The Best 3 Day Dubrovnik Travel Guide

Located on the coast of Croatia, along the Adriatic Sea, Dubrovnik has quickly become one of the most popular towns to visit in Croatia, and even Europe altogether. The city’s fortified walls, narrow streets, and charming architecture makes for a picturesque town that is desirable to travelers from all over the world. Additionally, Dubrovnik was always a popular vacation destination for Europeans, but thanks to the hit TV show Game of Thrones, tourism in the city has skyrocketed since. Furthermore, in this Dubrovnik travel guide I share with you everything you need to know before your trip! After reading this, you’ll have the best restaurant recommendations, beaches to visit, what to do, where to stay, and so much more! Enjoy!

Table of Contents:

Getting there
Best time to go
How long do I need in Dubrovnik?
Where to stay
How to get around
What to do
Where to eat
Pros and Cons
Overall thoughts

Getting there:

The easiest way to get to the center of town from the Dubrovnik airport is by the Dubrovnik Airport Shuttle Bus. The journey only takes about 30-40 minutes and stops just outside of Pile Gate. You can simply just purchase tickets on the bus. If you prefer a private transfer, Uber and taxis are available outside the airport as well.

Best time to go:

If you want to experience the warm weather and beaches of Dubrovnik, I suggest visiting in the shoulder season (May or September). Starting in June, the small town quickly becomes jam packed with tourists on summer break. July and August are by far the hottest and busiest months. Furthermore, if you can plan your trip for May or September, you will still get beautiful weather, less crowds, and have an easier time with restaurant reservations and accommodations. If visiting the beaches and going swimming isn’t at the top of your priority list, you’ll find visiting in the spring or fall will be more enjoyable!

How long do I need in Dubrovnik?

Many visitors come to Dubrovnik for just one day to see King’s Landing, check it off their list, and head to the next city. Although Dubrovnik is such a small town, it has so much to offer. You could easily come here as a day trip and explore Old Town, but I personally suggest at least 3 days. Three days in the city will allow you time to walk the walls of Dubrovnik, explore King’s Landing, see Mount SRD, and have time for a few fun activities. A few extra days will allow you leisure time at some of the beautiful beaches or a day trip to Lokrum Island.

Where to stay:

We stayed at a little Airbnb in the heart of Old Town, and it was just what we were looking for during our time in Dubrovnik. It was nothing fancy, but the location was unbeatable. The first link will take you to our exact Airbnb. I have also listed other options if you are looking for something different or incase this one is booked.

Apartment Renata 2-with a sea view – Apartments for Rent in Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik-Neretva County, Croatia – Airbnb

The St. Blaise Old Town Swanky Heritage ✰ – Apartments for Rent in Dubrovnik, Du, Croatia – Airbnb

Historical Old town apartment 1 – Apartments for Rent in Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik Neretva county, Croatia – Airbnb

Grand Villa Argentina, Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik Old Town Apartments, Dubrovnik

Boutique Villa Dorma, Dubrovnik

How to get around:

Dubrovnik is a small enough town that most sites are located within Old Town or just outside and can be seen on foot. You’ll have ferries that connect you to Lokrum Island and cable cars to get you to Mount SRD. Otherwise, a car is not necessary unless you plan on taking day trips or staying outside of the main town.

What to do:

Wander through Old Town: Also known as King’s Landing, Old Town is the epitome of a beautiful, ancient European town. It is personally my favorite Old Town that we have ever wandered through. You could easily spend hours getting lost in the narrow streets, stopping in the shops and soaking in the scenic town.
Lokrum Island: A fun day trip from Dubrovnik or even just for a few hours. Ferries leave twice every hour and can be reached in just 20 minutes. The island has a beautiful botanical garden that is one of the most popular things to do on the island, although it is most known for people swimming in what is termed as the Dead Sea.
West Harbor: Located just outside of the city walls, West Harbor offers stunning views of Old Town and some famous scenes from Game of Thrones.
Wine Tasting: Visit D’Vino Wine Bar to sample Croatian and Montenegrin wine. Along with a wine flight, you can pair it with delicious meat and cheese platters.

Game of Thrones Walking Tour: Dubrovnik has become a popular tourist destination thanks to the wildly popular show Game of Thrones. If you are a fan of the show, I definitely suggest going on a walking tour to see different filming locations throughout the show. We found our tour through Airbnb Experiences, and absolutely loved it.

Water Activities:

Kayaking: A fun activity to be out on the water and enjoying some beautiful views from the sea. The kayaking tour we did lasted about 3 hours, including a 1 hour stop to relax inside of a cave!
Drinks and Swimming at Buza Bar: Spend an afternoon at Buza Bar for drinks and beautiful views while watching cliff jumpers plunge into the Adriatic Sea.

