Perfect 3 Day Itinerary for Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik left me feeling a bit conflicted - on one hand, it’s absolutely beautiful. On the other, it’s very packed with tourists and cruise ship guests. So do I recommend you visit? Yes, but know what you’re getting into and plan your time there accordingly. Get in, see the sites, and move onto a less crowded Croatian city.

Best time to visit Dubrovnik?

It’s a year-round destination due to it’s placement in the Mediterranean, however, I think Spring or Fall are brilliant times to visit. Summer is high season, but between the heat and the crowds may be a bit much!

Where to Stay?

I absolutely loved my little Airbnb - I thought it was cute in the photos but did not realize just how cool the location would be….steps away from the action in the Walled City. I will link it for you HERE.

As always, make sure you are traveling safely with TRAVEL MEDICAL INSURANCE

Dubrovnik 3 Day Itinerary

Day 1: Get to Know Dubrovnik

Arrive into Dubrovnik and take a tour of Old Town / the Walled City - this will give you some historical context, as well as help you orient yourself right off the bat. If your a fan of Game of Thrones, you’re in luck! As many of these tours also weave in some GOT trivia and point out locations where scenes were shot.

After the tour, catch the ferry (10 minutes) to Lokrum. Take some time to wander around the island - there is a pretty monastery there, a few restaurant/bar options, a lagoon, many bunnies and peacocks, and a really cool rock formation along the coast. After you've spent some time chasing around peacocks for photos and wading in the lagoon, make your way back to the main island.

Once back in the Walled City, type in “Buza Bar” to google maps. This will take you to a secret bar that is built into the cliff side, and entered via the walled city. Have a drink of two while enjoying the view, and cliff-divers (if you’re lucky).

Then make your way to the cable car to experience panoramic views of the city from above. You can also do this as a hike if you’re extra adventurous (although probably do it in the daytime or evening when it’s cooler!)

For dinner, go to 360 for amazing views of the entire city. It’s a bit on the pricier side and you may want to try to make a reservation ahead of time. For dessert head back into the walled city to Peppino’s - where they serve absolutely beautiful, premium ice cream (menu changes daily).

Day 2: Take an Island Tour

One of the best things to do while in Dubrovnik is to experience some of the beautiful islands that surround the city. No need to book ahead, you can just wander Old Town and they’ll find you. There’s no shortage of vendors trying to sell you stuff :)

Option 1 is Korcula & Peljesac - which if your interested in wine, is probably going to be your best bet! From these two islands, you’ll find picturesque vineyards, rocky cliffs, thick Mediterranean vegetation, and amazing wineries. A trip to these jewels of the Croatian coastline makes for a magical day where you will be awestruck by the region's natural beauty while having the chance to sip exquisite local wines.

Option 2 is an Elaphite Island hopping boat tour - which will show you the three most beautiful islands – Kolocep, Lopud and Sipan. Go for a swim in a crystal clear sea, wander around in the shade of Mediterranean vegetation, explore interesting small villages or simply take a journey through the local cuisine! This is a great opportunity to get away from the cruise ship crowds and traffic (there are no vehicles at all on two of them, and only a few on the third).

Head over to Banje Beach’s lounge & club for dinner and to hear some DJs. You’ll also get fantastic views of the city lit up at night.

Day 3: Day Trip to Montenegro [or whatever else suits your fancy]

On your third day, chose a fun day trip that will take you out of Croatia and to some of it’s neighbors. The two most popular seem to be Montenegro and Herzegovina. I did Montenegro and found it very quaint and lovely - with sweeping hills, small historic cities, and beautiful gothic architecture.

Most trips to Montenegro from Dubrovnik encompass Perast, Kotor, and Budva. Perast is teeny tiny and not much to see here, minus some nice views of the coast and Our Lady of the Rocks (I decided I would rather walk around the town since I didn’t want to pay extra to take a boat ride to the man made island). But Kotor was beautiful - lots of limestone cliffs surrounding the ancient city. There are also cats everywhere which was kinda cute (if you’re into cats haha). There’s even a cat museum in the old city!

Budva was nice as well, quite a bit smaller though, and most tours spend the same amount of time there as Kotor.

Once you’re back in Dubrovnik (it will likely be 8pm or so as the border can take a LONG time), have a low key dinner at the tasty restaurant, Lajk, within the Walled City. Then enjoy some music in the main square and a short stroll thru the Walled City to experience it at night, before turning into your hotel.

Hopefully this gave you some fun ideas for your own trip! You could definitely extend this by a day if you wanted to do more beach lounging. Banje Beach is nice to relax on during the day as well!

Have you been to Dubrovnik before? Any top recommendations I missed / things you loved?

Lauren

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