22 Best things to see & do in Dubrovnik

For dazzling views over Dubrovnik’s old town rooftops and the Adriatic, this 2km stroll around the battlements is an absolute must.

Among the best-preserved city fortifications in the world, they date back to the 13th century but were reinforced when the Ottoman Turks threatened in the 15th century.

Standing up to 24m high and 6m wide, they have deterred would-be aggressors for many centuries, but today they’re a major tourist attraction.

There can be few kayaking tours in the world as spectacular and memorable as this one. See the magnificent medieval walls from the outside, and appreciate how they must have appeared to potential invaders, and access parts of this beautifully unspoiled coastline, away from the crowds.

Starting from gorgeous Sveti Jakov Beach, you’ll paddle around the walls and across idyllic azure blue waters for a picnic lunch on the tiny green island of Lokrum.

For more experienced kayakers – or those looking for more adventure – full-day tours take in more islands, cliffs and sea caves, or explore maritime Dalmatia at length on a week-long tour of the coast and offshore islands.

Dubrovnik is part of the coastal Dalmatia region, meaning local cuisine is dominated by fish and seafood. Classic Mediterranean flavours – tomatoes, parsley, garlic and rosemary – are often paired with fish.

Croatia’s Italian heritage is seen in pizzerias and gelaterias on every street, although there are fine dining options; Michelin-starred 360 is the city’s most famous restaurant, set in the Old Town walls.

Every year since 1950, from mid-July to late August, internationally renowned artists take part in music concerts, opera, theatre and dance performances at dozens of stunning open-air venues in Dubrovnik’s Old Town; these include the 16th-century Revelin Fortress and the atrium inside the Rector’s Palace.

Literally thousands of events are staged over the course of the festival, with world-renowned acts and performers. But it’s the atmospheric settings that really make this event special, and like no other.

Croatia has a long history of winemaking, stretching back some 2,500 years, with many indigenous grape varieties still in use. It’s also home to the oak forests that produce most of the oak casks favoured by wine producers across Europe.

A one-hour drive up the coast from Dubrovnik lies Peljesac, a mountainous peninsula where the velvety red Plavac and award-winning Dingac wines are produced on the sunny sea-facing slopes.

Several vineyards are open for wine tasting during the summer, normally offering three to five different wines to sample, with the producer sometimes present to tell you about the history and process of the craft.

If you are driving, stop at Mali Ston – it’s famed throughout Croatia for succulent oysters and mussels, which are served at several local waterside restaurants.

For those in search of peace and pristine nature, this stunning national park covers one-third of the remote island of Mljet. Besides hiking and mountain biking through magnificent forests of Aleppo pines and holm oaks, you can swim or kayak in two emerald-blue saltwater lakes; one is home to a picturesque islet crowned by a 12th-century monastery.

Unusually, there’s great food too – there are plenty of small waterside restaurants and cafés within the park (most are in Pomena), serving up the famous Mljet lobster, renowned throughout Croatia.

There is only one hotel on the island (the comfortable, three-star Hotel Odisej), but many locals rent out private rooms and apartments to visitors during the summer.

Covered with pine forests and lush Mediterranean vegetation, and sprinkled with olive groves, vineyards and 16th-century villas, the pristine Elafiti Islands make for a fabulous day-trip from Dubrovnik. The water is crystal-clear waters and there are countless secluded coves to explore.

The three largest islands, Kolocep, Lopud and Sipan, are inhabited all year round, though it’s during the summer months that they come to life, offering a charming selection of laid-back cafés and seafood restaurants.

Beach-lovers should head to Sunj, on the lush green island of Lopud, one of the islands’ few sandy beaches, with warm, shallow waters ideal for children.

One of the best ways to explore the islands is by kayak; numerous tour operators offer guided kayaking day-trips or longer expeditions. If you prefer something a bit more relaxing, you can opt for one a sail- or speedboat, either on an organised tour or a private charter.

This 14th-century monastery centres on a charming late Romanesque cloister, with a lovely hidden garden of orange trees and towering palms.

