Dubrovnik Top 5 Activities

Dubrovnik is an enchanting place in the far southern tip of Croatia, titled 'Pearl of the Adriatic'. The city is well known for it's limestone paved old town and stone walls, however, many also visit for its connection to the 'Game of Thrones' series film set. Since visiting in summer 2022, we have decided on our top five activities to do if you are staying in or nearby Dubrovnik Old Town. This post gives you some useful information for each activity.

Walking the walls of the town
Cable car up Mount Srd
A day at a nearby beach
Kayaking to Betina Cave beach
Day trip to Lokrum Island

1. Walking the Old Town walls

Before coming to Dubrovnik, I had read that walking the walls was not worth the money, but they couldn't have been more wrong! This was high up on my favourite activities from the trip. You'll see stunning views of the Adriatic Sea, a variety of rooftops and terraces, and get a glimpse into the old cobbled streets as well as busy squares from above. Here is some useful information to have before going:

Price - Adult 250 Kunas, Children 100 Kunas. Tickets can only be purchased in Croatian Kunas. Since coming home I've learnt about the 'Dubrovnik 1 Day Pass' which includes the wall walk for 225 Kunas.
Timing - Allow 1 to 2 hours to walk the walls. It is approx. a 1.9km around, and you will want to stop to admire the scenery and take lots of pictures.
Where to buy - You can purchase tickets at the city wall entrances, the main one being near the Stradun from Pile Gate.
Summer months - If you're visiting the city in June, July or August be aware of the high day temperatures, and try and walk the walls early in the morning, or later in the evening. This can also help with avoiding the crowds.

2. Cable car up Mount Srd

The cable car experience is a must when visiting Dubrovnik! You get the most amazing views over the city, and Lokrum Island as shown here. The Old Town appears so small from above, its astonishing when you realise how high the cable car goes. At the top there is the Panorama Restaurant & Bar that serve food and drink all day every day. If we were to visit the city again we would definitely book this place for dinner as the sun setting behind the Old Town would be amazing to see. We visited during mid morning and we were lucky enough to get a front row table for a refreshing drink. Here is some useful information to have before going:

Price - Adult 200 Kuna round trip, Adult 110 Kuna one way trip, Children 50 Kuna round trip, Children 30 Kuna one way trip.
Where to buy - There are many vendors across the city selling tickets (all at the same price). You don't usually have to book in advance as cable cars are running almost all day every few minutes. We purchased tickets at the shop just beyond the north facing city gate, and walked straight up to the cable car waiting area.
Summer months - If you're visiting the city in June, July or August be aware of the high day temperatures and remember to take water with you as the wait for the cable car can be long sometimes!
Panorama Restaurant - If visiting the Panorama Restaurant is important to you, we would advise booking a table as we were just very fortunate to be able to get seated.

3. A day at a nearby beach

Sometimes the hustle and bustle of the Old Town with its cruise ship related crowds can get a bit much, and you may just want a day to relax. Luckily Dubrovnik has a few nearby beaches to enjoy, the one pictured here Plaza Banje has views of the Old Town Port, as well as a modern, lively beach restaurant. You can hire sunbeds, parasols and towels at this beach. However, due to its proximity to the Old Town it is a bit on the pricier side. Another beach we visited is further down the coast, Plaza Sveti Jakov. This beach is famous for having pretty purple parasols. From the city it is about a 20-25 minute walk along the coastal road, or a 5-10 minute taxi drive. Upon arrival there is a steep staircase down to the beach to be aware of. This beach also has a great sea view restaurant and bar, and it is overall a cheaper experience than Plaza Banje.

4. Kayaking to Betina Cave Beach

There is no better way to see and feel the magnificence of the old city walls than from the sea. Kayaking is a really fun way to experience this, and you get the added bonus of a workout! We would recommend the kayaking tours that start at Bokar Beach to get the best views of the city walls. Betina Cave is south of the city, and can only be accessed from the sea. Once inside there is a shaded beach to relax and have a break. The cave itself is an impressive photo opportunity. This photo was taken from Divovici Beach. On a calm day you could get away with swimming from here to the cave, however there are no lifeguards on duty in the area. If you don't fancy a guided kayak tour you can also simply hire kayaks at Bokar Beach. This gives you the freedom to venture wherever you like. Here is some useful information to have:

Price - Kayaking tours lasting 2-3 hours cost about £30-35 each per adult. If you decide to just hire kayaks, the price will depend on the duration, 150 Kuna (£17.50) = 1 hour, 230 Kuna (£26.50) = 2 hours, 290 Kuna (£33.50) = 3 hours.
Where to buy - Most kayak tours and general hire start at Bokar Beach. If you wish to book in advance there are vendors selling tickets at the Old Port. Many vendors here also sell boat trip and ferry tickets.
The activity - Kayaking can be a strenuous activity that requires some upper body strength. Although you will be provided with life jackets, knowing how to swim will help with your overall confidence on the water. In the summer months you will have to apply lots of sun screen and wear a hat or cap!

5. Day trip to Lokrum Island

Lokrum stands 600 metres away from Dubrovnik, and is the main island that can be seen from the city. Visiting Lokrum makes for a great day trip out. There are many activities to do on the island: The Botanical Gardens, Benedictine Monastery ruins, sunbathing and swimming, play volleyball or football, take a look at the fire station, have a bite to eat at one of the island cafes, bars or restaurants, hike around the island, and finally, take a dip in the Dead Sea water hole, however, watch out for anemones! So yes, there is a lot to get up to here for both adults and children. Here is some useful information to have before visiting:

Price - A ticket to Lokrum from the Old Town Port costs 150 Kuna each (£17.50).
Where to buy - Tickets can be purchased on the day from the large green door in the port area. We thought we had to book in advance, but when we approached the staff they said to book on the day as the ferry runs so often there is rarely a long wait.
Timing - You can spend as long as you wish on the island during the day. We would recommend arriving early as possible the island can get very busy, especially during the summer months. The ferry ride is a quick 15 minutes.

I hope you liked reading this post and that it gave you an insight into what to get up to in the Dubrovnik area.