15 best things to do in Dubrovnik

Pressed between steep limestone cliffs and the Adriatic Sea, Dubrovnik is Croatia’s top draw. Its stone walls wrap around a maze of marble streets, café-lined squares, and grand Baroque churches. You’ll spot Game of Thrones filming locations, but there’s much more here than TV backdrops. Just offshore, forested islands offer rocky beaches and quiet swimming spots. From walking the walls to diving into fresh seafood, these are the best things to do in Dubrovnik.

The information in this article is inspired by The Rough Guide to Croatia, your essential guide for visiting Croatia.

1. Walk Dubrovnik’s city walls

This is the big one. Walking the Old City walls is easily one of the best things to do in Dubrovnik. These massive stone defenses (Gradske zidine) rise 25 meters high and stretch nearly 2 kilometers around the historic center. From the top, you get sweeping views over marble alleys, orange-tiled rooftops, and the Adriatic shimmering in the distance. The full walk takes about an hour, though in peak summer you’ll need longer thanks to the crowds and heat. Go early if you can. The path is narrow in places, and backpacks aren’t allowed.

If you're planning to explore the walls at different times of day: early morning for quiet, late afternoon for golden light, staying inside or just outside the Old Town is ideal. It’s one of the best areas to stay in Dubrovnik, with quick access to major sights, bars, and the city’s busiest beaches.

2. Step inside the Dominican Monastery

Tucked just inside the Old Town walls, the Dominican Monastery offers a calm escape from the crowds and a glimpse into Dubrovnik’s artistic past. You’ll enter via a grand stairway, though its stone balustrade has been clumsily filled in with mortar, thanks to a practical but not-so-pretty fix by the monks. At the top, a simple doorway leads into a peaceful 15th-century cloister, shaded by palm trees and dotted with orange trees.

The adjoining museum (Muzej dominikanskog samostana) holds a compact but impressive collection of religious art. Highlights include three works by Nikola Božidarević, one of Dubrovnik’s most celebrated Renaissance painters. It’s quiet, cool, and rarely crowded, a good spot to slow down and take in a different side of the city.

3. Escape to Lokrum Island

Just a 15-minute boat ride from Dubrovnik’s Old Port, Lokrum is an easy day trip that feels a world away. Covered in pine and cypress forest, the island is perfect for a lazy swim, a shaded walk, or a Game of Thrones location hunt. The botanical gardens and crumbling monastery complex were used in several scenes.

Past the monastery, on the island’s southeast coast, you’ll find rocky swimming spots, a small salt lake called the Dead Sea (Mrtvo more), and a discreet naturist beach at the far southern tip. There are no cars, no overnight stays, and no crowds if you go early.

Lokrum is a popular first stop for anyone sailing in Croatia, and while you can’t camp here, it’s a great contrast to the more rugged spots popular for beachside camping in Croatia along the Pelješac Peninsula or nearby islands.

4. Climb Mount Srđ for epic views

Looking for one of the best views in the city? Head up Mount Srđ. This 412-meter hill towers over Dubrovnik from the north and offers a sweeping panorama of the Old Town, the coastline, and even the Pelješac Peninsula on a clear day. It’s a highlight for photographers and one of the most rewarding things to do in Dubrovnik.

The fastest way up is by cable car. The original line was destroyed in the 1990s during the siege of Dubrovnik, but reopened in 2010. The ride is smooth, scenic, and over in just two minutes. For a slower, sweatier option, you can hike the zigzagging trail to the top in about an hour. There’s a small museum and a café at the summit, but the real reason to come is the view.

5. Catch a show at Dubrovnik’s Summer Festival

Every July, the city turns into one big open-air stage. The Dubrovnik Summer Festival is the most important cultural event on the Adriatic, with six weeks of live music, theater, and dance set against the dramatic backdrop of the Old Town. Performances take place in courtyards, palaces, and fortresses, so even if the play isn’t your thing, the setting will be.

