2 days in Dubrovnik

Day by day

1. Day 1: City Walls of Dubrovnik and Stradun

   City Walls of Dubrovnik, Stradun, Rector's Palace and Franciscan Monastery and old pharmacy, then Buža cliff bars in the evening.

   1. Morning

      City Walls of Dubrovnik

      The circuit takes in views over the Stradun's rooftops, the Old Port and the open sea. Entrances are by the Pile Gate, the Ploče Gate and St John's Fortress, and the ticket also covers Fort Lovrijenac.

   2. Late morning

      Stradun

      The Large Onofrio Fountain stands at the western end, and narrow lanes climb steeply on either side.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Black risotto

      Konobas (taverns) in the Old Town lanes, Lapad and Gruž; almost every seafood menu has it.

   4. Afternoon

      Rector's Palace

      Inside, the Cultural History Museum shows the rector's rooms, the old prison cells, coins and portraits from the republic's centuries of independence.

   5. Late afternoon

      Franciscan Monastery and old pharmacy

      A small museum shows old pharmacy jars and manuscripts.

   6. Evening

      Buža cliff bars

      Arrive well before sunset to get a ledge seat, and pay attention to the steep, uneven rocks.

2. Day 2: Fort Lovrijenac and Gradac Park

   Fort Lovrijenac, Gradac Park, Sea kayaking around the walls and Mount Srđ and the cable car, then Old Town lanes in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Fort Lovrijenac

      Its gate carries the motto 'Non bene pro toto libertas venditur auro' (freedom is not sold for all the gold in the world). Its terraces look straight across to the walls, and Shakespeare plays are staged here during the summer festival.

   2. Late morning

      Gradac Park

      It is a quiet place for a picnic away from the Old Town crowds.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Peka

      Konobas outside the walls and in the countryside of Konavle; ask your restaurant a day ahead.

   4. Afternoon

      Sea kayaking around the walls

      It is one of the best ways to see the fortifications from the water.

   5. Late afternoon

      Mount Srđ and the cable car

      The Napoleonic Fort Imperial at the top houses an exhibition on the defence of Dubrovnik during the 1991–92 siege.

   6. Evening

      Old Town lanes

      Wine bars and cocktail terraces around Bunićeva Poljana square and the lanes off the Stradun.

Before you go

If it rains

• Swap in Cathedral of the Assumption (Old Town (Stari Grad)): The cathedral itself is free; the treasury has a small fee and is worth it for the reliquaries.
• Swap in Dominican Monastery (Old Town (Stari Grad)): It is usually much quieter than the Franciscan monastery at the other end of the Stradun.
• Swap in War Photo Limited (Old Town (Stari Grad)): Allow time to read the captions; the photographs are powerful and not suitable for young children.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 11–13 hours of visiting over 2 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.1 hours in December to 15.3 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

Getting between stops: Walking. Everything inside the walls is within a ten-minute walk, though side lanes climb steep stairways.

More or fewer days

• One day in Dubrovnik
• 3 days in Dubrovnik
• 4 days in Dubrovnik
• 5 days in Dubrovnik
• 7 days in Dubrovnik

Questions travellers ask