5 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

      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. (1.5–2 hours, expensive).

   2. Late morning

      Stradun

      Walk it before 9am or after 9pm to see it without cruise-day crowds; the stone is slippery after rain. (30 minutes, free).

   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

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

   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: Fort Lovrijenac and Gradac Park

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

   1. Morning

      Fort Lovrijenac

      Keep your City Walls ticket: it includes entry to Lovrijenac, so you can visit on the same day. (45 minutes, mid-priced).

   2. Late morning

      Gradac Park

      Come in the early evening for soft light on the walls and Lovrijenac. (30 minutes, free).

   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

      Book a morning trip in summer, when the sea is calmer and the heat less intense. (3 hours, mid-priced).

   5. Evening

      Old Town lanes

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

3. Day 3: Mount Srđ and the cable car and Lokrum Island

   Mount Srđ and the cable car, Lokrum Island and Franciscan Monastery and old pharmacy, then Fort Revelin in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Mount Srđ and the cable car

      Go up an hour before sunset; fit walkers can hike the zig-zag path up or down in about an hour instead of taking the cable car. (1.5–2 hours, mid-priced).

   2. Late morning

      Lokrum Island

      Bring a picnic and water shoes; the rocks are the main swimming spots and island café prices are high. (Half a day, mid-priced).

   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

      Franciscan Monastery and old pharmacy

      Visit right after the walls, since the entrance is at the foot of the Pile Gate stairway. (45 minutes, low cost).

   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. Best for first-timers, culture and couples.

   3. Evening

      Back in Dubrovnik

      Dinner: try Ston oysters.

5. Day 5: Cathedral of the Assumption and Sponza Palace

   Cathedral of the Assumption, Sponza Palace and Church of St Blaise, then Banje Beach in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Cathedral of the Assumption

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

   2. Late morning

      Sponza Palace

      Step into the arcaded courtyard even if you skip the exhibitions; it is one of the calmest spots on the Stradun. (30 minutes, low cost).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Ston oysters

      Restaurants in Mali Ston serve them fresh from the bay; some Old Town seafood restaurants also carry them.

   4. Afternoon

      Church of St Blaise

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

   5. Evening

      Banje Beach

      The beach club below Ploče turns into a lounge bar with DJs on summer evenings.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 5 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 15–18 hours of visiting over 5 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
• 4 days in Dubrovnik
• 7 days in Dubrovnik

Questions travellers ask