If you’re staying in Cavtat for a few days, you are in for a treat, Cavtat is a charming coastal town which really comes into it’s own over a weekend trip or longer relaxing holiday!
While Cavtat is often visited as an easy day trip from Dubrovnik, it’s also a wonderful place to slow down – with scenic coastal walks, swimming spots, relaxed waterfront dining and boat trips that are best enjoyed at a leisurely pace!
Cavtat remains one of my top places to visit in Croatia – its setting is everything you hoped to find on your tour of the country. In this guide, I’ll cover the best things to do in Cavtat, Croatia’s best-kept secret, if you’re spending a little longer here.
BEST THINGS TO DO IN CAVTAT
Walk The Picturesque Coastal Path
One of the nicest things to do in Cavtat is walk along the shaded path that hugs the shoreline. It starts from the harbour and forks at the Mausoleum near the top of the hill (more on that below). I’ve walked here at all times of the day, the sea views are some of the best in the area, and it always feels tranquil, Cavtat in general, is a calm area!
You can walk the full trail in 25 minutes or so, it’s only two miles long and lined with pine forest trees – and not much else, there’s a few rocky beaches and a cute bar called Little Star, which is a nice, chilled stop for a drink and popular for sunset cocktails.
If you like nature walks and trails, there’s another spot next to Hotel Croatia, and at this hotel, there’s a stylish terrace overlooking the water if you want to relax somewhere!
SWIM THE PRETTY BEACHES IN CAVTAT & ROCKY BAYS
Any good coastal spot in Croatia has a few beaches to spend some time on relaxing and swimming, and the beaches in Cavtat, although small, are worth seeking out!
You can find them scattered along the coastline, most are rocky areas with natural shallow and super clear water swimming pools, any rock is for sunbathing – just bring a thick towel and maybe some swim shoes!
If you prefer an official beach, Cavtat Beach offers a strip of fine pebbles and sun beds, you can also hire kayaks, but fair warning, it gets busy with families in summer. May to early June and September are the optimal months for relaxed beach hopping, when the sun is not too hot and the atmosphere peaceful!
ENJOY LONG LUNCHES ALONG THE HARBOUR (Best things to do in Cavtat)
The harbour is the real heart of Cavtat, it’s the spot most people gravitate towards on their visit, and it’s definitely where I spent most of my time! The setting here is absolutely beautiful!
I’ve enjoyed many leisurely lunches, sitting on pretty terraces facing the sea and yachts along the harbour front, in my opinion, this is where the best restaurants in Cavtat Croatia are!
Among the little row of restaurants, my two favourite places to eat and hang out are La Boheme and Bugenvila, both unbeatable for food and views!
Stay In A Beautiful Boutique Hotel On the Waterfront
A real highlight of Cavtat is staying in a beautiful boutique hotel on the waterfront, it’s the most relaxing thing to do of all, a few nights here exploring the area at leisure and coming back to your private abode is a luxury!
I really enjoyed my experience at the new boutique Hotel Supetar Cavtat. I stayed for three tranquil nights in June, it’s like an oasis with a private Mediterranean terrace and lush pool area and the rooms are just lovely – sea view suites are worth the upgrade!
For the full details of where to stay, check out my full guide to the best hotels in Cavtat, Croatia – from boutique’s to luxury retreats!
Visit The Mausoleum & Old Town Sights
One of the best things to do in Cavtat or any heritage place in Croatia is to spend some time simply wandering the cobbled lanes. I’ve spent a lot of hours doing exactly this from Dubrovnik to Split and while they all carry similarities, you can also find hidden gems and gain a better insight into the local area!
Cavtat’s old town is one of the smallest, but I did find charming buildings, a nice little bakery, a few terraces amongst the orange rooftops belonging to boutique hotels and explored the main historic sights from the 14th century – I looked it up for you!
For when you are ambling around Cavtat, don’t miss the pretty Monastery and St Nicholas Church, right in the centre of town and for those interested in art; Bukovac House art gallery – a famous artist from Cavtat apparently, who left a lot of artwork here!
And I’ve saved the best till last, which is the Mausoleum on top of the hill, this is what you can see from the harbour, it’s only a short walk up the stairs, but wow, the view is magnificent – see the images below. At the top, there is the most striking cemetery, which is admittedly one of the most unusual things to see in Cavtat!
TAKE A SCENIC BOAT TRIP FROM CAVTAT (One of the top things to do in Cavtat in summer)
If you’re staying in Cavtat for a few days, you might like to go on a scenic boat trip along the nearby coastline for a couple of relaxing hours, this is one of my favourite things to do in Cavtat, the area is so pretty!
You’ll find taxi boats or private boats to hire right on the harbour front, offering scenic rides to beach spots that you can’t reach by foot – these short coastal boat trips from Cavtat are ideal for swimming and exploring the bays!
For larger island hopping tours or full day excursions, boat tours from Dubrovnik offer more choice, such as Elaphiti private tours – I’ve shared the best options in this guide to the best boat tours from Dubrovnik.
