Dubrovnik's Old Town is entirely enclosed by 13th-century walls, its limestone streets polished smooth by centuries of foot traffic and, more recently, cruise-ship crowds. Beyond the walls, the Dalmatian coast offers island-hopping, cliff bars and some of the clearest water in the Mediterranean.
Good to know
- Walk the city walls early morning or late afternoon to avoid midday heat and cruise-ship crowds.
- The Old Town is car-free and hilly with steps everywhere — pack comfortable shoes.
- Check the cruise-ship port schedule; the Old Town gets very crowded by late morning on ship days.
Eat this
Places the planner can use
Mark places as a must or something to skip. The itinerary is built only from this list; ★ marks the destination’s highlights.
A two-kilometre walk atop the walls that ring the whole Old Town, with views over terracotta rooftops and the sea.
The polished limestone main street running the length of the Old Town, lined with churches, cafés and side alleys to explore.
Fresh Adriatic fish and black risotto at a harbourside konoba, best enjoyed slowly as the Old Town lights come on.
The seat of the old Republic of Ragusa's government, now a cultural history museum with a graceful Gothic-Renaissance courtyard.
A guided paddle along the base of the city walls and out to Lokrum, with a swim stop in a sea cave.
Bars built directly into the cliff face outside the walls, serving drinks with your feet nearly in the Adriatic.
A baroque cathedral said to have been partly funded by Richard the Lionheart, with a relic-filled treasury.
A cable car above the walls to a ridge with a sweeping view of the Old Town, the coast and nearby islands — best at sunset.
A short ferry ride to a forested island nature reserve with a botanical garden, ruined monastery and rocky swim spots.
The city's main beach, right outside the walls, with a view back at the Old Town while you swim.
A clifftop fortress just outside the walls, used as King's Landing's Red Keep in a well-known TV series.
A full-day boat trip to three small car-free islands, with swim stops and a fish lunch included.