The Perfect One Day in Dubrovnik Itinerary

When I first arrived in Dubrovnik, I completely understood why it’s the most famous destination in Croatia. The Old Town feels like stepping into another world, with its marble streets, towering stone walls, and endless views of the Adriatic.

Even though I only had one full day to explore Dubrovnik, I was able to see all the main highlights and get a feel for the city’s history, beauty, and charm. So if you’re a solo traveler with limited time, here’s exactly how you should spend one day in Dubrovnik.

About Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik is one of Croatia’s most historic and well-preserved medieval cities. It was once the capital of the Republic of Ragusa, a powerful maritime state that rivaled Venice in trade, diplomacy, and wealth. The Old Town you see today, from the stone walls to the terracotta rooftops, has survived earthquakes, wars, and centuries of change.

Dubrovnik’s popularity skyrocketed even more after being featured as King’s Landing in Game of Thrones. But honestly, I’m not a big fan of the show and still found the city incredibly impressive. So whether you’re visiting Dubrovnik to check out some Game of Thrones filming spots or just want to experience the beauty and history of the city, you will not be disappointed.

Is Dubrovnik Good for Solo Travelers?

Yes, Dubrovnik is a great destination for solo travelers! It’s safe, walkable, and full of travelers from all over the world. Here are a few reasons why Dubrovnik works well for solo travelers:

• It’s very safe: I felt comfortable walking alone through Old Town Dubrovnik, even late at night. I walked back to my hostel from a bar at around 10:30 pm, and the whole area was well-lit and lively.
• The Old Town is compact and walkable: Everything you’ll want to see in Dubrovnik – the walls, beaches, squares, and viewpoints – is within short walking distance. No need for public transportation or taxis.
• It’s extremely social: Dubrovnik attracts solo travelers from around the world. I was able to make friends during a walking tour and at my hostel.
• There are plenty of solo-friendly activities: The walls, beaches, museums, and island day trips can all be done easily on your own.

One thing to keep in my if solo travelling on a budget is that Dubrovnik is expensive. It was the most expensive place I visited in Croatia, which is why I only stayed 2 nights. Food, hostels, and activities (especially the city walls) can add up fast. But if you plan ahead and prioritize the main attractions, it’s definitely manageable for budget travelers.

How Many Days Should You Spend in Dubrovnik?

This itinerary is proof that one day is enough to see the highlights of Dubrovnik. You can walk the famous walls, explore the Old Town, visit a couple museums, and enjoy a beach, all in one day without feeling rushed.

However, if you have the time in your itinerary, I recommend spending at least 2 or 3 full days exploring Dubrovnik. There are a few things in particular I wish I had time to do, like kayaking around the walls, riding the cable car up to Mount Srđ, and taking a day trip to Lokrum Island.

You can even use Dubrovnik as a base for exploring other countries, like Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro. Check out these tours and add them to your itinerary if you have the time!

So if your itinerary allows, you can spend a week in Dubrovnik and have plenty to do! But there are many other great cities in Croatia that you can explore as well, such as Zadar and Hvar.

How to Get to Dubrovnik

Internationally:
Dubrovnik Airport (DBV) has flights from all over Europe. The airport is about 30 minutes from the Old Town by bus or Uber.

From Split:
Take a bus from Split to Dubrovnik (around 4–5 hours). Although it’s long, the route is beautiful, with coastal views.

From Hvar:
Ferries run between Hvar Town and Dubrovnik during high season (around 3 hours). This is how I arrived to Dubrovnik.

From Montenegro:
There are buses running from Kotor and Budva to Dubrovnik (2-3 hours). Keep in mind that the trip involves a border crossing, which sometimes takes a while. On my way from Dubrovnik to Montenegro, the border crossing added about an hour to the journey.

Use Omio to check prices and buy tickets to Dubrovnik from where ever you are coming from:

Where to Stay in Dubrovnik

As I said earlier, Dubrovnik is expensive. Even in May (not even peak season) hostel dorms were all over €40 per night. Private hotel rooms will cost closer to €100 per night.

