The best places to visit in Dubrovnik

Wander historic golden streets in the shadow of imposing medieval walls and past buildings with red-tiled roofs, discover the city’s heritage in one of a string of museums, or relax with a view of the deep blue waves of the Adriatic – if you’re tempted to head out on a boat trip, there are plenty of destinations to try.

So we’ve picked out some of the best things to do in Dubrovnik, Croatia, that you simply shouldn’t miss.

The Old Town of Dubrovnik has been encircled by its imposing stone walls since the 13th century, with some stretches dating back even further. And with spectacular views out to the Adriatic Sea and over the red tiled rooftops, no visit is complete without a walk around Dubrovnik’s city walls.

Dubrovnik City Walls and Fort Lourijenac

You can enter through the imposing Pile Gate or cross the stone bridge to the Ploče Gate, before climbing high above the streets to soak up the sights as you stroll past forts, towers, turrets and more.

With little museums and exhibitions along the way, not to mention cafes where you can sip a cool drink as you pause to drink it all in, this 2km walk is one of the highlights of the city – discover more about visiting in our Dubrovnik city walls guide.

Named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979, one of the best Dubrovnik things to do is to wander the old streets. Amble along pedestrianised promenades, past cafes and restaurants overlooking the waves, browse little boutiques and souvenir shops, and make the most of being in a city where getting lost is a positive joy as you stumble across hidden corners of the Old Town.

Old Town, Dubrovnik

Walk to the main square of Luža, where you can find the Clock Tower – a modern version of the 15th century original – as well as some of the city’s most famous landmarks, including the cathedral and Rector’s Palace, plus a small fountain by Onofrio della Cava and Orlando’s Column, erected in 1418 and showing a knight who (according to legend) helped the people of Ragusa defeat invaders and remain a free city-state.

Just off the main Stradun pedestrian street, one of Europe’s first pharmacies was founded in Dubrovnik’s Franciscan Monastery in 1317, and it’s still in operation over 700 years later. As well as locals picking up their prescriptions, you can also buy natural face creams labelled ‘Mala Braca 1317AD’ – prepared to a secret centuries-old recipe using rose, lavender and rosemary.

You can also see medieval pharmacy equipment and storage jars in the little museum, before exploring the peaceful 14th century Romanesque cloister with its garden of palms, citrus trees and roses.

Stretching for 300m between Pile Gate and Ploče Gate, Stradun is the main street through Dubrovnik’s Old Town, paved in white limestone and lined with countless cafes and little shops selling everything from jewellery to ceramics.

Officially called Placa, the area was once a shallow water channel separating Dubrovnik from the mainland, until it was filled in during the 12th century,

Take a tip from the locals and relax here with a coffee as you watch the world go by before strolling along the street to see a few of the historic highlights, such as St Saviour’s Church, the only one to survive the earthquake of 1667. Most other buildings along the street were constructed in the late 17th century after the earthquake and subsequent fire, which gives the street its elegant character.

It’s also home to many of the city’s events, including the summer festival and Christmas market.

Don’t miss a chance to browse the city’s oldest market – a visit is one of the best things to do in Dubrovnik for foodies, with everything from Croatian cheeses to locally grown figs and candied orange peel for sale.

Gundulic Square

Set in the Baroque square of Gunduliceva Poljana, a statue of 17th century poet Ivan Gundulić oversees the open-air market, where you’ll also find local flavoured brandy and Mediterranean spices on sale, alongside black risotto and herbal essential oils.

Everything closes by lunchtime, but arrive at midday and you can see another unique spectacle as an official brings a bucket of grain to feed the scores of birds waiting on the rooftops, all watched patiently by the cats who appear like clockwork at the same time.

Unlike many medieval city states, there were no dukes or princes ruling Ragusa, as Dubrovnik was then known. Instead the local council would choose a different citizen each month to take on the position of Rector, who would spend their time living on the upper floor of the 15th century Rector’s Palace.

Designed to prevent any one person from becoming too powerful, Rectors were also reminded of their duties by a plaque reading Obliti privatorum publica curate – a reminder that public affairs were more important than their own private ones.

You can still see the prison and courtrooms on the ground floor, while the Palace is also home to the Cultural History Museum, showing how local aristocrats once lived. There’s everything from magistrates’ robes to lavish fashion, Baroque furniture, weapons, art and even a sedan chair. Keep an eye out for the clocks, many still set to a quarter to six, the time when Napoleon’s troops entered in 1806.

The first church on this site was said to have been founded by Richard the Lionheart in the 12th century but was destroyed after the 1667 earthquake to be replaced by the Baroque cathedral you can visit today.

Dubrovnik cathedral

While the cathedral is certainly worth looking around, it’s the treasury which is the most fascinating part of a visit, with 138 separate gold and silver reliquaries, including the skull of Dubrovnik’s patron saint, St Blaise, with a golden crown.

Many were brought to the city from the Byzantine Empire by sailors who voyaged to the east, but you can also see a piece of wood from the cross set within a crucifix, and rather more unexpectedly a box said to contains one of Christ’s nappies.

Dubrovnik’s wealth and fame was built on trade and shipping in the 16th century, when the little republic of Ragusa had one of the world’s biggest fleets – totalling around 180 ships and 4,000 sailors.

So when you’re considering what to do in Dubrovnik, add the Maritime Museum in St John’s Fort to your list, with an impressive 11,000 objects split between 15 collections.

