10 Best Activities in Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik is a Croatian town facing the Adriatic Sea and the island of Lokrum. It is a walled city with marble streets and a wealth of architecture, combining medieval, Baroque, Renaissance and Gothic styles. You will also find natural areas of great beauty.

During your visit, you can take a walking tour of the old town, sail on the Adriatic Sea, visit the locations where some scenes from the series Games of Thrones were filmed , go kayaking, zip-lining, among other of the best things to do in Dubrovnik that I will list below.

Whether you're visiting during the summer or just passing through Dubrovnik in December, you'll want to take the opportunity to discover all that this walled city has to offer. One of the best ways to do this is to book a tour of Dubrovnik's historic centre, although you can of course also do it on your own.

You will have the opportunity to see the most significant sights of the city at close quarters:

• The Pile and Ploče gates, built between the 15th and 17th century. These were closed at dusk to prevent anyone from entering or leaving Dubrovnik.
• Orlando's Column: This is a column, statue and mast inaugurated in 1418 in honour of a hero of the city.
• The Onofrio Fountain, built in the 15th century to supply drinking water to the townspeople.
• The Rector's palace, in Gothic-Renaissance style from the 14th century. Today, it is known as the Dubrovnik Museum.

Interesting details

• Price: if you join a guided tour the activity costs approximately €20 per person.
• Duration: The tour usually lasts about 90 minutes.
• Means of transport: on foot.

One of the activities to enjoy Dubrovnik at night are boat trips on the Adriatic Sea. You will be able to contemplate a different perspective of the city and its surroundings at sunset.

Specifically, the adventure that I propose begins in the Old Port of Dubrovnik, where you will board a pirate ship, an exact replica of the boats of the 16th century. There, you will feel like you have been transported back in time, enjoy live music and listen to the commentary of a guide, who will tell you about the naval history of Dubrovnik.

Without a doubt, this is one of the best boat tours in Dubrovnik that will allow you to contemplate how the colours of the sunset tinge the roofs of the old town and the sun slowly sets on the horizon.

Interesting details

• Price: booking a boat trip in Dubrovnik costs around €20.
• Duration: approx. 45 minutes.
• Means of transport: boat.

If you are a Games of Thrones enthusiast, then during your stay of at least 2 days in Dubrovnik, you should book a Games of Thrones tour of the series filming locations in and around the walled city.

Accompanied by a guide and aboard a car, you will discover the different locations popularised throughout the eight seasons of Games of Thrones. Although each of the best Games of Thrones tours of Dubrovnik has a different itinerary, the following are the must-see spots:

• The Walk of Shame, where you can replay the scene and sit on the Iron Throne.
• The terrace of the Red Fortress, where you will marvel at the Renaissance gardens where the King's Landing took place.
• The top of Srd. Hill, which was the filming location for the King's Highway scene.

Interesting details

• Price: approximately £25 per person.
• Duration: about 2 hours.
• Means of transport: on foot and by boat.

Get away from the hustle and bustle of the historic centre and discover Dubrovnik's surroundings. Join one of the best day tours and excursions from Dubrovnik to the city of Mostar and Pocitelj. You will discover the architecture, history and natural beauty of this pair of places.

For this activity you will travel from the centre of Dubrovnik accompanied by a local guide, who will tell you the history of each of the destinations.

When booking an excursion to Mostar from Dubrovnik and/or Pociteli, the Kravica waterfalls are usually also included, where you will have free time for a swim and even a picnic. This stop is ideal if you are in Dubrovnik from mid-June until September.

Interesting details

• Price: around €47 per person.
• Duration: approximately 10-12 hours.
• Means of transport: van.

Ziplining is another activity to incorporate into your 3 day trip in Dubrovnik or longer. You will live a different experience, full of adrenaline and get a privileged view of the Adriatic coast, Verbica beach and the medieval city.

Once at Srđ Hill, the guide will provide you with the necessary equipment for zip line riding. He will also teach you how to use this suspended pulley through a short training session.

You will then head to the zip line area for your first ride. You will drive a distance of approximately 250 metres at a height of about 60 metres. You will also have the opportunity to climb another 900 metre long zip line.

Interesting details

• Price: booking a zip line experience in Dubrovnik costs about 56€ per person.
• Duration: about 3 hours.
• Means of transport: van.

If you like water sports you can take advantage of your stay in Dubrovnik to book a kayaking and snorkelling tour in Dubrovnik on the Adriatic Sea. You will get in touch with nature, see the city walls from a unique perspective and learn about the history of this magical city.

This is a guided tour that usually starts from the Dubrovnik canal in the direction of the surroundings of the island of Lokrum. You will be able to observe from afar this natural sanctuary composed of forests and a botanical garden with about 800 species of plants.

