Dubrovnik in 2 days: city walls, the old port and island hops

2 days Croatia 4 min read

Dubrovnik is a walled city on the Adriatic, and almost everything you come for sits inside or just outside those walls. The old town is small enough to cross on foot in ten minutes, yet dense with limestone streets, baroque churches and stone stairways that climb towards the ramparts. The sea is visible from nearly every corner.

Two days is enough to walk the walls, see the main squares and museums, swim, and get out to an island or a viewpoint. The town fills with cruise passengers around midday in summer, so plan the walls and the old streets for early morning or late afternoon.

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Top places to see

1
Dubrovnik City Walls
The complete circuit of medieval walls runs about two kilometres around the old town, with towers, bastions and views over terracotta roofs to the sea. Walking the full loop takes about ninety minutes with stops. Start at the Pile Gate entrance soon after opening, carry water, and go anticlockwise so the steepest climb at Minceta Tower comes early.
2
Stradun
Stradun is the main street of the old town, a wide limestone avenue polished smooth by centuries of footsteps. It links the Pile Gate to the old harbour, with the Onofrio Fountain at one end and the bell tower at the other. It is busiest at midday, but early morning, when shopkeepers wash the stone, it feels like a different place.
3
Rector's Palace
The Rector's Palace was the seat of government of the Republic of Ragusa, and today houses the cultural history museum. The courtyard, loggia and state rooms show how the small republic ran itself for centuries. It is a calm half hour out of the heat, and the ticket often covers several other town museums, so check what is included.
4
Lokrum Island
Lokrum is a wooded island fifteen minutes by boat from the old harbour. There are peacocks, a ruined Benedictine monastery, a small saltwater lake called the Dead Sea where you can swim, and rocky swimming spots on the far side. Boats run regularly through the warm months. Bring shoes for the rocks and allow at least three hours.
5
Mount Srd
The hill above the city rises just over 400 metres, and the cable car from behind the old town reaches the top in a few minutes. The view takes in the whole walled town, the islands and the coast. The Fort Imperial at the summit holds a museum on the 1990s siege. Go an hour before sunset and walk back down the zigzag path if you like.
6
Banje Beach
Banje is the closest beach to the old town, a short walk past the Ploce Gate. It is pebbly, the water is clear, and the view back towards the walls and Lokrum is the postcard one. Part of the beach is free and part belongs to a club with loungers. Swim shoes help on the stones, and mornings are quieter.
7
Fort Lovrijenac
This fortress stands on a sheer rock outside the western walls, separated from the town by a small cove. It was built to guard against attack from land and sea, and its walls are up to twelve metres thick on the exposed side. The climb up is short and the view across to the walls is one of the best in town. Entry is usually included with the walls ticket.
8
Old Harbour
The old harbour on the eastern side of the town is where boats leave for Lokrum, the Elaphiti Islands and sunset cruises. It is enclosed by the Revelin and St John fortresses, and the walk along the outer breakwater, the Porporela, gives a good view of the walls from the water side. Evenings here are pleasant when the day trippers have gone.

Good to know

Buy the walls ticket online or at the Pile Gate entrance early in the morning. The walls have little shade, so a hat, sunscreen and a full bottle of water matter more here than almost anywhere else in town.
Check the cruise ship schedule for your dates. On days with two or three ships in port the old town is crowded from about ten until four, so use those hours for the beach, Lokrum or Mount Srd.
The old town is car free and full of steps. Wear shoes with grip, because the limestone is slippery when wet, and expect to climb if your accommodation is up one of the side streets.
Public buses from the Pile Gate reach Lapad, Gruz port and the bus station. A day trip to Cavtat by boat or to the Elaphiti Islands works well if you have a third day.

Best time to visit

May, June, September and early October are the best months: warm sea, long days and fewer crowds than July and August, when heat and cruise traffic peak. Winter is mild and quiet but many boat services and some attractions pause, and rain is more frequent between November and February.

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