How to Spend 2 Days in Dubrovnik: PERFECT Dubrovnik Itinerary!

Are you planning a trip to Croatia and wondering how to spend 2 days in the charming city of Dubrovnik?

Nestled along the shimmering sea, Dubrovnik is often referred to as the Pearl of the Adriatic, renowned for its rich history, stunning architecture, and breathtaking coastal views. With its compact size, two full days is the perfect amount of time to soak up the city’s charm, while still leaving time for exploring other parts of Croatia!

During my one week in Croatia, we spent 2 full days (3 nights) in Dubrovnik exploring Game of Thrones film locations, wandering through Old Town, swimming in the sea, and so much more! Dubrovnik is so special and feels like nowhere else I’ve traveled to.

In this blog post, I will cover exactly how to spend 2 days in Dubrovnik, from strolling atop the historic City Walls to ascending Mount Srd via cable car for panoramic views. This detailed itinerary will give you everything you need to plan your 2 days in Dubrovnik, including where to stay, things to do, and more!

I absolutely fell in love with Dubrovnik the second we arrived, and I know you will too! Keep reading to plan your ultimate Dubrovnik itinerary.

Where to Stay in Dubrovnik

Before we get into exactly how to spend 2 days in Dubrovnik, I wanted to provide an overview of where to stay in Dubrovnik! When I was planning a trip to Dubrovnik, I did not understand the layout of the city very well, which is obviously very important when it comes to deciding where to stay!

Staying in Old Town Dubrovnik

Old Town is the most popular area to stay in Dubrovnik. However, it is very small! You can walk from one end of Old Town to the other in less than 10 minutes. This is the area to stay if you want to be near the major sites, restaurants, and shops!

In case you don’t know a lot about Croatian history, this area actually dates back to the 7th century! It is pedestrian-only (no cars allowed), since you have to enter Old Town through one of three medieval gates (Buza, Ploče, or Pile).

This is because Old Town is surrounding by the iconic Dubrovnik City Walls! It is free to enter Old Town; however, you have to pay to explore the Walls themselves (more on that later).

As you can see on the map below, the majority of places to stay in Dubrovnik are congregated in Old Town (Old Town is the large peninsula in the middle).

Because it is so historic and tiny, you won’t find any traditional, big name hotels in Old Town. Instead, Old Town has a collection of apartment rentals and boutique hotels.

You can book places to stay in Old Town on Booking.com or VRBO easily! Just remember, European apartments are typically much smaller than American ones, so plan accordingly!

Staying Outside of Old Town Dubrovnik

As you can also see on the map above, there are still places to stay outside of Old Town, just far fewer!

If you are looking to stay in traditional chain hotel, there is a Hilton right outside Old Town, the Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik. It is highly-rated and absolutely stunning! (This is where the Game of Thrones cast stayed during filming in Dubrovnik!)

Instead of a hotel, we decided to stay in this incredible apartment in the West Harbor area (also known as Pile Bay), located right outside the Pile Gate leading into Old Town. Pile Bay sits in between Old Town and Fort Lovrijenac and is relatively quiet, since there are only a few restaurants in the area.

This is the perfect area to stay if you want to be near the action, but not right in the thick of it. We absolutely loved this apartment – it even had a window that looked right out over the harbor! We watched some incredible sunsets from our room.

Note for Game of Thrones fans: Pile Bay stood in as Blackwater Bay, so this area is a popular starting point for Game of Thrones tours in Dubrovnik!

There is also the east side of Dubrovnik outside of Old Town! The further away you get from Old Town, the more room there is, so you will find more traditional “hotels” here. One example is the iconic Hotel Excelsior, which offers stunning views of Old Town from afar!

However, if you only have 2 days in Dubrovnik, I highly recommend staying as close to Old Town as possible (or within it), in order to maximize your time!

For more details and options, make sure to check out my guide on Where to Stay in Dubrovnik for First-Timers!

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Afternoon: Lokrum Island

As I mentioned, some Game of Thrones walking tours include a visit to Lokrum Island; however, this island is worth visiting even if you are not a fan of the show!

Located right off the coast of Dubrovnik, you will get to Lokrum Island via a quick, 15-minute ferry ride. The ferry leaves from the Old Port of Dubrovnik on the east side of Old Town.

