When you think of Croatia, you might picture historic walled towns surrounded by sparkling blue waters. If so, you’re likely thinking of Dubrovnik. The old city of Dubrovnik is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s also Croatia’s most popular attraction, and for good reason.
For our first visit to Croatia, we joined up with small group adventure travel company, Austin Adventures. The itinerary for the Croatia Family Vacation offered everything we could want – activity, adventure, and scenery. We loved that the vacation was all-inclusive and tailored specifically to families. And because Austin Adventures handles all of the details, we were guaranteed a stress-free experience.
Our trip started in Split and ended in Dubrovnik. While everything in-between was coordinated for us, we needed to make our own arrangements for these two cities. If you’re coming to Croatia, definitely try to visit both. Because we’d already been on a week long vacation with Austin Adventures, we had limited time available for pre- and post-trip exploration.
[ Related: 6 Incredible Days Biking, Kayaking & Hiking in Croatia with Austin Adventures ]
What To Do in Dubrovnik:
You could keep busy in the Dubrovnik area for days, but when you only have a weekend, you have to prioritize. So we set our sights on the main attractions. Here are a few recommendations:
Ride the Cable Car & Savor a Meal on Mount Srđ
To get true sense of the place, go up. Up the Dubrovnik Cable Car. From the top of Mount Srđ, you’ll truly appreciate preservation of the historic town and its intricacies. The cable car was built in 1969 and it’s been a popular tourist attraction ever since. The cable car ride is relatively short, lasting about 3 minutes. It’s a fun ride with a great view. Round trip tickets cost 27 Euros per adult, 7 Euros for kids ages 4-12, kids under four ride free.
There are several panoramic viewpoints at the top of the hill, along with food and shops. There are also hiking trails. On a clear day, you can see almost 40 miles. Because of the great vantage point, Napoleon built a fort on the top of the hill. Today the Imperial Fort is the site of a war museum.
If you’re looking to add a little adventure to your day, you’re in the right spot. Consider doing the buggy safari. Guests get to drive off-road past historic sites, through the woods, and admire 360° views of the Dubrovnik area. The Buggy Adventure Dubrovnik lasts about 30 minutes and costs 40 Euros per person. It starts from behind the upper cable car station.
If you want a really unique perspective of the city, go for the zip line. There are two long zip lines with stunning views of Old Town and the Adriatic Sea. Guests get to ride both zip lines twice. The Panorama Zip Line experience costs 46 Euros per person and lasts approximately 3 hours.
We recommend grabbing a meal at Panorama. The views from the outdoor tables at Panorama live up to the restaurant’s name. Wow! We had an early dinner here. The menu had something for everyone in the family. We enjoyed a round of refreshing seasonal cocktails. The appetizers – like the fresh burrata – were tasty. I went with grilled fish, whereas the rest of the family had burgers. My daughter insisted on trying a fried chicken burger in Croatia (since it’s her favorite back at home). She was impressed! Be sure to make a reservation in advance. With views like this, Panorama’s a coveted spot.
Eat Your Way through Old Town
We enjoy doing food tours when traveling. When possible, you should book your food tour at the beginning of your time in the destination. That’s because your local guide will provide you with information about the area – as well as recommendations for where to eat and what to do.
We booked the Old Town Food Tour operated by Dubrovnik Food Tours. Our guide Goran met us at the clock tower in Old Town where we were joined by five other travelers.
Goran knew all the best places to go. After all, he grew up within the walls. To prove it, he pointed out his childhood home and elementary school during our tour! (Not that we doubted him as his knowledge and authenticity would be hard to fake.)
Our first stop was Bistro Tavulin, located in the heart of old town. The restaurant serves local and seasonal ingredients. We shared plates of bread, prosciutto, anchovies, and cheese. Wine tastings were included in the tour, too. Before we took our first sips, Goran taught us how to say “Živeli”, which essentially means ”cheers” in Croatian.
Then we walked to Gourmet for a heartier course. First they served a small sampler plate with an octopus bruschetta, a breaded shrimp, and a scoop of black risotto. That was followed by a generous portion of gnocchi.
From there, we popped into the nearby Enoteca wine shop, where we did a wine tasting. Croatia produces excellent wines, but you generally won’t find them at stores or restaurants outside of Croatia due to supply. Most Croatian wines are consumed within Croatia. The harvests are small and there just isn’t enough wine leftover for exports. It’s a shame because the wine is absolutely amazing. Whether you prefer red or white, both are fantastic. We even tried an orange wine, although not everyone in our group liked that variety.
We had three kids on our food tour and they got a little bored during the wine tasting. Our guide, Goran, disappeared for a few minutes and magically reappeared with gelato. That kept them happy while the adults continued the tasting experience.
Dessert is included on the tour. (The wine shop ice cream was just a bonus!) So we walked to Gianni Artisan Ice Cream & Pastries where everyone had a scoop of ice cream. As we walked along, Goran pointed out other noteworthy sites around Old Town, including locations seen in Game of Thrones.
The Old Town Food Tour costs 110 Euros for adults and 75 for youth ages 12-17. The tour lasts three to four hours. You’ll leave with full bellies. Consider doing a 6 p.m. tour instead of making a dinner reservation.
Not only did we enjoy the food, we enjoyed the company of the other travelers. We parted ways with a round of hugs … and following each other on social media.
KidTripster Tip: In addition to the restaurants we experienced on the Dubrovnik Food Tour, here are a few other dining recommendations, offered by our Austin Adventures tour guide. Marko suggested: Lucin Kantun (contemporary), Azur (Mediterranean cuisine with an Asian twist), Kamenice (local seafood), Mea Culpa (a casual pizzeria), and Nautika (fine dining, be sure to request a table on the terrace!).
