Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Dubrovnik?

Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Dubrovnik?

Many travelers spend one to five days in Dubrovnik during their visit. After all, the historic coastal town has plenty to explore such as the historic old town, the quaint atmosphere, and the restaurant scene.

Dubrovnik is one of the most popular tourist cities in Croatia. It sits dramatically on the edge of the Adriatic Sea and its surrounded by medieval stone walls that you can explore. The old town includes stone churches and lively squares. There are pedestrian areas where you can shop as well as restaurants where you can sample local seafood. Outside of the old town you'll find larger hotel chains, and inside there are Airbnbs and local residences where you can rent a room.

Do you have one or two days to visit Dubrovnik? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.


Is one day enough time in Dubrovnik?

As a popular and famous coastal town, Dubrovnik offers a large number of activities and attractions for visitors. So with one day, you'll probably feel rushed to see the main attractions around the city. You really need more time to appreciate everything that the historic coastal town has to offer. Many visitors prefer to have one to five days to fully enjoy the coastal town even though it's not huge. If you have one day or less, we still have some great ideas for what to do while you're in town.

How to spend a day in Dubrovnik

The charming atmosphere and history of the old town area is worth exploring, so spend the day learning about the history and culture of the area. This walled old town is among the most famous in Europe. It's sits beautifully along the coast and it is pedestrian only. You can spend plenty of time exploring the historic lanes, popping in shops and restaurants, and soaking up the charming atmosphere.


A few tour suggestions include:

  • Tour The Game of Thrones - Private Walking Tour ($195)
  • Early Bird Old Town and Game of Thrones Half-Day Guided Tour ($33)
  • Dubrovnik Jewish Heritage Private Walking Tour ($153)

The delicious food of Dubrovnik is one of the main highlights of a trip to the region. Dining out is one of the highlights of a trip. Make sure you take the time to taste as much of it as possible during breakfast, lunch, and dinner at some of this coastal town's best restaurants. And consider a food tour or cooking class. You can easily fit one into your schedule since many are just a few hours or half a day. Restaurants are usually locally-sourced with fresh produce and seafood. Traditional local dishes include black risotto (made with squid ink), pašticada (a beef dish), and various pasta dishes.


A few tour suggestions include:

  • Traditional Cooking Class in Dubrovnik Countryside ($203)
  • Dubrovnik explained with tasting in private palace PRIVATE TOUR ($109)
  • Dubrovnik Kayak Tour + Gourmet Snack + Wine Tasting (Small-Group) ($98)

Dubrovnik is a very walkable city. With only a day in the coastal town, you'll have no trouble exploring the local sights. The old town is completely pedestrian-only and you can also explore the city's historic walls on foot.

Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Dubrovnik?

Since it's a good-sized city, you'll probably need more than a weekend to take advantage of everything to do in Dubrovnik. Two or three days still gives you a good amount of time to explore, though, as you'll have a chance to experience at least some of the major attractions. In addition to the great charming old town and fun quaint atmosphere, visitors can enjoy the beautiful scenery, museums and landmarks, and hiking by staying for a weekend.

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How to spend 2 days in Dubrovnik

With a weekend (two to three days) in Dubrovnik, you'll have a bit more time to enjoy everything that the coastal town has to offer.

Dubrovnik offers a charming atmosphere that's hard to find anywhere else. Spend part of the day exploring the scenery. Wander the walls of the old town or explore the many shops, restaurants, and squares around town.


A few tour suggestions include:

  • Tour The Game of Thrones - Private Walking Tour ($195)
  • Dubrovnik Jewish Heritage Private Walking Tour ($153)
  • Game of Thrones Walking Tour ($27)

Dubrovnik is known to be such a beautiful destination, so just exploring and taking it all in should be one of the top things to do on your list. This historic city has a famous walled old town. It sits beautifully along the coast and offers stunning views of the area.


A few tour suggestions include:

  • Tour The Game of Thrones - Private Walking Tour ($195)
  • Blue Cave Small Group Tour with a Speedboat in Dubrovnik ($82)
  • Dubrovnik Jewish Heritage Private Walking Tour ($153)

Public transit in Dubrovnik is easy and efficient. In just a few days, you should be able to get around the coastal town quite easily. There are 12 bus lines that connect all parts of the city with the city center.

More Info

If you're looking for more information about Dubrovnik, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.

Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.

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