Exploring Dubrovnik in Croatia | What to do, where to eat and where to stay

Dubrovnik is known as the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’ of the Dalmation coast and for good reason - its stunning city walls and old town have been used for Game of Thrones, and you’ll find that the old town next to the Adriatic Sea definitely has some charm to it. With two days to explore on our trip from Dubrovnik to Split, we spent our time happily getting lost in the streets in the city, traversing the city walls and enjoying some time near and in the water.

The view of Dubrovnik old town from Fort Lovrijenac - included in the Dubrovnik Pass!

What to do in Dubrovnik

Explore the city walls and enjoy a drink during the sunset

The views you’ll get of Dubrovnik and the sea are beautiful, especially during golden hour - and you can even stop at a cafe/bar along the wall for a drink or snack if you get tired. The city walls date back to 14th century and you can see how it was built to last and preserved - with some areas being 4-6m thick.

If you're planning on doing this, I would suggest getting the Dubrovnik Pass (€35) as it's the same price as a single entry to the city walls and includes other museums and a 24hr bus pass so you can get around.

Swim in the Adriatic Sea

If you’re there on a hot day, then a dip in the ocean is high on the agenda. There were plenty of public swimming spots next to the city walls where there are lots of people sunbathing, taking a dip or even cliff jumping (like at Buža Beach). It felt very safe as swimming areas are clearly marked with buoys and rope and any passing boats gave a wide berth. Some of the beaches also had cafes and bars if you’re looking for a drink or a snack whilst you’re there.

Visit the top of Mount Srd (hike or cable car)

The views of Dubrovnik from the top of Mount Srd are beautiful, and well worth the journey if you have time. There’s two ways for you to get there - via a hiking path from the top of town or via the cable car just outside of the old town. The cable car up to the top of Mount Srd costs €14.60 one-way/€26.54 return for adults, and €3.98 one-way/€6.64 return for children aged 4 to 12 and is a great way to still see the view if you don’t have time or energy to hike up/down the mountain.

Take a short ferry to Lokrum Island

Just a short ferry ride off the coast of Dubronik, the Island of Lokrum stands in the Adriatic Sea and offers stunning scenery and wildlife for nature lovers to explore. You can also explore the Benedictine Monastery and its gardens or do one of the many hiking trails that offer stunning view of the surrounding landscape as part of a day trip.

The ferry to Lokrum Island takes 10 mins and leaves on the hour from Dubrovnik Old Town port, with a fare of €7 for the ferry and €27 for entry to the Nature Reserve.

Where to eat in Dubrovnik

The food in Dubrovnik is mostly Medditerranean, so expect a lot of good seafood, pastas and (also) gelato! Every other street corner there were restaurants and konobos (taverns) for lunch or dinner, and you should also visit a pekara (bakery) for items like burek (puff pastry stuffed with filling like minced beef/chicken or cheese) which are delicious, especially when fresh!

For some specific recommendations, I would suggest Lokanda Peskarija for a scenic and delicious dinner watching the sunset over the water, and popping over to Peppino’s Gelato for dessert.

Lokanda Peskarija

If you’re looking for a delicious meal with views to match, then Lokansa Peskarija is it. It stands where the old fish market used to be in Dubrovnik, and as expected it's right by the water.

We stopped here for dinner and it was absolutely beautiful - the seafood was fresh and cooked to perfection, and being able to watch the sunset and all the twinkling lights turn to the soundtrack of a live jazz singer/pianist was the cherry on top. Between 4 we ordered a 2 person seafood platter, pomodoro spaghetti, cuttlefish ink risotto, mixed salad, focaccia (to die for!) and some drinks for €125, which was reasonable given the location and quality of food.

Peppino's Gelato Garden & Peppino's Gelato Factory

If you’re looking for dessert, the gelato here is delicious. We stumbled across this place and noticed a line, and as you do you you line up when you see said line - and the wait was well worth it.

They have two stores in the old town - Peppino's Gelato Garden which is near the water, and Peppino's Gelato Factory which is in the middle of town, and both have slightly different flavours. I had the pistachio and fig gelato the first day, and the yoghurt pomegranate the next for €3.50/scoop - and I would've had more if my stomach could fit it.

Where to stay in Dubrovnik

There are a couple of areas you can stay in when you explore Dubrovnik - within the Old Town walls, just outside the Old Town area, or near Gruz (ferry port). There are a mix of hotels, hostels and B&B/Apartments depending on your budget and preferences.

The Old Town area is close to all of the main attractions, lots of restaurants and bars and can be reached from the airport via a shuttle bus, or the ferry terminal via a local bus. The Gruz area is good if you’re travelling by ferry and you don’t want to travel too far with your luggage, and you can easily reach Old Town using a local bus. The area above Old Town (geographically) can be reached via local bus or by walking - there are lots of pedestrian staircases and streets that connect the streets on the hills surrounding the Old Town area.

We stayed in an Airbnb apartment that had a beautiful balcony that overlooked Dubrovnik and the sea and the views during golden hour were stunning. The only downside was the amount of stairs we had to climb from Old Town to get there, it was about a 100m elevation gain! It was also serviced by two bus routes that connected the area to Old Town and the Port which we took a few times as well.

If you’re considering a trip to Dubrovnik it is definitely worth it - you’ll have a great time enjoying what it has to offer and I would recommend 1-2 days to explore it before heading somewhere else like Korcula and Split (which are also more affordable). Croatia and the Dalmatian coastline is beautiful and I can’t wait for you to experience as well.

Exploring Dubrovnik | What to do, where to eat and where to stay