Free things to do · Dubrovnik · Croatia
5 free things to do in Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Américo Toledano, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
You can fill at least 2 days in Dubrovnik without paying an entry fee: Stradun, Cathedral of the Assumption, Church of St Blaise and Old Port are all free. The Dubrovnik Pass bundles the walls with the Rector's Palace and other museums plus bus rides, and usually costs little more than the walls ticket alone.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 5
- Low-cost extras
- 6
- Cost level
- Expensive
- Lowest hotel prices
- January–February
Free sights and experiences
Street · Old Town (Stari Grad)
1.Stradun
Walk it before 9am or after 9pm to see it without cruise-day crowds; the stone is slippery after rain.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Architecture
- After dark
- Photo spot
Religious site · Old Town (Stari Grad)
2.Cathedral of the Assumption
The cathedral itself is free; the treasury has a small fee and is worth it for the reliquaries.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
Religious site · Old Town (Stari Grad)
3.Church of St Blaise
Look closely at the model in the saint's hand to spot buildings that no longer exist.
- Time needed
- 20 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
Waterfront · Old Town (Stari Grad)
4.Old Port
Sit on the breakwater in the late afternoon for views of the walls and boats coming in from Lokrum.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Photo spot
- Views
Park · Pile
5.Gradac Park
Come in the early evening for soft light on the walls and Lovrijenac.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Off the beaten path
- Outdoors
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Old Town (Stari Grad) | Stradun, Cathedral of the Assumption, Church of St Blaise and Old Port | 30 minutes + 30 minutes + 20 minutes + 45 minutes |
| Pile | Gradac Park | 30 minutes |
Worth a small ticket
Religious site · Old Town (Stari Grad)
Franciscan Monastery and old pharmacy
Visit right after the walls, since the entrance is at the foot of the Pile Gate stairway.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
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Palace · Old Town (Stari Grad)
Sponza Palace
Step into the arcaded courtyard even if you skip the exhibitions; it is one of the calmest spots on the Stradun.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
Religious site · Old Town (Stari Grad)
Dominican Monastery
It is usually much quieter than the Franciscan monastery at the other end of the Stradun.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Rainy day
Gallery · Old Town (Stari Grad)
War Photo Limited
Allow time to read the captions; the photographs are powerful and not suitable for young children.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Art
Religious site · Old Town (Stari Grad)
Dubrovnik Synagogue
The entrance is easy to miss; look for the small sign on Žudioska, a lane leading north from the Stradun.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Rainy day
Experience · Old Town (Stari Grad)
Buža cliff bars
Arrive well before sunset to get a ledge seat, and pay attention to the steep, uneven rocks.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Couples
- Views
- After dark
- Off the beaten path
More ways to save
- The Dubrovnik Pass bundles the walls with the Rector's Palace and other museums plus bus rides, and usually costs little more than the walls ticket alone.
- Stay in Lapad, Babin Kuk or Gruž and take the bus in; rooms cost much less than inside the walls.
- Eat away from the Stradun and the Old Port, where prices are highest.
- Swim from the free rocks and public beaches instead of renting sunbeds at beach clubs.
- Visit in May, early June or late September for lower hotel rates than in July and August.
- Buy picnic supplies at the Gruž market or a supermarket before a day on Lokrum.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Dubrovnik expensive to visit?
Dubrovnik is expensive for most visitors, but 5 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in Dubrovnik?
Stradun: Walk it before 9am or after 9pm to see it without cruise-day crowds; the stone is slippery after rain.