10 Best Activities in Dubrovnik
The majestic city walls of Dubrovnik are home to a number of historical sites and natural areas of great beauty. Here is a list of must-see activities.
Vista de Dubrovnik desde las alturas |©Luca Sartoni
Dubrovnik is a Croatian town located in front of the Adriatic Sea and Lokrum Island. It is a walled city with marble streets and a great architectural richness, combining medieval, baroque, renaissance and gothic styles. Also, you will find natural areas of great beauty.
During your visit, you can take a walking tour through the old town, sail the Adriatic Sea, visit the locations where some scenes of the series Games of Thrones were filmed , kayaking, zip line, among other of the best things to do in Dubrovnik that I will list below.
1. Take a walking tour of the old town of Dubrovnik
Whether your visit is during the summer or you are passing through Dubrovnik in December, you should take the opportunity to discover all that this walled city has to offer. And one of the best ways is to book a tour of the historic center of Dubrovnik, although of course you can also do it on your own.
You will have the opportunity to see up close the most significant places of the city such as:
- Pile and Ploče gates, erected between the 15th and 17th century. These were closed at dusk to prevent anyone from entering or leaving Dubrovnik.
- The Orlando column: it is a column, statue and mast inaugurated in 1418, in honor of a hero of the city.
- The fountain of Onofrio, built in the 15th century for the purpose of supplying drinking water to the inhabitants.
- The Rector's palace, with a Gothic-Renaissance style from the 14th century. Today, it is known as the Museum of Dubrovnik.
Details of interest
- Price: if you join a guided tour the activity costs approximately 20€ per person.
- Duration: the tour usually lasts about 90 minutes.
- Means of transport: on foot.
2. Board a boat and sail on the Adriatic Sea
One of the activities to enjoy Dubrovnik at night are boat trips on the Adriatic Sea. You will be able to contemplate a different perspective of the city and its surroundings at sunset.
Specifically, the adventure that I propose begins in the Old Port of Dubrovnik, where you will board a pirate ship, an exact replica of the boats of the sixteenth century. There, you will feel like you have been transported to the past, enjoy live music and listen to the comments of a guide, who will tell you the naval history of Dubrovnik.
Without a doubt, this is one of the best boat tours in Dubrovnik that will allow you to contemplate how the colors of the sunset stain the roofs of the old town and little by little the sun sets on the horizon.
Interesting details
- Price: booking a boat trip in Dubrovnik costs about 20€.
- Duration: about 45 minutes.
- Means of transport: boat.
3. Search for Game of Thrones locations in Dubrovnik
If you are a Games of Thrones enthusiast, then during your stay of at least 2 days in Dubrovnik, you should book a Games of Thrones tour of the series' filming locations in and around the walled city.
Accompanied by a guide and aboard a car, you will discover the different settings popularized throughout the eight seasons of Games of Thrones. Although each of the best Games of Thrones tours of Dubrovnik has a different itinerary, the following happen to be the must-see spots:
- The Walk of Shame, where you can replay the scene and sit on the Iron Throne.
- The terrace of the Red Fortress, where you will be amazed with its Renaissance gardens where the King's Landing took place.
- The top of Srd. Hill, which was the location for the filming of the King's Highway scene.
Details of interest
- Price: approximately 25€ per person.
- Duration: about 2 hours.
- Means of transport: on foot and by boat.
4. Join an excursion to discover the city of Mostar and Pocitelj
Get away from the hustle and bustle of the historic center and discover the surroundings of Dubrovnik. Join one of the best day tours and excursions from Dubrovnik to the city of Mostar and Pocitelj. You will discover the architecture, history and natural beauty of this pair of places.
For this activity you will travel from the center of Dubrovnik accompanied by a local guide, who will tell you the history of each of the destinations.
When booking an excursion to Mostar from Dubrovnik and/or Pociteli is usually also included Kravica waterfalls, where you will have free time for swimming and even a picnic. This stop is ideal if you do the activity in summer, i.e. if you are in Dubrovnik from mid-June until September.
Interesting details
- Price: about 47€ per person.
- Duration: about 10 to 12 hours.
- Means of transport: van.
5. Ride a zip line in Dubrovnik and live a different experience.
Riding a zip line is another activity to incorporate into your 3-day trip in Dubrovnik or longer. You will live a different experience, charged with adrenaline and get a privileged view of the Adriatic coast, Verbica beach and the medieval city.
Once on Srđ Hill, the guide will provide you with the necessary equipment to ride a zip line. In addition, he will teach you how to use this suspended pulley through a brief training.
Next, you will head to the zip line area for your first ride. You will ride a distance of approximately 250 meters at a height of about 60 meters. You will also have the opportunity to climb another 900 meter long zip line.
Details of interest
- Price: booking a zip line experience in Dubrovnik costs about 56€ per person.
- Duration: about 3 hours.
- Means of transport: van.
6. Experience kayaking on the Adriatic Sea in Dubrovnik.
If you like water sports you can take advantage of your stay in Dubrovnik to book a kayaking and snorkeling tour in Dubrovnik on the Adriatic Sea. You will get in touch with nature, see the city walls from a unique perspective and learn about the history of this magical city.
