Top 5 Things To Do In Dubrovnik in 2022

The famous walls of Dubrovnik have surrounded and protected its citizens since before the 7th century. In spite of numerous additions and modifications, they are deservingly considered among the greatest fortification systems of the Middle Ages. Indeed, they were never breached by a hostile army during that time.

The very oldest systems of fortifications around the town were likely wooden palisades. By comparison, today’s intact walls are mainly from the 12th–17th centuries. They have long been a source of pride for Dubrovnik. Indeed, in 1979, the old city of Dubrovnik joined the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Running an uninterrupted course of approximately 1,940 metres, the walls encircle most of the famous old city. They reach a maximum height of about 25 metres. Most date back to the 14th and 15th centuries. However, strengthening and extension continued until the 17th century.

Highly imposing, especially when approached from the sea, they ensured independence freedom for an uninterrupted five centuries. Later, reinforcements came in the shape of 3 circular and 14 quadrangular towers, 5 bastions, 2 angular fortifications and the large St. John’s Fortress. More than 120 cannons armed the outside of the walls.

Are Dubrovnik City Walls worth the Price?

Dubrovnik City Walls entrance fee is not cheap. During the spring of 2021 the tickets are are available for 50kn (Croatian Kunas, approximately €7) per person, but starting July 1^st 2021 they are reverting back to the full price of 200kn (around €27) per adult. Children and young adults are 50kn person as are students with one of the approved student cards. This makes the walls quite a serious expense. So, are they worth it?

Dubrovnik City Walls are one of the best preserved medieval fortification systems in Europe. Surrounding a still living settlement, they provide an amazingly unique sight. Their design enabled city guards to keep the entire surrounding area under a watchful eye. They have served as the most important military installation in the city’s long and turbulent history. These walls are every panoramic photographer’s or Instagram influencer’s dream. Beautiful and impressive, they will provide you with an opportunity to travel back in time.

If there are things you are looking for, and you are not deathly afraid of heights, then Dubrovnik City Walls will be worth the price.  

Traditional Museums

Dubrovnik Museums are many. Still, none are too big or too lavish. In many cases, Dubrovnik museums are worth checking out because of the historical buildings they still occupy. Rector’s Palace is a great example. It is a former government building with some very interesting exhibits. But the exhibits are not the main appeal. The real value lies in the fact Rector’s Palace was the main government building and the residence of the Rector – the head of Dubrovnik Republic.

Probably the biggest museum in Dubrovnik and the one with the most exhibits is Maritime Museum. This is not surprising. Dubrovnik has been a city of seafarers, ship builders and international merchants throughout its fifteen hundred year long history. This history is wonderfully laid out in the city’s Maritime Museum. It is located in St. John Fortress which overlooks the historical port.

Museum Rupe is another one worth visiting in part because of the historical building it is in and the role it played in the life of Dubrovnik. The museums is in the old granary. It used to store wheat in order to stay prepared for possible siege by foreign armies. In case Dubrovnik is under siege, the walls would keep the people inside safe and the granary would ensure they have the most basic of provisions – bread. Today, Museum Rupe is an ethnographic museum housing traditional costumes, tools and houseware from various periods of the city’s history.

City’s Aquarium is interesting for its glimpse into the underwater world of the Adriatic. Natural History Museum is quite new and constantly putting on interesting exhibits. There are other options like House of Marin Drzic (famous local writer) and Archeological Museum that are worth a visit if you are enthusiastic about the subject matter.

Monasteries and the Cathedral

Aside from these, there are two monasteries worth your attention, Franciscan and Dominican. Both house beautiful cloisters, examples of old jewellery and works of art. Franciscan Monastery is also home to one of the oldest working pharmacies in the world. The cathedral is open for visits, but if you want to see its small, yet impressive treasury, you will have to pay an entrance ticket.

Modern Museums

War Photo Limited is a war photography gallery/museum with a permanent exhibition focused on the 1990s Croatian Homeland War and the wider Balkan conflict. It is full of amazing photographs with quite an emotional charge.

