Cruise life Shore Experiences Mediterranean

A perfect day in Dubrovnik

Any day in this captivating Croatian city is a day well spent. From coffee to cable cars, here’s how to get the most out of your time in Dubrovnik

5 min 27 Sep 2024

Editorial Team

Author

One look at Dubrovnik and you’ll understand why it’s called the ‘pearl of the Adriatic’. The city is fairy-tale pretty: century-spanning architecture, cobbled streets and terracotta rooftops surrounded by impeccably preserved city walls and the sparkling Adriatic beyond are so idyllic, at times it feels like you’ve stumbled into a film set. Once your feet are back on solid ground, here are a few tips to help you plot your picture-perfect day.

View all cruises to Dubrovnik here.

1. 9am: Walk through the Pile Gate

There are a few ways to enter the Old Town, but none more iconic than through the main entrance, the Pile Gate. What was once a wooden drawbridge has now (rather reasonably) been replaced with a stone footbridge that takes you across a garden (formerly a moat) before you pass under a 16th-century archway and into the Old Town and to the Stradun, the main street. On your way in, look up to see a statue of statue of the city’s patron saint, St Blaise. (For fans of the TV series Game of Thrones, this is the first of many recognisable filming spots.)

2. 9.30am: Coffee at Cogito

Grabbing a morning brew at Cogito isn’t your typical café experience – this is your daily caffeine fix, Dubrovnik style. The bijou café is tucked town a quiet, cobbled street in the heart of the Old Town, under a medieval arch with its door and window carved into the stone walls. And what they brew up is just as special – espresso, filter and cold brew coffee made with responsibly traded beans roasted at their sister site in Zagreb, plus a selection of organic fair-trade teas, too. Grab a cup, sit on the bench outside and watch the morning unfold.

Address: Stajeva ul. 5, 20000, Dubrovnik.

Three young friends drinking coffee in a sidewalk cafÃ© in Dubrovnik, Croatia.

3. 10am: Explore the Old Town

Once you’re suitably caffeinated, spend a few hours exploring the many jewels of the perfectly preserved Old Town. Start by following your ears to the clock tower, where the bronze statues of warriors Maro and Baro ring the bells that will become the soundtrack to your visit. Turn your head and you’ll see the Baroque Church of Saint Blaise; head inside to find a statue of him holding a model of Dubrovnik as it looked before the earthquake in 1667. Turn again and you’ll find Sponza Palace, a beautiful Gothic/Renaissance building that houses the state archives. A five-minute stroll down the Stradun brings you to the Franciscan monastery with its cool cloisters, which houses one of the oldest pharmacies in Europe. Or just stroll the cobbled streets and revel in the sweet agony of choosing where to buy gelato – a tough decision, but you can’t go wrong with either Peppino’s or Gianni.

Statue of Saint Blaise on top of the facade of the baroque Church of St. Blaise in the old city of Dubrovnik. The saint shows in his left hand a scale model of the Romanesque church which was destroyed by the earthquake in 1667.

4. 1pm: Lunch at Gradska Kavana Arsenal

With the Old Harbour as its backdrop on one side and atmospheric Old Town streets on the other, Gradska Kavana Arsenal Restaurant and Bar might just be the most beautifully set restaurant in Dubrovnik. And though it could probably get away with resting on its laurels based on that location alone, fortunately it doesn’t – the menu is just as appealing. Grab a table on the terrace and dive into beautifully presented, flavour-packed seafood dishes such as octopus salad with capers, purple onion and tomatoes; or a creamy bowl of truffle and mushroom linguine, all washed down with a glass of crisp Croatian Malvasija.

Address: Ul. Pred Dvorom 1, 20000, Dubrovnik

Fresh mix of seafood served on wooden platter

5. 2.30pm: Ride the cable car

Get the lay of the land from Mount Srd, the low mountain that forms Dubrovnik’s dramatic backdrop. A smooth ride of just three-and-a-half minutes whisks you from the cable car station to the top of the hill, where you can get a bird’s-eye view of the city’s iconic terracotta rooftops, the entirety of the 2-kilometre-long city walls, the islands dotting the coastline and the gemstone-blue Adriatic stretching as far as the eye can see. Grab a cold drink at the restaurant at the summit; from there you could zip back down in another few minutes on the cable car, or if you want to extend those views, it’s a 40-minute walk back downhill.

Top shore excursion recommendation: Cable car and Cavtat

Soar above Dubrovnik's iconic Old Town on a thrilling cable car ride. Take in panoramic city views and peaceful countryside before descending to charming Cavtat. Explore this Adriatic gem with its stunning beaches, historic architecture, and vibrant atmosphere. Relax with a coffee or gelato as you soak up the Mediterranean charm.

Find out more here.

Aerial panoramic view of the old town of Dubrovnik with famous Cable Car on Srd mountain on a sunny day with blue sky and clouds in summer, Dalmatia, Croatia

6. 3.30pm: Sightsee, swim or snap pics at West Harbour

Before bidding farewell to Dubrovnik, get a glimpse of it from what is quite possibly the most beautiful angle at West Harbour, just a short walk from Pile Gate. Wander down to the waterfront and stroll down the stone pier, then hike up the pine-scented hill to the side of Fort Lovrijenac, a defensive fort thought to date back to the 11th century, and look out to see a truly breathtaking view of the city surrounded by kayakers and bobbing boats in the harbour. On the other side of the fort is Šulić beach – if you come prepared for a swim (we recommend water shoes, too), you could even wander down and join the locals for a cooling dip off the rocks.

Address: Ul. Kralja Petra Krešimira IV. 10A, 20000, Dubrovnik