This is a guided tour that usually starts from the Dubrovnik canal in the direction of the surroundings of the island of Lokrum. You will be able to observe from afar this natural sanctuary composed of forests and a botanical garden with about 800 species of plants.
In addition, you will have free time to swim and snorkel in its emerald waters, explore the place surrounded by high rocks or rest in its cave.
Details of interest
- Price: from 39€ per person.
- Duration: about 2 hours.
- Means of transportation: kayak.
7. Take a self-guided walk along the Dubrovnik city walls
Visiting the walls is an activity you can incorporate into your 1-day Dubrovnik itinerary. With this self-guided tour, you will have the opportunity to delve into the historical, cultural and architectural past of the city. In addition, you will get a fabulous panoramic view from the top of this place.
Once you have the Dubrovnik Wall ticket and the self-guided tour app downloaded on your cell phone, you will have to head to the Pile Gate or main gate of the walled city. You will walk along the main street Stradun until you find the access area to the wall.
Show at the ticket office the entrance ticket or your Dubrovnik Pass to gain access and start the tour at your own pace. You will learn about some of Dubrovnik's most important historical moments: the earthquake of 1667, the siege of 1991, among others. In addition, you will walk around the Minčeta Tower, St. Margaret's Church and the Fort of St. Lawrence erected in the 16th century.
Interesting details
- Price: the entrance fee to the Dubrovnik City Wall costs approximately 35 € (adults) and about 15 € (children from 7 to 18 years). For its part, the audio guide is purchased separately and has a value of about 6 €.
- Duration: approximately 60 minutes.
- Means of transport: on foot.
8. Tour Dubrovnik in an open-top bus with audio guide
If your itinerary time is limited and you don't have 4 or 7 days in Dubrovnik to explore thoroughly, then a scenic bus tour is a good option. You can get to know the city beyond its walls and learn a bit about its history.
You will ride through the streets of Dubrovnik in an open-top bus, from where you will get an unobstructed view of the surroundings. This while listening to the GPS audio guide that is activated the moment you arrive at a certain attraction, providing interesting facts.
During the tour you will see the old town with its cobblestone streets, palaces and the imposing city wall. You will also visit the village of Bosanka, located on the coast of Dubrovnik; the Sunset Beach, just opposite the city in the bay of Lapad; the Hill of Srđ, with a breathtaking panorama of the old town and the Adriatic Sea.
Details of interest
- Price: about €25 per person.
- Duration: about 90 minutes.
- Means of transport: convertible bus.
9. Take the Dubrovnik funicular and see the city from a bird's eye view
Seeing the walled city from a bird's eye view aboard a funicular is an unmissable experience that will certainly be ideal if you are traveling to Dubrovnik with children. Both you and the little ones will enjoy a unique experience.
The Dubrovnik funicular connects the Ploče Gate of the Old Town with Srd Hill. Therefore, to start the adventure you should head to the hill, walking approximately 12 minutes through the pedestrian areas from the Ploče or Pile gate.
When you reach the funicular, you will enjoy the view from the hill and breathe the fresh air. You will be able to take a look at the Gulf War Museum and the 19th century Imperial Fortress, which are located nearby. In addition, you have the option to have a snack and a drink at the station's restaurant. Afterwards, you can ride the funicular for a privileged panoramic view of the city and the Adriatic Sea.
Interesting details
- Price: about 15€ adults and about 4€ children from 4 to 12 years old.
- Duration: the duration of the tour aboard the funicular is about 3 minutes.
- Means of transport: funicular.
10. Experience an off-road buggy adventure through the Dubrovnik countryside.
Another popular activity in Dubrovnik is to take an off-road buggy tour through the Dubrovnik countryside. You can escape the hustle and bustle and get in touch with nature while experiencing an adrenaline-filled adventure.
The experience usually starts at the port of Gruž (about 5 minutes drive from the city center). There the guide will give you an introduction to the buggy world and you will immediately start driving in the direction of Mount Srdj.
From this point on, you will leave the road behind and enter a series of zigzagging roads through the hills, valleys and fields of Dubrovnik. You will be surrounded by forest and enjoy the fresh air and the warmth of the sun. You will also enjoy a 360° view of the island of Lokrum and the walled city.
Interesting details
- Price: about 95€ per person.
- Duration: about 2 hours.
- Means of transport: buggy.
What will I see in this type of activities in Dubrovnik?
You will have the opportunity to discover the city and its surroundings.
You will be able to see closely the different architectural samples of medieval, renaissance, gothic and baroque type that houses the old town through its buildings, statues, fountains, palaces and museums, among others. You will also walk through the places that served as locations for the filming of some scenes of the famous series Games of Thrones.
In addition, you can see the walls, Lokrum Island and the surrounding area from different perspectives, either from the Adriatic Sea aboard a boat or as the crow flies from a funicular or a zip line.
Tips for activities in Dubrovnik
- Go for guided activities. This way, you will save time and learn more about the city, as the guide will take you directly to each destination and tell you the history of it.
- Buy tickets in advance to access the main attractions, as these can sell out quickly.
- Check the weather in Dubrovnik before doing any activity so that you can make good decisions about what to wear.
- Take your identification documents with you, as you will need to present them in some places to gain access.