24 hours in Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik is that Croatian city that everyone has on their travel bucketlist (ok, most people). During our trip to Cavtat, we spent 24 hours in Dubrovnik, Croatia. A day trip to Dubrovnik initially seemed tasking since we were travelling with our toddler. However, once I made up my mind (keep reading to see what influenced me), I knew Dubrovnik had to see me.

Considering how popular this city is, I think we actually managed to pack a lot during this day trip to Dubrovnik. 

what is it about Dubrovnik, CroatiA?

For the longest time, Dubrovnik was Europe’s best kept secret until its popularity thanks to one very epic TV show, Game of Thrones. It is not that people did not know that Dubrovnik existed. I think the likes of Italy’s Rome, Greece’s Athens and France’s Paris always stole the show when it came to the best places to spend summer in Europe. Then suddenly, Dubrovnik burst into the mix. It is now one of the most popular cities to visit in Europe.

The Game of Thrones effect

I will admit that I was not initially drawn to Game of Thrones. It just was not the type of TV show I would usually get obsessed with but somehow, I got hooked. However, my maternity leave somehow led me to it; this was wayyyy after it had ended. I remember watching and tweeting about it and my followers would laugh at me every time I tweeted a shocking moment after yet another shocking moment. That TV show took me on a full roller coaster LOL.

Anyway, once I finished it, I knew I was going to visit Dubrovnik and Malta where some of the scenes were shot. Who would not want to see King’s Landing?! When my baby was 4 months old, we got her a passport and the 2 countries we booked immediately were Malta and Croatia. I don’t play as you can see haha!

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What to do for 24 hours in Dubrovnik, Croatia

1. Walk the Wall

If there is one thing you have to do in Dubrovnik, it is to walk the wall. I am so proud of us because we had our little baby with us and managed the wall just fine. Before the trip to Dubrovnik, I had made up my mind that we would not walk the wall. I just told myself it would be too difficult with a baby and I’d have to manage the image of King’s landing in my head. Basically, do I really need to see it IRL?

On this day, we got to Dubrovnik and the weather was cool on that October morning. Mr E knew that this was my dream and started talking me into doing it. We asked the ticket master all the necessary questions including exit points incase it got too much, purchased our tickets and started the trek. As soon as I got up there and got the first view of King’s Landing, I GASPED. It was totally worth it.

Thankfully, it was not busy and it was relatively easy. I was also surprised that I did not find it queasy at all considering I’m a tad scared of heights. Maybe it was the excitement or perhaps, adrenaline; but it was a perfect walk.

Tips for walking the wall in Dubrovnik

1. I recommend getting the Dubrovnik 1-day pass as it allows you walk the wall and visit more sites like museums etc.
2. Wear sensible shoes. Don’t be like me with my fancy slippers. I almost slipped twice but in my defence, this walk was not part of the initial plan lol.
3. Go when it’s not too hot. There’s no cover so it’s you and the sun.
4. Take a bottle of water with you especially on hot days. It is important to stay hydrated. There is a popular café up there; however, it was closed when we went so bring your own water.
5. Sunscreen, sunshades and light clothes are essential to keep you from getting sun burnt. 

2. A Game of Thrones Tour

I can imagine that a good number of those who visit Dubrovnik, Croatia are there to see the locations from the series. Whilst we walked around, I could tell that others where there for it, just like us lol. As a travel blogger, I knew the exact sites I wanted to see and did a self guided tour; however, I recommend a professional guided tour. The wonderful thing about a lot of the tour guides is that if you’re lucky, you will get one who was an extra in the series. 

Old Town feels like you’re in an episode of the series. Some notable locations are:

• Jesuit Stairs aka Cersei’s walk of shame stairs
• St Dominic Street also featured a lot for market scenes and even Cersei’s walk of shame
• Pile Gate. It is the main entrance to Old town and in Game of Thrones, it’s the notable area where Joffrey got mobbed by angry crowds
• Pile Bay and West Harbour Pier aka Blackwater Bay
• Fort Lovrijenac which was the Red Keep in the series.

Book Tour: Dubrovnik: Game of Thrones Complete Experience Tour

3. Drinks at The Kop

We found The Kop by chance and loved its location so decided to cancel our initial plan for drinks at Buza bar. The Kop was located by the bay and its name “The Kop” drew us in. Apparently it is owned by a Liverpool football club fan and I’d say it’s a sports bar. The location is top tier and perfect for people watching. I remember thinking to myself that it must be impossible to get a seat in peak season. We had drinks, enjoyed the view and watched people come up to get photos. 

