Recommended itinerary:
Where to go and what to see in Dubrovnik – a 3-day itinerary from destination expert and travel writer Annabelle Thorpe.
Editor note – Annabelle has not included specific recommendations of where to stay each day unless it’s necessary. Instead, see the ‘Where to stay’ section in our Dubrovnik destination guide.
Avoid the heat by walking the City Walls in the early morning; finish at the Vrata od Buze entrance, a short walk from the Mount Srdj cable car. Try the excellent pizzas at nearby Pizzeria Tabasco and spend a lazy afternoon on Banje beach before a sundowner at the Hotel Grand Villa Argentina.
Dubrovnik, Dalmatia, Croatia
A 2km walk along these 13th-century walls is a feast of dazzling views over Dubrovnik’s old town rooftops and the Adriatic. 24m high and 6m wide, they’re are among the best-preserved city fortifications in the world.
Best for ages: 6+ | Free | 1 hour
Dubrovnik, Dalmatia, Croatia
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.
Best for ages: Any | Free
Browse the stalls at Gundulic Square Market before exploring the Rector’s Palace and Franciscan Monastery. Then hop a taxi to Gruz port and a ferry to Lopud, one of the Elafiti Islands. Eat lunch at the waterfront Restaurant Dubrovnik before heading back to the city for cocktails at the cliff-top Buza Bar.
Dubrovnik, Dalmatia, Croatia
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.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
Dubrovnik, Dalmatia, Croatia
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.
Best for ages: 18+ | £12
Dubrovnik, Dalmatia, Croatia
A charming Romanesque monastery with a hidden garden of orange and palm trees, a religious museum and the world’s oldest pharmacy, still functioning today.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Dubrovnik, Dalmatia, Croatia
A pristine archipelago, just off the coast of Dubrovnik, with pine-forested hills, quiet beaches with crystal-clear water, and lovely waterfront tavernas.
Best for ages: 4+ | Free | 3+ hours
Start the day on the water with a morning sea-kayaking tour around the old city walls. Spend the afternoon shopping for take-home treats; wine from Vinoteka Milicic and jewellery and accessories from Modni Kantun. Round off with dinner at 360, the city’s finest, Michelin-starred restaurant.
Dubrovnik, Dalmatia, Croatia
One of the world’s great kayak tours – around Dubrovnik’s magnificent medieval walls and along beautifully unspoiled coastline, away from the crowds.
Best for ages: 13+ | £30 | 5+ hours
Dubrovnik, Dalmatia, Croatia
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.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Dubrovnik, Dalmatia, Croatia
A tiny shop selling understated jewellery and fashion accessories by Croatian artists. Some original clothes too.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
