Three Days in Dubrovnik: The Ultimate Itinerary for Dubrovnik, Croatia
It was the start of our two-week European expedition, and there was no place better to start than the beautiful city of Dubrovnik, Croatia.
From the moment our plane landed, my boyfriend and I were just in awe of the pristine City Walls and beauty of the Old Town. It was hard for us to imagine how we were going to squeeze 3 days in one of the most magical cities in the world—but we succeeded and couldn’t have been happier with our time spent here.
Here is a list of activities and sites you should NOT MISS while spending your 3 days in Dubrovnik.
Summary
Take a ride up the cable car
After checking into our Airbnb, we decided to take a ride up the city’s cable car. This 5-minute car ride takes you up to the top of Mount Srd for some of the most beautiful panoramic views of the Dubrovnik Old Town and Adriatic coast.
The price was a bit steep, about 120 kuna per person for a round-trip ticket- but the views are stunning and worth it.
If you’re up for a challenge or looking for a cheaper option, you can hike the Mount Srd Trail, which is about 2.5 miles up and down. Fair warning, the trail is primarily consisted of steep switchbacks, and it can be brutally hot in the summer!
Enjoy a meal at Restaurant Panorama
Up at the top of the cable car is a beautiful lounge area with food and cocktails available. We chose to sit indoors (because of the heat) right by the window to enjoy the stunning views with our lunch.
The food was delicious and prices fair- not much more expensive than the restaurants back down in the city. Of all the things to do in Dubrovnik, taking a cable car ride up to Restaurant Panorama was definitely one of the highlights!
Get lost in the city
The primary method for getting around this city is walking! There’s no need for a gym in Dubrovnik because everywhere you go, there will be floors upon floors of STAIRS! Even for the fitness of individuals, you WILL be tired from a day’s exploration of the city.
Also, you should bring a refillable water bottle because you can keep refilling it in the square’s plethora of fountains—and yes; the water is SO clean here. You can drink it straight from the tap.
Dedicate at least half a day of your 3 days in Dubrovnik to exploring Old Town’s many alleyways, shops, and medieval forts.
See also:
Take a kayak tour around Lokrum Island
One of the other highlights of our trip was taking a kayaking tour over to Lokrum Island. You can book a similar tour here.
We kayaked just about 7.5 kilometers of sea, paddling across the channel to Lokrum Island and back. During the journey, we stopped in various places to explore some caves, snorkel, and cliff jump!
At a stop in Lokrum, we were fed sandwiches and each given a water bottle. On our commute back, we enjoyed the beautiful sunset and stopped to take some pictures.
The tour ended with a complimentary glass of wine, which we all enjoyed together in the peaceful setting of Pile Bay.
Enjoy the local cuisine
During your 3 days in Dubrovnik, head to a local restaurant and try the authentic, Croatian cuisine. Also, make sure to take a second to pop into a local café. Many locals in their leisure like to sit in a café enjoying a delicious cup of coffee (or 5). You should do the same!
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Go on a Game of Thrones Tour
Even if you’re not a fan of the TV series, this is a tour you may not want to pass up. This half-day tour takes you all around the city—including the magical Fortress Lovrijenac, an 11th-century castle perched high above the sea.
We even opted for the Trsteno Arboretum extension, one of the oldest arboretums in Croatia. Here in these gardens were thousands of trees and exotic plants surrounded by Gothic and Renaissance details.
If a Game of Thrones tour just doesn’t sound appealing, there are plenty of historical tours of the city offered as well.
We did this one: Total Game of Thrones Experience
Visit Banje Beach
Banje Beach is the closest, and perhaps the most touristy, beach to Dubrovnik’s old town. Many people will rent lounge chairs from the beach club for a ridiculous price…we opted to just bring our own town and layout on the sand (and some rocks).
Although crowded, the beach is very beautiful and offers great views of the city walls and the island of Lokrum, making it worth a visit.
Dubrovnik Nightlife:
Go barhopping around Old Town
Going bar hopping around Dubrovnik is a great way to spend an evening in this city. There are bar crawls available for purchase online, but it was very easy to just take this trip ourselves. Here’s a list of some of our favorite bars in the Old Town:
- Ludwig Bar
- Buzz Bar
- Caffe Bar (here they offer buckets, with discounted refills!)
- Casablanca
- Karaka Irish Pub
After your crazy night of drinking and bar hopping, learn how to get rid of your hangover with this post!
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Walk the City Walls
Any itinerary you read will have walking the city walls as part of their to-do list, and for good reason. The walk offers birds’ eye views of the Old Town and gives you firsthand experience of what it was like manning these walls centuries ago.
Word to the wise, IT GETS HOT. Luckily, about halfway around the walk is a little café and juice bar with air conditioning. Make sure to have cash on hand as they do not accept cards.
Visit Sveti Jakov Beach
A short distance away from all the crowds, tourist shops, and hustle and bustle of the city is the beautiful Sveti Jakov beach. The water is pristine—perfect for swimming and lounging around. Although it’s quite a trek from the city, most will agree that this is by far the most beautiful beach in Dubrovnik, Croatia.
On the evening of our third and final day, we headed over to the docks where our ferry to Split awaited us.
Some FAQ’s on Dubrovnik, Croatia
How much time do you actually need in Dubrovnik?
I think three days in Dubrovnik is the perfect amount. Three days is doable on a long weekend getaway, and even for people planning longer trips to Croatia, three days is a good amount of time to devote to Dubrovnik. And if you have more time, that’s the perfect opportunity to take a day trip outside the city!
When is the best time to visit Dubrovnik?
The best time to travel to Dubrovnik, Croatia is during the summer months, from June to September, when sunlight is plentiful and temperatures are warm, between 66°F and 86°F.
Be mindful that this is their busy season as well, so you’ll be met with more crowds. Dustin and I went during the shoulder season- the end of September, and it was the perfect combination of good weather and fewer crowds!
Is Dubrovnik safe?
Dubrovnik is considered to be a safe city for everyone, so it is perfectly safe to walk the streets of all city areas during the day and even at night. During my time here, I never once felt unsafe while walking and exploring the city.
Andddd Some Photos to Inspire Your Trip!
