Last updated on April 5th, 2026 at 12:47 am
Dubrovnik old town is the most popular destination in all of Croatia, made famous worldwide for its aesthetically pleasing ancient walls and orange rooftops against the turquoise backdrop of the Adriatic, and I promise you, it’s one of those places that actually lives up to the hype!
It will come as no surprise that Dubrovnik Old Town is packed with attractions and things to see, it’s one of the reasons why I’ve returned so many times, I love the beautiful historic buildings, restaurant scene and jaw-dropping views, the looks and the location of this city are seriously impressive!
And the sights aren’t limited to walking the old town walls and dropping by for a Michelin-rated lunch, although that is one of the best things to do in Dubrovnik, you’ll want to scratch beneath the surface, and get to know the wine tasting spots, ancient ruins, rooftop terraces and true waterfront gems!
So if you’re looking to plan the perfect trip to Dubrovnik Old Town, here’s the highlights of the city plus hidden gems you don’t want to miss!
Top Hotel Picks In Dubrovnik Old Town:
Planning your trip? Here’s my top hotel picks!
- Hotel Stari Grad – best overall boutique & rooftop in old town!
- Pucic Palace – romantic 5-star hotel, charming old town square!
- Palace Natalie – historic hotel, pool & Mediterranean scenic setting!
Read my full guide on where to stay in Dubrovnik
BEST THINGS TO DO IN DUBROVNIK OLD TOWN
1. WALK THE FAMOUS CITY WALLS (Top things to do in Dubrovnik Old Town)
If you’ve done even the tiniest bit of research, I’m sure you know all about walking the walls and in no exaggeration, it really is one of the best things to do in Dubrovnik Old Town, the views of the UNESCO World Heritage Site and coastline are just unbeatable from this vantage point!
It’s so good, I’ve actually walked it twice and my favourite experience was in the late afternoon, at this time you get the most beautiful golden light over the rooftops and there’s hardly any crowds – see my people-free shots below for evidence, which were taken with my tripod in September!
You can enter at Ploce or Pile Gate, but I recommend the latter, as you end the circular walk at Sv.Petar bar, which is a lovely spot for a drink, and you’ll need it after all that posing (or maybe that’s just me), but either way, it will take you a couple of hours, and your phone will be full of orange and blue by the time you’ve finished!
2. WANDER DUBROVNIK OLD TOWN LANES
Dubrovnik Old Town is completely car-free and wonderful to walk around, and one of my favourite things to do in Dubrovnik is get lost amongst the shiny old town lanes with traditional stone buildings and green shutters, the most charming and maze-like part of the city, and it’s where you’ll discover the best kept secrets!
Mornings are generally best if you want to beat the midday crowds, but even when the main thoroughfare Strudum is bustling with day trippers, you can still find quiet corners all to yourself or stop for a coffee at historic Cafe Festival right in the heart of it all to absorb the atmosphere and people watch!
But the most fun can be found in the labyrinth of narrow lanes and hiking up and down the flower-filled steps two by two, you’ll certainly get a workout and discover hidden gems along the way, including wonderful restaurants and even boutique hotels housed in former palaces, like The Pucic Palace Hotel!
If you’re planning to spend a few nights here, I’ve rounded up the best boutique hotels and places to stay in Dubrovnik Old Town in my accommodation guide.
3. EXPLORE DUBROVNIK OLD TOWN’S HISTORIC BUILDINGS
Dubrovnik old town is absolutely layered with history, quirks and landmarks and walking around really only scratches the surface of this interesting Roman city, there’s a lot more to discover beyond strolling past the Cathedral or sitting in a square with a coffee!
If you want to split your time between wandering the cobbles and getting to know the city’s real history, I recommend taking the time to explore the historic buildings, such as the magnificent Cathedral‘s interior and the Baroque Jesuit Staircase, modelled on the Spanish Steps in Rome!
But also peak inside the Franciscan Monastery and Rector’s Palace, a beautiful Gothic Renaissance building with arched courtyards, carved staircases and preserved rooms – the backdrop is so perfect it attracts wedding photographers, Saturday mornings in particular!
(You’ll easily spot these sights and landmarks – Dubrovnik Old Town is relatively small and easy to explore independently!)
If your plan is to see all the sights, consider the Dubrovnik City Pass, which includes the city walls walk, Fort Lovrijenac, transport, galleries and museums. The city walls alone are €40, and the pass is €48!
4. TAKE THE CABLE CAR FOR STUNNING VIEWS (Cool things to do in Dubrovnik Old Town)
During your visit to Dubrovnik Old Town, you must take a ride on the 5-minute cable car to the top of Mount Srd for the most spectacular panoramic view over the ancient walls and Lokrum Island beyond – it’s one of the best things to do in Dubrovnik, so unique!
