Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik offers medieval walls, Adriatic views and unforgettable coastal charm
Overview
Things To Do
Deals
Travel Guide
Dubrovnik is a UNESCO World Heritage walled city on Croatia's southern Dalmatian coast, approximately 2 hours 30 minutes from the UK by direct flight. Renowned worldwide for its 14th-century circuit of medieval walls, its marble-paved Stradun and its position directly above the Adriatic Sea, Dubrovnik is the most complete medieval walled city in Europe and one of the continent's most visited cultural destinations. The surrounding coastline encompasses the car-free Elafiti Islands, the forested Lokrum Island and the Pelješac wine peninsula within 90 minutes by boat or ferry. Widely recognised as the filming location for King's Landing in Game of Thrones, the city attracts visitors from across the world year-round. Ideal for couples holidays, cultural holidays, city break holidays, beach holidays and island-hopping holidays, Johnson Holidays offers ATOL-protected Dubrovnik holidays and Croatia package holidays from multiple UK airports.
✨ Why Visit Dubrovnik
- The medieval city walls are the most complete in Europe. The 1,940 m circuit — rising 25 m above the Adriatic at its highest — has defended the city since the 14th century without significant structural breach; walking the full circuit delivers uninterrupted views of the old town, the sea and the surrounding islands.
- The Stradun is Europe's most beautiful main street. The 300 m marble-paved pedestrian thoroughfare, lined with Baroque facades rebuilt uniformly after the 1667 earthquake, reflects the Adriatic light uniquely at dawn and dusk and constitutes the most photogenic urban street in the Mediterranean.
- Dubrovnik was the filming location for King's Landing. Over 40 Game of Thrones filming locations are identifiable within the old town walls — the Minčeta Tower, Fort Lovrijenac, the Rector's Palace and the Jesuit Staircase all appeared in the series; a dedicated Game of Thrones walking tour operates daily from £20pp.
- The Elafiti Islands are car-free and genuinely remote. The three inhabited Elafiti Islands — Koločep, Lopud and Šipan — are accessible only by Jadrolinija ferry from Dubrovnik's Gruž harbour and have a combined population of 850 people; the contrast with the old town's tourist density is absolute.
- Fort Lovrijenac is the most dramatically positioned fortress in the Adriatic. Built on a 37 m rock promontory directly outside the Pile Gate in 1018, the triangular fortress above the sea hosts Shakespeare's Hamlet in the annual Dubrovnik Summer Festival — a theatrical experience with no European equivalent.
- Dubrovnik is the gateway to three outstanding day-trip destinations. The Pelješac wine peninsula (90 min by car), the island of Korčula (2 hrs by catamaran) and Montenegro's Bay of Kotor (90 min by road) are all achievable as day trips from a Dubrovnik base within a single week's itinerary.
? What Makes It Special
Unlike Venice, which shares the UNESCO-listed historic city above water archetype, Dubrovnik is a working Croatian city of 42,000 people rather than a sinking museum — residents eat in the konobas, hang washing between the palaces and navigate the back alleys on foot in a way that gives the old town genuine urban authenticity. Unlike Split, which shares Dalmatian coastal character and Roman heritage, Dubrovnik's medieval walls, island archipelago and Adriatic cliff setting deliver a visual drama that Split's harbour cannot match. Unlike Montenegro's Kotor — the closest comparable walled Adriatic city — Dubrovnik's direct UK flight connections, English-language infrastructure and cultural programme make it the more immediately accessible first Balkan destination for UK travellers, even at 30–40% higher cost than Kotor equivalents.
? Key Areas to Explore
- Old Town (Stari Grad) — The UNESCO walled city, with the Stradun, the Rector's Palace, the Dominican Monastery, the Franciscan Pharmacy (one of Europe's oldest, operating since 1317) and the medieval walls circuit.
- Pile Gate & West Harbour — The main entrance to the old town, with Fort Lovrijenac on its sea cliff above the Bokar Fortress and the city beach of Banje immediately east.
- Lapad Peninsula — The residential and hotel district west of the city centre, with the Lapad Bay beach, family-oriented hotels and the most affordable restaurant and café prices in the Dubrovnik area.
- Gruž Harbour — The main commercial port and ferry terminal for Jadrolinija services to the Elafiti Islands, Korčula, Hvar and Split; also the starting point for the Pelješac Bridge road to the wine peninsula.
