Last Updated on July 9, 2026 by Maggie McKneely
Planning a trip to Croatia’s Pearl of the Adriatic but are short on time? This guide to spending just one day in Dubrovnik will help you make the most of your time!
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One Day in Dubrovnik
In a country full of gems, it’s truly saying something that Dubrovnik is the crowning glory of Croatia’s coastline. Though once considered Europe’s best kept secret, the “Pearl of the Adriatic” is secret no longer, with hordes of tourists flocking to its narrow medieval streets every summer. With its reputation for crowds, and my own aversion to anything touristy, I did not have high expectations for the city. But after spending one day in Dubrovnik, I get it. With its massive fortified walls, its narrow alleyways, its turquoise water and sunny weather, and very unique history, Dubrovnik lives up to every piece of the hype. If it’s not yet on your bucket list, you need to fix that ASAP!
Unlike some other cities I’ve tried to conquer in just one day (looking at you, Venice and Lisbon), one day in Dubrovnik is actually quite manageable. The old town is small and compact. But you’ll still want to have a plan, both to be efficient with your time and avoid the worst of the crowds. To help you out, here’s my guide for how to spend one day in Dubrovnik!
Table of Contents
Tips for Visiting Dubrovnik
When is the best time to visit Dubrovnik?
Let’s start with the worst time to spend one day in Dubrovnik – absolutely do not plan on visiting Dubrovnik in July and August. Dubrovnik is always busier than most other places in Croatia, but the peak summer months are the worst. Like many old European cities, the streets are small, and Dubrovnik, with its walls, can get even more crowded because there simply is nowhere for people to go. Add to that that there may be 6 or 7 cruise ships coming into port on the same day, and it’s a miserable scenario.
For both nice weather and fewer crowds, aim to visit in April and May or September and October. My mom and I visited in early April during our 10-day trip to Croatia, and it could not have been better! The weather was sunny without being hot, and the crowds were very manageable. I even managed to get quite a few pictures without any other people in them.
Is one day in Dubrovnik enough?
Absolutely! Old Town Dubrovnik is actually quite small; you can walk nearly every street in less than a day, and that’s including the residential streets that you have no reason to visit. Dubrovnik is also the most expensive city in Croatia by far (and they adjust the prices according to the business of the season, so it’s even worse in the summer), so you won’t want to have to eat meals here for too many days. I think that spending one day in Dubrovnik is the right amount of time.
Is there public transportation in Dubrovnik?
Dubrovnik has an excellent bus system that can get you from any neighborhood to the Old Town in a matter of minutes. The orange city bus has 13 lines and costs roughly €2 per ride – tickets can be purchased at each bus stop or from the bus driver. The Dubrovnik Card includes free bus travel for 24 hours, so I recommend getting that if you will be using the bus.
Dubrovnik also has taxis, as well as Uber and Bolt. Croatia is generally very safe, so if you choose to use any of these, you do not need to be overly concerned about some of the taxi scams that are common in other countries.
If you are coming to Dubrovnik with a rental car (as we did), I highly suggest finding accommodations with parking and then using the city’s public transportation to get around. You cannot drive into the old city itself, and finding street parking is very difficult.
Should I get the Dubrovnik Pass?
I definitely recommend getting the Dubrovnik Pass, especially if you’re spending just one day in Dubrovnik. To walk on the top of Dubrovnik’s walls, which you absolutely should do, costs €40. That is not cheap. However, the Dubrovnik Pass includes admission to the walls, public transportation, and admission to over a dozen other museums in the city, for the same cost of €40. So if you plan on walking the walls and riding on public transportation, it’s a no-brainer – get the pass.
Where should I stay when visiting Dubrovnik?
The best place to stay is within the Old Town itself. The chance to experience the city at sunrise and after the daytime tourists have left is unmatched. Many of the buildings are now hotels, such as the lovely Scalini Palace. Just be aware that cars cannot drive into the Old City, so you will have to drag your suitcases several blocks and, in many cases, up several flights of stairs (Dubrovnik has MANY stairs). Something else to keep in mind – the main reason that we did not stay in the Old City is that we had a rental car, and none of the places within the walls have parking (as, again, cars are not permitted).
