If you are traveling to Croatia or the Adriatic region, the city of Dubrovnik should undoubtedly be on your travel list. Known as the “Pearl of the Adriatic,” the city is renowned for its stunning architecture, medieval walls, and crystal-clear waters. There are so many things to do in Dubrovnik, it is difficult to know where to begin planning!

Dubrovnik’s Old Town is filled with a labyrinth of cobblestone streets, ancient churches, and bustling shops, restaurants, and cafes. You could easily spend a day exploring the historic sites or, alternatively, soaking up the beaches of the Adriatic coast. There is something for every traveler within these city walls!

Without further ado, here are 10 activities to add to your Dubrovnik bucket list:

10 Things to do in Dubrovnik

1. Walk the Dubrovnik City Walls

The walls surrounding Dubrovnik’s old city center offer some of the best views of the Adriatic Sea. The walls were built in the 13th century to protect the city from invaders. Today, they are still in excellent shape and visitors can walk along the walls and check out the incredible views from the watchtowers.

It is best to walk the city walls early in the morning or late in the evening to avoid the scorching heat and packed crowds. The walls are open from 8:00am – 7:00pm in the summer, and offer shortened hours, 9:00am – 3:00pm in the winter.

Cost: A ticket to access Dubrovnik’s wall costs roughly $32USD per person (or 200 Croatian Kuna).

2. Visit Old Town

The Old Town of Dubrovnik is the area of the city surrounded by the wall referenced above. Today, it is one of the most well-preserved medieval cities in Europe, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of the best ways to spend a day in Dubrovnik is by exploring the ancient cobbled streets and buildings of Old Town. Here, you’ll find churches, shops, artist galleries, incredible restaurants, and much more. Be sure to take a stroll down Stradun street, the main pedestrian road in Old Town.

I recommend visiting old town Dubrovnik in the early mornings or late afternoons to beat the heavy crowds. But the area is open any time of the day.

Cost: visiting Old Town Dubrovnik is free – though some of the museums, churches, and other attractions inside the city limits may charge admission fees.

3. Go on a Game of Thrones tour

At this point, it is no secret that large portions of Game of Thrones were shot and filmed in Dubrovnik’s Old Town. The House of the Undying, The Red Keep, Blackwater Bay, the steps of the iconic ‘walk of shame’ – the list goes on. For any Game of Thrones fans out there (seasons 7 and 8 aside), a tour of the filming locations should absolutely be on your bucket list! 

Tours are offered all throughout the day. I recommend avoiding tours during the middle of the day when the heat is the strongest. 

Cost: Guided tours cost anywhere from $32-60USD (200-400 Croatian Kuna) depending on the length of the tour, and the time of year.

Check out my Game of Thrones tour experience guide here!

4. Take a boat tour to Dubrovnik’s surrounding islands

One of the best ways to spend a day in Dubrovnik is to hop on the ferry to one of the city’s nearby islands: Lokrum, Kolocep, Lopud, or Sudarad. These islands are home to crystal clear waters, lush vegetation, and each contain their own historic landmarks. Some companies offer a hop-on-hop-off experience, where you spend the day traveling from island to island. I highly recommend checking these out!

Island hopping is available all year round – but it is best during the summer months.

Cost: Individual roundtrip ferry tickets to each island cost around $24USD (50 Croatian Kuna). A full-day tour of the island costs upward of $100 USD, but typically includes complimentary drinks on board the ferry.

5. Swim at Banje Beach

Dubrovnik is home to many beaches. But perhaps one of the most popular is Banje Beach – known for its crystal clear waters and panoramic views of Old Town and Lokrum Island. You can rent jet skis and inflatable tubes, or you can take a more laid back approach and soak in the sun. Banje Beach is surrounded by endless restaurants and bars, so you won’t be shy of activity! At night, the Banje Beach Nightclub comes alive with singing and dancing. It is must see!

