3 Days in Dubrovnik, Croatia: Immerse Yourself in History, Culture and Scenic Beauty
Curated By
Alexandra Duhl
Curator’s statement
The last leg of our Croatia trip was the walled city of Dubrovnik and it was a city like we’ve never seen. Dubrovnik has so much to offer: beaches, history and picturesque cliffside's. If you’re planning a trip to Croatia, make sure you include a few days here! A trip to Croatia should be on everyone's bucket list!
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Where to stay
Rixos Premium Dubrovnik
Upscale seafront hotel with chic rooms in the heart of Dubrovnik.
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$25 spa credit.
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Sun Gardens Dubrovnik
Charming seafront oasis with around the clock entertainment, fine dining, spa and experiences.
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Welcome fruit plate.
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Complimentary one-day club access and daily valet parking.
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Villa Dubrovnik
Boasting spectacular views of the Adriatic Sea, this spectacular property offers picture-perfect luxury just minutes from Dubrovnik's Old Town.
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Complimentary 3-course lunch.
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Breakfast daily.
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Upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
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Day 1: Explore the Walled City and indulge in its gastronomy
You may be taking a ferry from one of the Croatian Islands like Hvar (We used Kapetan Luca) or you might be coming from the Dubrovnik airport. Either way, when you get to the walled city, you will be in awe.
Our top recommendations for your arrival day:
Check into your accommodations and get settled. We recommend staying as close to the walled city as possible so you can just spend the first afternoon walking around & taking in the city.
There are so many shops and restaurants. We especially enjoyed the to-go eateries with the wraps and still talk about them. One spot we liked was Takeaway Dubrovnik. We enjoyed a wrap while walking around downtown, enjoying street performers and just taking it all in!
For dinner our first night we loved Dubravka. It had an amazing view of the water and walled city. Definitely try the seafood risotto!
Finish your introduction to the city with a cocktail at Cafe Buza Bar. This is a must-do when in Dubrovnik. It is a difficult find through the windy tunnels but you'll feel like you're in a different world having a cocktail literally on the edge of a wall, watching the sunset and gawking at the islands!
Day 2: Walking the walls
We started our second day early for one of the most popular activities in Dubrovnik
Walking the walls of the city: It was amazing. It is easy to get tickets at the entrance (around $15 USD-but have Kuna Cash!) by one of the main gates to the city and then you can explore at your own pace. This is a chance to use some of your downloaded materials on your phone if you’re into history. This walk took us in between 1-2 hours and it got really hot even though we started early! (We were there in August.) It also started to get really crowded around 9:30am, so we definitely recommend getting there as soon as you can in the morning!
Cool off by the beach-After our walk on the walls, we headed to Banje Beach. It is right outside of the walls, so pretty touristy, but we didn’t care! It was fun to watch the locals play fetch with their dogs in the ocean. There's a beach club to purchase food and drink, or you can take a picnic lunch like we did!
Dinner at Gverovic Orsan-One of the most memorable dinners abroad we’ve had to this day. It was right on the water (you could put your feet in!) and we picked our fish right off of a tray of the fresh catches of the day. This restaurant is outside of the walled city so we took a taxi and it was so very worth it!
Day 3: Smaller islands guided tours
Your last day in Dubrovnik would be well spent getting out on the water.
There are many guided tours you can take to the smaller islands!
We use Viator when we travel and found some great tours:
Small Group Son & Krcula Island - A day trip of wine tasting and tours of the towns.
Dubrovnik Island Hopping to Elaphites Islands
Sea Kayaking and Snorkeling around the walls!
Evening Dinner Options-recommended by a local we met in Dubrovnik
Ladi Pi-Pi - Great seafood and vibe.
Azur - A fusion of Croatian/Asian food.
Lokanda Peskerija -A casual seafood spot with a terrace and ocean view.
Finish your evening taking the cable car to overlook the city. If you can time it perfectly with sunset and golden hour as we did, you will not be disappointed. You can also eat or get a drink at the top!
Need to know
Dubrovnik is such a great city & much more than the popularity brought about by "Game of Thrones" I recommend pairing it with other Croatian cities like Hvar & Split for a perfect trip!
Travel Advisor
Alexandra Duhl
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This itinerary is part of our ongoing series on travel to Croatia. Looking for more travel inspiration? Check out my guide, Family Adventures in Joshua Tree: A Kid-Friendly Weekend Exploration Guide.