I chose to stay at Love Dubrovnik Hostel, which had great reviews and female-only dorms. The price was around €50 per night, which is a bit over my budget, but I was happy to splurge on a highly-rated hostel. The location was perfect, just outside the city walls and within walking distance to everything. The best part was that my room had a balcony with an unbelievable view of the city.

Here are some other affordable hostels & hotels for solo travelers in Dubrovnik

• Hostel Angelina Old Town – Social, perfect location inside the Old Town
• Dubrovnik Backpackers Club – Located outside the Old Town but very affordable
• Villa Sigurata – A quiet guesthouse in a great location in the Old Town

Making the Most of Your Day With the Dubrovnik Pass

The biggest must-do in Dubrovnik is walking the City Walls, which cost €40. I know, it’s pricey, but it is absolutely worth it. Getting to see the Old Town, the ocean, and the whole city from the walls was one of the coolest things I did in all of Croatia.

Thankfully, your €40 ticket doesn’t have to just include the walls. You can purchase the Dubrovnik Pass instead, which costs the same amount and includes:

• The City Walls
• Lovrjenac Fortress
• Rector’s Palace
• Maritime Museum
• Ethnographic Museum
• Natural History Museum
• Friars Minor Franciscan Monastery Museum
• Museum of Modern Art Dubrovnik
• Archaeological exhibitions
• Marin Držić House
• Dulčić-Masle-Pulitika Gallery
• Pulitika Studio
• 24-hour bus ticket

So if you’re only in Dubrovnik for one day, you should absolutely buy the 1-day pass. In this itinerary, I visited the City Walls, Lovrjenac Fortress, and the Franciscan Monastery Museum, but you can definitely squeeze in more museums if you’re interested in learning about Dubrovnik’s history.

Purchase your Dubrovnik Pass from the official website for the best price.

The Night Before your Day in Dubrovnik

Assuming you’re arriving to Dubrovnik the day before, spend your first afternoon or evening checking off a few activities and getting acclimated to the city. I arrived at around 3 pm, checked into my hostel and headed to the Old Town to get lunch.

Take a Walking Tour

I always love doing walking tours as soon as I arrive in a new city. It helps me learn the history, get my bearings, and get recommendations from a local. Thankfully I found an evening walking tour on GuruWalk that was perfect for my first night in the city. The tour guide took us all around the Old Town, past the city walls and down Stradun, the main street in Dubrovnik. He pointed out notable buildings like the Franciscan Monastery, the Rector’s Palace and St Blaise’s Church and explained the importance of each. Here’s a link to the exact tour I did on GuruWalk.

After your walking tour, find somewhere to watch the sunset. I went to Buza Bar with a few people I met on the walking tour. It’s one of Dubrovnik’s iconic cliff bars, literally built into the rocks overlooking the ocean. The views are incredible, especially at sunset.

And before you end the night, definitely stop for some gelato at one of the many spots in the city. Peppino’s, Gelateria Dubrovnik and Molõ Gelateria were three great gelato places that I tried (yes, I had gelato three times in just a day and a half).

One Day in Dubrovnik Itinerary

Now let’s get into the busy, one day in Dubrovnik itinerary!

Walk the Dubrovnik Walls

Wake up early and head straight to the city walls. They open at 8 am in summer, so try to arrive then. The walls get extremely crowded as cruise ships arrive and tours begin. When I arrived at 8 am, there were only a few people, but by 10 there were so many groups it become hard to even walk.

There are multiple entrance points along the walls, and you can walk in either direction. Unfortunately, you’re not allowed to exit and reenter the walls. I recommend doing the entire loop so you can see the city and the ocean from all angles. Each viewpoint is so unique.

Plan to spend about 2 hours walking the walls. If you go later in the day, the crowds will slow you down, so budget a bit more time.

Lovrjenac Fortress

When you’re done with the Dubrovnik walls, walk over to Lovrjenac Fortress, which is also included in the Dubrovnik Pass.

