Dubrovnik is Croatia’s coolest and most well known city. No trip to Croatia is complete without a stop in Dubrovnik. As a major seaport, one of the most prominent tourist destinations in the Mediterranean Sea, along with renewed interest in the city due to its featured role as Kings Landing in the HBO series Game of Thrones, you can expect a ton of tourists and a fair amount of crowds in this ancient walled city. However, don’t let that deter you. The city of Dubrovnik is still well worth your time and should comprise at least 3 days of any trip to Croatia.
Where to Stay in Dubrovnik
The center of action in Dubrovnik is within the confines of its 13th century walls. The Old Town of Dubrovnik is where you will spend the majority of your time. And, as such, staying inside the Old Town is an excellent option for most tourists. However, a lot of the accommodations in the old part of town are smaller, Airbnb type situations and most of the hotels are situated along the coast just outside of the old city center. If you are looking for a place inside the city walls, we would highly recommend SUNce Palace Apartments.
Outside of the city we opted to stay at The Rixos Premium Dubrovnik and could not say enough good things about this hotel. The staff were extremely friendly and helpful, the onsite bars and restaurants were top notch, the rooms were comfortable and well air-conditioned, and the view was second to none. Uber was extremely easy to use and a ride from the hotel to the Pile Gate where you enter the Old Town was only about 5 min and cost between $1.50 and $2.50 each way. For us, this was much more desirable as Airbnb’s in this part of the world tend to be hit or miss and the hotel was too nice and too affordable to pass up on.
While staying at the Rixos Resort, make sure to book a seat at the Hibachi Table at their Japanese restaurant Umi Teppanyaki.
Their other two restaurants, Turquoise Restaurant and Libertas Fish Restaurant are both very nice as well, but if you can snag one of the 14 seats at the chef’s hibachi table at Umi Teppanyaki you won’t be disappointed in the show.
Another great resort just outside of the city that we considered staying at was the Sun Gardens Dubrovnik. You can check them out HERE.
Where Else to Eat in Dubrovnik
Restaurant Nautika – Dubrovnik’s finest dining experience. Enjoy high end Michelin-Starred tasting menu in one of the most stunning settings anywhere.
Restoran Dubrovnik – 1b to Nautika’s 1a. This is one of Dubrovnik’s nicest restaurants. In a secluded roof-top setting you’ll enjoy one of the best tasting menus in all of Croatia. Voted best restaurant in Croatia in 2018.
Bowa – Hire a speed boat to explore the coastline and then take you to Bowa where you’ll dine on freshly caught Dalmatian Seafood in a secluded lush cove of crystalline turquoise waters on the island of Šipan, the furthest and largest of the three Elafiti Islands.
Lady PiPi – Local meat and fish BBQ place overlooking Dubrovnik’s old town. A great spot to stop for an inexpensive, yet delicious lunch.
Azur – reasonably priced Mediterranean-Asian fusion cuisine
Dalmatino Dubrovnik – reasonably priced tradtitional Dalmatian fare, featuring plenty of local fish and chicken dishes, served in a renovated townhouse.
Taverna Otto – Very reasonably priced classic seafood dishes with high-end flare set in a tavern just outside of the Old Town.
Trattoria Carmen – Family-owned Trattoria serving fresh Italian Cuisine like pasta scampi and burrata cheese topped with marinated shrimp.
Forty Four Restaurant – Family-owned fine dining.
Restaurant 360 – Fine dining experience with one of the best views in the city. Michelin-starred food served within a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Dalmatian Cuisine
Typical Dalmatian Cuisine involves both white and red wines, Dalmatian prsut (prosciutto), served with olives and cheese, followed by a variety of meat dishes. Grilled meats and seafood dishes are the most common main courses. Below are some unique specific dishes you should try at some point while in Dubrovnik:
– Black Risotto (or Crni rižot): Risotto dyed black with squid ink, often combined with mussels, clams, shrimp or other shellfish.
– Rožata Dessert: Dubrovniks most famous dessert. Similar to crème brûlée or flan in texture, this dish is made with homemade rose liqueur to give it a unique taste and often has rum added to give it an extra kick
– Pašticada: Beef is painstakenly prepared by first being stuffed with herbs before being marinated in vinegar overnight before being roasted for many hours. Once prepared it is typically served with pasta or gnocchi.
