One day is all you need to see the best of Dubrovnik, although we recommend spending more time here if it works in your itinerary. Dubrovnik has a way of grabbing ahold of you, making you want to stay longer than you planned.

Whether you plan on being in town for a day or more, here are the best things to do in Dubrovnik.

Dubrovnik seen from highway D8

Must-Have Experiences in Dubrovnik

Walk the Dubrovnik Walls

If you only do one thing, you must walk the Dubrovnik Walls. There is no better way to experience Dubrovnik than to see it from the medieval walls.

It takes approximately two hours to walk the entire loop around the city. The views are spectacular the entire way. Highlights include climbing the Minceta Tower and views over the Old Town. Be prepared to take tons of photos!!

For more information (and lots more photos), read our post about the Dubrovnik Walls.

Wander the Old Town

After your tour on the medieval walls, it is time to wander the streets of the Old Town. The main part of Dubrovnik is compact and easy to walk. The narrow streets are filled with restaurants and small shops, perfect places for pit stops on a leisurely stroll through the city.

Walk Along the Stradun

The Stradun is the main thoroughfare through the Old Town. Rumor has it that it is also a filming location for Star Wars Episode IX.

Get a Bird’s Eye View of Dubrovnik

Taking a ride on the cable car is a must-do if you want an aerial view over Dubrovnik. The views of the city and the Adriatic Coast are spectacular from up here.

We also recommend dining at the Panorama Restaurant. If you want a table with a view of the city, call ahead for a reservation. Dinner here at sunset would be amazing.

Ticket Prices: 80 kn for a one-way ticket, 130 kn for a round-trip ticket. For more information, including hours of operation, visit the Cable Car website.

Visit Fort Lovrijenac

This ancient fortress is worth a visit for two reasons. Number one, the view of Dubrovnik from here is stunning. And number two, this is a Game of Thrones filming site. Lovrijenac Fortress is where the tournament was held on King Joffrey’s name day.

Take a Tour of King’s Landing

If you are a Game of Thrones fan, rejoice. Dubrovnik is King’s Landing. This city is one of the best Game of Thrones filming locations you can visit since so much of the city was featured in the show.

St. Dominika Street is where Cersei made her walk of shame. Minceta Tower is used as the House of the Undying and this is where Daenerys recovers her dragons that were stolen from her. Pile Bay is Blackwater Bay, used multiple times in the Game of Thrones.

Pile Bay and Lovrijenac Fortress

You can take a self-guided walk through the city or take a Game of Thrones tour.

Gornji Ugao Tower

For a Dubrovnik history lesson, visit the Gornji Ugao Tower. This is an interesting look at the history of the city as you tour the excavated foundry.

The Gornji Ugao Tower is difficult to find. It is located near Minceta Tower but you do not enter it from the city walls. You have to walk up to Minceta Tower from the Stradun. To get to the entrance, walk across the basketball court to the doorway on the far side of the court.

Currently, there is a new entrance being constructed. Once this is complete, access will be from the base of the Minceta Tower.

Visit Lokrum Island

This is one of the most popular excursions to take while visiting Dubrovnik. A short ferry ride connects the Dubrovnik harbor to this island. Visit Lokrum Island if you want a break from “city life” by spending the day at the beach or wandering the gardens. Peacocks and large rabbits roam the island.

For Game of Thrones fans, here is your chance to sit on the Iron Throne and visit another filming site at the Benedictine Monastery.

Go Wine Tasting

Did you know that Croatia produces awesome wine? To sample Croatian and Montenegrin wine, don’t miss D’Vino Wine Bar. Take a wine flight and try the meat and cheese platters…delicious!! This was one of our favorite experiences and we visited D’Vino on two of our three nights here.

Travel Tip: Call ahead for a reservation, especially during the busier summer months. This is a small place with only a handful of tables. Visit their website here.

Eat Your Way through Dubrovnik

With a location on the sea, many restaurants serve fresh fish and seafood. But you can also find Italian, Vegan, Japanese, and Bosnian restaurants in town. We would visit Dubrovnik again just for the food.

For a nice view and great food…this is Takenoko Restaurant

Take a Day Trip

It’s hard to leave Dubrovnik, but this city makes a great home base if you want to take day trips to explore the surrounding towns.

Korcula. This gorgeous, medieval city located on the Adriatic Sea is the birthplace of Marco Polo.

Kotor, Montenegro. If you want a quick visit to Montenegro, consider the day trip to Kotor. Montenegro, with its Bay of Kotor and medieval towns, is amazing. We recommend spending two days or more in Montenegro, but if all you have time for is a day trip to Kotor, it will still be time well spent.

Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina. Mostar is a town in Bosnia & Herzegovina with a charming old town and a bridge that looks like it belongs in a fairytale.

When to Go

Visiting in June, July, or August. The summer months are peak season in Dubrovnik. Expect large crowds and hot weather. There could be long queues to get onto the medieval walls. Plan on making reservations at restaurants and booking your accommodations in advance.

Dubrovnik in April. We toured Croatia during the month of April. I was concerned about being here in the off-season, but it was awesome!! Crowds were low, restaurants were open, temperatures were 70°F (21°C), and evenings were a little chilly. It’s not ideal weather to go to the beach, however, it was wonderful not having to deal with large crowds of people.

May and September are great months to visit Dubrovnik if you want to avoid the crowds and have warm weather.

Where We Stayed

We stayed at the Villa Ani Apartments, just a 5 minute walk from Pile Gate. This place is awesome, especially for families. We had a penthouse apartment (apartment Ariel) with two bedrooms, one bathroom, a full kitchen and living area. From our windows we could look out over the Dubrovnik Walls and Lovrijenac Fortress. This place was perfect and without a doubt we would stay here again.

Have you been to Dubrovnik? What experiences do you think need to be on this list?

More Information for Your Trip to Croatia:

• 7 Great Dubrovnik Restaurants to Try
• A Walk on the Dubrovnik Walls in 20 Amazing Photos
• 11 Day Balkan Peninsula Itinerary: Croatia, Montenegro, and Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Top Ten Things to do in Split
• Plitvice Lakes Travel Guide: How to Have the Best Experience
• Why We Fell in Love with Brac Island, Croatia

You May Also Like:

• Montenegro:  Two Days in Montenegro: The Bay of Kotor and Beyond
• Bosnia & Herzegovina:  How to Plan the Perfect Trip to Mostar
• Slovenia:  The Ultimate Guide to Vintgar Gorge
• France: 10 Fairytale Towns to Visit on the Alsace Wine Route
• Poland:  Best Things to do in Krakow

Note: This post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase using one of these affiliate links, we get paid a small commission at no extra cost to you.