Highlights include a Renaissance-Baroque church built after the 1667 earthquake, a small museum containing religious art and artefacts belonging to the Franciscan order, and, oddly, the world’s oldest working pharmacy, which was founded in 1318 and is still functioning today, complete with exhibits from the distant past.

Mali Ston is famed throughout Croatia for its fresh oysters and mussels, served at restaurants overlooking the sheltered bay where the shellfish are grown. The village is made up of traditional Dalmatian stone cottages and makes a great day trip from Dubrovnik.

Above Mali Ston is the sister village of Ston, whose renovated fortified medieval walls, stretch a remarkable 5.5km across the isthmus and link the two villages.

The little-visited peninsula that reaches out from Ston is home to some of Croatia’s finest beaches.

Head for nearby Prapratno Cove or the village of Zuljana at the end of the peninsula, whose stunning beach is great for swimming

This fine, secluded, pebble-sand beach is sandwiched between rocky cliffs and crystal-clear water. Eat lunch on the waterside terrace of the beach’s rustic eaterie, while admiring the views of Dubrovnik’s handsome walls across the water.

Handily located within walking distance of the Old Town, it’s the perfect spot for when you’ve had your fill of Dubrovnik’s cultural attractions and need some beach time.

Dubrovnik’s best-known beach, just a short walk from the Ploce Gate, Banje has spectacular views of the Old Town and is backed with a clutch of cafes and restaurants.

Rising 415m above the city, topped with a historic fortress and accessible by cable car, Mount Srd offers spectacular views across Dubrovnik and beyond – on a clear day, the vista stretches for up to 60kms. The lower station is just ‘above’ the Old Town on Ulica Petra Kresimira IV, and it’s 3 and a half minutes to the top.

The pretty waterfront village of Cavtat, founded by the Ancient Greeks in the 6th century BC, is even older than Dubrovnik.

Sitting compact on a small peninsular, Cavtat overlooks a tranquil bay, rimmed by cafes, restaurants and palms. Stroll the tree-lined path around the peninsular to the hilltop Račić Mausoleum, an Art Nouveau white stone monument by Croatia’s best-known sculptor Ivan Meštrović, then return to the rocky shore for a swim and a chilled beer at the Little Star beach bar.

Regular boats run from Dubrovnik’s old harbour to Cavtat’s quayside, offering a chance to escape the busy city and see a slower-paced, small-town version of Croatian life.  Sailing back in the late afternoon, past the rocky cliffs, lush pinewoods and pebble coves of the mainland coast, is idyllic.

The city’s museum – showing how local aristocrats once lived – includes an armoury and dungeon. It’s all housed in a 15-century palace.

This daily market is the place to come to mingle with locals buying fresh fruit and vegetables, olive oil and locally-produced Grappa – come early in the morning for the best produce, it closes by lunchtime.

A Roman-Baroque cathedral, with eye-catching cupola, home to the polyptych (panelled painting) of The Assumption of the Virgin (1522), attributed to Titian. The treasury displays more than 100 gold and silver relics, including the skull of St Blaise, Dubrovnik’s patron saint, encased in a bejewelled Byzantine crown.

A museum documenting Dubrovnik’s past as a major seafaring city, through scale models of ships, engine room equipment, flags, maps and sailors’ uniforms.

The administrative heart of the Republic of Dubrovnik in the 16th and 17th centuries, the palace is now a museum with furniture, artifacts and artworks dating back to the era of the Republic.

If you want to understand the conflict that decimated Dubrovnik, and much of Croatia in the early 1990s, this museum of photo-journalism gives an intense insight into the Civil War.

Often referred to as Dubrovnik’s ‘Gibraltar’, the St Lawrence Fortress sits on an outcrop of rock just outside the City Walls, and took 600 years to complete. Originally built to protect against the Venetian fleet, its walls are between 4 and 12 metres thick.

This small wine shop in the heart of the Old Town sells wines straight from the Peljesac peninsula, plus Croatian deli items including fruit spirits, preserves and sweets.

A tiny shop selling understated jewellery and fashion accessories by Croatian artists. Some original clothes too.