Dubrovnik lies in the southernmost region of Croatia and managed to stay independent of the Romans and Venetians, which occupied the rest of not only Croatia but the entire region. It is best known for its old, walled city, and made even more famous by Game of Thrones. The old city is definitely nice and worth a visit, but there is more to see and do here. So don’t limit yourself to just a day, spend at least 3 days here and get a real feel of this area. The Dubrovnik itinerary below will help you make the most out of your trip here.
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Table of Contents - 3-day Dubrovnik Itinerary
How to get to Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is very well connected by both international and domestic flights and busses. Dubrovnik does not have a train station. You can also get here easily by ferry from many Croatian islands.
Getting to Dubrovnik by plane
You can often find good deals on flights to Dubrovnik, as it’s a popular airport. If you can’t find a flight you like, you could try looking at flights to Bari, in Italy, and take the ferry across or flights to Split. Dubrovnik will probably still be your best bet though.
There are public busses connecting the airport to the old city of Dubrovnik, passing by several towns on the way. Note that only buses 11, 27, and 38 go to Dubrovnik and they don’t go often. So make sure to check the schedule beforehand if you want to take the bus. If the bus schedule doesn’t work for you, there is an airport shuttle bus which can take you to the old town too. And if budget isn’t an issue, there is the option to take a taxi too of course.
Getting to Dubrovnik by bus
The bus station is also located outside of the old city, but is better connected by public transport. Several bus lines leave for the city regularly. Most of these buses are “city buses” for which you can buy a 24h ticket for the same price as a return. For suburban busses this is not the case, you can only buy one way tickets.
Getting to Dubrovnik by ferry
Dubrovnik is also well-connected by ferry. If you’re traveling down Croatia and are coming from an island, it’s likely there will be a ferry going to Dubrovnik. You can even get here from Bari, Italy. For an overview of ferries that go to and from Dubrovnik, you can have a look at this website. If you want to book, I recommend checking the website of the ferry company you wish to take however, to make sure you have the most up-to-date information.
The ferry port is close to the bus terminal, so you can use the same city busses to travel between the ferry port and the old town. If you’re staying on the other side of the old town, you can use a suburban line.
Where to stay in Dubrovnik
I recommend staying outside of the old city of Dubrovnik, as it’s very busy and expensive. There are really nice small towns with beaches close to Dubrovnik, which are an easy bus ride away.
The nicest ones are Cavtat and Mlini in my opinion. Cavtat has a really nice green peninsula which is great for going for a stroll or run, or just relaxing. Mlini is a little closer to the old town and is a little cheaper. Plat is nice too, but the downside is that there is no grocery store in town and not many restaurants to choose from either. This isn’t a problem if you have your own transport, but it can be quite annoying if you have to take a bus to go to the supermarket.
If you’re looking for a cheap and social hostel, Hostel Best Offer Is your place. It’s an easy bus ride away, and the bus heading here is part of the city bus system, meaning that you can buy a 24h ticket for the same price as a return.
Dubrovnik 3-day itinerary
Day 1: Arriving + Old Town walking tour
As Dubrovnik gets super busy during the day (and also hot in summer) I recommend spending the day exploring the town you chose to stay at. Drop your stuff at your accommodation, go for a stroll, or just chill at the beach. Head to the old town late afternoon, in time for the free walking tour. Here you’ll receive all the information and context to really understand where you are. I didn’t care for Dubrovnik too much when I first walked through it. It was a hot and busy afternoon and I didn’t really know what I was looking at. The free walking tour put everything in perspective for me though and the city suddenly became much more interesting to me. So, as always, I highly recommend doing a free walking tour here.
Game of Thrones fanatics: There are Game of Thrones walking tours available too. General walking tours will just briefly touch on Game of Thrones, but these tours will really focus on important filming locations.
Day 2: Take a (half) Daytrip + Sunset at the viewpoint
As today is the only whole day of the itinerary, I recommend this day for a day trip from Dubrovnik. If you’re leaving late at night tomorrow, or have an extra night in Dubrovnik, you can change days 2 and 3 around as well.
The most popular tour to explore some of the surroundings of Dubrovnik is the 3-island tour. Tours generally include food and drinks, but make sure to confirm beforehand.
Another popular option is the kayak tour to Lokrum. Lokrum is the island right in front of Dubrovnik and here you can find the Iron Throne of the Game of Thrones series. This only takes half a day so you have enough time to chill at the beach afterward as well, or to explore another town close to Dubrovnik.
For something completely different, check out the ruins of what used to be Croatia’s biggest and most expensive hotel Resort at Kupari. Kupari is about half an hour from Dubrovnik’s old town by bus. You can take line 10, 11 or 16 to get here. Note that 16A only goes as far as Sebreno, which is the beach next to Kupari. It’s only a short walk from here, so this is an option too.
Then head up to the viewpoint for sunset. I recommend walking up. It’s a bit of a climb, but you get to enjoy more views as you head up or down, and the cable car is very expensive in my opinion. It gets very busy around sunset time, so if you do want to take it, make sure to allow plenty of time. If it’s too busy for your liking here at sunset, head to the alternative viewpoint marked on the map. I thought the view was even nicer from here, and we were the only ones there!
Day 3: Early morning Old Town photo session + Walls
Get up early today to explore the town before everyone else wakes up. Dubrovnik is nicest when you have it to yourself! Just after sunrise, you’ll bump into more of Dubrovnik’s famous cats than people. It’s the perfect time of the day to take pictures.
If you’re interested in visiting the walls and musea, you can buy a Dubrovnik Pass which gives you access to Fort Lovrijenac as well. It’s also possible to buy a 3-day pass if you prefer to spread the sights out over multiple days.
Spend your day in the old city, but head outside the walls for lunch, as it’s very expensive inside. If you just want a snack, you can buy something at the supermarket inside the old city, or grab something in the bakery in front of the cable car.
Once you’ve had enough of the city, cool down at one of the beaches or Porporela. This is my personal favorite, as it provides more shade and doesn’t get as packed as other beaches. Most people only stop here for a short break while exploring the old city
Protip: Due to the afternoon heat the walls get busiest in the early morning and late afternoon. So if you are visiting in high season and the crowds bother you more than the heat, it’s best to visit in the middle of the day. At this time most of the other tourists are on the beach.
This was: Dubrovnik Itinerary – How to spend 3 awesome days in Dubrovnik
Heading to Montenegro after Croatia? Plan your trip with this Ultimate Travel Guide to Montenegro. Make sure to head to Kotor too. It’s another walled city on the Adriatic coast, but very different from Dubrovnik. Or if you’re looking for something different, check out Bosnia and Herzegovina.