- Lokrum Island — A 10-minute ferry from the Old Port; a car-free forested nature reserve with a Benedictine monastery, botanical garden, peacocks and the Dead Sea saltwater lake.
- Elafiti Islands — Koločep (the smallest, with sandy coves and no cars), Lopud (a sandy beach and medieval monastery) and Šipan (the largest, with two medieval villages and an abandoned bishop's palace).
- Cavtat — A small Venetian-influenced resort town 18 km south of Dubrovnik by coastal road or water taxi (30 min, £12pp return), with the Račić Mausoleum by Ivan Meštrović and a considerably calmer waterfront than the old town.
- Ston & the Pelješac Peninsula — A 55 km drive north across the Pelješac Bridge; Ston's 14th-century walls are the second longest in Europe after the Great Wall of China, and the peninsula's Dingač and Postup DOC vineyards produce Croatia's finest red wines.
From wall walks and island ferries to wine peninsula drives and open-air Shakespeare, Dubrovnik's activities reward both the culturally focused and the physically active visitor.
?️ Nature & Outdoor Activities
- Hike the Srđ Mountain trail (Bosanka, Dubrovnik) — a marked 5 km trail ascending from the Pile Gate area to the 405 m summit; the same panorama as the cable car at zero cost, taking 90 minutes uphill at a steady pace.
- Kayak to Šunj Beach on Lopud Island (Lopud, Elafiti Islands) — rent a kayak from Lopud village (£15 per half-day) and paddle 2 km around the southern coast to the only sandy beach in the Elafiti archipelago; completely inaccessible by road.
- Snorkel the Betina Cave (Koločep Island, Elafiti Islands) — an underwater sea cave on Koločep's southern coast with a blue-light interior at 2–4 m depth; accessible by guided snorkel tour from Dubrovnik's Old Port from £35pp.
- Cycle the Pelješac wine road (Potomje, Pelješac Peninsula) — rent a bicycle from Orebić harbour (£15 per day) and cycle the 8 km ridge road through the Dingač DOC vineyard zone above the Adriatic; the only road in Croatia that passes directly through a protected wine appellation.
- Walk the Cavtat coastal path (Cavtat, Konavle Municipality) — a 4 km marked trail from Cavtat harbour around the Rat peninsula through Mediterranean maquis with views of the Adriatic islands; free, takes 90 minutes and largely unknown to visitors based in the old town.
?️ Beaches
- Banje Beach (Pile, Dubrovnik) — The closest beach to the old town, 500 m east of the Ploče Gate; a pebble beach with direct wall views from the water and sun lounger hire from £15 per day.
- Šunj Beach (Lopud Island, Elafiti Islands) — The only sandy beach in the Dubrovnik area, on Lopud's southern coast; accessible by Jadrolinija ferry from Gruž harbour (35 min, £4 single) then a 20-minute walk across the island.
- Lapad Bay Beach (Lapad, Dubrovnik) — A sheltered pebble beach in the Lapad residential peninsula west of the city, calmer and less crowded than Banje; lined with café-bars and suitable for families with young children.
- Sveti Jakov Beach (Ploče, Dubrovnik) — A small pebble cove 1.5 km east of the old town walls, accessible by 200 steps from the coastal path; considerably quieter than Banje and with exceptional water clarity.
- Koločep Village Beach (Koločep Island, Elafiti Islands) — A sheltered sandy cove in Donje Čelo village on Koločep; 30 minutes by Jadrolinija ferry from Gruž, calm water and virtually no facilities beyond a single waterfront konoba.
?️ Food & Drink
- Order black risotto (crni rižot — TSER-nee REE-zhot) — cuttlefish ink risotto with Adriatic cuttlefish, olive oil and parsley — at Konoba Dubrava on Ulica od Puča in the old town; a main course costs approximately £14 and the dish is the definitive Dalmatian seafood first course.
- Drink Dingač — Croatia's most celebrated red wine, made from Plavac Mali grapes on the steep Pelješac Peninsula cliff vineyards — at D'Vino Wine Bar on Palmotićeva Street in the old town; a glass costs £5–8 and the bar's Pelješac-focused list is the most serious wine selection in Dubrovnik.