Banje Beach is obviously best visited in the summer when the weather is warm and sunny. I recommend arriving early in the morning to stake out a good blanket spot before the crowds kick up.

Cost: Access to the beach is free! But jet ski, umbrella, and lounge chair rentals will all cost money.

6. Take a cable car to Mount Srd

Mount Srd offers some of the best panoramic views of Dubrovnik and the surrounding Adriatic Sea. The cable car access point is located on Petra Krešimira IV street just outside of the Ploče Gate entrance to old down. From there, you can enjoy a scenic ride to the top of the mountain. At the top, you can enjoy views from the observation deck, or you can visit the fortification museum that demonstrates the history of Mount Srd in Dubrovnik’s defense.

The views at the top of Mount Srd are most spectacular at sunset, so I recommend visiting in the evening. However, cable car rides are available throughout the day.

Cost: A roundtrip ticket to the top of Mount Srd costs around $27 USD (170 Croatian Kuna). It is not cheap, per say, but certainly worth it! 

7. Visit the Dubrovnik Cathedral

The Dubrovnik Cathedral is one of the most stunning historic structures in the city limits. The cathedral dates back to the 18th century, and is dedicated to St. Blaise, the patron saint of Dubrovnik. Today, visitors can still explore the interior and view the impressive collection of art and relics housed inside.

The Cathedral is open from 8:00am – 6:00pm daily during the summer. It is open for shorter hours (9:00am – 5:00pm) during the winter. 

Cost: Admission to Dubrovnik Cathedral is $8 USD (or 50 Croatian Kuna)

8. Check out the Franciscan Monastery

In addition to being a famous Gothic cloister dating back to the 14th century, the Franciscan Monastery is also one of the oldest working pharmacies in the world. The pharmacy dates back to 1317, and still produces and sells herbal remedies. Today, you can schedule a tour of the monastery, pharmacy museum, and ancient library.

The monastery is open from 9:00am – 6:00pm during the summer, and 9:00am – 4:00pm during the winter.

Cost: entrance to the monastery costs around $5 USD (or 30 Croatian Kuna). A self-guided tour should take only a few hours at most

9. Take a kayak tour around Old Town

A kayak tour is a great way to explore the city’s coastline while also adding in a bit of adventure. Many tour operators in Dubrovnik’s city center offer guided tours along the fortressed walls of Dubrovnik’s old town. Kayak tours are available for all skill levels, and provide all necessary equipment (kayaks, paddles, and life jackets). More luxurious tours may even allow stop offs for snorkeling. 

Kayak tours around Dubrovnik are typically offered between May and October when the weather and wave conditions are the friendliest. 

Cost: The average cost of a group guided kayak tour around Dubrovnik is around $40-50 USD (250-350 Croatian Kuna). However, the cost may end up being more depending on the type of tour you select. Private tours or tours that provide additional excursions (island visits, cliff jumping, lunch, etc) will be significantly more expensive.

Viator has a list of 10 kayak tours in Dubrovnik. Check out their website for more information.

10. Create your own food tour

Dubrovnik is known for its incredible seafood, which is often caught the day of right off the Adriatic Sea. Squid ink risotto and pasticada (a slow roasted beef dish) are must-tries. I recommend venturing around the city in search of a restaurant that really knocks your socks off. My friend and I found a place called ‘Bistro Izvor’ near our hostel just outside of the city. It was so delicious, that we ended up going back nearly every single night we were in Dubrovnik. 

Some restaurants may be closed during the winter months – and popular restaurants and wineries may have a wait during peak times in the summer. If you know of a particular spot that you want to visit, I would call ahead to book a reservation.

Cost: A typical meal in Dubrovnik costs around $20-40 USD (150-250 Croatian Kuna).

That’s all, folks!

Hopefully this guide helps kick-start your Dubrovnik itinerary. The terracotta roofs, sapphire waters, and bustling energy make this city a must-see in Europe.

Have you visited Dubrovnik? Leave a comment below with some of your favorite sites and activities!