Contained in part of the medieval waterfront city walls, you can see displays with sailors’ uniforms and model ships, but also maps and navigational equipment, coins and flags, and learn more about how the city’s success at sea made it a force to be reckoned with.

There’s also more modern history to be found in the city, with one of the most unusual places to visit in Dubrovnik at the Red History Museum.

Opened in 2019, it focuses on the years from 1945 to 1991 when Croatia was part of communist-ruled Yugoslavia. You can walk through a recreated 1970s apartment, with original furniture, and plenty of retro furnishings, including posters, magazines and records. Along the way, you’ll find various interactive touches including soundtracks activated by your phone, as well as the chance to sit on the furniture and flick through books.

There is also a darker side to the museum, with a room covering the secret police and the Goli Otok political prison, where pro-Soviet communists were imprisoned after Tito’s break with Stalin in the 1940s.

Set on the seafront in St John’s Fort, below the Maritime Museum, there’s a chance to get a glimpse into life below the waves at the little Dubrovnik aquarium.

With 31 tanks, you can see everything from seahorses and starfish, to octopus as well as more fearsome marine creatures like scorpionfish and conger eels. The cool stone rooms can be a welcome escape from the summer heat too.

Run by the University of Dubrovnik's Institute for Marine & Coastal Research, it’s also a rehabilitation centre for injured sea turtles.

Only 10 minutes by boat from Dubrovnik’s old harbour, the little island of Lokrum was once home to an 11th century Benedictine Monastery. Today, no-one is allowed to remain on Lokrum overnight, so it’s become a peaceful wilderness with some beautiful gardens to explore – the story goes that the monks put a curse on anyone who should try to possess the island, angry that Napoleon had closed their monastery, with bad luck befalling anyone who has done so since.

Lokrum island

Instead there are peacocks strolling the grounds, as well as a pretty arboretum with myrtle, juniper, mastic and strawberry trees, plus shady cypress and olive trees dotted around elsewhere.

As you explore, you’ll also find remnants of ruined buildings from the island’s history, including the medieval monks, the Napoleonic era and from the time when various Habsburgs owned Lokum – many going on to meet tragic ends.

It seems that whichever way you turn in Dubrovnik, there’s another beautiful view to be had but perhaps the best of all is looking down onto the city from Mount Srd, one of the unmissable Dubrovnik things to do.

The view from Mount Srd

On a cloudless day, you can see up to 37 miles from the top, which is also home to a 19th century fortress. There’s a 2km path to hike to the peak but also a cable car for a less active way to reach the top, which also gives you the spectacular sight of the city vanishing beneath you and the sea shimmering on the horizon.

The viewing area is particularly popular at sunset, or you can book a table at the Panorama restaurants for the same views, along with a glass of local wine and fresh seafood.

There’s more than history to be found in Dubrovnik, with a chance to soak up the sun on one of the beaches – another tempting option for every list of what to do in Dubrovnik.

The city beach, Banje, is a short walk from the Ploče Gate with some fantastic views back to the Old Town. Very popular with families during the day, the pebble beach has a beach bar during the evenings.

Banje beach

Or Šulići Bay is next to the Pile Gate, between the Bokar Fort and Lovrijenac Fortress. Unlike Banje, there are no facilities at this little pebble beach so it tends to be quieter, although you’ll find plenty of cafes nearby.

Venture a little further and you’ll reach local favourite Sveti Jakov, around a 20-minute walk from the Old Town (or served by bus routes 5 and 8) at the bottom of a flight of steps. Part shingle, part pebble, it’s far less crowded and has similarly lovely views of the Old Town which glows gold in the late afternoon

For a sandy beach, you’ll need to travel a little further, to the Elaphiti (or Elafiti) Islands, where Šunj on Lopud has shallow water, sun-loungers for hire and plenty of soft sand to walk on.

If you’re looking to escape the crowds in Dubrovnik, pretty Cavtat is the most southerly resort in Croatia, a short journey from the city by bus or boat, and only around 14 miles from the border with Montenegro.

The palm-lined waterfront is perfect for a stroll before stopping for a drink at one of the cafes and restaurants along the promenade. It’s easy to combine a visit with wine-tasting tours at some of the nearby vineyards of the Konavle valley, often called Croatia’s Tuscany.

You can also visit the museum and former house of Croatian painter Vlaho Bukovac, who was born in Cavtat in the 19th century or climb to the eye-catching white Mausoleum on the hilltop, looking down onto the bays and harbour. Save some time to wander the streets of the old town and to relax on one of the little pebbly coves by the clear turquoise sea.

As well as hopping into a water taxi to Cavtat, there are a series of tempting boat trips to try from the city, perfect if you’ve explored the historic attractions and are looking for more things to do in Dubrovnik Croatia.

Lokum Island is only 10 minutes from Dubrovnik or you can explore some of the Elaphiti Islands, a collection of 13 islands including Lopud with its sandy beach, Sipan, and Kolocep, famous for its blue caves which glow with a pale aqua light.

Many of the others are now uninhabited, although they were once a favourite of Dubrovnik aristocracy, and make a peaceful escape to explore. You can even find a small ship cruise in Croatia which stops at the islands as well as Dubrovnik, if a day trip isn’t enough.

We offer escorted tours to Dubrovnik as well as hotel stays, so it’s never been easier to discover the island’s highlights for yourself. Grab your sunhat and book Saga Croatia holidays here.