Spend An Evening Strolling The Harbour
Cavtat is really pretty at night and depending on where you’re staying, you might have a wonderful sunset terrace of your own, but I highly recommend heading down to the harbour front at the golden hour at least one evening on your Cavtat trip. You’ll find a lovely atmosphere – and sunset!
I like to stroll along the water’s edge just before the sun goes down with an ice cream or sit on Cafe Amor’s terrace with a drink before dinner, it’s a good people watching spot, all the boats roll in just before nightfall!
OTHER THINGS TO DO IN CAVTAT
Take A Day Trip To Dubrovnik Old Town
Cavtat and Dubrovnik make a great pairing – I often stop in both places, but if you are only staying in Cavtat, it’s only right that I suggest an easy day trip from Cavtat to Dubrovnik- the pearl of the Adriatic and most famous coastal city!
Dubrovnik is only a short, scenic boat ride away, it’s a lovely way to arrive in the old town right on the harbour in front of the gates to the city, I’ve made this journey many times – as both places are my favourites in Croatia!
You can easily spend the day ticking off the main attractions such as the city walls, cathedral and cobbled lanes of Dubrovnik Old Town. It’s compact enough that you only need a few hours to wander, plus lunch to see it all! But, come back at least once for atmospheric evening drinks and dinner!
If it’s your first visit, this guide to the best things to do in Dubrovnik Old Town covers the must-see sights, walks and viewpoints.
Take A Day Trip To Bay Of Kotor (Montenegro)
Kotor in Montenegro is a wonderful place in its own right and remains one of the best destinations that I’ve been to on this side of Europe and while it deserves a few nights’ stay, it’s so close to Cavtat (literally the border is 30 minutes) that you can easily see the best bits as a day trip from Cavtat!
When I visited the stunning Bay of Kotor in June, it really only took half a day to explore the highlights of the old town and nearby Perast Village, but what really makes this trip special is the jaw-dropping mountainous scenery you’ll pass on the way from Cavtat to Kotor – it’s unbelievable!
For the best experience, I recommend renting a car or taking a private tour through the mountains and the picturesque old town – if you’re staying for five days or longer, I would seriously consider this day trip!
Is Cavtat worth staying in for a few days?
Yes absolutely, while there aren’t a ton of things to do in Cavtat, it is, after all, a small coastal heritage village the beauty of staying in this lush area is the relaxed vibe and pick of gorgeous boutique and luxury Cavtat hotels on the waterfront with pools and sumptuous terraces!
Cavtat is known for its beautiful coastal setting, a yacht-filled harbour, Mediterranean restaurant terraces and timeless old town – all of which won me over and convinced me to stay in the dreamiest boutique hotel with no regrets – I spent a lot of time here by the pool!
USEFUL INFORMATION: BEST THINGS TO DO IN CAVTAT
How To Get Around Cavtat
Cavtat is a small bay along Dubrovnik’s peninsula, you can easily walk to every sight and attraction on foot, and the shoreline is mostly pedestrianised with many lovely pathways! The beauty of Cavtat is that it’s only 15 minutes from the airport by car and a 35-minute scenic boat ride from Dubrovnik Old Town, buses are also available!
When To Go To Cavtat
My favourite time to visit Cavtat is May to June or September, for great weather and ambience, also the beach bars and terraces will be open, so you’ll be able to swim in the sea and pools and enjoy a drink on the terrace afterwards! July and August are the peak summer months, and although hot and sunny, Cavtat will likely receive a lot more day trippers from Dubrovnik!
Where to stay in Cavtat
If you’re planning to stay a few nights in Cavtat, there are some gorgeous hotel options, and you’ll have the most relaxing stay surrounded by scenic vistas. I personally stopped in Hotel Supertar Cavtat for three nights (I wish it were longer), it’s a wonderful place to stay in Croatia, here’s my favourite picks:
- Hotel Supetar Cavtat – a beautiful boutique on the waterfront
- Hotel Cavtat – a 4-star tranquil beach-inspired hotel in Cavtat
- Hotel Croatia – a 5-star resort on the private peninsula
For a full breakdown of boutique waterfront stays and elegant sea-view resorts I’ve shared my top recommendations in this guide to the best hotels in Cavtat, Croatia.
Still planning your Cavtat stay?
Planning your trip to Cavtat? Whether you’re staying for a couple of nights or using it as a relaxed coastal base near Dubrovnik. These guides will help you decide where to stay, how to plan your visit and what to explore nearby!
- Hotels in Cavtat, Croatia – the best boutique, luxury & sea-view stays!
- Day Trip from Dubrovnik to Cavtat – how to visit Cavtat if you’re short on time
- Where to Stay in Dubrovnik – the best areas & boutique hotels in & around Dubrovnik
- Dubrovnik Travel Guide (First-Time Visitors) – everything you need to know before you go!
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Michelle Trudie, is the founder of Little Wanderblog, a luxury boutique travel site. She has travelled to over 30 countries in the last 15 years. Michelle share’s her passion for stylish and affordable luxury travel experiences in Europe and beyond! Her goal is to make travel planning easier to hidden gem places!