As of 2024, tickets for the ferry cost €27 for adults, €5 for children, and free for kids under 5.

This price includes the cost of the ferry, as well as entrance fees to the preserve. I recommend purchasing tickets in person at the ferry port for the best deal.

Once you’re on the island, there are plenty of things to do fill an afternoon. I highly recommend visiting the Benedictine Monastery Ruins, having lunch at the Eden Garden Restaurant, and swimming in the sea while you are there!

There is a “little Dead Sea” located on the northwest side of the island that is fun to take a dip in. Or, if you’re feeling adventurous, you can visit the nudist beach on the southeast side of the island called “FKK Rocks Lokrum”.

You can also hike to Fort Royal on the eastern edge of the island if you are looking for some exercise!

For Game of Thrones fans, you’ll also want to visit the Game of Thrones visitor center on the island! Here, you can sit on one of the actual iron thrones used in filming. Plus, there’s a ton of fun videos and stories from the cast and crew talking about their time filming in Croatia!

Once you’ve had your fill on Lokrum, make your way back to Old Town Dubrovnik via the same ferry. Currently, the last boat leaves at 6pm from Lokrum, so don’t miss it!

Late Afternoon/Evening: Buza Bar + Dinner in Old Town

When you arrive back in Old Town, make your way to the famous Buza Bar to grab drinks and watch the sunset on the Adriatic!

There are actually two locations – Buza Bar and Buza Bar II. They are both located on the southern edge of Dubrovnik Old Town, nestled into the cliffs overlooking the sea. Because of this, the entrances are tucked away into the city walls and somewhat difficult to find.  

From the Old Port of Dubrovnik (where the ferry will drop you off), it’s a quick 5-minute walk away. On a map, they are just behind the famous Jesuit Staircase.

When you get close to that location and find the edge of the walls, just look for the signs that say “Cold drinks with the most beautiful view”. 

At Buza, you can have some cocktails, watch the sunset, and even do some cliff-jumping or swimming if you’re feeling brave! We loved the vibes here and ended up staying a few hours.

Unfortunately, we weren’t able to get drinks because it was cash only, so we just swam and cliff-jumped.

However, this is arguably the best place in Dubrovnik to watch the sunset, so make sure to bring cash so you can enjoy a cocktail or two with sprawling views of the sea.

After the sun goes down, head back into Old Town and grab dinner at one of the trendy restaurants with outdoor seating, like ARKA, Poklisar Restaurant, or Restaurant Kopun.

Day 2: City Walls + Cable Car + Dinner with a View

Morning: Old Town Dubrovnik City Walls

Since you only have 2 days in Dubrovnik, I highly recommend waking up as early as possible on Day 2 to maximize your time!

As soon as you wake up, head straight into Old Town through Pile Gate and grab breakfast at Holy Burek! If you didn’t know, bureks are traditional Eastern European breakfast pastries, typically filled with meat, potatoes, cheese, spinach, or a combination! So yummy!

You’ll need your fuel this morning, since after breakfast you’ll be exploring the iconic Dubrovnik City Walls! These walls were built over the course of several centuries and are some of the most well-preserved fortification systems in all of Europe.

Walking along the wall will immediately transport you to medieval times, and you’ll be treated to panoramic views of the city and the sea! There’s a reason it’s one of the most popular things to do in Dubrovnik!

I recommend entering the Walls right at the Pile Gate. Here, you’ll find booths where you can purchase your tickets. Or, if you’ve purchased the Dubrovnik Pass, entrance is included, and they cost the same (35 euros!).

Some must-see sights when you walk along the Walls are Minceta Tower, the highest point along the walls, and Fort Bokar.

P.S. Both of these spots are also Game of Thrones film locations. Make sure to check out my Game of Thrones Croatia Guide for other spots around the country to check out for GoT lovers!

Along the way, you can also find informational plaques that provide insight into the history and significance of the various landmarks you’ll encounter!

The views you’ll encounter along the way are nothing short of amazing. It still blows my mind thinking back to this day and how well-preserved the walls are. Again, it feels like you’ve been transported to medieval times!

