Dubrovnik in a Day: What to Do With 24 Hours

One day in Dubrovnik is enough to see the Old Town and walk the city walls, which are the two things that make Dubrovnik extraordinary. The city is compact by design: it was built as a medieval republic, and almost everything worth seeing is within the walls or immediately outside them. The challenge isn't coverage, it's crowds. Dubrovnik gets very busy, and timing your day makes a significant difference.

Getting In and Out

Dubrovnik Airport is around 20 to 25 kilometres from the Old Town. Bus services run to the main bus terminal outside Pile Gate, taking around 30 to 40 minutes. Cruise ship passengers arrive at the port, which is a short taxi or bus ride from the Old Town. Be aware that cruise ship days flood the city between 10am and 4pm.

Morning

Get to Pile Gate before 8am if you can manage it. The city walls open early and the walk (around 2km) is best done in the morning before the heat and crowds build. The views over the terracotta rooftops and the Adriatic are exceptional. Allow 90 minutes for the walls.

After the walls, walk the Stradun (the main limestone street through the Old Town). The Franciscan Monastery at the western end has one of the oldest working pharmacies in the world and a peaceful cloister. At the eastern end, the Dominican Monastery has an impressive Gothic interior.

Afternoon

Lunch in the Old Town is expensive and the tourist-facing restaurants vary in quality. The small lanes off the Stradun, particularly on the south side, have better options. Konoba Jezuite, near the Jesuit stairs, is a reliable choice.

After lunch, take the cable car up to Mount Srđ for a view of the whole city, the islands, and the coast. It takes 4 minutes and completely reframes the scale of the Old Town. On a clear day the visibility is extraordinary.

Evening (if time allows)

The Lokrum island ferry runs from the Old Port and the crossing takes 15 minutes. The island has peacocks, a botanic garden, and a small lake. It's a good late afternoon escape from the crowds in the Old Town.

Sunset from the top of the city walls or from the Buža Bar, built into the outer walls of the Old Town, is one of the most memorable experiences Dubrovnik offers.

What to Skip

The Game of Thrones tour locations are scattered around the Old Town but don't add much on their own. The city is more interesting as itself than as a filming backdrop.

Boat trips to the Elafiti Islands are excellent but need a full day. Not for a 24-hour visit.

If one day in Dubrovnik has done what it was supposed to do and you want to come back properly, our Dubrovnik guide has everything you need.