A city break in Dubrovnik itinerary
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Whether you are looking for a city break in Dubrovnik or visiting as part of a longer trip around the area, there is plenty to see and do in this beautiful city. It is a destination that has become increasingly popular in recent years. This has been boosted in no small part due to a certain TV show.
If you’re going to Dubrovnik with kids, they will enjoy the nearby islands, beaches and water sports opportunities. If you’re on a city break in Dubrovnik, 3 days is a good amount of time to see all of the top sights without rushing. When we went we had 3 days in Dubrovnik and then moved on to continue our trip in Croatia.
Where to stay for a city break in Dubrovnik
For a citybreak in Dubrovnik I would advise staying as close as possible to the old town. We stayed within the city walls, which we loved but it did have its downsides. Being very limited in terms of vehicular access our taxi had to drop us at the city gates. It was then a walk to our accommodation, possibly not ideal if you have lots of luggage.
The Lapad area of Dubrovnik also has lots of hotel options and is a short bus or taxi-ride from the old town. This may be preferable if you want a bit more space.
Out top Dubrovnik hotel picks
Villa Palo Alto. – For family accommodation in the heart of the old town.
Hotel Excelsior – For a seafront hotel that is still within walking distance of all the main attractions we would recommend
Heritage Villa Spindler– If you want a pool with beautiful views and still within easy reach of the old town.
Day 1 of your city break in Dubrovnik
Explore the old town
In day 1 of your city break in Dubrovnik I would recommend spending your time exploring the old town. The main thoroughfares are navigable with a stroller but many of the backstreets are lined with stairs. If you’re in Dubrovnik with kids, particularly a baby or toddler it may be worth having a baby carrier with you. To really get a feel for the city and learn about its history a walking tour is a great idea.
If you’re not on a tour you can’t go wrong with starting your exploration from Pile gate. This is the main city gate that was built in 1537. From here we wandered straight down Stradun, the main pedestrianised promenade of the old town. It stretches the length of the old town, widening out into Luža square at the end. From this beautiful square you will be able to see the imposing Rector’s palace and then a short walk past it brings you to the main Cathedral. The old town is packed with stunning palaces and churches to explore. Don’t forget to also spend time meandering in the smaller back streets. I think this is where you get more of a feel for real life in the city.
Lunch in the old town
Having spent the morning exploring we had a lovely lunch. We avoided the busy, overcrowded restaurants in the main streets and went into one of the small backstreets for lunch. Although, not guaranteed you are more likely to find good food at a decent price away from the main drag, the same as any major city.
When we were on our city break in Dubrovnik it was very hot. To escape the heat for a while we went back to our apartment for a rest in the afternoon. Depending on the time of year and your preferences this could be a good time for a bit of time to relax by the pool for a while. You might prefer to visit more of the old town sights. This could be the Dominican monastery or the excellent War Photo Limited gallery.
The city walls
After our rest we went back out in the late afternoon to explore the city walls. This isn’t cheap but in my opinion is well worth the cost. I really recommend not going in the middle of the day. We started out at around 4:30pm and it was reasonably quiet. It’s also much cooler than wandering around in the midday heat. We found that the old town in general was much quieter after around 4pm. After this time the cruise passengers had mostly left.
There is a one way system around the walls and it can take a while depending on how long you take to soak up the spectacular views. On the way around we stopped for a drink at Buža bar, an isolated little bar, perched on the cliff. It has a great vibe and is the perfect place for a sundowner while looking out to sea.
Our activity ideas:
– A guided walking tour of the old town is a good way to get your bearings.
– A kayak tour is a great way to see the city from the water.
– Game of Thrones fan make sure you do this tour to see all the film locations.
– For a full day out of the city exploring other islands do a tour of the beautiful Elaphite islands.
Day 2 of your city break in Dubrovnik
On the second of our 3 days in Dubrovnik we set out to explore a neighbouring island.
