Last updated on March 21st, 2026 at 11:50 pm
Cavtat is one of Croatia’s best-kept secrets, a hidden gem just a stone’s throw from the pearl of the Adriatic and there are many things to do in Cavtat, from strolling along the Palm-tree-lined Riviera to swimming in your own private lagoon, which makes it a special place to discover!
While Cavtat is often visited as a day trip from Dubrovnik, it’s also a wonderful place to slow down and enjoy the serene ambience, classy waterside dining and lush scenery over an afternoon or long weekend, it’s the sort of place you dream of finding on your Croatian trip!
Cavtat remains one of my top places to visit in Croatia, even after years of travelling around Dalmatia, I’ve found this beautiful setting hard to beat! It’s the perfect combination of a fairy-tale historic town and Riviera with a lovely ambience and a delightful upmarket vibe!
But, one thing is for certain, you will fall in love with this picturesque corner of the Dubrovnik peninsula, here’s my hand-picked best things to do in Cavtat Croatia!
Top Hotel Picks In Cavtat:
Planning your trip? Here’s my top hotel picks!
- Hotel Supetar Cavtat – top luxury boutique, pool & sea views!
- Hotel Cavtat – modern mid-range hotel & rooftop pool!
- Hotel Croatia – best 5-star resort on the private peninsula!
Read my full guide on where to stay in Cavtat
BEST THINGS TO DO IN CAVTAT CROATIA
1. Walk The Picturesque Coastal Path
One of the reasons why visitors are drawn to Cavtat is because of the relaxed ambience and coastal scenery and there’s nowhere better to enjoy it all than taking a stroll along the most attractive part of the shoreline with the clearest blue sea, it’s the best thing to do in Cavtat for nature lovers!
You can begin the walk from the harbour, which forks at the Mausoleum near the top of the hill, I’ve walked here at all times of the day and believe me, the sea views are some of the best in the area. It always feels serene, and besides a few sunbathers, free of crowds!
The full trail is only two miles long and is lined with pine forest trees and pebbly beach coves – and not much else apart from one small bar called Little Star – a popular place for sunset cocktails, it really is a lovely, unspoilt area to spend some time in!
2. SWIM THE PRETTY BEACHES IN CAVTAT & ROCKY BAYS
Cavtat has many small pebble beaches and coves dotted around the shoreline from the harbour right along the walking trail and as well as the views being stunning, the turquoise water is also super clear for swimming on a warm summer’s day!
And the best thing is you can easily find a good spot all to yourself, especially in the morning before the day trippers arrive (which is one of the benefits of staying here longer), the bay of Cavtat is always peaceful for sunbathing, even in the height of summer!
If you prefer an official beach, Cavtat Beach offers a strip of fine pebbles with sun beds for hire, but in summer this spot is much busier than the smaller natural coves, which I think offer a better experience. Bring your water shoes!
3. ENJOY LONG LUNCHES ALONG THE HARBOUR (Best things to do in Cavtat)
Lunching or spending any amount of time on the picturesque harbour is one of the best things to do in Cavtat, it really is the heart and soul of this heritage town, and it’s the first thing that greets you upon arrival, the setting makes for a wonderful lunch spot!
All the restaurant terraces offer the same stunning seaview, but there are two that really stand out for food and service, which are La Boheme and Bugenvila, either is a great option and where I’ve eaten the most!
If you enjoy long Mediterranean lunches, seafood and fish in particular and Croatian wine, definitely reserve some time for the best restaurants in Cavtat with the best view in town!
4. Stay In A Beautiful Boutique Hotel On the Waterfront
A real highlight of Cavtat is staying in a boutique hotel on the waterfront and waking up to a beautiful view with peaceful surroundings every morning – and being the first to swim in the sea before the day trippers arrive!
I highly recommend two or three nights to really enjoy the slower pace and more serene atmosphere of Cavtat. It’s a wonderful place to come back to after exploring the Dubrovnik peninsula and there are a few stylish boutique hotels to stay, but none is more special than the brand new Hotel Supetar Cavtat.
This heritage hotel offers a five-star experience, and staying here feels like an oasis with a private Mediterranean terrace and pool overlooking the marina – sea view suites are well worth the upgrade, it’s the perfect couples getaway!
For the full details of where to stay, check out my guide and reviews of the best hotels in Cavtat, Croatia – from boutique hotels to luxury retreats!
5. DISCOVER CAVTAT HERITAGE TOWN SIGHTS
Cavtat’s heritage town sits behind the harbour and wandering around the charming cobbled lanes is the perfect way to explore and find all those traditional stone buildings with their green shutters and bright orange rooftops!
Many of the heritage buildings are from the 14th century, including the Monastery and St Nicholas Church, which you’ll spot on your walk through the centre of town and are worth popping in if you are curious enough!
And while Cavtat old town might be one of the smallest heritage towns along the Dalmatian coast, it is also the quietest, and if you’ve already travelled to the likes of Stari Grad in Hvar or Vis Town, you’ll be familiar with how special these tiny towns are to visit!
6. VISIT THE MAUSOLEUM FOR PANORAMIC VIEWS!
During your visit to Cavtat you must take a walk up to the Mausoleum for the best panoramic view over the harbour and it’s only a short hike up the stairs to get to the top!
The striking white Mausoleum is at the end of the promenade and is set in a tiny flower-filled cemetery surrounded by turquoise water landscape and forests as far as the eye can see. I’m slightly obsessed with viewing old towns from above; it really gives you a better sense of where you are!
You will only have to walk up three or four sets of stairs to reach the top, which takes 10 minutes and in my experience, this is the view that will make you want to stay longer than a day in Cavtat!