You will also have free time to swim and snorkel in its emerald waters, explore the site surrounded by high rocks or relax in its cave.

Details of interest

• Price: from 39€ per person.
• Duration: about 2 hours.
• Means of transport: kayak.

A visit to the Dubrovnik City Walls is an activity you can incorporate into your 1-day Dubrovnik itinerary. With this self-guided tour, you will have the opportunity to delve into the historical, cultural and architectural past of the city. You will also get a fabulous panoramic view from the top of this place.

Once you have your ticket for the Dubrovnik City Wall and the self-guided tour app downloaded on your mobile phone, you will need to head to the Pile Gate or main gate of the walled city. You will walk along the main street Stradun until you find the access area to the wall.

Show your ticket or your Dubrovnik Pass at the ticket office to gain access and start the tour at your own pace. You will learn about some of Dubrovnik's most important historical moments: the earthquake of 1667, the siege of 1991, among others. You will also walk around the Minčeta Tower, St. Margaret's Church and the 16th century Fortress of St. Lawrence.

Interesting details

• Price: The entrance fee to the Dubrovnik City Wall costs approximately 35 € (adults) and around 15 € (children aged 7-18). The audio guide is purchased separately and costs about €6.
• Duration: approximately 60 minutes.
• Means of transport: on foot.

If your itinerary is limited in time and you don't have 4 or 7 days in Dubrovnik to explore at length, then a scenic bus tour is a good option for you. You'll get to see the city beyond its walls and learn a little about its history.

You'll ride through the streets of Dubrovnik in an open-top bus, from where you'll get an unobstructed view of the surroundings. This while listening to the GPS audio guide which is activated the moment you arrive at a certain attraction, providing interesting facts.

During the tour you will see the old town with its cobbled streets, palaces and the imposing city wall. You will also visit the village of Bosanka, located on the Dubrovnik coast; Sunset Beach, just opposite the city in Lapad Bay; Srđ Hill, with a breathtaking view of the Old Town and the Adriatic Sea.

Details of interest

• Price: about €25 per person.
• Duration: about 90 minutes.
• Means of transport: convertible bus.

A bird's eye view of the walled city on board a funicular is an experience not to be missed and will certainly be ideal if you are travelling to Dubrovnik with children. Both you and the little ones will enjoy a unique experience.

The Dubrovnik funicular connects the Ploče Gate of the Old Town with Srd Hill. Therefore, to start the adventure you should head to the hill, walking approximately 12 minutes through the pedestrian areas from the Ploče or Pile gate.

When you reach the funicular, you will enjoy the view from the hill and breathe in the fresh air. You can take a look at the Gulf War Museum and the 19th century Imperial Fortress, which are located nearby. You also have the option to have a snack and a drink at the station's restaurant. Afterwards, you can take the funicular for a privileged panoramic view of the city and the Adriatic Sea.

Interesting details

• Price: about 15€ adults and about 4€ children from 4 to 12 years old.
• Duration: the duration of the ride on board the funicular is about 3 minutes.
• Means of transport: funicular.

Another popular activity in Dubrovnik is taking a buggy off-road tour through the Dubrovnik countryside. You can escape the hustle and bustle and get in touch with nature while experiencing an adrenaline-fuelled adventure.

The experience usually starts at the port of Gruž (about 5 minutes drive from the city centre). There your guide will give you an introduction to the world of buggying and you will immediately start driving in the direction of Mount Srdj.

From this point on, you will leave the road behind you and enter a series of zigzagging roads through the hills, valleys and fields of Dubrovnik. You will be surrounded by forest and enjoy the fresh air and the warmth of the sun. You will also enjoy a 360° view of the island of Lokrum and the walled city.

Interesting details

• Price: about €95 per person.
• Duration: about 2 hours.
• Means of transport: buggy.

You will have the opportunity to discover the city and its surroundings.

You will be able to see closely the different architectural samples of medieval, renaissance, gothic and baroque architecture that the old town houses through its buildings, statues, fountains, palaces and museums, among others. You will also stroll through the places that served as locations for the filming of some scenes of the famous series Games of Thrones.

You can also see the city walls, the island of Lokrum and the surrounding area from different perspectives, either from the Adriatic Sea on board a boat or as the crow flies from a funicular or a zip line.

• Go for guided activities. This way, you will save time and learn more about the city, as the guide will take you directly to each destination and tell you about its history.
• Buy tickets in advance for the main attractions, as they can sell out quickly.
• Check the weather in Dubrovnik before you go on an activity so that you can make good decisions about what to wear.
• Take your identification documents with you, as some places will require you to show them to gain access.