Another museum dedicated to the Homeland War with special focus on Dubrovnik’s role in the conflict in on top of Mount Srd in Fort Imperial. The historical fort dated back to the beginning of 19^th century played a crucial role in the war of 1990’s. It was the last line of defence for Croatian forces in a struggle to repel Serbian and Motenegrin attacks. Especially interesting part of the museum is the “news room” with news stories showing footage of the war torn Dubrovnik.

Outside of Old Town, make sure to visit recently opened Red History Museum. It is located in Gruz Harbour area and deals with time period of Yugoslavia. What was life like under communist / socialist rule is seen through exhibits depicting everyday life of local people during that time. You will also get an insight into important historical events that shaped Yugoslavia and Croatia. It is a fun and interesting museum and well worth your time.

In Pile neighbourhood, just outside the historical centre you can find Love Museum. It is a small museum of love stories from Dubrovnik’s past and present. It is set up with care and is a fun visit, especially for couples.

For more detailed look at Dubrovnik’s historical and cultural riches, check out our guide to city’s churches and places of worship and museums and galleries.

2. Mount Srd, with or without Cable Car

Mount Srd is a hill overlooking Dubrovnik. It is 415 metres tall. It looks dramatic as it towers over the city’s historical centre and Lokrum Island. Obviously, it makes for a perfect panoramic photography location. Mount Srd is popular for both locals and travellers to Dubrovnik. The top of it can be reached by car, cable car or on foot via a hiking trail.

Dubrovnik Cable Car

Don’t fancy the walk? A cable car runs from the city to the peak. However, it is sometimes closed due to strong winds. It was also closed for a while in 2020 due to the pandemic. You can easily check the conditions and operation schedule at the start point. Indeed, this lower station for the cable car is in Ploce. It’s only five minutes walk from the Old Town. The number 8 bus from Gruz harbour to the Old Town will drop you off at the right spot. Cable car ride is short, but lovely and provides winderful vistas.

How do I Hike up to Mount Srd?

Hiking trail to the top of Mount Srd zig-zags up the face of the hill. The trail begins above the historical centre, on Jadranska Cesta D8 (map below). There is a bus stand for Number 3 and 3a buses right next to it, but the hike from the Old Town to the start of the trail is also worth doing. The hiking trail leads to 19^th Century fort Imperial. It provides amazing views and is suitable for beginners as well. The path is very rocky, so make sure to have closed, sturdy footwear. Bottled water and sunscreen are good to have with you, especially on a hot day.

3. Lokrum

Sitting a mere 600 metres from Dubrovnik, Lokrum is a beautiful, natural island. But there is much more to its story than you might expect. The first known written mention of Lokrum was in 1023 when the Benedictine abbey and monastery came into existence. They still stand today. The name Lokrum comes from the Latin, ‘acrumen’. In fact, this translates as ”sour fruit”. Apparently, it derives from the cultivation of exotic plants on the island. It’s a tradition started in the time of the Benedictines.

The last Benedictines left the island in 1808. On their last night, the monks placed a complex curse on the island. Since then, anyone who tried to seek Lokrum for their own has met an unexpected and untimely death. According to legend, Richard the Lionheart was shipwrecked on Lokrum in 1192. After returning home from the crusades, he pledged to build a church on the island in thanks. But, in response to the plea of citizens, the church was instead built on the nearby mainland.

From Monks to Emperors

Archduke Maximilian Ferdinand of Habsburg had a mansion built on the island in 1859. Maximilian’s wife, the Archduchess Charlotte of Austria, originally purchased it. She retained ownership even after she and her husband became Emperor and Empress of Mexico.

After Emperor Maximilian’s execution, the island became the property of the Habsburg Family. Subsequently, a deal was struck between Franz Joseph I of Austria and Leopold II of Belgium. Charlotte had gone insane. Thereafter, in the name of his sister, Leopold renounced all of her and her husband’s claims to property in the empire. Undeniably, Leopold was far more concerned with the acquisition of his sister’s great fortune.