- Try peka (PEH-ka) — lamb or octopus slow-cooked for two hours under a cast-iron bell in embers — at Konoba Komin in Zaton Bay, 10 km north of Dubrovnik; must be ordered 24 hours in advance and costs approximately £16pp including bread and salad.
- Visit the Gunduličeva Poljana morning market (Old Town, Dubrovnik) — the daily farmers market in the old town's most beautiful square, selling Pelješac olive oil, local honey, dried lavender, truffles from Istria and local Malvazija white wine from roadside producers; open from 07:00 to 13:00.
- Eat at 360° Restaurant (Old Town Walls, Dubrovnik) — a Michelin-recommended seafood restaurant built into the city walls above the old harbour, with a tasting menu of contemporary Dalmatian dishes and Pelješac wine pairings; tasting menu approximately £85pp at restaurant360.hr.
? Nightlife & Entertainment
- Dubrovnik Summer Festival (Old Town, June–August) — a 45-day festival running since 1950 with theatre, opera and classical music in Fort Lovrijenac, the Rector's Palace courtyard and the Dominican Monastery cloister; tickets from £15pp at dubrovnik-festival.hr.
- Buža Bar (Old Town Walls, Dubrovnik) — a cliff-side bar accessed through a hole in the city walls above the Adriatic, with cocktails from £8 and a platform for cliff jumping into the sea below; no sign, no phone and open only in good weather from 09:00.
- Troubadour Jazz Bar (Bunićeva Poljana, Old Town, Dubrovnik) — the old town's most celebrated live music venue, a small courtyard bar running jazz sessions nightly from 21:00; no cover charge and house Vranac wine from £3 a glass.
- Evening passeggiata on the Stradun (Old Town, Dubrovnik) — after 19:00 when day-trippers return to cruise ships the Stradun reverts to a local promenade; the café terraces of Gradska Kavana and Festival Café serve local wine from £3 and the atmosphere is the old town at its most genuine.
- Fort Lovrijenac Shakespeare (Pile Gate, Dubrovnik, July–August) — open-air performances of Hamlet on the fortress terrace 37 m above the Adriatic during the Summer Festival; tickets from £20pp and the clifftop setting makes this the most atmospheric Shakespeare venue in Europe.
? Instagram-Worthy Spots
- Stradun at dawn (Old Town, Dubrovnik) — the marble-paved main street reflects the morning light uniquely before 07:00; the Onofrio Fountain at the western end and the Clock Tower at the eastern provide natural frame points for a composition with no people in frame.
- Old town from Lokrum Island (Lokrum Island, Dubrovnik) — the southern face of the walls photographed from the Lokrum ferry crossing shows the old town rising directly from the sea without land visible on either side; the 15-minute crossing (£6pp return) provides multiple compositions.
- Buža Bar cliff platform (Old Town Walls, Dubrovnik) — the terrace chairs above the Adriatic, photographed looking back at the city walls from the sea-level platform, is one of the most replicated Dubrovnik compositions; go at 10:00 before the bar fills.
- Fort Lovrijenac at sunset (Pile Gate, Dubrovnik) — the triangular fortress on its 37 m sea cliff, photographed from the Bokar Fortress section of the city walls at golden hour, with the open Adriatic behind and Lokrum Island to the right.
- Gunduličeva Poljana market at 08:00 (Old Town, Dubrovnik) — the Baroque square's morning market with the Church of Saint Blasius dome above, photographed before the stalls fill with tourists; the most authentic daily scene in the old town.
Best Value Deals
? All-Inclusive Holidays
All-inclusive accommodation within Dubrovnik's old town does not exist — the walled city's boutique hotel and guesthouse stock operates exclusively on room-only and bed-and-breakfast basis. The most developed all-inclusive market is in the Babin Kuk peninsula resort area 6 km west of the old town, where four-star properties including the Valamar Lacroma Dubrovnik and the Valamar Argosy Hotel operate full-board inclusive packages from £549pp including flights in shoulder season. The Lapad peninsula's larger hotels offer structured half-board options as a midpoint between full all-inclusive and independent dining; Dubrovnik's old town konobas cost £15–25pp for a full dinner, making room-only genuinely cost-competitive against all-inclusive for most visitors.
