Things to do in Dubrovnik - 16 sights and experiences

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: August 2026 | What is there to see and do in Dubrovnik? The historic city on the Adriatic Sea offers impressive city walls, palaces, churches, swimming, boat trips and fantastic views. The old town is on the UNESCO World Heritage List and is an attraction in itself. Here we have collected 16 things to see and do in Dubrovnik, plus practical tips for your visit.

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Dubrovnik in Croatia

Situated on the Adriatic Sea at the bottom of southern Croatia, Dubrovnik is one of the country's most famous historic cities. For centuries, the city was the center of the independent Republic of Ragusa, which developed into a significant trading and maritime nation.

The walled old town is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here you will find historic palaces and churches, narrow alleys, the famous main street Stradun and the almost two-kilometer-long city wall.

Dubrovnik was severely damaged during the siege of 1991–1992, during the Croatian War of Independence, but the historic city center has been restored.

What is there to see and do in Dubrovnik?

We have visited Dubrovnik with our campervan, and here we have collected our best tips on what you can see and do in the city.

1. Walking around the Dubrovnik city walls

The old town of Dubrovnik is surrounded by a massive stone wall up to six metres high. The wall is around two kilometres long and up to 25 metres high at its highest points. Construction of the wall began in the 7th century, with major additions in the 15th and 16th centuries.

Dubrovnik's city walls are very well preserved and are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For a fee, you can climb the walls and walk around the entire city, while getting a nice view of both the city and the surrounding sea. There are three different climbs, including at the main gate, Pile Gate.

2. Travel back in time on the Stradun pedestrianised street.

Inside the great city walls, you are greeted by the long and impressive Stradun pedestrianised street. The street is lined with marble, and walking on the shiny surface is almost like stepping inside a mighty building.

The street is lined with beautiful houses with fine shutters, and there are also plenty of shops and cafés. At the end of the street, you'll find Loggia Square (Luza Square), which used to be the city's commercial centre.

3. See and experience the historic Rector's Palace.

If you want to see one of the many magnificent sights in Dubrovnik, check out the Rector's Palace, located on Loggiata (Luza) Square. The so-called Rector of Dubrovnik was a kind of mayor of the city, and in the beautiful palace you can see many different artefacts. The basement also contains the more sinister dungeons.

4. Open your senses in the Church of St Blasius

Also on Loggiata Square is the Church of St Blasius, built in the Baroque style in the early 18th century. The church is dedicated to the patron saint, St Blasius, who is statue on the altar.

5. Discover the beautiful Sponza Palace.

The Sponza Palace, or Divona, is a listed palace built in the early 16th century. The palace has both Gothic and Renaissance features and a beautiful courtyard.

6. Admire the unique Onofrio Fountains

Onofrio's fountains consist of a larger and a smaller fountain, which were once part of the city's water system. The larger fountain is located inside the Arrow Gate and the smaller fountain is located at the end of the Stradun pedestrian street.

7. Get inspired by the beautiful Franciscan monastery.

Located inside the city walls, the Franciscan Monastery is a 14th century convent with a beautiful courtyard. It also houses a museum of art and antiques. You can also see a shell hole commemorating 6 December 1991 when the siege of Dubrovnik began.

The old pharmacy of the Franciscan monastery, Stara ljekarna, is one of the oldest in Europe still in use. The pharmacy is said to have been founded at the same time as the monastery in 1317, and has been in continuous use ever since.

8. See the Cathedral in Dubrovnik

The Cathedral of Dubrovnik, or Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary as it is actually called, is a listed cathedral. The cathedral is the fourth church on the same site, and another of the many attractions in Dubrovnik. The cathedral contains a treasury with reliquaries, paintings and various religious artefacts.

9. Discover Dubrovnik's Old Port

Dubrovnik's old harbour is nicely situated between the Revelin and St. John fortresses. In the past, this was a busy harbour for fishing boats and boats carrying goods, but today it is home to the boats that take tourists to different islands. There are also a few restaurants with nice outdoor seating.

