Visiting beautiful Dubrovnik? Wondering how to spend your days? There’s no denying Dubrovnik is one of the world’s dreamiest destinations – you could easily spend a week just walking around all the pretty restaurant terraces, scenery and ancient buildings, but there’s so much more to discover in this region.
Why not add a fabulous day trip to your visit?
The entire peninsula of Dubrovnik is just bursting with life and hidden treasures waiting for you to explore! How about a spot of island hopping, a secret beach club or visiting an ancient town? You can easily enjoy one of these activities in the day and be back in time for sunset drinks!
Here’s how to best spend your days in Dubrovnik – that will enhance any trip.
THE 5 BEST DUBROVNIK DAY TRIPS
1. EXPLORE LOKRUM ISLAND
Why not start with an easy day trip to Lokrum Island. This is THE ICONIC ISLAND that you can see in the background from every viewing point (and advert) of Dubrovnik! It’s only a short boat ride away, but the landscape couldn’t be any different; swap packed marble streets and fancy restaurants for pine trees, beaches and olive groves in just 15 minutes.
On this little island you’ll find lots of rocks, a cactus garden, roaming peacocks and even a Monastery! Take an hour to wander around it all then find a rocky inlet to sunbathe – this is what you really came for! Lokrum has the clearest most inviting shoreline to swim and it has the nicest views of the walled city in the distance.
THE DETAILS
To get there, simply jump on a taxi boat (approximately every 30 minutes) leaving from Dubrovnik’s Old Town Port – a return ticket is 150Kuna. Another fun way to see the island close-up is on a small group sea kayaking tour from Pile Gate, it’s so much fun and you get to explore hidden caves as well as swimming from the shallow bays – advance bookings are essential as this one of the most popular Dubrovnik activities!
RECOMMENDED: LOKRUM ISLAND & CITY WALLS SEA KAYAKING TOUR
2. ELAPHITI ISLANDS BOAT TRIP
Fancy hopping around a bunch of pretty islands? When you’re in need of a day with the wind and salt in your hair, idyllic warm waters and quiet villages consider THE ELAPHITI ISLANDS, an archipelago of fourteen tiny islands each with their own unique vibe and landscape.
Kolocep, Lopud and Sipan are the largest islands of the group and you will likely hop off at one of these – if not all three on your tour. But I would also encourage you to step off-the-beaten-path and explore some of the areas caves, Monastery’s and totally cool lunch spots such as Bowa – my idea of a dream boho chic location!
THE DETAILS
The islands can only be explored by a pre-arranged tour either small group or private the most popular itinerary’s stop at one of the three biggest islands with plenty of free time for lunch, drinks and a swim at other lesser known locations – just ask your skipper!
RECOMMENDED: ELAPHITI ISLANDS TOUR WITH LUNCH
3. RELAX AT THE CHIC CORAL BEACH CLUB
What’s a holiday without relaxing and enjoying a beautiful beach cove for the day? Coral Beach Club more than fits the bill! It’s luxury hidden gem set within a scenic bay and mountainous surrounds, well away from the bustle of the old town and hordes of tourists.
To be truthful, I spent three days here and really enjoyed my time, the location is unbeatable and the vibe is beachy chic. I would suggest booking your day bed online and arrive early to enjoy the whole day, they do a nice breakfast and lunch. It’s sunbed service, so you can also take advantage of that and there’s a nice terrace to hang out, a mini spa and a DJ for early evening happy hour – I’ll see you there!
THE DETAILS
This is a day trip that you can easily plan yourself, but if you’re travelling in the height of summer i.e. mid July – August then definitely arrive EARLY (it opens at 9am) and reserve a table for lunch – and any other extras like a massage etc.
TO GET THERE: Hop on the No 12 bus just outside Pile Gate – ask the driver to let you know when you are there as it is totally invisible from the bus stop! Alternatively jump in a taxi, it’s quicker and costs around 80 Kuna – make sure you use the UBER app and not a white taxi – that would be a small fortune!