Culture heads to the coast in summer, and while most Adriatic towns host concerts or folklore nights, Dubrovnik goes bigger and bolder. Think classical quartets in candlelit squares, Shakespeare under the stars at Fort Lovrijenac, or experimental dance echoing through centuries-old cloisters.

If you're here in July or August, plan ahead: the most atmospheric venues fill up fast.

6. Wander the Renaissance gardens of Trsteno

Perched on a hillside 13km northwest of Dubrovnik, the village of Trsteno makes for a laid-back day trip, especially if you need a break from the Old Town crowds. Its star attraction is the Trsteno Arboretum, a Renaissance garden built around a nobleman’s summer villa in 1502. Terraced walkways, ornamental pools, and shaded paths lead through a mix of Mediterranean and exotic plants, all with the Adriatic as a backdrop.

It’s the only surviving garden of its kind from Dubrovnik’s golden age, and while parts have seen better days, the atmosphere is still deeply peaceful. You’ll spot giant plane trees, stone colonnades, and maybe a few Game of Thrones fans: some scenes were filmed here.

If you're visiting Croatia with kids, this is a low-key, stroller-friendly outing with space to roam and fewer crowds than the city. Buses from Dubrovnik make it an easy half-day trip.

7. Take a day trip to Mljet

If you're planning your Croatia itinerary and want to swap stone streets for forest trails, put Mljet on your list. This long, narrow island, about 90 minutes by ferry from Dubrovnik, is one of the greenest and most peaceful escapes in southern Dalmatia. It’s also one of the best places to visit in Croatia if you’re after nature without the crowds.

The western side of the island is home to Mljet National Park, a protected area of dense pine forest, quiet bays, and two saltwater lakes. You can hike, cycle, or rent a kayak to explore at your own pace. In the middle of one lake sits a 12th-century Benedictine monastery, which you can visit by boat.

Mljet makes an easy addition to any list of things to do in Dubrovnik, as a day trip or an overnight stay. Ferries run regularly from the mainland to the villages of Polače and Pomena.

8. Step inside Dubrovnik Cathedral

Just south of the Rector’s Palace, the heavy-set gray structure of Dubrovnik Cathedral (Katedrala) doesn’t shout for attention, but it’s worth stepping inside. Built in the Baroque style by Italian architect Andrea Bufalini in the 1670s, the cathedral was a major post-earthquake project, with construction passed between a string of imported architects from Italy.

The interior is modest but houses some surprising treasures. Behind the main altar is The Assumption, a multi-panel work by Titian, originally purchased by the Brotherhood of the Lazarini, proof that even Dubrovnik’s commoner guilds had serious spending power. On the west side of the nave, look for the icon of Our Lady of the Port, a Veneto-Byzantine Madonna once carried through the city during droughts to summon rain.

It won’t take long to visit, but it’s a quiet and meaningful stop in the heart of the Old Town.

9. Visit Game of Thrones filming locations

You don’t need to be a die-hard fan to enjoy Dubrovnik’s Game of Thrones connections, but it helps. Just outside Pile Gate, steps lead down to a small harbor framed by two iconic fortresses: Bokar on one side and the dramatic wedge of Fort Lovrijenac on the other. The latter played the role of the Red Keep in King’s Landing and still hosts live performances during the Dubrovnik Summer Festival.

Below, Pile Bay featured in several key scenes, including the arrival of King Joffrey and Queen Margaery, and the infamous "walk of shame." It’s one of the most recognizable spots for anyone on a Game of Thrones adventure.

You’ll find guided tours that take in all the major locations, but if you’re short on time, you can explore the area around Pile Gate on your own and still catch some of the show’s most memorable backdrops.

10. Dine with a view at Panorama Restaurant

Perched at the top of Mount Srđ, Panorama Restaurant and Bar delivers one of the best views in town, and surprisingly, the prices aren’t much steeper than what you’ll find down in the Old Town. With its wide terrace overlooking Dubrovnik’s rooftops and the Adriatic beyond, this is prime sunset territory. It’s not exactly a hidden secret, so expect a crowd if you come in the evening. If you're taking the cable car up, leave yourself plenty of time: queues can build fast around golden hour.

