Travel Guide: Spending 3 Days in Dubrovnik, Croatia.

Dubrovnik had been on my travel bucket list for over ten years. Since before Game of Thrones threw it into stardom and before it became the hotspot it is now. I spent over a decade dreaming of this Croatian city.

So given I decided to make 2023 the year I finally go on all the trips I’ve been wanting to do for years but have put off, in January, Aftab and I booked our flights for another little #travelbloggersontour.

And you know what? The 10 year wait was 100% worth it.

So, ready to find out about our 3-day weekend trip to Dubrovnik? Let’s go!

Flying from London Gatwick to Dubrovnik

We flew from London Gatwick to Dubrovnik with easyJet. The flight time was Thursday evening, so it meant we got to the airport after work and only had to take the Friday off work. We picked up our hire car from Dubrovnik airport, and after a rather hairy drive in the dark along the mountain roads, we finally arrived at our hotel for the next 3 days!

Where to stay in Dubrovnik Old Town

Given we’re both big Hilton fans, we checked in at Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik for our three night stay. The service was a little meh at times, but the hotel itself and the room was absolutely beautiful! The location was also incredible – just a 2-min walk away from the entrance to the Old Town and a 5-min walk away from our fave, Beach Bar Dodo.

We also obviously tested out the hotel spa one afternoon when it rained, and although we loved the massages, the indoor pool definitely needs a refurb. It really is a perfect hotel for exploring Dubrovnik though, and I would definitely stay there again. It’s pricey, but worth it IMO.

What to do in Dubrovnik

There’s lots to see and do in Dubrovnik, but be warned that it is expensive these days since they changed from the Kuna to the Euro, and prices seem to be rising every year. As an example, the City Walls was just 10 euros at one point, but as of 2023 when we visited it was 35 euros each!

1. Old Town

The old town is so beautiful I actually cried when we arrived! We arrived into Dubrovnik in the evening, and decided to go and explore before bed. We wandered around the quiet and empty city in awe of how beautiful it was, and were SO excited to explore in daylight the next day.

We woke up bright and early to get to the City Walls, as we’d heard they get pretty busy. We bought our very overpriced, 35 euro tickets, and started the walk. I won’t lie, it’s a pretty difficult walk in the heat as there are lots of steps and it gets pretty sweaty, but it’s well worth it for the views! They’re nothing short of spectacular, and we were blown away at every turn we took.

As well as the city walls, the Rector’s Palace is also a great place to visit. A striking blend of Gothic and Renaissance architecture crafted in the late 15th century, and once a symbol of authority where the rector was confined during his one-month term, today the palace is home to the Cultural History Museum.

2. Beaches

The beaches in Dubrovnik are world-famous, but you do need to be prepared for the pebbles and stones – make sure you bring water shoes!! I made the mistake of not bringing them, and I was in so much pain walking over the pebbles haha. The water however, is beautifully clear, and lovely and refreshing to take a dip in after wandering the old town.

Plaža Sveti Jakov is a beach that was recommended to us by a local, and Banje Beach is also a popular one with both locals and tourists. The saltwater pool at Hotel Excelsior is another great little spot, but we sadly didn’t manage to get to it on our trip! We spent a lot of time at the little beach near our hotel, Beach Šulić, and absolutely loved how quiet and peaceful it was.

3. Elaphiti Islands Private Tour

I really, really recommend splashing the cash to take a private tour of Dubrovnik’s Elaphiti Islands. We chose a 4-hour half-day private boat trip through Adriatic Explore, on an Atlantic Open 670 boat with a skipper. They picked us up from our hotel, Hilton Dubrovnik, and whisked us down to the harbour, dropping us right by the boat.

We began our trip at the island of Koločep (locally known by some as Kalamota), before heading over to Sunj Beach on Lopud island, and then round to Lopud Marina. Our boat trip to the Elaphiti Islands was pure magic, and you really can’t visit Dubrovnik without seeing them. We had the best morning and it was absolutely a highlight of our trip to Croatia!

As well as private boat tours, there are also ferries to the islands if you’re watching your budget, but you won’t be able to get to the smaller bays and beaches unless you walk across the islands to them.

4. Enjoy the food & drink!

The food in Dubrovnik is unreal! Every meal we had was incredible. The seafood is super fresh, the cocktails are and the GELATO is another level. You really can’t go wrong with the food and drink in Dubrovnik, but I’ve listed out the best restaurants we ate at below to make your vacay easier!

5. Game of Thrones Tour

Due to the Game of Thrones popularity, Dubrovnik holds a lot of walking tours which take you round to the main filming locations from the TV show. There are plenty to choose from on Get Your Guide, and you can book in advance or when you arrive. You can also do a self-guided tour if you do plenty of research beforehand and plot out the locations on a map!

Dubrovnik Restaurants – Where to Eat & Drink

Azur

An Asian-fusion restaurant, Azur is really, really beautiful and was probably our dining highlight of the trip. Our entire meal was just perfect, and the Hugo Spritz’s were probably the best of the whole trip. I definitely recommend booking in advance though as it gets super busy.

Bistro Tavulin

Bistro Tavulin is one of the most well-regarded restaurants in Dubrovnik so we decided to eat here on our last night. I absolutely loved the black squid ink risotto, but the portion sizes are gigantic and far too big for us! Worth a visit, but be prepared for those big portions and plan accordingly.

Beach Bar Dodo

This was our favourite lunch and drinks spot – it was super close to our hotel, and right on the beach! Be warned, it’s cash only, so make sure you have enough cash on you! Also promise me you’ll order the calamari? It was proper calamari and SO tasty. They also do incredible mojitos!!

Dubravka 1836

This is a very, very popular place, especially with tourists as it’s right on the cliff overlooking the water. But don’t be put off by the location and the presence of so many tourists – it’s actually one of the more reasonably priced bars in Dubrovnik, and we enjoyed the food and drinks here. We just had some tapas-style dishes, but really enjoyed them, and the Hugo Spritz’s were decent.

Gradska Kavana Arsenal

Gradska kavana Arsenal is a sister restaurant/bar of Dubravka 1836. When we stumbled upon both places, we thought they looked super touristy and would be really expensive because of their positions, but actually, we found them a lot cheaper than other options – especially their cocktails! When we visited, they also gave us 10% off if we presented their business card at one of their other restaurants.

Cave Bar More

The Cave Bar at Hotel More is a 10-min taxi-ride away from Old Town and it is 100% worth the trip!! It’s a bar that’s literally carved into a cliff, so you sit inside the cave surrounded by natural rock. The cocktails are great, and it’s also a beautiful place to watch the sunset if you can tear yourself away from the interior and take a peek outside on the deck. The only thing is it’s quite tricky to get photos because of the lighting, and they really don’t do the place justice.

Frequently Asked Questions about Dubrovnik

How many days in Dubrovnik?

We spent three days in Dubrovnik and it was absolutely perfect. It gives you enough time to do a half-day trip to the Elaphiti Islands, explore the old town, and spend some time relaxing on the beach.

Is Dubrovnik expensive?

We did find it much more expensive than nearby Montenegro. On average it cost us 30-40 euros each for dinner each night, cocktails were 10-20 euros, and walking the old town wall cost a huge 35 euros!

What current does Dubrovnik use?

Dubrovnik now uses the Euro. They used to use the Croatian Kuna, but this changed in January 2023.

Is Dubrovnik safe?

Yes! I have honestly never felt as safe anywhere as I did in Dubrovnik. We spoke to a taxi driver about this and he said Croatia is one of the safest countries in the world – apparently even if you leave a wallet or phone on a table by accident, it will still be there when you get back!