4 days in Dubrovnik

Day by day

1. Day 1: City Walls of Dubrovnik and Stradun

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

   1. Morning

      City Walls of Dubrovnik

      Allow 1.5–2 hours (expensive). Start as soon as the walls open or in the last two hours of the day; there is almost no shade, so bring water and a hat.

   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

      Allow 1 hour (mid-priced). The Dubrovnik Pass covers the palace together with the walls and other museums; buy it if you plan to visit more than the walls.

   5. Evening

      Buža cliff bars

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

2. Day 2: Franciscan Monastery and old pharmacy and Cathedral of the Assumption

   Franciscan Monastery and old pharmacy, Cathedral of the Assumption and Sponza Palace, then Old Town lanes in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Franciscan Monastery and old pharmacy

      A small museum shows old pharmacy jars and manuscripts.

   2. Late morning

      Cathedral of the Assumption

      Allow 30 minutes (free). The cathedral itself is free; the treasury has a small fee and is worth it for the reliquaries.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Peka

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

   4. Afternoon

      Sponza Palace

      A memorial room inside remembers the city's defenders killed in the 1991–92 siege.

   5. Evening

      Old Town lanes

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

3. Day 3: Church of St Blaise and Dominican Monastery

   Church of St Blaise, Dominican Monastery and War Photo Limited, then Fort Revelin in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Church of St Blaise

      Allow 20 minutes (free). Look closely at the model in the saint's hand to spot buildings that no longer exist.

   2. Late morning

      Dominican Monastery

      Built against the eastern walls near the Ploče Gate, the monastery has a Gothic cloister with palms and orange trees and a museum of Renaissance paintings by Dubrovnik artists such as Nikola Božidarević, alongside a Titian altarpiece in the church.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Grilled fish with blitva

      Seafood restaurants around the Old Port, Lapad and Cavtat; ask for the weight and price before ordering.

   4. Afternoon

      War Photo Limited

      Allow 1 hour (low cost). Allow time to read the captions; the photographs are powerful and not suitable for young children.

   5. Evening

      Fort Revelin

      Culture Club Revelin, a nightclub inside the vaulted Revelin fortress by the Ploče Gate, is the city's best-known club.

4. Day 4: Day trip to Kotor and the Bay of Kotor

   About 2–3 hours each way by road each way. Getting there: Bus or organised tour, crossing into Montenegro.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Kotor and the Bay of Kotor

      About 2–3 hours each way by road (Bus or organised tour, crossing into Montenegro); about 90 km.

   2. Day

      Kotor and the Bay of Kotor

      Kotor is a walled medieval town at the end of a fjord-like bay, with a climb of more than 1,300 steps to the fortress of San Giovanni. Tours often stop at Perast to see the islet church of Our Lady of the Rocks. Border queues can add time in summer.

   3. Evening

      Back in Dubrovnik

      Dinner: try Ston oysters.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 4 nights, Old Town (Stari Grad) keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Ploče ($$$$) suits couples, luxury and beach. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 8–9 hours of visiting over 4 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.

More or fewer days

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

Questions travellers ask