???? Family Holidays
Dubrovnik suits families with children aged ten and above who engage with history, island exploration and coastal walking — the old town's steep staircase terrain and the wall circuit's unguarded cliff-edge sections make it less suited to very young children than purpose-built resort destinations. The Lapad Bay beach provides the most sheltered and family-accessible swimming in the Dubrovnik area, with calm water, a flat promenade and café-bars at beach level. The Lokrum Island ferry, the Elafiti Islands boat excursion and the cable car to Mount Srđ engage school-age children effectively. Family-focused hotels in the Lapad and Babin Kuk areas operate pools and beach facilities within 15 minutes of the old town by bus.
? Luxury Holidays
Dubrovnik holds some of the Adriatic's finest boutique luxury addresses — the Villa Dubrovnik on the Ploče cliff above the old town, with 56 rooms carved into the limestone and a private launch service to the Old Port, is the city's most architecturally remarkable hotel from €450 per night. The Grand Villa Argentina and the Hotel Excelsior on the Ploče seafront provide five-star alternatives with direct sea access and old town wall views from their terraces, from €350 per night in shoulder season. For Old Town immersion, the Hotel Stari Grad on Od Sigurate Street — a restored 16th-century palace with eight rooms and a rooftop terrace — offers the most intimate luxury address within the walls from €280 per night.
⏳ Last-Minute Deals
Late availability in Dubrovnik is more constrained than in most Croatian resort destinations — the city's limited bed stock within and immediately adjacent to the old town, combined with global demand that consistently exceeds supply between May and September, means the best-positioned properties fill months ahead for peak summer. May, early June and September and October offer the most realistic late-deal windows — temperatures of 20–26°C, the Adriatic swimmable at 20–24°C and prices running 30–35% below the July and August peak. easyJet, British Airways and Jet2 operate Dubrovnik Airport on direct year-round and seasonal UK services; the Lapad and Babin Kuk hotel areas hold later availability than old town accommodation and reward flexible date searches within a three-week window.
Why Book with us:
? Low deposits from £49pp
? Flexible payment plans with balance due 6 weeks before travel
?️ ATOL Protected — your money and flights are safeguarded
✏️ Free amendment window on selected packages
? UK-based customer support, 8am–11pm every day
? Best Time to Visit Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik divides more sharply by season than almost any other European city-break destination. April to early June is the finest window — temperatures of 18–24°C, the Adriatic warming to 18–21°C, the Summer Festival programme beginning in late June and hotel prices 30–40% below the July peak; the old town is navigable without crowd management. July and August deliver 28–33°C and up to five cruise ships simultaneously — adding 10,000 day-trippers to the 1.5 km walled old town between 09:00 and 17:00; if visiting in peak summer, start wall walks at 08:00 and plan old town sightseeing for the evening when cruise passengers depart. September and October is the most balanced period — sea temperatures of 22–24°C in September, crowds thinning after the first week and the Pelješac grape harvest providing a specific seasonal event worth combining with a wine peninsula day trip. November to March suits city break visitors — hotel prices drop 40–50%, the old town is navigable without crowds and the Franciscan Pharmacy and Dominican Monastery are entirely undisturbed.
? Where to Stay
- Families: Lapad Bay or Babin Kuk for pool hotels, sheltered beach access and 15-minute bus connections to the old town without navigating the old town's steep staircase terrain with young children.
- Couples: Ploče district for the Villa Dubrovnik and Hotel Excelsior's clifftop sea views and private launch access to the Old Port; or a boutique guesthouse within the old town walls for maximum atmospheric immersion.
- Luxury seekers: Villa Dubrovnik (Ploče cliff) or Hotel Stari Grad (within the old town walls) for Dubrovnik's two most architecturally distinctive luxury addresses at opposite ends of the scale.
- First-timers: Old Town or Pile Gate area for immediate walkable access to the walls, the Stradun, the Dominican Monastery and the Old Port ferry terminal for Lokrum and the Elafiti Islands.
- Culture lovers: Ploče district for proximity to the city walls' eastern section, the Banje Beach, the Rector's Palace and the Fort Revelin cultural centre without the tour group density of the Pile Gate entrance.
