Perfect 2-Day Dubrovnik Itinerary (With My Favorite Day Trips)

Day 1 – Exploring Dubrovnik Old Town & City Walls

Morning

I recommend waking up early on your first day in Dubrovnik and starting with the Old Town. Depending on your location, there are 3 ways to access the old town: Vrata od Ploča, Vrata od Buže, and Vrata od Pila.

Vrata od Ploča and Vrata od Pila are connected with the main street of the old town – Stradun. While Vrata od Buže is connected to Stradun with a lot of stairs. The best would be to start with Vrata od Buže or Vrata od Ploča.

I suggest you take a walk on the Stradun, start with St. Blaise’s Church, head to the Franciscan Church and Monastery, and finish with Large Onofrio’s Fountain and Church of St. Salvation. All these places are the main attractions of Dubrovnik, so it gets extremely busy during the day.

Once you are done with the main street, head to Dubrovnik West Harbour via Vrata od Pila. Now it is marked as Art studio GROTTA. Don’t forget to visit Viewpoint Dubrovnik nearby.

Afternoon

From Lovrijenac, follow Ul. Skalini dr. Marka Foteza and use Ala Mizerija as your location on Google Maps. First, you will see Beach Bar Dodo, but you will have to pass it to get to one of the best secret bars in Dubrovnik – Ala Mizerija.

This place is located away from tourists, so it’s a real gem. They serve cool drinks and delicious snacks, but portions are generous, and you can easily have lunch with one or two dishes.

After lunch, I suggest you go back to the Old Town and get lost in the tiny alleys away from the main street. These streets won’t be crowded, and you will be able to escape the hot sun if you are visiting in summer.

You can start at St. Joseph’s Church and follow Ul. Josipa Jurja Strossmayera. Choose the Church of St. Ignatius as your destination, but don’t be afraid to look for some cute corners on your way, because this area is full of hidden gems.

The Church of St. Ignatius is right next to the Jesuit Stairs. And I’m sure this place is familiar in case you are a fan of Game of Thrones. It is going to be crowded here, but it’s on your way, so make sure you don’t miss it.

You can also use some time to rest because you will need some energy for the next activity.

Evening

And now it’s finally time to discover the Walls of Dubrovnik, but there are a few things that you should know before visiting.

First, the entrance fee. Visiting the Walls of Dubrovnik is no longer free. During the regular season, from March 1 to November 30, the price for adults is €40. In the off-season, from January 1 to February 28 and from December 1 to December 31, the price drops to €20.

Opening times are another thing to consider. I believe most of you are visiting Dubrovnik in summer, so you can head to the walls around 5.30 pm. If you are visiting in winter, you can swap the evening itinerary with the afternoon and go to the walls shortly after lunch.

The main entrance is at Pile Gate, but you can also start the walk at the entrance by St Lucas Fortress (St Dominic’s Street) and the entrance by St John’s Fortress.

Unfortunately, the old town of Dubrovnik is filled with a lot of tourist traps when it comes to restaurants. I strongly recommend avoiding those restaurants where the waiter approaches you on the street and checking online recommendations beforehand.

Day 2 – Beaches, Viewpoints & Fun Experiences

Morning

I believe that you might be a bit tired after climbing those Walls of Dubrovnik yesterday, so I want you to take it easy and spend your morning at the beach.

There are a lot of great beaches in Dubrovnik, but I suggest keeping it easy and visiting Banje Beach. It is very close to the old town, and it offers fantastic views of Dubrovnik. Here you can rent a sun bed or bring your own towel.

As an alternative, I can suggest Beach Sveti Jakov, which is rated as one of the most beautiful beaches in Dubrovnik. A true paradise if you ask me. But it is located more than 2 km away from Old Town and requires a lot of stairs. You can either walk for 30 minutes or grab an Uber.

Afternoon

There are some beach bars right on these beaches, but I personally didn’t try them, and the reviews didn’t look promising, so I suggest you head back to your hotel to freshen up and grab a quick bite. After, I want you to try one of the cool experiences that Dubrovnik has to offer.

I know that there are many Game of Thrones fans visiting Dubrovnik, so you should use this time to join The Ultimate Game of Thrones Tour. It’s one of the top things to do in Dubrovnik for the majority of tourists.

If you are visiting in summer and you love staying on the water, you can consider Guided Sea Kayaking Tour with Snack. Maybe you are feeling adventurous? Then the Kojan Koral ATV Quad Safari tour will be perfect for you.

If you are a foodie like me and you want to discover more about local cuisine, I can recommend the Traditional Dalmatian Cooking Class, which takes you to the countryside of Croatia to discover the real flavors.

There are a lot of fun things to do in Dubrovnik, but I know that we are all very different, so I’m sure one of these options will suit your needs.

Evening

I want you to end your Dubrovnik itinerary with some wonderful views over Dubrovnik, and sunset is the best time to do so. You can reach Dubrava Observation Point by cable car or Uber. Uber is cheaper and great for those who are afraid of heights.

Once you are up, you can enjoy the fantastic views and take some amazing Dubrovnik photos. If you are feeling hungry, I can recommend Konoba Dubrava nearby, as it was one of the few traditional restaurants in Dubrovnik.

Best Day Trips From Dubrovnik (If You Have an Extra Day)

If you have some additional time, I highly suggest you take some day trips from Dubrovnik. There are several options and endless tours available, so you are in good hands in case you don’t know how to plan it.

Lopud

My personal highlight is Lopud island and it takes a bit more than one hour on the ferry to get to Lopud island from Dubrovnik. You can visit the Church Holy Mary of Spilice, take a walk on the promenade, arrive at Botanical Gardens, and hang out on the Beach Sunj.

–> Elaphite Island Cruise w/ Drinks & Optional Lunch
–> Elaphiti Island Luxury Pirate Ship Cruise
–> Boat Tour to Kolocep, Lopud, & Sipan Islands
–> Private Boat Island Tour

You can also take the public ferry from Dubrovnik and explore it on your own. You can find all the necessary information here.

Lokrum

Another famous day trip from Dubrovnik is Lokrum. Lokrum offers some spectacular views and raw nature. Make sure you visit the Botanical Garden, the Dead Sea, the Benedictine Monastery, and the famous Buža na Lokrumu. You can reach all these places on foot.

Mostar

You will see Mostar tours all over Dubrovnik. Unlike other two-day trip options that are very relaxed, this requires a lot of time on the road and takes a full day. You can either rent a car or join a group tour.

Montenegro

Then there is Montenegro, and similar to Mostar, it takes an entire day. If you ask me, I don’t think a day trip is enough, considering that Montenegro has a lot to offer, and Kotor is just one of the many places worth visiting.

If you don’t have any extra time, you can find organized day trips here. Alternatively, check out the best things to do in Montenegro and plan your itinerary next.

I would love to hear your thoughts, so if you have any feedback or additional tips, leave a comment below. Also, check out my Instagram for regular travel videos and travel inspiration. Or explore other destinations on this travel blog.