One Day in Dubrovnik (+ Tips to Avoid the Crowds!)

If you only have one day in Dubrovnik, you can still see the city’s biggest sights, walk the medieval walls, and nosh on an overpriced meal on a pretty street. 

The trick is starting early with your sightseeing, especially if you’re visiting during the busier months. I’ve visited Dubrovnik twice, including once in the off-season and once in September, so I’ve experienced a blissfully quiet Old Town and a packed Stradun.

Here’s how I’d spend one day in Dubrovnik, with tips throughout depending on when you’re planning your visit to Croatia.

Is one day in Dubrovnik enough?

Yes, if your goal is to see the highlights. One day gives you enough time to walk the City Walls, explore the Old Town, visit Rector’s Palace, see Fort Lovrijenac, and stop for food or a drink along the way.

You won’t have time for everything, so expect to save places like Lokrum Island, Mount Srđ, and Dubrovnik’s beaches for another trip unless you make adjustments.

How to Spend One Day in Dubrovnik

You can spend one day in Dubrovnik like this:

• Start early with the City Walls before the crowds arrive.
• Explore Stradun and the Old Town.
• Stop for a casual lunch.
• Visit Rector’s Palace.
• Climb the Jesuit Steps.
• Pop by Buža Beach.
• Enjoy the views from Fort Lovrijenac.
• Finish with Croatian wine and dinner.

One Day in Dubrovnik Itinerary

If you’re visiting in the high season, start your sightseeing as early as possible. Dubrovnik can get super busy once cruise passengers and day-trippers arrive, and the exposed City Walls get HOT by mid-day.

If you’re visiting in the off-season, you’ll have a little more flexibility on your start time, but you’ll want to make sure stuff is open. We found several places closed during our spring visit, including places that Google confidently claimed were open.

Note: I’d recommend getting the Dubrovnik Pass. It’s already worth it if you do the City Walls and one other thing, like the Rector’s Palace.

I’m not including breakfast here, but if you need a little something, I liked Cogito Coffee Shop for caffeine and treats.

Stop 1: Dubrovnik City Walls

This is one of the city’s biggest attractions, and they’re more enjoyable when you’re not sharing the narrow walkways with a sea of folks waddling off of a cruise. They’re also almost entirely exposed, so an early start is essential during the warmer months.

The City Walls have three entrances: the main entrance near Pile Gate, an entrance near Ploče Gate, and a third at St. John’s Fortress next to the Maritime Museum.

We entered at St. John’s during our spring visit because I was worried about crowds, which turned out to be completely unnecessary in the off-season. If you’re visiting during a busy period, the Pile Gate entrance is the main one that gets busiest.

Along the way, you’ll get some excellent views, including the terracotta rooftops of the Old Town, the Adriatic, and the surrounding islands.

You’ll also pass Tvrđava Minčeta, the fortress that Game of Thrones fans will recognize as one of the places associated with Daenerys and her dragons.

Is it worth doing the Durovnik City Walls?

I’d say yes, even though they are expensive. When we first visited, tickets were €35 per person, and my immediate reaction was, “The Louvre is cheaper than this.”

Since then, the price has gone up again to €40 during high season. Walking the walls was historically free, which makes me feel even worse about sharing this information with you.

If you got the Dubrovnik Pass like I suggested, you’ve already paid for entry. Or you can just skip them and do something else.

READ MORE: Dubrovnik is worth visiting despite how expensive it’s gotten. Learn more about why I still say you should see this city.

Alternative Stop 1: Mount Srđ

If you’d rather skip the City Walls, use that first part of the morning to hike Mount Srđ instead.

We took the gravel trail up and came down via the road, with the walk taking us through the village of Bosanka on the return. Brian called the hike easy. I’d call it more moderate, particularly if you’re not used to hiking uphill.

Note: For the hikers out there, Rusica Bakery is a great spot to stop for affordable treats. We grabbed sausage rolls and a vanilla-filled croissant to reward our efforts post-trek. There’s also a grocery store next door for beverages and bars and things if you’d prefer that.

If you don’t want to hike at all, you can take the cable car to the top instead. Once you’re up there, you can fuel up at the Panorama Restaurant & Bar or do some learning at the Homeland War Museum.

The museum covers the Croatian War of Independence. The information was interesting, but the space itself needed some work. There were literal leaks as we walked through.