Lokrum
It’s pretty easy to get a ferry to Lokrum from the old town port, which only takes around 15 minutes. We loved Lokrum as a beautiful, tranquil spot covered in forest with excellent swimming in azure waters from numerous beaches. It was also a filming location for Game of Thrones (I’m afraid to say I’ve never seen it). If you are a big GoT fan, you may like to do a tour to take in all the main filming locations. This one shows you around the old town and Lokrum island.
Lunch on Lokrum
We ate at the Lacroma cafe-restaurant, which has an attractive, shady setting just above the harbour. There are plenty of pathways meandering around the island that you can explore. Most of them will eventually arrive at a rocky beach where you can enjoy a dip. We found it a refreshing change to the hustle and bustle of the city of Dubrovnik.
Miljet island
When we visited Dubrovnik with kids, they were still small and so it was good to be somewhere that they could wander freely and we could enjoy the water. If we were in Dubrovnik with kids that were older I would have been tempted to venture further to Miljet island. I have heard it is absolutely stunning. You can get there by ferry from Dubrovnik and explore yourself (I hear hiring bikes are the best way to get around). If you prefer someone else to take care of the logistics for you take an organised tour from Dubrovnik.
Day 3 of your city break in Dubrovnik
See the city from above
On the last of our 3 days in Dubrovnik we decided to get a birds eye view of the city. This meant a ride on the Dubrovnik cable car. It’s around a ten minute walk from Pile gate on the edge of the old town to get to the cable car station. You can buy your tickets on the day at the station, check out current prices and opening times here.
The views both on the way up and from the top are phenomenal if you get a clear day. Since we were in Dubrovnik with kids, including a baby at the time we made our way up the cable car in the morning. Without kids or just older ones, it would be lovely to go up later in the day and maybe enjoy the sunset up there. I imagine the colours would be fantastic as the sun sets over the Adriatic. There is a restaurant at the top which looked lovely and would be an amazing place for lunch or early dinner. If you do plan to do that it would be worth booking ahead and specifying you want lunch with a view. Here is the link for the panorama restaurant.
Making the most of Beach time on your city break in Dubrovnik!
In the afternoon of the last of our 3 days in Dubrovnik we headed to the beach for a bit or relaxation. Banje beach is right next to the old town so a convenient spot if, like us, that’s where you are staying. Like many Croatian beaches it is pebbly, and being so close to the town it can get pretty busy. There are plenty of other beaches to choose from in the area. Be aware that some of the places that are referred to as ‘beaches’ are rocky areas for swimming. If you are in a hotel or apartment with a pool you may prefer to spend your afternoon relaxing there instead of the beach.
Lopud island
If you like sandy beaches, by far the best in the area is Šunj beach on Lopud island. Lopud is one of the Elafiti islands, a small archipelago about an hour’s ferry-ride from Dubrovnik. If you would like to visit these islands you may prefer to swap and do this on the second of your 3 days in Dubrovnik. They are further away than Lokrum and you could then visit Lokrum or do a Game of Thrones tour on your final day.
Dinner in the old town
For your final evening, make sure to have a meal in the old town. I loved the old town best in the evening, when the cruise ship crowds had departed and the town is lit with an atmospheric warm glow.
Obviously this is just a suggested itinerary if you have 3 days in Dubrovnik, you could quite easily stretch these activities into more days, taking more time out for relaxing at the beach or by the pool. If you needed to you would be able to see most of the main sights in two days, although I feel it may be a little rushed.
It may be that like us, your city break in Dubrovnik is just the beginning (or end) of a wider trip in the area. On our first Dubrovnik visit we headed north to the island of Korcula for further exploration. On another occasion Dubrovnik was a starting point for a wider holiday exploring Mostar in Bosnia and then into Montenegro.
There are places that offer day trips to either Mostar or the bay of Kotor in Montenegro from Dubrovnik. I wouldn’t recommend doing this, just crossing the border (particularly into Montenegro) can take quite a while. Also both Mostar and definitely Kotor are worthy of more time to explore than one day can give you. If you want other city break ideas, we have further guides to Porto, Venice, Palma de Mallorca and others. We round up all our general tips for family city breaks here.
Enjoy your visit to Dubrovnik whether it is just a short break or a longer trip, it is spectacular!
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