For a quieter and more affordable stay, consider the neighborhoods of Lapad or Gruz. Both are just a 10-15 minute bus ride from the Old City, but are more family-friendly and slightly more affordable. We stayed at an Airbnb in Lapad and loved it! You could also consider Villa Peragro in Lapad or Apartments Dilberovic in Gruz.
One Day in Dubrovnik Itinerary
City Walls
8AM: Walk Dubrovnik’s City walls!
The most important thing to do if you only have one day in Dubrovnik is to walk along the top of its distinctive walls. These walls have protected the city for centuries, and as recently as the 1990s during the Croatian War for Independence. The city is one of the very few in the world that still has its medieval walls completely intact and getting to take in the views of both the Adriatic Sea and the Old Town from the top of them is an absolutely unforgettable experience.
The catch is that everyone else on the planet wants that experience too, so I recommend being on the walls as soon as they open at 8AM. It can also get very hot later in the day as there is no shade, so the earlier the better. It takes roughly 1.5-2 hours to walk around the entire city, depending on your pace and if you stop in at any of the cafes located along the way. The most convenient entrance is just inside the Pile Gate.
As mentioned above, admission tickets for the walls cost €40. However, if you purchase a Dubrovnik Pass, admission to the walls is included. If you would like to do a guided tour of the walls, this one has the option of purchasing the tour with a Dubrovnik Pass.
Walking along the top of Dubrovnik’s walls
Walking Tour
10AM: Do a walking tour of the old city
Dubrovnik has a long, rich history. It has been fought over by numerous empires, was its own self-governing republic, and was bombarded very recently in the 1990s war. A walking tour will help you better appreciate this much-loved city and how it came to be what it is today.
This statue has lots of secret stories that we learned about on our tour
My mom and I booked this Dubrovnik walking tour and LOVED IT! Our tour guide, Branco, was both hilarious and extremely informative. He talked about everything from Dubrovnik’s founding, their relationship with Venice, how they prevented the Ottomans from conquering them, how communism ruined the city, modern-day politics and over-tourism, and what it was like to live through the 1992 siege. He also gave us the history of the city’s most iconic buildings and some tips on what restaurants to eat at and where to find authentic (not made in China) souvenirs.
Dubrovnik’s Stradun and bell tower
The tour included information about all of the main sites in Dubrovnik, including the Franciscan Monastery (within it’s 14th-century pharmacy), Onofrio’s Foundation, the Rector’s Palace, and the Jesuit Stairs.
Lunch (and gelato!)
Noon: Time to find some lunch
There is no shortage of places to eat within the Old City. Not only can you find traditional Croatian fare, but you can also find pizza, Mexican, sushi – this is a touristy city, after all. My mom and I prefer to eat the local cuisine when we travel, so we ended up at the lovely Portun. I ordered their black risotto, a classic dish in Croatia’s coastal towns, and my mom ordered a fish pasta. Both were divine.
It looks weird, but I PROMISE the black risotto is SO GOOD
Afterward, we went on the hunt for gelato. I’m a big fan of the show “Somebody Feed Phil,” and on his Croatia episode, he visited a gelato shop in Split called Gianni. It just so happens that there is one in Dubrovnik, too, and OH MY WORD I think it’s the best gelato I’ve ever had (coming from a girl who is always seeking out gelato in foreign countries). I got a scoop of both the goat cheese blackberry and the wild orange. I know that both of those sound unusual, but they were so good. I’m still thinking about them and may go back to Croatia purely for more of that gelato.
I’ll get off my gelato tangent now. Next on your one day in Dubrovnik itinerary…..
Museums
Afternoon: Visit some of Dubrovnik’s museums
If you get the Dubrovnik Pass, it includes admission to several of Dubrovnik’s museums. Admittedly, neither myself nor my mom are big fans of museums, but since we already had free admission and some extra time during our one day in Dubrovnik, we decided to check out a few of the places included with our pass.
The first one we went to, and that I recommend, is the Rector’s Palace. In Croatia, a “rector” is actually a governor or mayor of a locality, not a member of the clergy, so you’ll find rector’s palaces all over the country. But the one in Dubrovnik is probably the most famous and most grand. On the ground floor of the building, you’ll find what used to be the prison and now where some of the city’s most priceless artifacts are on display. Upstairs is furniture and artwork acquired by the families who once ruled the city. The building itself is beautiful and, like many locations in Dubrovnik, was a prominent filming location for Game of Thrones.
