Dubrovnik is the most popular tourist destination in Croatia, and for good reason. The city is steeped in history, offers incredible scenery, landscapes and views, has a wealth of great restaurants, bars and cafes and still has much more to offer outside of its famous Old Town including beaches. island trips and various other attractions. It’s difficult to see who wouldn’t enjoy Dubrovnik. And while it can get busy during the peak season, the mild climate this far south in Croatia means that Dubrovnik can be a great destination for holidays in May, June and September, offering visitors a chance to see the city in milder temperatures and with fewer crowds. Although the city easily deserves a trip of at least 5 days, a long weekend or 3 days in Dubrovnik can still be enough to experience the delights that it has to offer. We’ve put together the perfect 3-day itinerary for Dubrovnik, including how to get to Dubrovnik, things to do, where to eat, and where to stay. Read on, to find out all this and much more.
How To Get To Dubrovnik City Centre From The Airport
If you’ve arrived at Dubrovnik airport, you can either grab the Platanus Shuttle Bus, which leaves around 30 minutes after every flight arrival (check our Dubrovnik travel guide for more info on getting to and from the airport), or if you’re in a group and want to plan ahead, then you can book transfers from the airport with Welcome Pickups through their website. Either way, the journey should take 20-40min to the Old Town. Remember the Old Town is pedestrianised and no cars are allowed into it, so you will be dropped off outside the town, at one of the gates, and will need to get in by foot.
Dubrovnik Itinerary – Day One
Morning – Explore Dubrovnik Old Town
Once you’ve checked in, head out into the Old Town and go for a wander through the main streets and some of the smaller old alleys. Stop for a coffee in one of the many small cafes and soak up the incredible architecture. Check out our Dubrovnik city walking tour video and map to see the best walking route to take around the city. Some of the highlights of the Old Town include Dubrovnik Cathedral, Rectors Palace and the port area.
Afternoon – Walks The Walls, Have Some Lunch And Enjoy Banje Beach
If you want to dive straight into exploring Dubrovnik on your first day, then walk the walls of the Old Town. This is a great way to appreciate the history of the city and see the landscape and views from a higher vantage point. The walk usually takes around 1.5-2 hours so be prepared, but there are cafes and bars along the way to enjoy a drink and rest. Tickets for Walk the Walls are available on entry, or save some time and buy online at Viator.
Whether you have walked the walls or have taken some more time to stroll around the Old Town, you will have worked up an appetite. There is a fantastic selection of restaurants in Dubrovnik, serving up a variety of cuisines and dishes, including traditional Croatian food. Try Restaurant Portun located in the Old Town for lunch. They have a good selection of dishes to choose from including some lighter lunch options if that’s what you’re after.
After lunch and a busy day exploring, head to Banje Beach to enjoy some time relaxing by the crystal clear waters of the Adriatic. The beach is just a 5-10 minutes walk from the Old Town and boasts great views across the Adriatic. There is a bar on the beach, as well as a shack that can provide snorkelling equipment for rent if you want to explore the underwater world a little more.
Traditional Croatian Dinner in Dubrovnik
Once you have freshened up for the evening, head out into the Old Town. If you are looking for a pre-dinner drink, there are plenty of vibrant bars on Stradun. For dinner, go to Trattoria Carmen, a popular restaurant located in the Old Town that specialises in traditional Croatian dishes, particularly fish and seafood. The service is fantastic and the food is incredible. Book in advance if you can, as it can get busy, especially during the peak season.
Dubrovnik Itinerary – Day Two
Morning – Climb Mount Srd
Wake up feeling refreshed, relaxed and ready for action. Enjoy breakfast and then make your way to the cable car to get up to Mount Srd. You can catch the cable car a couple of streets from outside of the Buže gate to the Old Town. Tickets can be bought in person at the station or on their website beforehand. Check out our 15 Things to Do and See in Dubrovnik article for more information on the cable car.
Take in the views over the town and Adriatic on the way up. On arriving at the top, make sure you see the large stone cross, which is also the perfect place for photos. There is also a gift shop, museum and a restaurant. To get down, you can walk, but we recommend taking the cable car as the path for walking is littered with larger rocks and can be quite awkward and challenging to walk.
Afternoon – Scenic Lunch And Taking In Some History
After you’ve finished exploring Mount Srd, and are back in or near the Old Town, we recommend heading to Ala Mizerija for some lunch. This restaurant is very casual and located on a quiet spot at the edge of the coastline, just a 5-10 minutes walk from the Old Town. They serve a selection of small plates, including some amazing bruschettas with anchovies, salads and small fried fish and calamari. To read more about this restaurant, and more about other restaurants in Dubrovnik, take a look at our 10 foods you should try in Dubrovnik article.
