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What to do in Dubrovnik

With its walled old town and limestone-paved streets, all backed by the twinkling Adriatic, Dubrovnik is a good-looking city break destination with pizzazz. On a break here you can learn all about its fascinating history, climb high for knockout views or escape it all and relax on a quiet beach.

City walls

Dubrovnik’s headline attraction, the city walls, stretch for more than a mile around the old town and offer the perfect viewpoint to look out over terracotta rooftops and the sparkling Adriatic.

There are three entrances to climb up to the walls, which date back to the 13th century, with Pile Gate being the busiest. You’ll have to walk in an anti-clockwise direction and, if it’s a hot day, make sure you arrive early and take plenty of water with you as there’s little shade.

Rector’s Palace

This Gothic-Renaissance palace was built in the 15th century as the official residence of the Rector of Dubrovnik who ruled the Republic of Ragusa.

It’s now home to the Cultural History Museum with paintings, period furniture, original keys to the city gates, costumes and more on display. Concerts are held here as part of the city’s Summer Festival too.

Lokrum Island

The small island and nature reserve, Lokrum, is just a ten-minute boat trip away from Dubrovnik’s old town port. Visit to explore a green island with pine and laurel trees, olive groves and evergreen oaks, and to relax on its rocky shores.

There’s an abandoned Benedictine monastery and restaurant on the island, which fans may recognise for its starring role in Game of Thrones. You can’t stay overnight on the island so make sure you catch the last boat home.

Cable car to Mount Srd

You can whizz up the 412-metre-high Mount Srd in 3 minutes by cable car from a stop just outside the old town.

On a clear day you can see for around 37 miles (60km), over Dubrovnik, Lokrum and further afield. This vista is the reason you’ll find Fort Imperial at Srd’s summit.

It’s worth going inside to look around its Museum of the Croatian War of Independence, which shows how the city defended itself during the war of the 1990s.

Dubrovnik Cathedral

Legend has it that Dubrovnik’s original cathedral was enlarged following a donation from King Richard the Lionheart after he was rescued from a shipwreck near Lokrum. This cathedral was, however, destroyed by an earthquake in 1667 and rebuilt.

Inside there’s an interesting Treasury collection with items including the skull of St Blaise and baby Jesus’ swaddling clothes. Its altars are impressive too, especially the altar of St John, which is made of purple marble.

Where to stay in Dubrovnik

For families

If you’re travelling with kids in tow, you’re likely to want to avoid the crowds and noise of the old town at night. The Lapad peninsular, around a ten-minute (two-mile) drive away, is a brilliant alternative with some appealing coastal hotels with pools to choose from. All of the family will also love flopping on Lapad’s beaches after a morning exploring.

Another option is to stay around a half-hour drive from Dubrovnik in the quieter resort of Cavtat, 12 miles away. You can get to Dubrovnik easily by bus, boat or hire car, then retreat for a more peaceful base as the sun goes down.

For travellers on a budget

Dubrovnik may not be known as a destination for cheap holidays, but if you’re savvy, you can pick up some accommodation bargains. Consider Gruz, the city’s port area, where there are good value hotels, rooms and apartments as well as an excellent fresh food market, where you can pick up delicious items to self-cater or for a picnic on the beach. There are good transport options from here to the old town too.

Alternatively, save on transport costs and look for apartments in or near the old town with kitchenettes to keep your food costs down.

For food and drink

For choice, you can’t beat Dubrovnik’s old town as a place to stay for food and drink. Here you’ll find everything from Croatian dishes and fresh seafood to Bosnian cuisine. It’s not all high-end restaurants, either – you can find seafood street food as well as the open-air Gundulićeva Poljana food market for picnic essentials.

The Lapad peninsular is another decent option where you can dine on fresh seafood while looking out at the sea or cosy up in a laid-back Mediterranean restaurant.

For nightlife

Despite having plenty of pulsing bars, Dubrovnik, surprisingly, has minimal choices when it comes to nightclubs. To stay near a unique clubbing venue, look for accommodation in Ploce, just east of the old town. Here you can party all night in Culture Club Revelin, based in a 500-year-old medieval fortress where world-famous DJs perform. You’ll also be close to Banje beach where you can relax the morning after a big night out.

Or, choose a spot in the old town to bar hop all evening. The famous Buza bar is a fabulous (albeit expensive) place to relax after dark.

For culture

Stay in the UNESCO World Heritage Site old town and have the pick of the best attractions on your doorstep, from grand churches and palaces to the city walls. After an early breakfast you’ll be set to see the attractions before the crowds arrive.

You could also stay just outside the city walls in Pile and be close to the St Lawrence Fort. A star of Game of Thrones, it’s a fantastic viewpoint and holds cultural performances in summer.