The time it takes to walk the entire length of the Dubrovnik city walls varies depending on your pace and how often you stop to admire the views and take photos. On average, most people spend about 1.5 to 2.5 hours to complete the full loop.

Make sure to wear comfortable shoes, plenty of sunscreen, and bring water, as there is little to no shade and few places to stop for refreshments! We did stop about 30 minutes in to have an Aperol spritz and admire the incredible views!

Overall, you don’t need to rush your time along the walls, take a few hours to really enjoy it!

Early Afternoon: Cable Car to Mount Srd + Lunch

After your morning on the City Walls, you’ve probably worked up an appetite!! It’s time to eat lunch at one of the most iconic restaurants in Dubrovnik.

But first, you’ll need to head up to the top of Mount Srd! To do this, you’ll be taking the Dubrovnik Cable Car. To get here, head outside of Old Town through the Buza Gate and follow the signs toward the cable car lift!

Try to stand in the back of the cable car for the best views of Dubrovnik as you ascend!

Note: The Dubrovnik Cable Car is only open from March through October, and the start and end times vary depending on the time of year.

The cost of the cable car is €27 for adults, €7 for children 4 – 12, and free for children under 4! You can buy tickets right at the base of the cable car, so don’t worry about purchasing in advance.

However, I do recommend making a reservation in advance for lunch at the Panorama Restaurant and Bar, especially if you want a seat on the edge! We actually had a non-edge seat booked, but got lucky enough to be upgraded when we arrived!

This restaurant offers some of the most stunning views in all of Dubrovnik and was one of my favorite things we did while there. The food also happened to be delicious!!

You can spend a few hours here eating lunch and enjoying the view from the top of Mount Srd. If you’re interested, you can even go on a panoramic zip-line here! We weren’t brave enough to try it, but it did look epic!

There are also hiking trails and buggy safaris up here you can check out if you have time!

Late Afternoon: Swimming & Fort Lovrijenac

After lunch, head back down on the cable car into Old Town. If you haven’t done any souvenir shopping yet, now is a great time to do so. There are plenty of stores along the route between Buza Gate and Pile Gate in Old Town!

If you have time before dinner, I recommend heading to the Dubrovnik West Harbor, also known as Pile Bay, and going for a quick dip in the sea! When we visited in late September, the water was still plenty warm enough and SO clear.

We had been dreaming about swimming in this picturesque spot our whole time in Dubrovnik and knew we had to make it a reality before leaving.

You can enter through a few different areas around the Bay where there are little stairs descending into the water! And the best part? We had the whole place to ourselves! There’s also a little cafe if you want to grab a drink.

Also, if you didn’t visit Fort Lovrijenac on one of your walking tours yesterday, I highly recommend adding that in here! Climbing to the top of the fort is a little challenging, but the incredible views of Dubrovnik from the top are 100% worth it.

In the images below, you’ll see the exterior of the Fort from West Harbor (left) and the view from the Fort of the West Harbor and Old Town (right).

Lastly, if you have even more time, consider a quick visit to Gradac Park for even more beautiful views, which is located right behind the Fort! Oh, and it’s another Game of Thrones film location!

Evening: Dinner with a View

You won’t have to venture far from here to finish off your two days in Dubrovnik! For dinner, I highly recommend splurging and visiting the famous Nautika Restaurant. When it comes to fine dining with a view, Nautika is the obvious choice!

This Michelin-star restaurant offers an exquisite culinary experience coupled with breathtaking sunset views of the Adriatic Sea and the Old Town walls as you look out on Pile Bay.

The ambiance here is certainly worth the high prices, especially as a way to finish off your 2 days in Dubrovnik and end your Croatian adventure!

Another great dinner spot on the other end of Old Town is Gradska Kavana Arsenal Restaurant. This restaurant, which is actually owned by the same people as Nautika and the Panorama Restaurant, is located right on the edge of the Old Dubrovnik port and has incredible views of the sea!

Lastly, if you want to eat on the actual beach, you can’t beat Banje Beach Restaurant, which also turns into a nightclub in the summer months! We ate here on our first night in Dubrovnik and loved the ambiance and picture quest views of Old Town.

Frequently Asked Questions