You can also just enjoy the view up there. That’s worth the hike…or the ride, if you’re smarter than I was.

Stop 2: Stradun and the Old Town

No matter how you started your morning, head into the heart of the Old Town next.

Stradun is Dubrovnik’s main pedestrian street. It’s lined with cafes, restaurants, shops, and tourist traps.

It’s also where you’ll find some of the city’s most recognizable landmarks, like Onofrio’s Large Fountain at the western end and Orlando’s Column at the eastern end. From here, ditch the herds on the main street and get lost in the little lanes.

Dubrovnik’s Old Town is small enough that you don’t really need a rigid route, no matter how much that pains me to say. (I’m very much a Type A girlie, you see.)

The Franciscan Monastery is a worthwhile stop if you need somewhere to plug into your map apps. It’s right at the western end of Stradun, so it’s easy to pop in as you walk through the Old Town.

The Dominican Monastery is on the eastern side of the Old Town and has a beautiful courtyard, along with a collection of artwork that includes a painting by Titian.

You’ll also pass the Marin Držić statue and Sponza Palace. When we visited, Sponza Palace was closed, but we could still peek into the courtyard.

Stop 3: Lunch

I don’t like telling anyone that they’ve earned the right to eat, but you’re probably hungry by now.

We liked Barba, a casual seafood spot in the Old Town, for seafood sandwiches. It’s a good choice if you’re pressed for time or don’t want to spend a week’s budget on lunch. (If you haven’t caught the hints I’ve dropped, Dubrovnik is expensive.)

We also liked Bota Šare Oyster & Sushi Bar. Brian was quite enthusiastic about the tempura oysters, although the place was pretty pricey. (I can’t keep saying this enough.)

Stop 4: Rector’s Palace

Rector’s Palace is one of Dubrovnik’s most impressive historic buildings. This was the seat of the elected rector who governed the Republic of Ragusa, and today you can walk through its rooms and see exhibits about the city’s history.

I liked the views from the upper level. There was also an interesting exhibit about the Homeland War with photographs documenting the conflict during my visit. It was much more engaging than the efforts at the top of Mount Srđ.

Just check opening hours before building your day around this one. It was closed when we visited the first time, but open on my second visit. The palace is included in the Dubrovnik Pass.

Stop 5: Jesuit Steps

Game of Thrones fans won’t want to miss this one. The Jesuit Steps are where Cersei Lannister’s infamous Walk of Shame takes place. Even if you don’t care about the show, though, the steps are worth seeing.

The staircase was designed by Roman architect Pietro Passalacqua in 1738. They lead visitors from Gundulić Square up to the Jesuit Church of St. Ignatius and the former Jesuit college, Collegium Ragusinum.

The complex is one of the finest best of Baroque architecture in Dubrovnik

Fun fact: As if that’s not impressive enough, the staircase was deliberately modeled after Rome’s Spanish Steps.

Stop 6: Buža Beach

From here, continue toward Buža Beach for some of Dubrovnik’s dramatic cliffside scenery. If you’re visiting in the warmer months, this is also a fun area to stop for a drink at one of the cliffside bars.

Just check that they’re actually open. Google told us Buža Bar and Bard were open during our off-season visit. They were not.

Buža Beach was still worth visiting without the cocktails, though. We took some glamour shots after admiring the clear water.

Stop 7: Fort Lovrijenac

Finish your sightseeing with Fort Lovrijenac, just outside the western edge of the Old Town. This is another excellent panoramic spot, but Game of Thrones fans may know it better as the Red Keep. The fortress is included with the Dubrovnik Pass.

The fortress dates back to at least the 14th century. It was built to defend Dubrovnik from attacks by land and sea, paritcularly from Venice.

Fun fact: Above the entrance, you’ll find the motto of the former city, the Republic of Ragusa, in Latin: Non Bene Pro Toto Libertas Venditur Auro, or “Freedom is not sold for all the gold in the world.”

If you still have some energy left, you can stop at Kolorina Bay below the fortress. It’s a small spot where you can sit by the water and enjoy the views of the fort before heading back toward the Old Town.

READ MORE: Game of Thrones people, you’ll want to visit Malta, too. Check out my detailed guide.

Optional Stop 8: Croatian Wine

If you’ve already had a beachside cocktail, you may want to skip this one. If the night is young and you’re not ready for dinner, we had a lovely time at D’Vino Wine Bar.