The island was given to Archduchess Elisabeth Marie of Austria as part of her marriage dowry. Eventually, Yugoslavia claimed it under the Treaty of Saint-Germain. But, Princess Elizabeth decreed that she was no longer a Habsburg. In other words, this meant she’d renounced her rights upon marrying. Therefore, Yugoslavia had no right to sequester the property. The case was settled by a payment of around $575,000 to the Princess.

In 1959, a Botanical Garden was founded on the island. It contains native and imported, tropical and subtropical plants. In addition, families of peacocks inhabit the island. In fact, they’re descendants of ones brought from the Canary Islands by Maximilian. Full of life, natural beauty and ideal swimming spots, the island is a must-visit. Relax, swim and leave the bustling city behind. You’ll enjoy the space alongside locals as well as visitors. Dubrovnik residents love this place.

Where do Dubrovnik Locals Go?

Lokrum Island in known in Dubrovnik as a place of legends and stories, but also as a perfect getaway from the crowds in the city. Small group of dedicated locals will use every chance to get to Lokrum and re-charge their batteries. Swimming in clear waters, walking barefoot among Lokrum’s many exotic plants or sunbathing on the smooth rocks of the island’s western end; all this is waiting just 15 minutes away from the Old Town Port. Over the weekends Lokrum Island becomes a perfect setting for a family picnic in the island’s olive orchard. Regular boat line connecting the island to Dubrovnik operates from April to November. The first boat of the year is the one that local Lokrum lovers never miss.

Best Instagram Spot in Dubrovnik?

One of the very best spots to take a photo in Dubrovnik area is on Lokrum. It is Lokrum “Buza” which is a local dialect word meaning “hole in the wall”. The configuration of the terrain in this spot creates an opening in the rocks looking out to the sea. You can easily stand in front of it and take a picture with the sea in the background. It is a great spot to see and the island’s most prominent selfie location. As all similar locations, it is a bit overused in social media posts.

Game of thrones Filming Locations on Lokrum

Game of thrones is a wildly popular TV show that left its mark on Dubrovnik. Some people only heard of the city because of it. There are numerous filming locations in and around Dubrovnik which we will go into in one of the other chapters of this page. However, let’s not fail to mention there was filming on Lokrum as well. The garden of the old Benedictine Monastery was used to shoot scenes depicting the fantasy city of Qarth in Season 2 of the show. In this scene Daenerys Targaryen introduces herself to a few members of local society. Later on, just before she enters the House of the Undying, she is standing on the stairs that are part of Lokrum’s Gardens of Maximilian.

The most important area for Game of Thrones lovers is a tin GoT museum in the former Benedictine Monastery. There sits the Iron Throne, the most important seat in the Kingdom of Westeros. Not only that, but it is free to visitors to sit in and take pictures.

4. Dubrovnik Beaches

Dubrovnik beaches are some of the most popular spots for travellers to this city. With warm Mediterranean climate and one of the cleanest seas in the world, it makes perfect sense many travellers look to cool themselves off in the deep blue waters of the Adriatic. Locals often spend time on beaches as well. They either arrive by land or on their private boats. Some locals actually practice swimming in the see throughout the year, regardless of the cool temperatures.

Is it Safe to Swim in Dubrovnik?

The sea around Dubrovnik is very safe. Larger beaches will have ropes with buoys around the area meant for swimming. Many tourists mistakenly think these are shark nets or similar, but they actually serve to direct the local boat traffic away from the swimming area. With virtually no dangerous kinds of sharks in the area and very few other types of potentially dangerous marine wildlife, swimming or snorkelling in Dubrovnik is very safe.

Some dangers do exist. Swimming long distances, for example across channels to nearby islands, is not a good idea during the summer. The boat traffic is heavy and it is easy to not notice a single swimmer or diver in the water. Important to note is also that the shoreline is mainly rugged and rocky. So getting into the water while its very windy and rough is not a good idea unless you are on a beach. Getting out of the water onto rocks with waves hitting it is very difficult and potentially dangerous. Speaking of rocks, some of Dubrovnik visitors like to emulate local kids by cliff diving. This is only a good idea you know exactly that the spot you are jumping into doesn’t have any shallow rocks. This is also only recommended doing sober and you wouldn’t believe how many people need to be told this.