? Getting Around
Dubrovnik's old town is entirely car-free and navigable only on foot — the Stradun, the back alleys and the wall circuit cover the principal sights within a 1.5 km radius of the Pile Gate. City buses (Libertas, £1.60 per journey, day pass £4) connect the old town Pile Gate stop to Lapad, Babin Kuk, Gruž Harbour and the cable car terminal at Gornji Grad efficiently. Taxis and Uber operate from outside the Pile Gate; the airport to the old town runs at £30–40 fixed rate and takes 30 minutes. Dubrovnik Airport is served by easyJet, British Airways, Jet2, Croatia Airlines and Ryanair on direct UK seasonal and year-round services. Jadrolinija ferries depart Gruž Harbour for the Elafiti Islands (£4–6 single), Korčula (£12 single, 2 hours by catamaran) and Split (£18 single, 4 hours by ferry). Car hire from the airport (from £30 per day through Oryx or Budget) is only practical for Pelješac Peninsula day trips and excursions to Montenegro — unnecessary within the city itself.
? Travel Tips
- The Dubrovnik Card (£35 for 72 hours) covers unlimited city bus travel, the cable car, admission to eight museums including the Rector's Palace and the Dominican Monastery, and the city walls entry — it pays for itself within a single day's wall walk and museum visiting and is available at the Pile Gate tourist office on arrival.
- The Dubrovnik Respect the City programme limits simultaneous visitors to the old town to 4,000 between 08:00 and 20:00 in peak season — arrive before 08:30 or after 18:00 to experience the walls and Stradun without congestion management; the evening old town after cruise ships depart is categorically different from the midday experience.
- Cruise ship arrival times are published daily on the Dubrovnik Port Authority website (portdubrovnik.hr) — checking the schedule before your day's itinerary allows you to time old town visits around the 09:30–17:30 peak cruise period.
- Plug type is Type F (two-pin round, 230V) — standard European adaptor required for all UK devices; hotel front desks in the old town rarely provide adaptors as standard.
- Croatia adopted the Euro (€) in January 2023 — all prices are in euros; ATMs throughout the city dispense euros; card payments accepted in most hotels, restaurants and tourist shops.
- Tipping follows Croatian convention — round up restaurant bills or leave 10% for good service; konoba staff and boat tour operators appreciate £2–3 for good service; the wall ticket offices and museum entrances do not accept tips.
- The wall circuit has no shade and limited water points — carry at least 1 litre of water per person for the 1,940 m circuit; sunscreen above SPF 30 is essential between June and September when surface temperatures on the limestone walls reach 45°C.
- Lokrum Island's Benedictine monastery ruins contain a Game of Thrones Iron Throne replica — free to sit in for photographs as part of the island's GoT exhibition; the island ferry (£6pp return) departs the Old Port every 30 minutes from 09:00 to 18:00 between April and October.
- The Pelješac Bridge opened in July 2022, connecting mainland Croatia to the Pelješac Peninsula without crossing Bosnian territory — the 2.4 km bridge reduced the drive from Dubrovnik to Korčula ferry port by 30 minutes and eliminated the previous Bosnian border crossing at Neum.
- Tap water is safe and good quality throughout Dubrovnik — the city draws from the Ombla spring 10 km north; bottled water is unnecessary and represents a significant unnecessary cost across a week's stay given the €2–3 per bottle tourist-facing prices in the old town.
Map Of Dubrovnik
Top Experiences
Dawn Walk on the Dubrovnik City Walls
The 1,940 m medieval wall circuit above the Adriatic is best walked at 08:00 before cruise ships arrive; admission €35, open daily.
Cable Car to Mount Srđ Viewpoint
Ascend 405 m above the old town in four minutes for a panoramic view of the walled city, Lokrum Island and the Elafiti archipelago beyond.
Sea Kayaking Around the Old Town Walls
Paddle the base of the medieval walls at sea level through sea caves and beneath the Bokar Fortress; guided two-hour tours from £35pp.
Lokrum Island Day Trip by Ferry
A 15-minute ferry from the Old Port reaches a car-free forested island with a botanical garden, peacocks, a saltwater lake and a Game of Thrones exhibition.
Elafiti Islands Boat Tour
A full-day excursion visiting the car-free islands of Koločep, Lopud and Šipan, with swimming stops in deserted coves accessible only by sea.
Stradun Sunset and Konoba Dinner in the Old Town
The marble-paved main street glows amber at sunset; dine at a hidden konoba in the backstreets of the Gunduličeva Poljana square area from £18pp.
Travel Information
Everything You Need To Know Before You Jet Off To Dubrovnik.