the Adriatic and its use as a filming location for Game of Thrones.
How many days do you need in Dubrovnik?
Two days covers the Old Town, the walls and a cable car trip up Mount Srđ. Three or four lets you add Lokrum, the Elaphiti Islands or a day trip to Ston or Korčula.
Is Dubrovnik worth visiting?
Yes. It's busy in summer, but the walls, the Old Town and the coast are exceptional, and visiting in spring or autumn makes it far more pleasant.
Do you need a car in Dubrovnik?
Not for the city. The Old Town is pedestrian-only, and buses and boats cover Lapad, Lokrum and the islands. A car is useful only for Ston and the Pelješac peninsula.

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