And to make your visit even more incredible, I recommend making a reservation at the restaurant Panorama at the top in advance, either for lunch or sunset – it could easily be a tourist trap given the isolated location, but no, this restaurant offers an excellent people-pleasing Mediterranean menu along with one of the best seating arrangements in Dubrovnik, just look at it!
You definitely pay for the view of course, but this whole adventure is absolutely worthwhile, it was one of my favourite experiences – and you may live to regret it if you don’t reserve a table at the top of this mountain!
5. STAY IN A BEAUTIFUL DUBROVNIK OLD TOWN BOUTIQUE HOTEL
One of the best things about Dubrovnik is getting to stay within the atmospheric old town walls, this is where the majority of beautiful boutique hotels are situated with their own private rooftops, the settings are magical, once there, you will agree with me!
I’ve stopped in the Dubrovnik Old Town more than anywhere else, the location is super convenient for shorter trips as everything is within walking distance from the restaurants to beaches, must-do activities and boat excursions that leave directly from the old town harbour!
For me, the standouts are St Josephs Boutique Hotel with elegant rooms and Boutique Hotel Stari Grad known for its style and spectacular rooftop restaurant – this is where I last stayed, it’s hands down the most beautiful room in Dubrovnik!
If you want to explore the best hotels in Dubrovnik Old Town, here’s my full guide on where to stay in Dubrovnik, perfect if you want to be located in or walking distance to the Old Town!
6. GO ON A GAME OF THRONES WALKING TOUR (If you’re a fan)
If you’re a fan of the Game of Thrones show, you will love this location walking tour around the city. It’s one of the most popular things to do in Dubrovnik Old Town – even in 2026, years after the show first exploded onto our screens, the demand is high and in the name of research, I did find myself on the tour!
You will start the tour in Dubrovnik Old Town as a lot of the famous scenes were filmed there, such as Cersei’s walk of shame down the stone staircase, I think everyone will still remember this scene, which is actually the Jesuit Stairs near the cathedral – this one’s easy to spot, but others are not, and you’ll need a guide to show you, if nothing else it saves valuable time!
Taking a Game of Thrones tour will ensure you visit all the key filming locations, plus it’s a fun thing to do for fans and you get to see some unique and scenic areas of Dubrovnik City! Read about the locations and more in my Game of Thrones Tour review!
If you’re a GOT fan and are looking to spot the locations – easily, reserve your place in the Game of Thrones Tour here!
7. HAVE LUNCH AT GRADSKA KAVANA ARSENAL
Now, I don’t know about you, but I always want to find a few good restaurants and lunch spots (my favourite time to eat) before I arrive in any country and the old town in Dubrovnik has dozens of them all vying for your attention, but there is none more special than Grandska Kavana Arsenal!
This well-known restaurant in Dubrovnik Old Town sits right along the bustling harbour front, the setting is perfect for lunch, and at the same time, you get to enjoy the beautiful historic building it’s housed within, I’m sure the elegant terrace and super high beamed ceiling is reason enough to run and book it!
I’ve even stopped by for breakfast on one occasion, there’s a fabulous tiered option for two that I really wanted to try, and it was just the best thing, plus you can order it until 11.30am and stay for as long as you like!
8. SAMPLE THE LOCAL WINE IN DUBROVNIK OLD TOWN
Sipping Croatian wine on a secret rooftop terrace is one of the best things to do in Dubrovnik Old Town in the early evening and you don’t have to be a connoisseur of wine to enjoy some of these top places hidden in the oldest part of town!
M’arden is easily the best wine bar in Dubrovnik, in my opinion, I love the rooftop location, anything sitting on top of an attractive building is always a winner in this town and as well as the secretive location, there’s atmosphere in spades, all helped with a live acoustic guitarist! Don’t miss the delicious tapas pairings!
For something more cosy, you can check out wine bar Skar or D’vino, both of which have a few tall tables and chairs right on the cobbles, perfect for sipping wine in a relaxing setting!
9. SWIM THE DUBROVNIK OLD TOWN BANJE BEACH
You can’t visit Dubrovnik Old Town and not spend a few hours on its iconic beach, a dip in the shimmering turquoise sea is always going to be worthy of your time and trust me, you’ll be blown away by your beach bed view!
I recommend arriving unfashionably early, just before 10am, to snag a spot on the front row for uninterrupted sea views, before the crowds descend – and they do come – May and September are more tranquil times! (See the pic below, taken at 9.30am in September with barely any people!)