The original clocktower bell ringers, now in the Rector’s Palace
The second museum we checked out was the House of Marin Drzic. Drzic is to Croatians what Shakespeare is to the English world. He wrote dozens of (apparently) extremely well-known plays that are still performed today. He was born in Dubrovnik in 1508 and you can visit a recreation of his childhood home. While it was interesting to learn more about Drzic himself, this is not a must-visit. However, it only takes about 10 minutes to visit, so if you have the Dubrovnik pass and some spare time, maybe check it out.
The last place we visited is free to everyone and was suggested to us by our tour guide. On the ground floor of Sponza Palace is the Memorial Room of Fallen Dubrovnik Defenders. This exhibit is a tribute to all of those who lost their lives in defense of the city during the war in the 1990s. THere is a plaque for each of them, as well as photos and videos of Dubrovnik during the war. It’s hard to believe so much tragedy and damage rained down on this beautiful place just 30 years ago, and just how much has been restored in that short time.
Inside Sponza Palace
Alternatively, if you’d rather skip the museums, you can take the 15-mintue ferry ride to nearby Lokrum Island (something I looked into but did not end up doing). The ferry leaves roughly every 45 minutes and costs €30. You can check the timetable and purchase tickets here.
On Lokrum Island, there is a nature reserve that includes a Franciscan monastery and a flock of peacocks. There is also the Path to Paradise, a hiking trail that takes you to Fort Royal and the top of the island, offering spectacular views of the Adriatic. If you don’t want to visit on your own, you could take this boat tour that includes visiting Lokrum Island and snorkeling in Betina Cave – sounds like a blast!
Cable Car
Evening: Ride the cable car to the top of Mt. Srd for sunset!
What better way to end one day in Dubrovnik than with an epic sunset overlooking Dubrovnik and the sea?
The current cable car opened in 2010 and takes visitors to the top of Mount Srd in just four minutes. From there, you can get epic views of the old town, as well as the sea and the nearby islands. There is also a restaurant at the top where you can get dinner if you’d like.
The cable car runs from 9 AM to midnight in the summer months. A one-way ticket is €17 and a round-trip ticket is €30. You can walk up and purchase tickets on site, or you can buy them ahead of time online.
While this was on my original itinerary, my mom and I ended up not doing it (I think we were tired and didn’t want to spend another €60). But if I ever make it back to Dubrovnik, this is one of the things I’d most like to do! If you go, you can let me know in the comments if it’s worth it 🙂
Have you spent one day in Dubrovnik or are planning on it? Have any comments or questions? Let me know in the comments or send me a message!
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If you can fit it in, I’d highly recommend visiting one of the nearby islands too (Locrum Island or, if you have an extra day, Korcula).
I wish we had! Locrum was on my list of possible things to do in the afternoon, but we ended up doing other things
I had to Google black risotto Croatia to see what the ingredients were. Certainly doesn’t LOOK appetising, but sounds intriguing.
LOL! Yes it looks terrible but is DELICIOUS!! Risotto and cuttlefish (which is why it’s black, similar to squid ink). Simple but amazing.
I loved Dubrovnik! I also had only one day to visit on my Exodus tour so I walked about 10 miles in the walled city. My favorite part was holding the cats in the plaza. Croatia is wonderful.
Dubrovnik is high on my wish list. I made it to Montenegro last summer, though I spent my time in the south, so it feels like Dubrovnik is just waiting for a future trip.
Montenegro is so beautiful too!! We went to Kotor as a day trip from Dubrovnik and LOVED it
The time of year advice is SO spot on. I went in July and omg…it felt like all of Europe was there! I’ll definitely be following your advice next time around 🙂
My husband and I visited Croatia last year but tried to stay off the beaten path. I would still love to visit Dubrovnik and Split though.
Great guide! I love how you break down exactly when to visit and how to avoid the crowds—that’s so important in Dubrovnik. We visited in shoulder season too, and it made a huge difference. One day really is enough to see the highlights if you plan it well. Super helpful tips, especially about the Dubrovnik Pass!
Absolutely loved my time in Dubrovnik and you make me wanna go back !
Honestly, the tip about avoiding July and August makes so much sense—I can’t imagine dealing with 6 or 7 cruise ships all unloading at once in those tiny streets! I love that you got pictures without people in them during early April, that alone is worth planning around.