Best Beaches:

Banje Beach: This is Dubrovnik’s main beach, and it sits just outside of Old Town. It is just a 5-minute walk from Ploce Gate. It gets very crowded during summer months, so be sure to come in the morning after breakfast to secure a prime location.

Dance Beach: This beach can be reached on foot in about 15 minutes from Old Town.

Sulic Beach: A much less popular beach than Banje Beach, it is tucked away below Lovrijenac.

Sveti Jakov Beach: A much less touristy beach than Banje Beach because it’s a little further and tucked away. You can reach this beach on foot in about 30 minutes from Old Town. The beach is absolutely beautiful and worth the walk if you plan on spending the day here!

Lookout Points:

Watch the sunset from Mount SRD: Take the cable car up to Mount SRD at sunset for a beautiful panoramic view of Kings Landing and all of Dubrovnik. They also have a restaurant at the top, Panorama Restaurant, if you want to book a reservation in advance and be able to enjoy the sunset during dinner.

Walk the Walls of Dubrovnik: A must do activity while visiting Dubrovnik! Depending on the time of the year you are visiting, it gets very hot mid-day, so I suggest going first thing in the morning. It’s also much more peaceful and fewer crowds in the morning.

Lovrijenac: Also referred to as St. Lawrence’s Fortress and featured on Game of Thrones, Lovrijenac is a fortification that sits overtop of the Adriatic Sea. From here, you will have a beautiful view of Old Town.

Where to eat:

Nautika: This beautiful Michelin restaurant has been voted travelers choice on TripAdvisor. It offers seafood and Mediterranean cuisine with a stunning view of the Adriatic Sea.
Gradska Kavana Arsenal: Another beautiful restaurant that was voted travelers choice on TripAdvisor. It offers seafood and Mediterranean cuisine with seating by the sea or in the heart of Old Town.
Panorama Restaurant & Bar: A beautiful restaurant with the best view of Dubrovnik and overlooking King’s Landing. The restaurant sits on top of Mount SRD, so take the cable car up for dinner and drinks at sunset. Be sure to book a reservation in advance.

Bistro Tata’s: If you’re looking for something other than European and Mediterranean cuisine, this restaurant offers American cuisine and delicious upscale burgers right in the heart of Old Town.
Restaurant & Bar Rudjer: A Mediterranean & European restaurant that sits in a beautiful plaza in the heart of Old Town.
Moskar Street Food: A Mediterranean & European restaurant that sits in the heart of Old Town.
Oyster & Sushi Bar Bota: This sushi restaurant is delicious! It sits in the heart of Old Town but is tucked back from the crowds of people walking by.

Forty Four Restaurant: Another delicious restaurant that was voted travelers choice on TripAdvisor. It offers seafood and Mediterranean cuisine in the heart of Old Town.
Fish Restaurant Proto: This beautiful Michelin restaurant was voted travelers choice on TripAdvisor. It offers seafood, Mediterranean, and Italian dishes. It is situated just above the streets of Old Town, away from the hustle and bustle.

Peppino’s Artisanal Gelato: Delicious gelato for a hot day or dessert after dinner! Located in the heart of Old Town.
Boccapiena: Another delicious gelato option located in Old Town.

Pros & Cons:

Pros:

-A beautiful, unique, and medieval town.

-Affordable compared to many other European countries.

-A pedestrian friendly city.

-Very cool to see where scenes of Game of Thrones were filmed!

Cons:

-Becomes very, very packed in the summer.

-Restaurants need reservations in advance, as places become very busy.

-The currency is the Croatian Kuna and not the Euro. This is not necessarily a “con”, but something to keep in mind if you are traveling to other European countries and plan on using cash.

Overall thoughts:

We quickly fell in love with Dubrovnik as soon as we arrived. You really do feel like you’re traveling back in time when wandering through the charming, medieval Old Town. Like I mentioned, many tourists visiting from other cities often view Dubrovnik as a ‘day trip,’ but it’s a town that deserves at least 3 days to fully appreciate. You’ll find plenty to do, have beautiful beaches to visit, and unlimited delicious restaurants to try. With Old Town being the most visited part of the city, with quite small and narrow streets, it gets crowded quickly. Be sure to book your accommodation and restaurant reservations well in advance and you won’t have any issues on your unforgettable holiday to Dubrovnik, Croatia!

Heading anywhere else?

Are you heading anywhere else in Croatia during your vacation? Split is another city that we have visited and can highly recommend! If you plan to visit, be sure to check out my Split travel guide here!

If you’re like me and need help keeping all of your travel plans and itinerary organized, be sure to check out my travel journal that I designed for just this reason! It’s how I plan every single trip and keep organized. It has everything you need from a packing list, a page for your accommodation info, travel itinerary, budgeting on your trip, journaling each day and more!

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