Two Days in Dubrovnik

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through a link, I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you. These commissions help keep this website up and running, and I thank you for your support. Read my full disclosure here.

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post, I paid for this trip myself. All recommendations are my own.

Dubrovnik was the final destination on our amazing two week holiday in Croatia. We had been staying on the peaceful coastal village of Gradac, so drove southwards along the beautiful Croatian coastline to get to Dubrovnik. On the way, we decided to take a detour to Ston on the Beautiful Pelješac Peninsula, so eventually arrived in Dubrovnik late in the afternoon.

After returning our rental car and checking into our accommodation, we headed to Dubrovnik old town to check out the sights. It was a lovely warm autumn evening, and despite being the shoulder season, the town was buzzing with large tourist groups. I can only imagine how busy it must get during the height of summer.

We entered the old town via Pile Gate, the main entrance through the city walls, and headed down the main street, Placa. This medieval city is amazing, as we entered the gates it felt like we were being transported back in time. For Game of Thrones fans, Dubrovnik was the filming location for Kings Landing. So, if you too are a fan of the show, then check out my post Game of Thrones Filming Locations in Dubrovnik.

Dubrovnik is a compact city, and most of the sites are within the city walls. We spent our evening strolling around the harbour and then exploring the maze like cobbled streets and alleys, just letting ourselves get lost. There is just so much history and beautiful architecture to take in, it felt surreal. After building up an appetite, we ended up dining at Zuzori restaurant (1 Ulica Cvijete Zuzoric) which served excellent local wines alongside delicious modern Croatian food.

The following morning we got up early to walk the ancient city walls. There are three entrances to the city walls, Pile Gate, Ploce Gate, and Sv Ivan fort. We entered the wall at Pile gate, as it was the closest to our accommodation. In the summer they open at 8am, and in winter, 9am. It’s worth getting up early to avoid the long queues for the tickets and the large tourist groups on the wall.

Once we walked up the steps to get to the top of the wall, we were immediately rewarded with stunning views of the city, sea, and surrounding area. It was a lovely sunny day and the sun was glistening across ocean. The walls stretch over 1940 m (6365 ft.) and took us about an hour and a half to slowly meander around in an anti-clockwise direction (to avoid crashes, everyone needs to walk in the same direction). There are café’s dotted along the wall (expensive of course) and a maritime museum (entry is not included in your ticket).

Being so high up provided us the opportunity to get a better view of Dubrovnik’s bell tower which features two large bronze figures holding hammers which strike the bell when it rings. The ‘zelenci’ (green twins) are locally known as Maro and Baro. We were lucky to see then at work whilst we were standing across from it.

Fort Minceta was at the end of the circuit, and it is a fantastic place to finish the walk. It is the highest point in the city and you can climb to the very top to get a stunning panorama of the area.

The ticket for the wall also includes entrance to Fort Lovrijenac. So, after a quick snack at Mlinar (Stradun 28) bakery and a water bottle refill at Onophrian Fountain (the local water is nice to drink), we headed across to the fort.

There are 175 steps to get up to the Fortress, so make sure that you have had a gelato or pastry snack to give you the energy. The fort offers splendid views, and has a lovely cove beside it. There’s not a lot else to see and do here, but I did like the piles of canon balls on display. FYI there are bathrooms available here too, just around the corner from the ticket office on the left as you enter.

After visiting Fort Lovrijenac we headed back into the old town to explore and discover the many Game of Thrones filming locations. Finally, exhausted and hungry we headed back outside of the city walls for some pizza. Eating inside the city walls does come at a premium, so if you want to save money, then I suggest you head to the many delicious restaurants just outside of them. We had lunch at Pizzeria Tabasco (Hvarska 48A) which made yummy, reasonably priced pizza.

After a late lunch, we were exhausted from our morning of sightseeing, so had a bit of a rest at our accommodation. Once refreshed, we decided to head up to the cable car to Hill Srđ. The cable car (fees apply) leaves from the north entrance, Buza and takes only a short 3 minutes to get to the top. Alternatively, you can also get to the top via taxi, or by walking up the hill path from the city. We decided to get the cable car up to the top and then walk down via the path.

At the top of the hill were rewarded with magnificent views of the city and coast. If you are looking for refreshment, there is a nice restaurant at the top called Panorama, which we didn’t eat at, but it looked like a lovely romantic place to dine at. There is also a war museum and a few shops including a touristy coin blacksmithing shop.

The walk down took us about an hour. The path surface is loose dirt and gravel, so if you were planning on walking it, then I would recommend wearing some sturdy shoes (good travel sandals would probably be OK). The path is made up of plenty of switchbacks which reduces the steepness. It does get hot though, so take plenty of water with you.

After a rather action packed day, we enjoyed a lovely meal at Restaurant Horizont (Put Od Bosanke 8) where I got to enjoy some lovely black truffle creamy pasta. The seating was perched on each of the steps running up the side of the restaurant which provides lovely views of Ploce gate and the ocean. The waiters must get very fit from running up and down those steps all night serving people.

Sadly, this was not only our final night in Dubrovnik, but also our holiday in Croatia. Be sure to check out my other Croatian holiday posts.

Practical Tips for Visiting Dubrovnik

How long should I visit for? I recommend spending a least an entire day in Drubrovnik in order to see the main sights. However, two days would give you a chance to explore outside of the city walls.
Dubrovnik City walls: The ticket will get you entry to both the ancient city walls and also Lovrijenac Fortress. Try to get to the city walls early in the morning to avoid the queues and crowds.
Language: Croatian. Although most people we came across spoke English in the tourist areas. However, do try your hand at a few Croatian words:
- Yes = Da (da)
- No = Ne (ne)
- Please = Molim (MOH-leem)
- Thank you = Hvala (HVAH-lah)
- Hello = Bok (bohk)
Currency: Croatian Kuna
Tipping: Not required, but people usually round up.
Electricity: The electrical current is 230 volts AC. Wall outlets generally take the European two round prong plugs. However, you are better off purchasing a worldwide adaptor that can be used in Croatia as well other countries. At least then you can potentially get some further use out of it on future vacations. If you’re taking a number of electronics with you, then I would recommend purchasing a couple of these adaptors.
Navigating: We used Google’s free Offline Maps. Google Offline Maps allows you to access free maps for navigating that can be used offline i.e. you don’t need WIFI, data, or roaming to be able to use them. Follow this detailed guide on how to use Googles Offline Maps. Using your phone as a GPS will drain your battery quickly, so use a portable battery charger which you can use to charge your phone and any other USB chargeable devices. If you prefer a paper map, then purchase a Croatian road map before you go. At least it’s reliable and won’t run out of battery or malfunction like the electronic options!