At Banje Beach Club, there’s also a restaurant terrace right on the sand, which is surprisingly good for a spot of lunch and drinks, but sunbed service is ‘elusive’ at best, so don’t expect much there!
Hot travel tip! If you want to experience another sunbathing area, try Coral Beach Club near Lapad – a ten minute drive away!
10. DISCOVER CLIFF TOP BARS IN DUBROVNIK OLD TOWN
One of the most unique things to do in Dubrovnik Old Town is go find the hole-in-the-wall bars clinging to the outside cliffs called Buza Bars – there’s two and until recent years were hidden gems but now you can find signs leading the way to the openings!
The casual Buza Bars are a few minutes walk from the top of the Jesuit Staircase along the back wall, where there’s a small opening to the most dazzling view of the Adriatic, but for a more elevated experience, try Fratellos Processco Bar!
It’s Dubrovnik’s best-kept secret, with three levels and sweeping sea views, you’ll get jazz and a selection of great cocktails instead of fishnets and bottles! I found this gem just 10-minutes outside of Pile Gate. Do not miss it!
11. TRY KAYAKING IN DUBROVNIK CROATIA! (Cool things to do in Dubrovnik Old Town)
Kayaking is a popular activity in Dubrovnik Old Town, and if you’re keen to include a unique experience in your itinerary, it’s probably the most fun adventure you can have on the open water in Dubrovnik, which only takes a couple of hours of your time!
All tours leave from a small bay at Pile Gate and typically travel in convoy towards Lokrum Island before stopping at Batina Cave for a swim and rest – many moons ago, I challenged myself and booked the morning kayak tour, unsure of what to expect, but I did enjoy the experience, obviously it would be even easier in a double kayak!
Just remember to wear a long-sleeved top under your life jacket to be more comfortable and sunblock, trust me, the Croatian sun is the most intense out on the water! You are equipped with a dry bag so you can stash your phone and SPF!
If you fancy kayaking around the old town walls, check out the morning, afternoon or sunset tours on the Kayak tour here!
12. PAY A VISIT TO TINY LOKRUM ISLAND
Lokrum Island is worth visiting, it’s the easiest excursion away from Dubrovnik Old Town, you can literally see it from all over the town’s major viewpoints, this iconic island is probably what lured you here in the first place!
With regular shuttles and a ten-minute journey, visiting the island is really flexible and as it’s tiny, you only need a couple of hours to see it all – and that’s including stopping for lunch or going for a swim on the rocky shoreline, but there are some nude spots, so don’t stray too far!
You’ll also find a cactus garden to wander, roaming peacocks and an oasis-like terrace at the restaurant Eden Garden, next to the Benedictine Monastery, to sip a glass of wine, which was probably my favourite part!
13. WALK TO LOVRIJENAC FORTRESS VIEWPOINT
Fort Lovrijenac is one of the main historic landmarks just outside of the Dubrovnik old town walls and it’s another famous Game of Thrones location and stunning viewpoint, which is normally combined with walking along the walls as the ticket includes both places!
I know there seems to be many viewpoints, but you do get to see the Fortress ruin up close and enjoy a leisurely uphill walk as it sits on a huge rock at the end of Pile Gate towards the West Harbour and offers sweeping views of the city’s sloping walls.
You’ll also see Pile suburb with its seafront restaurants, pastel houses and rocky beaches and bonus – if you have booked the Game of Thrones tour, you’ll learn a bit more about the filming location!
14. DISCOVER THE HIDDEN COASTAL GEM CAVTAT BAY! (Top things to see in Dubrovnik Old Town)
You may not even have heard of Cavtat, I hadn’t until my third trip, but let me tell you, Cavtat is the most idyllic spot along the Dubrovnik coast, it’s the sort of place you hope to find in Croatia!
Cavtat is only 25 minutes away from Dubrovnik old town harbour by taxi boat and it’s a whole different landscape and quieter vibe with a palm-tree lined riviera, yachts, heritage buildings and classy restaurant terraces, it’s stunning and incredibly inviting, if you can only spare half a day on your trip – I would prioritise visiting Cavtat!
For the best experience, tie your visit with lunch, it’s one of the main reasons for going on a day trip from Dubrovnik to Cavtat, I’ve enjoyed wonderful meals at the restaurant La Bohemia on the pretty riviera, and afterwards take a walk along the lovely scenic coastal path!
Hot Tip! If your base is Dubrovnik, I recommend visiting Cavtat on your second day, it’s so easy to slot into your Dubrovnik itinerary and this guide shows you how!
15. TAKE A WONDERFUL ELAPHITI ISLANDS PRIVATE BOAT TRIP (A highlight from Dubrovnik Old Town!)
If you’re staying in the old town in Dubrovnik for three days or longer, I highly recommend exploring the popular group of Islands just off the shore, known as the Elaphiti Islands, by private boat tour, it’s by far one of my favourite days out on the water!