10. Swimming and sunbathing on cliffs and beaches

Many people may take trips to the islands and resorts around Dubrovnik to swim, but you can also rock swim in the centre of the old town on the Adriatic Sea.

• Banji beach
• Buže
• Sulici
• St James
• Pasjaca Plaza Beach

There are also plenty of cliffs everywhere, which people use to enjoy the sun and sea. If you want to find even more beaches, you can take boat trips out to the surrounding islands.

11. Ride the cable car up Mount Srđ

Just outside Dubrovnik's city walls, a cable car runs high up on Mount Srđ behind the city. From here you have probably the most amazing view of the city, the sea and the islands. Up here you'll also find a museum about the 1990s war of independence and a café.

12. Explore the Lovrijenac Fortress

The fortress of Lovrijenac, or the Fortress of St. Lawrence as it is known in stage language, is dramatically situated on a cliff 37 metres above sea level outside the Old Town of Dubrovnik. The fortress was probably built in 1018, but is first mentioned in history in the 14th century. The fortress has sometimes served as a film set for 'The Red Keep' in the TV series Game of Thrones, but is interesting to see even if you don't follow the show.

13. Take a trip to the island of Lokrum

Just 600 meters from the port of Dubrovnik, in the beautiful southern archipelago, lies the uninhabited island and nature reserve of Lokrum. The vegetation is exotic and is under the protection of UNESCO. Here you will find, among other things, an old church from the 12th century, a monastery from the 15th century, a botanical garden and great opportunities for sunbathing and swimming.

Snorkelling or kayaking around the beautiful island, there's also a nude beach for those who want to be naked, or a saltwater lake on the island for non-swimming children. Head to the highest point on the island to an old French star-shaped fortress from 1806, where you'll have a great view of Dubrovnik.

14. Take a trip to the Elaphiti Islands

Dubrovnik is a good starting point for boat trips to various islands in the Croatian archipelago. Just outside Dubrovnik is the Elafiti Islands archipelago, which includes 13 islands, including Šipan, Koločep (Kalamota) and Lopud. The famous Sunj beach is located on the island of Lopud.

For example, there are boat trips to Lopud and Koločep, where you can find nice beaches. An hour's boat journey can take you to the island of Korčula, which has a nice town and is said to be the birthplace of Marco Polo.

15. Take selfies at famous Game of Thrones filming locations

If you like the TV series Game of Thrones? If so, you'll find a whole bunch of interesting sights in Dubrovnik. These include several scenes from King's Landing. Scenes from the magical city of Quarth were filmed at the Rector's Palace, Minčeta Fortress and on the island of Lokrum, and scenes from Red Keep were filmed at Fort Lovrijenac (St Lawrence Fortress).

If you wish, you can book special guided tours that take you to the main filming locations of the series.

16. Taste Croatian food

In Dubrovnik and Croatia, you can eat a lot of fish and seafood. For example, it is common for restaurants to serve grilled fish, preferably with potatoes mixed with chard. Here are some Croatian specialties that you might want to try:

• Cevapcici - spiced minced meat patties
• Aivar - paprika, used as an accompaniment to various meat and minced meat dishes.
• Blitva - chard with potatoes and garlic, often served with grilled fish
• Pršut - air-dried smoked ham
• Paski sir - aged good cheese from the island of Pag
• Truffles - in Croatia there are both black and white truffles

Can you camp in Dubrovnik?

The most centrally located campsite is the large Solitudo campsite. At this nice campsite you will find both a beach and a pool, as well as fresh shower rooms, a shop and a restaurant. From here you can easily get back and forth to Dubrovnik with regular buses.

What else can you see in Croatia?

Travelling around Croatia by car or camper van, or able to make excursions from Dubrovnik? Here are some more great places to visit within a reasonable distance. You can also travel to Kotor in Montenegro or Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

• Brac with its charming villages, crystal clear waters and the famous Zlatni Rat beach.
• Split is a historic city where you'll find everything from sightseeing and shopping to great boat trips.
• Trogir is a Unesco World Heritage Site with a beautiful historic centre and narrow charming alleys.