4. SEE BEAUTIFUL NATURE AT MLJET NATIONAL PARK
Mljet is one of eight stunning national parks in Croatia. It REALLY. IS. VERY. BEAUTIFUL and absolutely ideal if you fancy spending the entire afternoon walking around lush green scenery and clear turquoise water, it pretty much covers most of Mljet island!
Yes Mljet is incredibly picturesque, but you can’t hope to see all of the national park in one day – it’s seriously huge, so most visitors head straight over to the park’s biggest attraction: the two salt water lakes with panoramic views and easy white pebble waking paths that hug the shoreline. Be sure to hop on the boat to the Monastery in the centre of the largest lake – it’s included in your national park ticket!.
TIP: The beaches on this island are some of the best in all of Croatia – sandy rather than rocky, if you need proof just take a look at Sapalunara!
THE DETAILS
It’s entirely possible to travel to Mljet independently from Dubrovnik via the Nona Ana ferry from Port Gruz – at 8am arriving in Polace, Mljet. But from experience the least stressful way is to book a day trip and have everything taken care of!
RECOMMENDED: NATIONAL PARK MLJET ISLAND DAY TRIP
5. DISCOVER PRETTY CAVTAT HERITAGE TOWN
Cavtat is a pretty coastal town only a short water taxi away from Dubrovnik. Head there for lunch and enjoy the calm scenery and laid back atmosphere as you wander around the picturesque old town and promenade.
Similiar to Dubrovnik and most heritage sights in Croatia, you will discover cobbled streets, orange roofs, churches and bags of history – there’s enough here to keep visitors happy, not to mention the two lovely bays to stroll around. Pick a nice terrace with sea facing views, before your journey back to Dubrovnik harbour – also an amazing view!
THE DETAILS
Visiting Cavtat is super easy to navigate by yourself – hop on the taxi boat to Cavtat from The Old Town Harbour (journey time: 35 minutes).
Read: Cavtat: A Scenic Day Trip From Dubrovnik
Thinking about hiring a car for a day or two? There’s plenty of smaller towns, beaches and wineries to discover and longer day excursions to Mostar or Kotor in Montenegro that will require a car. Hiring a car will be cheaper than an Uber per day and less than a group tour, plus you will have your own independence. I recommend Discover Cars, they provide a comparison of car rental prices from various vendors in Dubrovnik, ensuring you find a great rate – you can start exploring straight away!
BEST GUIDED TOURS FROM DUBROVNIK
Why a day trip from Dubrovnik is a must!
Dubrovnik is a fantastic city with a beautiful old town crammed with history and attractions, there’s plenty to see and do for 3 days, but if you add on another couple, you could include one or two amazing and easy day trips right from Dubrovnik Old Town! In my experience Dubrovnik is the most attractive region in Dalmatia; lush islands, scenic boat trips, crystal clear waters, hidden beach clubs and restaurants – it is utterly gorgeous and unmissable!
Liked this post? Please leave a comment in the box below – or you can buy me a coffee!
Plan your Dubrovnik day trip:
Here’s the full go-to list of resources:
- Discover Cars: Best car hire price comparison
- Get Your Guide: For incredible day trips
- Viator: For unique day trips
Read Next:
- 8 Best Things To Do In Dubrovnik
- A Guide To The Best Restaurants In Old Town Dubrovnik
- Where To Stay In Dubrovnik: Best Areas, Apartments & Boutiques
- Cavtat: A Scenic Day Trip From Dubrovnik
- Dubrovnik Travel Guide: Where To Eat, Drink & Relax
- Five Must See Croatian Islands
Looking for more inspiration? Here’s 20 PHOTOS TO INSPIRE YOU TO VISIT DUBROVNIK
LIKED THIS POST? PIN IT!
Best Day Trips From Dubrovnik | Pin For Later
This post contains affiliate links and I earn a small commission when you make a purchase using the link. This is at no extra cost to you and it allows the site to keep running.