7. 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 coastline for a couple of relaxing hours, this is one of my favourite ways to explore the nearby beaches and bays, usually reserved for yachts!
You’ll find taxi boats or private boats to hire right on the harbour front, offering picturesque rides to beach spots that you can’t reach by foot – these short coastal boat trips from Cavtat are ideal for crowd-free swimming!
For full-day island-hopping tours, boat tours from Dubrovnik Old Town harbour offer more options, such as Elaphiti and Mljet Island tours that include secret inslets with overwater restaurants!
I’ve shared the best bout tour options in this guide to the best boat tours from Dubrovnik!
8. EXPLORE The PRETTY CAVTAT Harbour
Strolling along the pretty harbour is one of the best things to do in Cavtat at any time of the day, I love the aesthetics of Croatia’s Rivas, and Cavtat’s is not only one of the best looking, but also the vibe here is pretty chill!
You can happily sit on a bench facing the sea with a book or while away the hours with a coffee at Cafe Amour right on the prom, a must! It’s a great spot for watching harbour activity and feels like a small Riviera with lines of palm trees, gleaming white yachts and inviting restaurant terraces!
Even in summer, Cavtat harbour is nowhere near as bustling as Dubrovnik Old Town, and it’s certainly not as touristy as it could be, instead the harbour is upmarket with a relaxed ambience!
9. VISIT THE Dubrovnik Old Town HIGHLIGHTS
Cavtat is only 30 minutes from Dubrovnik and if you’re staying in Cavtat, I recommend visiting Dubrovnik Old Town at least once in the morning for sightseeing and lunching, then in the evening for the ambience, sunset drinks and a special rooftop evening meal!
You can easily travel between Cavtat and Dubrovnik by regular taxi boat, which, in my experience, is the best journey; you’ll arrive right on the bustling old town harbour in front of Pile Gate, gliding past coastal scenery and Banje Beach along the way!
Dubrovnik Old Town, although beautiful, is actually quite compact in size, and you may even just need one trip to see all the highlights if you plan well, such as walking the city walls, seeing the cathedral and wandering the cobbled lanes, leaving you more time to explore the coast, beaches and go on another day trip from Dubrovnik!
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.
10. Take AN UNFORGETABLE Day Trip FROM CAVTAT
If you’re staying in Cavtat for more than three days, you can easily explore some of the unmissable highlights in the region, from the beautiful, unspoilt islands to historic gems in the neighbouring countries like Kotor in Montenegro – it’s literally 30 minutes to the border!
I highly recommend exploring the small group of Elaphiti Islands by private boat tour, you’ll see the majestic Blue Lagoon, discover villages untouched by time and stunning overwater restaurants like BOWA, it’s an incredible day out and one of my personal favourite experiences!
If you’re looking to explore on land, the stunning bay of Kotor is less than two hours away from Cavtat, which makes for an exciting and adventurous day out with epic mountains and lakes, for a truly unforgettable day!
I’ve shared the best days out and experiences in my guide to the best day trips from Dubrovnik, which also covers excursions from Cavtat!
11. TOAST THE INCREDIBLE SUNSET IN CAVTAT!
The sunsets in Croatia are always magical, and none are more spectacular than those around Dubrovnik’s peninsula; it’s one of the benefits of staying overnight in Cavtat!
From Cavtat Bay you can experience some spectacular sunsets, especially from Little Star bar, which is one of the best spots to toast the sunset with a cocktail and company or you can walk to the highest point at the Mausoleum!
A small-group sunset kayak tour around the bay is also a great option and a popular activity in Cavtat and across the Croatian coastline. Alternatively, you can enjoy a relaxing 1-hour sunset cruise from Cavtat harbour with drinks and a shared board and watch the golden glow shimmer across the water!
Is Cavtat worth staying in for a few days?
Yes, Cavtat is absolutely worth visiting and staying in; it offers the perfect combination of coastal scenery, a relaxed ambience, and historical charm, making it one of the most appealing small towns on the Dubrovnik peninsula! Here’s my guide to the dreamiest boutique hotels in Cavtat!
ESSENTIAL TIPS FOR VISITING CAVTAT
How To Get Around Cavtat
Cavtat is a small bay along Dubrovnik’s peninsula, so you can explore all the best things to do in Cavtat easily on foot, and the area is mostly pedestrianised. It’s also well connected for travelling further afield with boat taxis and buses! You can get from Cavtat to Dubrovnik in 30 minutes by scenic boat and arrive in style!
When To Go To Cavtat
The ideal time to visit Cavtat is May to early July or September, for great weather and ambience, 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 you will likely receive a lot more day trippers from Dubrovnik!
How Long To Stay in Cavtat
Cavtat is often visited as a day trip from Dubrovnik, and while you can certainly see the highlights of this small heritage town in a morning or afternoon, it also makes a wonderful, tranquil base to explore Dubrovnik Old Town and the peninsula, most people who visit for a few hours wish they had stayed longer!
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 recommend Hotel Supertar Cavtat right on the waterfront, it’s a wonderful place to stay, a 5-star boutique with pool, terrace and sea views, what more could you ask for? Here’s my top hotel picks for staying in Cavtat!
- Hotel Supetar Cavtat – top luxury boutique, pool & sea views!
- Hotel Cavtat – modern mid-range hotel & rooftop terrace!
- Hotel Croatia -best 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!
- Best Things To Do In Dubrovnik Old Town – heritage highlights, restaurants & gems!
- Top Boat Tours From Dubrovnik – discover coastal scenery & island gems!
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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!