Are there any Sandy Beaches in Dubrovnik?

Many will be surprised by the lack of sandy beaches in the area. Most of Dubrovnik beaches are pebbly and rocky. In fact, locals often prefer rocky shore to the beach because of the lower noise levels and more privacy they offer. If you are looking for sandy beaches, best you can hope for in the city itself are very fine pebbles or rough sand as found on Sveti Jakov Beach or Banje Beach. Sandy beaches in Dubrovnik area are away from the city, on Elaphiti Islands, Mljet Island, Korcula Island, or in Molunat in Konavle Region.

Dubrovnik Best Beaches

Banje Beach

Banje Beach is the quintessential Dubrovnik beach. It is situated a short walk from Ploce Gate – south-eastern entrance to the historical centre. The beach is pebbly with some fine pebbles making it easier to walk on barefoot. This beach is also a home to the East-West Beach Club, so you will never be too far away from a refreshing cocktail or a light lunch when spending time here. There are also sun loungers and sun beds to rent for those not wishing to sprawl out over warm pebbles. The main selling point of Banje Beach is undoubtedly its incredible view over the historical centre. It truly is a picture postcard swimming spot.

Sveti Jakov

Sveti Jakov (St. Jacob) Beach also boasts wonderful views over the Old Town and Island of Lokrum, but this one is further away from the historical centre. Getting to it means going through one of the most beautiful Dubrovnik neighbourhoods. After passing by Villa Sheherezade, Villa Dubrovnik Hotel and 16th century St. Jacob Church, you will find stairs leading you down to the beach. It is a long staircase you will curse on the way back. The beach is nestled in a small bay. It is pebbly going to rough sand. It features a beach bar/restaurant and is a beautiful place to enjoy even without swimming. The location of Sveti Jakov Beach means it is less popular than Banje Beach, but not much.

Dance

Dance is definitely one of the locals’ favourite swimming spots. This rocky bay with concrete sunbathing plateaus is close to the 15^th century monastery and Church of St. Mary. Local people faithful to Dance call themselves Dancari and are well organised into an organisation with an apt name – Republic of Dance. This beach is facing away from the historical centre and is thus less visible and less popular with the visitors. It is located just below Gradac Park, facing north-west. Dance is a great option for those wishing to enjoy a swimming spot with more of a local feeling. It is not good for those who like their beaches sandy and with plenty of amenities.

Copacabana

Copacabana got its name from a far more popular Brasilian cousin. It is however much different with its pebbly bottom and a view towards Dubrovnik Bridge and the hills of Dubrovnik’s northern riviera. You can find Copacabana in Babin Kuk area of Dubrovnik. It features various amenities including a couple of cafés and a restaurants. This beach is very popular with families and is conveniently located close to some parking areas.

Coral Beach Club

Coral Beach Club is very close to Copacabana. It is however a different beach with its own beach club. It’s a rocky swimming area with some pebbly parts. Its beautiful lounge bar with comfortable seating and plenty of shade makes it into a perfect place for those more interested in nice views and tasty drinks than swimming. The view from the beach is towards Daksa and Kolocep Island, two of the Elaphiti Islands.

Uvala Lapad

The most popular large bay of Dubrovnik is Uvala Lapad (Bay of Lapad). This area with its promenade and numerous cafés and restaurants is the number one choice for Dubrovnik locals when wanting to relax with their children and friends. With numerous hotels and rental properties around, it is easy to see why Uvala Lapad is always a lively place. At the base of the bay is the local beach, lately called Sunset Beach. It is a newly redesigned beach with pebbly, rocky and concrete areas and plenty of amenities. It is perfect for families and beloved by children. If at any point you feel it is getting too crowded you can always take a short stroll to one of the rocky areas found all around the bay.

5. Dubrovnik Walking Tours

Dubrovnik’s historical centre is the setting for vast majority of the walking tours on offer. With much to explore it makes sense that these tours are both numeours and diverse. From historical tours to food tours, there is always a good reason to walk around the Old Town.

