Things to Do in Dubrovnik
Prices, opening hours, best times to visit and the stuff nobody tells you, everything you need for a first trip to Dubrovnik, Croatia, plus one pigeon's opinions on all of it.
Right, Dubrovnik. Mind the walls, two kilometres of them, a dramatic medieval old town that ruled itself as an independent republic for centuries before television crews ever showed up. This is the proper, no-nonsense guide to things to do in Dubrovnik: what things actually cost, when to go, what to skip, and which bits are worth the climb. Six main stops below, plus a quiz elsewhere on this site to see if you were paying attention.
Walking the City Walls
The old town of Dubrovnik is entirely enclosed by massive stone walls, you can walk the entire perimeter on top of them, excellent views, extremely exposed to wind, roughly two kilometres of walls dating largely to the medieval and early modern periods, by far the best way to see the old town's layout and the Adriatic stretching out beyond it.
It takes around two hours at a comfortable pace, go early morning or late afternoon, both for cooler temperatures and softer light, midday in summer is properly brutal up there with minimal shade.
Hours Daily, roughly 8am–7.30pm, shorter in winter
Best time Early morning or late afternoon
Dubrovnik's Screen Legacy
Dubrovnik's dramatic medieval walls made it a filming location for King's Landing, tourists now walk the walls specifically because of the show, more than the actual seven centuries of history, an interesting shift in how the city gets marketed and experienced by first-time visitors. Dedicated filming location tours cover specific spots used in the show, worth it if that's a particular draw, though the walls and old town are worth the visit regardless of any screen connection.
It's worth knowing this context either way, and worth engaging with the deeper, considerably older history too, this is a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of centuries of real history, not because of a television show.
Best time Any time; check specific tour schedules
The Republic of Ragusa
Dubrovnik was historically an independent maritime republic, rivalling Venice, small but properly powerful, for centuries, the Republic of Ragusa (as it was known) maintained its independence through skilled diplomacy and trade rather than military might, a remarkable achievement for a city this size surrounded by larger powers.
The Rector's Palace, seat of the republic's government, and the Sponza Palace, once the customs house and mint, are both worth visiting for context on this history, one of the more successful small-state diplomatic stories in European history.
Hours Daily, roughly 9am–6pm
Address Old Town, Dubrovnik
Mount Srd Cable Car
A cable car climbing from just outside the old town walls up to the summit of Mount Srd, offering sweeping views over the entire walled city, the Adriatic, and nearby islands, a proper different perspective from the ground-level walls walk.
Sunset is the classic time to go, though it does get busy, worth booking a specific time slot if you want to guarantee a spot for that particular window.
Hours Daily, roughly 9am–10pm in summer, shorter in winter
Best time Sunset
Lokrum Island
A small island a short boat ride from Dubrovnik's old harbour, properly peaceful, botanical gardens, a saltwater lake, and walking trails, a good, calmer contrast to the old town's summer crowds. Peacocks roam freely across parts of the island, a slightly unexpected but real local fixture.
It's a good half-day trip, worth combining with a swim, several rocky coves around the island offer good, quieter swimming spots away from the busiest old town beaches.
Getting there Ferries depart from the old harbour, about 15 minutes
Dalmatian Seafood
Dubrovnik sits in the Dalmatian coastal region, properly excellent seafood, black risotto (crni rizot, coloured and flavoured with cuttlefish ink), grilled fresh fish, and local Croatian wines from vineyards along the coast, worth seeking out a proper Dalmatian restaurant rather than the more generic tourist-facing options directly on the main old town strip.
Prices along the busiest tourist streets run higher, worth walking a few streets back or asking locally for a fairer, less inflated recommendation.
Best time Dinner, either lunch or evening
Best time to visit Dubrovnik
May through September gives the most comfortable weather, though this is also peak cruise ship season, when the old town can get properly overwhelmed with day-trippers, worth targeting May, June, or September specifically for a better balance of weather and crowds.
July and August bring the biggest crowds and highest prices, if you have flexibility, shoulder-season visits give you the same warm weather and dramatically calmer streets.
Getting around Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik's old town is entirely pedestrianised and walkable, worth bearing in mind given the historic streets and stairs throughout. Buses cover destinations outside the old town walls, and boats are the way to reach Lokrum Island.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Dubrovnik worth visiting?
- Yes, easily, walking the city walls alone justifies the trip, and the centuries of genuine maritime republic history add real depth beyond the more recent screen fame.
- How many days do you need in Dubrovnik?
- Three days covers the walls, the old town, and a Lokrum Island trip comfortably.
- Is Dubrovnik expensive?
- Yes, genuinely one of the pricier stops in Croatia, given its popularity, particularly for dining directly within the old town walls.
- What is Dubrovnik famous for?
- Its dramatic UNESCO-listed medieval city walls, its history as the independent maritime Republic of Ragusa, and more recently, as a filming location for King's Landing.
That's everything I've got.
A note before you plan around this: prices, opening hours, booking requirements and admission details in this guide were correct at the time of writing, but venues change these often and sometimes without notice. Always check directly with the attraction or its official website before you travel or build a schedule around a specific time or price.
Before travelling to any destination featured on this site, please also check your government's latest travel advice, as safety situations, entry requirements and travel warnings can change.