This scenic Elaphiti Islands boat trip whisks you away from the Old Town Harbour to beautiful bays, authentic villages and beaches that are only accessible by small boat, including dreamy overwater restaurants like Bowa (see below right – a must) and the mesmerising Blue Cave – it’s one of the best boat excursions away from the crowds and larger packed out boat tours!
A scenic boat trip is the best way to spend your time after visiting the main sights of the old town, and you don’t have to commit to the full day; there are morning and afternoon options to suit your schedule, but you’ll need to book your spot in advance!
Take a look at the full details and availability of this private Elaphiti Islands boat trip here!
Browse my hand-picked boat tours from Dubrovnik for a relaxed, stylish day on the water!
WHERE TO STAY IN DUBROVNIK OLD TOWN
Staying inside Dubrovnik Old Town is super convenient, you’ll be having breakfast in a beautiful square surrounded by history, wine on the rooftop and can walk to every attraction. I’ve personally stayed here more than anywhere else in Dubrovnik and there are some beautiful boutique hotel options to choose from! Here’s my favourites:
Boutique Hotel Stari Grad – A stylish boutique hotel with beautiful rooms and a lovely rooftop terrace overlooking the most gorgeous part of the old town – book the room with a private balcony!
St. Joseph’s Boutique Hotel – A beautifully restored 16th-century townhouse tucked away in the Old Town. Rooms are elegant, perfect if you love history with modern comfort.
The Pucic Palace – One of the most iconic Dubrovnik Old Town hotels, set on a gorgeous square just steps from the main street, blending historic charm with luxury.
For a full breakdown of boutique hotels, apartments, beach resorts and best areas, see my complete Where to Stay in Dubrovnik guide.
TIPS FOR VISITING DUBROVNIK OLD TOWN
When To Visit Dubrovnik Old Town
Dubrovnik is best explored from May to early October, avoiding the peak season where possible (July and August) and crowds. If you’re visiting the old town in Dubrovnik for the day, early morning or late afternoon is ideal – you’ll miss the cruise ship hours.
Personally, I prefer the beginning of summer, when the evenings are lighter, beaches are opening up, and you can visit the Croatian Islands!
How Long To Stay In Dubrovnik
I recommend staying for a minimum of 3 days in Dubrovnik, longer if you include a day trip to the nearby islands, bays, or even national parks – or linger at your beautiful hotel!
Dubrovnik City Pass
Grab the Dubrovnik City Pass, which includes the city walls walk, Fort Lovrijenac, transport, galleries and museums. It’s well worth purchasing if you plan on visiting all of these attractions independently, the city walls alone is €40 and the pass is €48!
Dubrovnik Old Town Dress Codes
The old town in Dubrovnik is a classy place! Walking shirtless or in swimwear through the old town is disrespectful and can even earn you a fine and some strange looks! Cover up when you’re not on the beach or a boat!
How To Get Around Dubrovnik Old Town
Dubrovnik Old Town and most of Pile and Ploce are fairly compact and easily walkable. Taxis, local buses, and cheap Ubers are available from Pile Gate for visiting Lapad beaches, and if you’re exploring further afield, there are easy taxi boats and excursions from Dubrovnik harbour.
Dubrovnik Old Town Is Compact And Walkable
Dubrovnik Old Town is compact and very walkable and entirely pedestrianised (helped by the old town walls) making it a hassle-free, easy-to-get-around, charming area to stay, just like Split Old Town, Korcula Town and Hvar Town in the Dalmatian Region!
Parking In Dubrovnik Old Town
Dubrovnik Centre Parking is €24 per day or €3 per hour and is a 25-minute walk to Dubrovnik old town, this is the best and least costly option. Near Dubrovnik old town there are park and display bays at Ploce or Pile Gate from €10 per hour.
For more practical tips, check out my complete travel guide to Dubrovnik for first-time visitors here!
Still planning your Dubrovnik itinerary?
Planning your trip to Dubrovnik? I’ve also shared a complete what to do travel guide for first-time visitors, my favourite restaurants, and the best day trips – perfect for pulling together your ideal itinerary!
- Complete Guide To Dubrovnik – top tips & need to know for first time visitors!
- How To Spend 3 Days In Dubrovnik – top itinerary planning tips for Dubrovnik!
- Where To Stay In Dubrovnik – the best areas, boutique hotels & luxury stays!
- Day Trips From Dubrovnik – islands, bays & heritage towns worth visiting!
- The Best Boat Tours from Dubrovnik – island hopping, national parks & more!
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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!