Lovrjenac sits on a massive 37-meter-high rock and was built in the 11th century to defend Dubrovnik from Venetian invasion. Today, it stands as one of Dubrovnik’s most iconic defensive structures. Inside, the fortress is simple, but the views are extraordinary. The sea views from this fortress are unlike anything I’ve ever seen – you’re so high up that the Adriatic looks endless. You also get an incredible view of the city walls across the bay.

I especially loved viewing the city through all the windows carved into the fortress walls. Here are some of my favorite “peephole” photos that I took there.

Check out a Museum

Since there’s so many museums included in the Dubrovnik Pass, you should try to visit one or two more if you have time. I decided to visit the Franciscan Church and Monastery. The museum itself is small and doesn’t have much information, but the cloisters are stunning. I spent so much time walking around taking photos, especially because the afternoon light was streaming through the archways. It’s a calm, peaceful spot in the middle of the busy city.

If you want to explore more of Dubrovnik’s history, here are a few additional museums included with the pass:

Rector’s Palace
A beautiful Gothic-Renaissance palace that was once the seat of the Ragusan government. Lots of artifacts and beautiful architecture.

Maritime Museum
Located inside the St. John Fortress, with exhibits on Dubrovnik’s naval history.

Ethnographic Museum
Located in an old granary above the Old Town. Good for learning about traditional Dalmatian culture.

Dubrovnik Natural History Museum
A small but interesting museum about local wildlife and the Adriatic Sea.

Museum of Modern Art Dubrovnik
A beautiful building featuring Croatian and international modern art, plus a terrace with amazing views.

Lunch Break

After a busy morning of sightseeing, stop for lunch in the old town. I went to Vege Dub, a casual spot that serves pita wraps with falafel, plant-based gyros, and veggie skewers. It was so filling and delicious!

Oh, and don’t forget to get a midday gelato as well!

Afternoon at the Beach

By the afternoon the weather in Dubrovnik was sunny and hot, so I decided to spend the afternoon at the beach. There are two great beaches within walking distance of the city: Beach Šulić and Banje Beach. Beach Šulić is a tiny but beautiful beach tucked in a sheltered cove, and Banje Beach is much bigger, with great views of the old town walls.

After a quick stop at my hostel to change, I headed to Banje Beach. It was extremely crowded when I arrived, to the point where it was hard to find a place to lay my towel. But once I found a spot, it was so nice to sit, relax, and warm up before heading into the water.

This was actually my first time fully swimming in Croatia. Everywhere else I had only dipped my feet in or gone in up to my waist. But the weather was so hot on this day that I happily dunked my head under.

I stayed for a couple of hours before heading back to my hostel to shower and change for dinner.

Dinner in the Old Town

Spend your evening strolling around the Old Town. I found it so magical in the afternoon and night as the cruise ships leave and the crowds clear out.

There are plenty of restaurants to choose from for dinner. Some popular options include:

• Taj Mahal – Bosnian food
• Nishta – Vegetarian/Vegan
• Gradska Kavana Arsenal – Popular, tradition Croatian Cuisine
• Presa – Burgers, sandwiches, wraps

I ended up going to dinner with two girls from my hostel, which is one of the reasons I love staying in hostels as a solo traveler.

After dinner, we went back to Buza Bar for sunset drinks. Trust me, the view is worth going two nights in a row! Keep in mind that there aren’t many seats, so you might have to wait if you want to sit and have a drink. If you’re just there for sunset, you can hang out on one of the platforms built on top of the rocks.

If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous on your last night in Dubrovnik, consider taking the cable car up to Mount Srđ. The panoramic view from the top is supposed to be even more incredible at sunset. This will be one of the first things I do when I return to Dubrovnik one day!

Save this Post for Later!

Even though I only had one day in Dubrovnik, the city is so compact and walkable that I was able to explore the entire Old Town and visit many of its most popular attractions. From walking the ancient city walls to relaxing at the beach and watching sunset at Buza Bar, I felt like I experienced a little bit of everything. I completely fell in love with Dubrovnik, and I can absolutely see why it’s such a popular destination.