Dubrovnik Travel Guide
Dubrovnik Travel Guide
Dubrovnik is a magical city, and one of my favorites in Europe. The Old Town of Dubrovnik is a bucket list destination and the sunsets views over the Adriatic are unmatched.
Keep reading for all my suggestions for a trip to Dubrovnik.
Jump To:
- *Backpacks & Bubbly – Top Pick for Drinks With A View*
- Where to Stay in Dubrovnik
- Top Things to do in Dubrovnik
- Getting to Dubrovnik
- Getting Around Dubrovnik
- Safety for Solo Female Travel in Dubrovnik
- Dubrovnik – Top Blog Posts
Disclaimer: This article contains some links where I earn commission through booking. There is no extra cost to you, and I only recommend things I’ve used and love or places I’ve stayed and enjoyed!
*Backpacks & Bubbly – Top Pick for Drinks With A View*
Panorama Restaurant
The sunsets in Dubrovnik are unreal! The Panorama Restaurant is absolutely the best spot to watch the sunset. It it on top of a hill overlooking the Old Town and out onto the Adriatic Sea.
Definitely make reservations, because this place gets crazy. If you can’t get into the restaurant the whole area around it is perfect for watching sunset (and free!)
To get there you can take the cable car to the top. Details on the cable car can be found here. Check the site for up to date prices and to confirm it is running! It closes for the off season. A round trip ticket costs around $30!
I was running short on time, so I took an Uber and it was super quick & cheap! I think it ended up costing less (or about the same) for an Uber each way vs. taking the cable car.
Where to Stay in Dubrovnik
Rixos Premium Dubrovnik
On my most recent trip to Dubrovnik I stayed at the Rixos Premium. It was the end of a long trip with many stops and I wanted to splurge on a 5 Star Hotel for my last stop. I could not have been happier with my choice to stay at the Rixos!
The hotel offers stunning views of the Adriatic Coast from every window. The outdoor patio, pool, bar/restaurant and ocean swimming area were incredible! The hotel also offers a series of bars and restaurants if you don’ feel like venturing into the Old Town every night!
The hotel is located about a 15 minute walk from the Old Town and offers a little bit of serenity from the chaos and crowds of the Old Town area, while still being accessible via walking or a quick cab ride if you want to be in the center of the action!
In terms of cost, I was there in October, which is the beginning of the shoulder season (although this past October all of Europe was so crowded, I think people were catching up on missed trips due to Covid!) I spent about $700 for two night & was upgraded to a suite with an ocean view!
Top Things to do in Dubrovnik
Walk the Old Town Walls
Walking the Old Town Walls in Dubrovnik was my favorite experience! The views of the infamous red-roofed Old Town that served as a filming location for Game of Thrones King’s Landing, were incredible!
The walls surround the entirety of the Old Town and take around an hour or so to walk, depending on your pace! It gets really, really crowded, so I recommend going early.
I got to the walls right around the time they opened and there was already a decent crowd queuing for tickets, but it wasn’t overly busy once you got up on the walls. A ticket costs about $40.
There are several cafes/bars along the tops of the walls that are a great place to stop for breakfast or a morning drink with Old Town and Adriatic Sea views!
Explore Dubrovnik Old Town
After exploring the walls head into the streets of Old Town to explore from the ground. The streets are winding, narrow, scenic and filled with shops, cafes and restaurants with great patios for people watching!
Sunset from Panoramic Outlook
The sunsets are insane in Dubrovnik from almost any location, but I highly recommend you take the cable car or take an uber (or hike if you’re feeling ambitious) to the panoramic viewpoint on Mt. Srd.
You can make a reservation at the restaurant or just watch the sunset from the area around it!
Day Trip to Korčula
Korčula is a little, charming island off the coast of Dubrovnik that makes for a great day trip. It takes about two hours by ferry and the ferries run daily.
Korčula is often known as “Little Dubrovnik” for it’s Old Town that is similar to Dubrovnik, but smaller and generally less crowded with tourists.
I spent a few days in Korčula vs. doing it as a day trip. You can check out my full Korčula travel guide here.
Getting to Dubrovnik
By Plane
There is an international airport about twenty minutes outside of Dubrovnik. It’s pretty easy to get from the airport into the main Old Town area of Dubrovnik.
By Uber/Taxi:
I took an Uber from the Dubrovnik ferry port to the airport and it cost about $30. From what I’ve read taxis will cost $40.
By Shuttle Bus:
You can also take the shuttle bus between the Old Town area and the airport. The shuttle leaves from the airport 30 minutes after every flight and stops at the bus stop right outside of the Dubrovnik Old Town Walls. Tickets cost about $8 each way.
Schedule for getting from Old Town to the airport can be found here as well as ticket purchase.
Getting to Dubrovnik from Split
By Ferry:
I definitely recommend taking the ferry from Dubrovnik to Split vs. taking the bus. All of my experiences with ferries in Croatia were pleasant, while my experiences with busses were not great! The ferries run a few times a day and take around 5 hours.
By Bus:
**Disclaimer, this may be better now that Croatia has joined the EU in January 2023 and you don’t need to go through border control via bus
The bus ride was long, there was no bathroom (despite what the website said) and it required getting out twice to go through border patrol, despite the fact that Croatia has built a bridge busses can take to avoid going through border control.
I would definitely avoid taking the bus at all costs if you can!
Getting Around Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is small and super walkable, so for the most part you don’t need to worry too much about getting around. I also took several Ubers and taxis that were all easily accesible and reasonably priced.
Safety for Solo Female Travel in Dubrovnik
5 out of 5
Dubrovnik (and everywhere else I visited in Croatia) was super safe. I never felt unsafe at night, taking cabs, etc. Croatia would be one of my top recommendations for solo female travel, especially if you’re new to solo travel.