Their friendly staff will guide you through a range of Croatian and Slovenian specialties. I stuck with white wine, while Brian went for reds. We snacked on a tasty meat and cheese platter here, too.

If you’re more interested in beer, Dubrovnik Beer Company is a popular option, although it’s outside the Old Town.

Stop 8: Dinner

For dinner, plan to have a more traditional sitdown meal.

Dalmatino Dubrovnik and Gradska Kavana Arsenal Restaurant are local favorites in the Old Town and good options if you don’t want to trek anywhere else.

If you’re looking for something outside the Old Town, Pivnica Dubrava was recommended to us by our hotel. Expect grilled meats, Mediterranean dishes, seafood, and octopus prepared under the iron bell, a Dalmatian style of cooking.

With More Time in Dubrovnik

You can easily fill another day or two in Dubrovnik. I spent three nights in the city on both of my visit. Here are a few more things to do in Dubrovnik with more time:

• Spend some time along the Lapad promenade and Sunset Beach at, naturally, sunset.
• Explore Dubrovnik’s west harbor, depicted in Game of Thrones as Blackwater Bay, on foot or on a sunset cruise.
• Visit the Red History Museum to learn about Croatia’s communist history.
• See the Hotel Belvedere, the Game of Thrones setting used for the fight between Oberyn Martell and the Mountain.
• Make time for the beach, whether it’s the city’s small coves or beaches around Lapad.
• Take a boat to Lokrum Island for swimming, hiking, or sitting on the Iron Throne.
• Visit the Maritime Museum to learn about Dubrovnik’s long maritime and shipping history.
• See the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and its treasury, where you’ll find an impressive collection of relics.

I’ve thrown a lot of bones at Game of Thrones fans, but I haven’t even shared all of the filming spots with you. Dubrovnik was used extensively for King’s Landing. A guided walking tour to cover it all might be fun, too. Here are a few options:

Dubrovnik is also a good base for day trips. If you have several days here, you can use the city as a jumping-off point for exploring the surrounding region.

Montenegro is an especially easy option, with places like Kotor and Perast within reach. Bosnia and Herzegovina offers another easy change of scenery. You can also explore more of the Dalmatian coast, including nearby islands.

My favorite experience in Dubrovnik overall was our visit to local olive farm. We spent half a day with a local family learning about olive oil production and the history of their groves while eating an absurd amount of excellent food. Book it here.

Best Time to Visit Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik is busiest and hottest during the summer, so if you’re looking for the easiest sightseeing conditions, I’d choose the shoulder seasons.

We visited in spring and again in September, and the experiences were very different. In March, the Old Town was blissfully quiet and we had no trouble exploring the City Walls without crowds. The downside was that the city wasn’t fully operational yet.

In September, the Old Down was packed, but pretty much everything was open. If you have to visit during the high season, start the City Walls early. You’ll beat some of the crowds and avoid being out there in the blazing sun.

How to Get to Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik has an international airport less than half an hour away from the Old Town, with seasonal flights from cities throughout Europe. From the airport, you can take an airport shuttle or arrange a transfer into the city.

Keep in mind that Dubrovnik’s historic center is pedestrian-only. Some accommodations may require a walk with your luggage from the nearest accessible road.

You can also reach Dubrovnik by bus from other Croatian cities and neighboring countries. If you’re adding Montenegro or Bosnia and Herzegovina, hiring a driver can be a more efficient option. There can be delays with big bus tours at the border.

Where to Stay in Dubrovnik

If you’re only spending one day in Dubrovnik, staying in or near the Old Town makes the most sense. We stayed at the Scalini Palace on our first visit, and it was right in the thick of it.

For a quieter stay, I loved the Valamar Lacroma Hotel on my second visit. It’s still a short bus ride away from the Old Town, but very much on the chill side of the things when you’re ready to escape all of that.

For more options, check out the map below for Dubrovnik hotel:

One day in Dubrovnik is enough to get a taste of the city.

One day won’t allow you to do everything in Dubrovnik. But it is enough to see the historic center, walk the City Walls, visit some of the city’s major sights, and get a taste of that Adriatic scenery.

If you have more time, I’d use the extra day for Lokrum, Lapad, or another experience outside the Old Town. Dubrovnik is beautiful, but the secret is out. It can get VERY busy. It becomes much more enjoyable if you’re able to get out of the bubble a bit.

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