History Tour

Historical tours are traditionally the most popular in Dubrovnik. They come in all forms, from detailed museums tours to walking the City Walls. The choice will depend on your preferences and your budget. There are regular group tours that are fairly cheap and easy to book, but offer no options for customization. On the other hand, there are plenty of local guides you can hire for a custom tour based on your specifications.

Game of Thrones Tour

They say you can’t visit Paris without going to the Eiffel Tower. Similarly, they used to say you can’t visit Dubrovnik without walking its walls. And while that’s still true, perhaps a Game of Thrones tour is also now essential? ‘King’s Landing’ has become a global phenomenon since the HBO series aired. Game of Thrones tourism is BIG in Dubrovnik. Here is what you need to know.

Is Game of Thrones Tour Worth It?

Game of Thrones tours can be very cheap group tours, so they will not be a major expense. If you are interested in history more than the famous TV show, know that you will visit many of the same locations on both itineraries. When hiring a private guide you will be able to combine history with Game of Thrones filming locations.

You are not a fan of the show? Then there is maybe no point in doing this tour. However, there are many who end up doing filming locations tours without ever having watched the show. Only they know why.

Other Walking Tours

There are too many other walking tours to name them all. Some of the more popular are food tours, tours dealing with Croatian Homeland War, Jewish heritage tours, bar hopping, wine tasting tours, ghost stories tours and many other. Dubrovnik offers more than just history and filming locations. As an inquisitive traveller you will have no problems finding activities that suit your taste.

Honorable Mention: 6. Best Dubrovnik Sunset Spots

Sunset Pool at Sun Gardens Resort

Take a trip to Sun Gardens Resort, just outside of Dubrovnik to witness an amazing sunset location. Experience true luxury as you lounge by one of the best pools in the world, as stated by the Conde Nast Traveller. From dawn until dusk, the Sunset Pool is the perfect place to soak up the rays and watch the sun go down over the horizon. The spacious lounge area is ideal for sunbathing and relaxing with canopy umbrellas and cushioned benches providing the maximum comfort. With beautiful water features, a dedicated kid’s pool and a fantastic bar, this sea view pool has something for everybody. And if you want lunch without wandering too far from the comfort of the pool, our Sunset Bar & Grill is the perfect option. Try salads and grilled specialities, or sample something lighter, such as local fruits and desserts, all in a family-friendly environment.

More information on the Sunset Pool is on the website of Sun Gardens Resort

Top of Mount Srd

Dubrovnik sunsets are nothing short of magical. There are plenty of areas from which you can enjoy the view to the setting sun. However, nothing beats the top of Mount Srd. On its north-western end, the plateau of Srd offers amazing views towards the sea and the scattered archipelago of Elaphiti Islands. Watching the sun go down from here is a must-have experience.

Restaurant with the Best View in Dubrovnik

There are many restaurants in Dubrovnik that boast nice views. Panorama Restaurant on top of Mount Srd, however, is rightfully hailed as having one of the best views in the city. Located directly above the historical centre, restaurant’s terrace provides breath taking views over the city and Lokrum Island. It is important to note, not all tables on the terrace will have this amazing view. So, if you are thinking of booking a table specifically to enjoy the panoramic vista, make sure to let the restaurant know this.

Sunset Beach

Sunset Beach in Uvala Lapad doesn’t bear that name by accident. The views from the beach over the bay of Lapad and onward to Elaphiti Islands is nothing short of amazing. It is hard to say which season of the year brings with it a nicer sunset seen from this beach. Its Sunset restaurant and a few cafés are great places to sit in, get a refreshing drink and wait for the mesmerising change of colours.  

Adriatic Sunsets Tours

For those looking to enjoy the sunset and not worry about organising the trip themselves, Adriatic Sunsets is a company offering great sunset panoramic tours. Their custom built panoramic vans offer small groups a chance to capture great photographs and get introduced to the area traversing most picturesque roads chosen by local experts. Adriatic Sunsets is a great choice for newcomers to Dubrovnik, as well as returning guests. When ever you visit Dubrovnik make sure to inquire about their itinerary and options. You will not be sorry!

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