– Arancini (candied orange or lemon peel): You can find this sweet treat at the markets in the Old Town
Where to Drink in Dubrovnik
D’Vino Wine Bar – An awesome wine bar with fantastic wine flights, chocolates and charcuterie for tastings and pairings, located right in the center of Dubrovnik’s Old Town. Their Pošip Wine Flights have some great selections.
Malvazija Wine Bar – Another fantastic wine bar in the center of Dubrovnik’s Old Town. One of the best places to try Croatia’s famous Malvasija varietal wines.
Skar Winery – Small scale winery that offers tours, wine tastings, and a cool wine bar.
Buza Bar – Cliff side bar that makes a variety of cocktails with a great view of the sea.
Cave Bar – Fantastic cliff side bar built into a cave overlooking the Mediterranean Sea
Things to Do in Dubrovnik
Pile Gate
Not much to say about this other than it’s the medieval, drawbridge gate that leads inside the city walls. You’ll undoubtedly go through its doorway a dozen times on your trip to Dubrovnik. It’s also the best spot to use as a drop-off/pick-up for cabs and Ubers when going and coming from the Old Town.
Walk the walls
Dubrovnik is famous for its medieval city walls. For a small fee you get a 24 hour pass to walk the walls. It’s an easy trek, there’s minimal stairs, the views are stunning and the walk is punctuated by bars, cafes and small museums to check out as you circle the Old Town of Dubrovnik.
Rector’s Palace
The Rector’s Palace is a palace in the city of Dubrovnik that used to serve as the seat of the Rector of the Republic of Ragusa between the 14th century and 1808. In recent history, you’ll probably recognize it most as a filming location for Game of Thrones. Today, you can visit this stunning palace that sits right in the center of Dubrovnik’s Old Town and spend an hour or so walking around it’s stunning courtyard, it’s dungeon and it’s small museum.
Franciscan Monastery
This monastery, originally built in the 1300s, is a great place to stop in and walk around for a little bit while walking through the Old Town. While you’re there stop in their 14th century pharmacy. Dating to 1317 it is one of the oldest still-functioning pharmacies in the world.
Lokrum Island
Right off the coast of Dubrovnik, just a 10 min ferry ride from the Old Town is the unpopulated island of Lokrum. The island only has pine tree lined walking paths that bring you to the coast and provide perfect rocky coves, ideal for swimming, a dozen or so wild peacocks, an old monastery and a single restaurant. But, its a great place to escape the crowds and connect with some of southern Croatia’s natural beauty.
Private Driving Tour
If you want to see Dubrovnik from above you’ll either need a rental car to get to Mt Srd, a tour guide or an insane appetite for hiking. Our suggestion would be to contact a private driver who for relatively cheap can take you to some of the best vantage points around Dubrovnik.
For additional tour options around Dubrovnik check out:
Game of Thrones Tour
There’s dozens of Game of Thrones Tours that take you to all the filming locations. But you can also use this great website if you want to check out the filming locations on your own. Just click HERE.
Horseback riding, ATVs and Buggy Tours
For some outdoor adventures check out Kojan Koral. They do some incredible tours.
Fishing
For a mediterranean fishing adventure check out these groups that do private and group fishing charters:
Candlelit Classical Music in a 16th Century Church
Just inside the Pile Gate, across from the water fountain, on your left as you walk down the main drag of the Old Town is the beautiful St. Saviour Church. Every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at 9pm they put on candlelit classical musical performances inside the small church. These magical 1 hour shows are a must see on your trip to Dubrovnik.
Kayaking
Kayaking around Lokrum island and along the city walls is one of the most highly recommended things to do in Dubrovnik. We took the sunset, wine tour which was billed as a sunset kayak cruise followed by swimming in a small secluded cove and then tasting some wine. It was fun. But, the kayaking on the open water was exhausting. We’re in pretty good shape, but weren’t really ready for the 9 miles of kayaking. The secluded cove was underwhelming, the bruschetta they advertised as part of the wine tasting were bruschetta flavored potato chips and the wine was an airplane sized single plastic bottle of warm crappy wine. Unless you’re really into kayaking you can probably skip this trip.
Empire of Wine & Oysters Tour
Instead of exhausting yourself on an underwhelming kayak tour, book this awesome tour to the town of Ston where a local oyster farmer will take you out on a boat where you’ll harvest your own oyster lunch before tasting wine and oysters for the rest of the day. You’ll also see some incredible sights including a Roman aqueduct and a botanical garden.
Please enjoy these photos of our trip to Dubrovnik