Buza bar is also another popular bar that was recommended to us. Although we did not visit, it is definitely the one that got away.

4. Explore Old Town

Now, if you are not a fan of Game of Thrones and wondering what to do in Dubrovnik, Old Town is where to start. Walk the main street, Stradun for shops, restaurants, cafés and of course, to people watch.

We start our walk from Pile gate and wandered through the lovely cobblestone streets while marvelling at the old buildings.

I always say that if there is an Old town, I will find it. They transport me back to what the city would have looked like ages ago. I love the old landmarks that tell a story of a previous time. 

5. Dubrovnik Cable car 

For the best aerial view of Dubrovnik, a cable car is a great shout. It takes you over Mount Srd and in about 4 minutes, you will get to the top. The cable car gives you the opportunity to see breathtaking views of the Old town, Elaphiti islands and Adriatic Sea. The cable car was built in 1969 and has now become one of the most popular things to do in Dubrovnik. 

The above are perfect for a packed day trip to Dubrovnik. However, if your 24 hours involve an overnight stay, you can pack in a bit more.

6. Lokrum Island

This gorgeous island is only 15 mins by boat from Dubrovnik’s port. The boat will take you the most beautiful island with its own history. I must mention Game of Thrones again as Lokrum Island is a must visit for fans. There is even a replica throne for photo ops and a video series with BTS of production. I found Lokrum island incredibly scenic; like a huge, beautiful botanical garden. 

Lokrum Island is perfect for a Half day trip and can be combined with a Game of Thrones tour. Even though I’ll recommend at least 4 hours for Lokrum island, it can be done for less. 

A very packed day trip to Dubrovnik could be:

Walk the walls in the morning, Lokrum Island immediately after; then the Game of Thrones tour in the evening. This itinerary will mean a lot of walking but worth it for all the special Dubrovnik hotspots. 

7. Elaphiti Island Tour

Dubrovnik mainland can be very busy so this is a great choice especially during summer. Going via water can be a lovely way to enjoy the wonder of the city and a tour to the Elaphiti Islands is a great shout. A trip to the Elaphiti islands is one of the best day trips from Dubrovnik and one of our highlights of our Croatia trip.

Where to stay in Dubrovnik

For where to stay in Dubrovnik during a 24 hour visit or more, Adriatic Luxury’s Hotel Excelsior is a lovely choice. We stayed in its sister hotel, Hotel Croatia in Cavtat and absolutely loved it. So I am drawing conclusions from our experience in Cavtat. 

Dubrovnik Croatia with a baby

The ultimate question every parent will ask: Is Dubrovnik child friendly?

Now, every blog post I read advised that Dubrovnik was not baby friendly. I had managed to convince myself that there was no way we could visit Dubrovnik while our baby was still small and even started to think I had made a mistake planning the day trip. However, Mr E and I are quite relaxed travellers so I knew that if a particular experience didn’t make sense, we wouldn’t do it.

We managed to do everything we wanted to do; the trick was to ditch the stroller and use a baby carrier. The stroller came with us for the longer, flatter walks; Mr E carried it up the stairs where we needed to. But over all, it was not as tedious as I imagined. 

I don’t think it is as child friendly as Cavtat for example but it is doable. For more experienced travellers, it will be an easy trip to do with kids. However, for parents looking for a relaxed, low effort trip, perhaps you need to skip Dubrovnik. It is why we decided to stay in Cavtat and plan 24 hours in Dubrovnik instead.

24 hours in Dubrovnik: When is the best time to go to Dubrovnik?

Dubrovnik can be quite overwhelming especially in peak summer months but I don’t think there is actually that much to do. The Old town is the place to be and a lot of the other places I had on my list were away from Dubrovnik city itself. So it is very doable in 24 – 48 hours. 

The best time to visit Dubrovnik is shoulder season. We went in October and it was still warm enough to enjoy it but significantly less crowded. I’d day April, May, September and October are the best months to visit Dubrovnik, Croatia. 

When it gets busy, renting a boat to explore via the Adriatic Sea is the best option. There are a few islands (like the Elaphiti ones and Lokrum) where you can get away from all the noise. 

Is 24 hours in Dubrovnik enough?

The short answer is yes. We went off peak and spent the whole day in Old Town which covers most of what to do in Dubrovnik. Lokrum island, Elaphiti etc are all day trips from Dubrovnik itself. The city is small and the only reason I’d recommend more than a day there is if it you plan day trips.

So, don’t worry if you don’t have enough time. Plan your day well (with this itinerary) and you will be ok with 24 hours in Dubrovnik.

Bisous, Bugo x