Watching the sun dip behind the Elafiti Islands with a glass of local wine in hand? That’s not just dinner, it’s a proper foodie experience in Croatia.

Even if you don’t stay for a full meal, grabbing a drink here is one of the more scenic things to do in Dubrovnik, and a solid way to end the day.

11. Paddle Dubrovnik’s coast by sea kayak

Sea kayaking is one of the best things to do in Croatia if you’re after a mix of adventure, views, and a saltwater workout. Tours typically set off from Banje Beach, just outside the Old Town, where groups of orange-bibbed paddlers launch into the calm Adriatic. From the water, you get a front-row seat to the city’s dramatic stone walls and cliffs, before heading toward sea caves or the nearby island of Lokrum.

Most trips are led by local guides and include stops for swimming, snorkeling, or just drifting with the current. No experience is needed, the pace is easy, and the kayaks are stable enough for beginners. Late afternoon tours are especially popular, with golden light bouncing off the Old Town and fewer boats on the water.

12. Discover Dubrovnik’s museums

Dubrovnik has more to offer than just its walls and beaches; its museums provide an insight into the city’s layered history. One of the most engaging is the privately run Red History Museum. Through a creative mix of vintage objects and well-curated visuals, it captures everyday life in Yugoslavia during the communist era. Think vinyl records, pop culture magazines, comic books, and Tito-era film posters, all with sharp, informative captions.

For something more traditional, head to the Maritime Museum (Pomorski muzej), housed on the upper floor of St John’s Fortress. It tells the story of Dubrovnik’s seafaring past with a clear, chronological layout. Highlights include model ships, navigational instruments, and maps that trace the rise of Ragusa as a maritime power.

Neither museum takes long to visit, but both offer a deeper look at the city beyond the postcard-perfect views.

13. Relax at Banje Beach

For Dubrovnik locals, a daily trip to the beach isn’t just a summer ritual, it’s a way of life. Everyone has an opinion on the best spot to swim, and Banje Beach, just east of the Old Town, is one of the most talked about. A mix of fine shingle and imported sand, Banje is backed by sleek cafés and beach bars, with views across to Lokrum Island and the city walls.

It’s also one of the most popular and crowded spots in town. Most of the beach is now lined with sunloungers and parasols for hire, which has pushed out some of the old bucket-and-spade charm. But despite the crowds and the commercial edge, it’s still a prime spot for a swim with a view.

If you're trying to tick off the best beaches in Croatia, Banje deserves a look, if only for its iconic location and people-watching potential.

14. Go on a Dubrovnik wine tour

Croatia’s wine scene has quietly exploded in recent years, and Dubrovnik is a great base for exploring it. While you’ll find familiar international varieties like Chardonnay and Merlot, it’s the local grapes, Plavac Mali, Pošip, and Grk, that really stand out. These are wines with history, grown in rugged coastal vineyards and produced by small-scale family wineries.

Many wine tours head out to the Pelješac Peninsula, a short drive from the city, where terraced vineyards cling to steep hillsides and tastings come with sea views. You can also visit wine bars and cellars within Dubrovnik itself if you’re short on time.

If you’re looking for more grown-up things to do in Dubrovnik, a wine tour is an easy win, relaxed, scenic, and full of flavor. Plus, you’ll get a deeper sense of the region’s culture than you would just sticking to souvenir shops and seafront menus.

15. Sip a drink at Buža Bar

Dubrovnik doesn’t do many hidden spots, but Buža Bar is one of them. Tucked into the cliffs just outside the city walls, this hole-in-the-wall bar (literally, you enter through a small opening in the ramparts) is a longtime favorite for sunset drinks. There’s no fancy cocktail list, and the drinks aren’t cheap, but that’s not the point.

Tables cling to the rocks above the sea, with waves crashing below and uninterrupted views of the Adriatic stretching out in front. It’s part bar, part lookout, and part cliff-jumping spot, though the latter is strictly at your own risk.

Come early for a seat, bring cash, and settle in. It’s one of the most atmospheric places in the city to do absolutely nothing, and that’s exactly why people love it.