Once you are suitably fed and watered, make your way back into the Old Town to enjoy some history and culture, at Dubrovnik Cathedral and Rectors Palace. The Cathedral is an iconic feature of the city and is free to enter. Like much of the city, it has been rebuilt several times, particularly after the earthquake of 1667, which damaged many buildings in the Old Town. Rectors Palace is located very close to the Cathedral and costs 100HRK ($16) to enter. It was originally constructed in the 15th century and still has several original features, as well as a museum, private chambers and a dungeon.
Evening – Fusion Dinner And Drinks In Dubrovnik Old Town
To end the day, try something different at Azur, an Asian fusion restaurant located in the heart of the Old Town, The setting is quite romantic and the food and service are both excellent. As well as some creative takes on taco’s, the menu also features donburi’s, curries and noodle dishes. We can recommend the salmon donburi (pictured below), which was delicious!
If you’re in the mood for an after-dinner drink (or a before-dinner drink), head to Bard Mala Buža, a bar located on the edge of the Old Town’s walls and coast, which has tables spread across platforms cut out in the side of the cliffs. The scenery over the Adriatic is sublime and makes for a relaxing and cosy atmosphere.
Dubrovnik Itinerary – Day Three
Morning – Visit Lokrum Island
It’s the last of your 3 days in Dubrovnik, so let’s make it special and explore outside of those city walls. After some breakfast head to the Old Town port to catch the boat to Lokrum Island. Located just 600metres away from Dubrovnik, a 10-minute boat ride away, Lokrum island is a small uninhabited island and also a nature reserve. As well as being home to a variety of tropical plant species, the island also has Botanical Gardens, a monastery, a small salt lake and areas for swimming. Ferry’s leave the Old Town port regularly from May to September. Check out our 15 things to do in Dubrovnik article for more information on prices and ferry times.
Afternoon – Traditional Dubrovnik Lunch And Dubrovnik West Harbour
For lunch, if you’re still busy exploring Lokrum island and all that it has to offer, there are a few cafes and restaurants on the island to cater to visitors. Otherwise, head to one of the many restaurants in the Old Town on your return to sample some Croatian and Dubrovnik food specialities such as Pasticada or black risotto.
After enjoying a traditional Croatian lunch, explore the area of Kolorina and Dubrovnik west harbour, located just outside the city walls. If you’re a fan of the popular series, Game of Thrones, you will likely recognise this area as one of the key filming destinations. If you have time, take a dip in the water and visit nearby Fort Lovrijenac, located 37m above sea level on the cliff, or do a Game of Thrones tour. There are many tours available, looking at various filming scenes across the city and differing in length and price, check out the selection here at Viator.
Evening – Dinner At Lucin Kantun
As it is your last night, we suggest heading to Lucin Kantun to try some excellent Croatian cuisine. Located in the Old Town, this restaurant is well known for serving up great quality dishes, including Šporki Mararuli or Dirty Macaroni, a hearty ragu style pasta dish. Alternatively, if you are looking to splash out, then try Restaurant 360, the only Michelin star restaurant in Dubrovnik, boasting fine food and a romantic setting in the walls of the Old Town.
Thanks for reading, let us know in the comments if you have followed our 3 days in Dubrovnik itinerary, or if you have been to Dubrovnik and have any suggestions. If you’re looking for more information about Dubrovnik such as how to get around when to go and areas to stay, read our Dubrovnik travel guide, which has all this information and much more. Alternatively, you can visit our Croatia travel guides for other Croatian destinations or our Youtube Channel for walking tour videos in Dubrovnik and Croatia.
Where To Stay In Dubrovnik
Budget/Hostel Option
Hostel Angelina Old Town is located in the heart of the historic Old Town. The hostel is situated in a restored townhouse and features a mix of dormitory rooms, a guest kitchen and a terrace. Perfectly located, the hostel offers guests an inexpensive accommodation option that is clean, simple and well equipped. There are also laundry facilities, security lockers and towels and linen come included in the price.
Mid Range/Apartment Option
The location of these apartments couldn’t get any better, offering visitors a chance to be in heart of the action. The apartments are highly rated and have well-equipped kitchens alongside simple, comfortable interiors. Options on offer range from studio apartments to deluxe 2 bedroom apartments. These apartments are a fantastic option if you want more space, have a bigger group or prefer to spend more time indoors.
Higher End Hotel Option
If you’re looking for a taste of luxury, Heritage Villa Nobile offers just that. The hotel is located just outside the Pile Gate to the Old Town and has beautiful gardens. With modern, light and well-equipped rooms, the hotel provides great service as well as an excellent breakfast. Room options range from a double room to a superior suite.
What To Pack For Dubrovnik
Here are just a few of the essential and nice to have items we think you’ll need for visiting Dubrovnik. Some of these are essentials that we’d take anywhere such as a world to world travel adapter, a refillable water bottle, packing cubes and a portable charger. But we would also highly recommend taking a good compact camera to Dubrovnik to capture the beautiful streets and scenery, as well as, a lightweight beach towel to enjoy the stunning Adriatic sea that surrounds the city.
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