[ Related: What’s an Austin Adventures family vacation like? We answer your FAQs. ]
Walk the City Walls
If you do anything in Dubrovnik, do this!
The city walls date back hundreds of years. They went up in the 13th century, with towers added in the 15th century. The walls are over six thousand feet long, and some portions are over 80 feet high. You’ll encounter towers, turrets, and more. As you walk along, you’ll get to look down upon the maze of terracotta roofs below. Not to mention, you’ll have gorgeous views of the Adriatic Sea.
It can get crowded here, so it’s best to go early, especially in the summer months. We’re told early evenings are also less crowded, after the cruise ships leave port.
There are three areas to enter the wall walk: the Pile Gate, the Ploče Gate and the Maritime Museum. The Pile gate tends to be the busiest. Entering from the Ploče side generally has fewer lines and, as a bonus, it gets the steepest climbs out of the way first.
No matter where you enter, it’s a one-way path. You’ll walk counterclockwise. The full walk takes about 1.5 to 2 hours. There are a few sections with stairs, but it’s a relatively easy walk.
To fully appreciate what you’re seeing, you can hire a local expert to take you on a guided tour. I wish we’d had a little more context, but even without it, we still enjoyed the experience.
One thing’s for sure, we’ll never forget our wall walk. We were about halfway around the walls when storm clouds suddenly appeared and the sky opened up. The rain was crazy! There aren’t many places to seek shelter along the way. There wasn’t much we could do except keep going, so we got absolutely soaked. By the time we climbed back down, a river of water was running though the old streets. Within a few hours, the sun was shining again and the water had disappeared.
KidTripster Tip: Skip the flip flops and wear good shoes! The walls and the streets within the Old Town are cobblestone. They can be uneven and slippery in places. It was especially slick during the rainstorm.
See More with the Dubrovnik Pass
We recommend purchasing the Dubrovnik Pass. It allows free entrance to cultural monuments as well as complimentary public transportation.
It’s a great value if you’re already planning to walk the walls. The wall walk is 35 Euros which is the same price as the one-day Dubrovnik Pass. You can purchase a three-day pass for 45 Euros. Kids under 7 can tag along for free with an adult.
The pass provides access to several museums. We visited the Friars Minor Franciscan Monastery Museum, which houses one of the world’s oldest pharmacies. It’s the oldest in terms of its continuous service, available even today. We also explored the Dulčić Masle Pulitika Gallery which features the works of Dubrovnik artists. Some of the other museums included with the pass are the Maritime Museum, the Dubrovnik Natural History Museum and the Museum of Modern Art Dubrovnik.
We utilized the public transit system daily during our visit. We took the city bus to get to/from our hotel and Old Town. The bus was clean and efficient, running about every 15 minutes.
[ Related: KidTripster Teen: 8 Great Reasons to Visit Croatia ]
Other Ideas
Got more time? Here are a few more ideas for what to do in Dubrovnik.
Take a Game of Thrones Tour
Dubrovnik played a prominent role in the HBO show Game of Thrones as “King’s Landing.” You’ll recognize many Game of Thrones backdrops, some quite obvious like the Walk of Shame staircase (Jesuit’s Staircase) and the Red Keep (Fort Lovrjenac) to name a few. There were many other filming locations all over Dubrovnik. If you’re a big fan, you should consider a Game of Thrones tour.
Around the Old Town, there are lots of Game of Thrones merchandise, and gift shops where you can sit on the Iron Throne.
Experience Nature
Croatia’s stunning for its natural beauty. If you have more time to explore, you can take a 15-minute ferry ride to Lokrum Island. It’s a nature reserve, and, although uninhabited by people, it’s full of wild peacocks and dozens of other bird species.
Features include a botanical garden, a cloister garden (a filming location in GOT) and the Benedictine Monastery. A reproduction of the Iron Throne is housed in one of the monastery buildings as part of a Game of Thrones exhibit.
KidTripster Tip: Bring a swimsuit. Although there are no sandy beaches on the island, there are swimming holes here. Spread out on a rocky ledge and jump in.
Another idea is to take a day trip to the Elafiti Islands, an archipelago northwest of Dubrovnik. You can sign up for an island tour at one of the stands in Dubrovnik’s old harbor. Some of the tours include a visit to all three islands plus a picnic lunch.
Where to Stay in Dubrovnik
There are a variety of accommodations to chose from in Dubrovnik, but the ones within (or closest to) the Old Town book up quickly during the busy summer travel season.
We spent three nights at Hotel Dubrovnik Palace. Knowing we’d have a very active week with Austin Adventures, we wanted a hotel that offered a place to relax. Hotel Dubrovnik Palace promised a pool and beach. Be aware that the beach is not a sandy beach. There are chairs positioned along the water, and there’s access to the sea for swimming. It’s quite lovely and relaxing.
We booked a Junior Suite with a sea view balcony. It was a large room, with two full bathrooms. There was a sleeper couch in the living room, and a separate bedroom with a king bed. Our room had two separate balconies. There was plenty of room for our family of four to spread out. Our stay included breakfast, which was an expansive buffet.
The hotel has several restaurants and bars. It is a bit isolated. Other restaurants are about a 10-15 minute walk away. One big perk was that Hotel Dubrovnik Palace is conveniently located right on a bus line. It’s the last stop for bus #4 which goes from the hotel into Old Town. The bus runs frequently, and it’s about a 20-minute ride into town. The bus fare was free thanks to our Dubrovnik pass.
Regrettably, this is a short list of ideas as we had just a weekend to spend in Dubrovnik.
