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How many days in Dubrovnik? 3 days around the cruise-ship crowds
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Dubrovnik's walled Old Town is only about 500 metres across, but between 10:00 and 16:00 on cruise days it is one of the most crowded places in Europe. Three days lets you see it at the right hours: the city walls at 8:00, the lanes in the evening, and the middle of the day on Lokrum, a beach or a boat. The third day goes out of town: the car-free Elaphiti islands, the oyster town of Ston, or the Bay of Kotor in Montenegro.
Short answer
Two days covers the walls, the Old Town, Lokrum and the cable car. The third adds a day trip, which is where you will find the quiet Adriatic.
The 3-day plan, day by day
Day 1: The walls and the Old Town
Morning. Walk the city walls as soon as they open (8:00 in summer). The ticket is one of the most expensive in Europe, about €35-40, and includes Fort Lovrijenac outside the walls. The full circuit is 2 km and takes about 2 hours, with steep steps; walk anticlockwise from Pile Gate.
Afternoon. Avoid the Old Town between 11:00 and 16:00 on cruise days. Have lunch outside the walls or on the shaded terraces of Ploče, then swim at Banje beach just beyond the eastern gate.
Evening. Return at 17:00 when the ships leave. Walk the Stradun, the polished limestone main street, and see the Rector's Palace, the Franciscan Monastery with one of Europe's oldest working pharmacies (1317) and the Dominican Monastery. At sunset, have a drink at Buža, a bar on the rocks outside the walls, reached through a small hole in the wall.
The city publishes cruise-ship arrival times. Check them and plan your Old Town hours around the quiet days.
Day 2: Lokrum and Mount Srđ
Morning. Take the ferry from the Old Port to Lokrum (about 15 minutes; ticket with island entry about €25-30), a nature reserve with peacocks, a ruined Benedictine monastery, botanical gardens and a small salt lake called the Dead Sea. No one may stay overnight.
Afternoon. Swim from the rocks on Lokrum's south side, then return mid-afternoon. Visit the War Photo Limited gallery off Stradun, about the wars of the 1990s, or simply rest.
Evening. Take the cable car up Mount Srđ (about €25-27 return) for sunset over the Old Town and the Elaphiti islands. The Homeland War Museum in the fortress at the top explains the 1991-92 siege. Walking down the switchback path takes about 45 minutes.
Game of Thrones fans will recognise Lovrijenac (King's Landing's Red Keep) and the Jesuit Staircase, where Cersei's walk of shame began.
Day 3: Day trip: Elaphiti islands, Ston or Kotor
Morning. For the Elaphiti islands, take the public Jadrolinija ferry from Gruž port to Lopud (about 50 minutes, a few euros): a car-free island with the sandy Šunj beach, a 30-minute walk across the island. Koločep and Šipan are on the same line.
Afternoon. Or drive or take a tour 1 hour north to Ston, whose 5.5 km of medieval walls are Europe's longest after Hadrian's Wall, and eat oysters from the Mali Ston bay for about €2-3 each.
Evening. Or go south to the Bay of Kotor in Montenegro (about 2 hours each way plus the border, longer in summer) for its walled old town and fjord-like bay; take your passport.
The Kotor trip loses a lot of time at the border in July and August. In high season, the islands or Ston are a more relaxing choice.
Only have 2 days?
With 2 days, do Day 1, then Lokrum in the morning and the cable car at sunset on Day 2. You lose the day trip.
Got extra days?
On a 4th day, go to Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina (about 2.5-3 hours) for the Old Bridge, or take a ferry to Mljet's national park, with two saltwater lakes and a monastery on an islet.
Where to stay in Dubrovnik
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Lapad / Gruž | Cheaper, beaches and the ferry port, 10-15 minutes by bus to the Old Town. | €80-140 |
| Mid-range | Ploče | 5 minutes' walk to the Old Town, views back to the walls, Banje beach. | €150-260 |
| Mid-range | Old Town apartments | Atmospheric, but many steps and noisy in the day. | €150-280 |
| Comfort | Cliff hotels in Ploče and Lapad | Sea-view terraces and private bathing platforms. | €300-700 |
Getting around
The Old Town is pedestrian-only and full of steps. Libertas city buses link Pile Gate with Gruž port and Lapad (about €2 a ride, cheaper with a pass). From the airport, 20 km south, the shuttle bus takes about 30 minutes for around €10. Parking near the Old Town is very expensive; if you rent a car, collect it only for day trips.
What to eat in Dubrovnik
Dalmatian food is simple and seafood-based: black risotto (crni rižot, with cuttlefish ink), grilled fish priced by the kilo (ask first), buzara (mussels or scampi in white wine and garlic), and pašticada, slow-cooked beef in wine and prunes. Ston's oysters and Pelješac's Plavac Mali red wine are local pride. For dessert, try rozata, Dubrovnik's crème caramel. Restaurants inside the walls are expensive; mains cost €20-35 there and €12-20 in Lapad and Gruž. Gruž's morning market sells fruit, figs and dried lavender.
Best time to visit
May, June, September and early October, with highs of 22-27°C and warm sea. July and August are hot (around 30°C) and the busiest, with the Dubrovnik Summer Festival (10 July to 25 August) of theatre and music in the Old Town. From November to March, many restaurants close but the walls are almost empty.
Month-by-month weather for Dubrovnik →
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | €45 | €100 | €230 |
| Food & drink | €25 | €50 | €100 |
| Sights & boats | €25 | €50 | €80 |
| Local transport | €4 | €10 | €40 |
| Total per person, per day | about €100 | about €210 | about €450 |
Approximate 2026 high-season prices in euros (Croatia adopted the euro in 2023). Dubrovnik charges a tourist tax of a few euros per person per night.
Before you go
Common questions
Is the Dubrovnik Pass worth it?
It includes the city walls, several museums and local buses. Because the walls alone cost about the same, it is worth it if you also use the buses or visit the museums.
How do I avoid the crowds?
Walk the walls at 8:00, check the cruise-ship schedule, and spend 11:00-16:00 on Lokrum, a beach or a boat.
Can I swim in Dubrovnik?
Yes: Banje beach by the Old Town, the rocks below the walls near Buža, Lokrum, and the beaches of Lapad. The water is clear and warm from June.
Is a day trip to Kotor worth it?
Yes outside peak season. In July and August, the border queues can add 1-2 hours each way.
Where is the best photo of the Old Town?
From the walls near the Minčeta Tower (the highest point of the circuit), from the cable-car terrace on Mount Srđ, and from the road above Ploče at sunrise. The view from Fort Lovrijenac back towards the walls is the classic Game of Thrones angle.
How this guide was made
Written by hand, without AI, from experience planning Adriatic trips. Prices are approximate for 2026; confirm on the official Dubrovnik city walls, Lokrum, Dubrovnik Cable Car, Libertas and Jadrolinija websites before booking.
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