Spending 4 Days in Dubrovnik

Panoramic View of the Dubrovnik Harbour

Dubrovnik is one of those places that you just think: paradise. It’s definitely up there in my favourite places I’ve ever been to! Are you planning on a trip to the amazing Adriatic city of Dubrovnik in Croatia? Here are my recommendations on Spending 4 Days in Dubrovnik.

Day One, Morning: Pretend you’re in Game of Thrones

On your first day, explore. Dubrovnik is a largely walled city that made it’s way on to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. The stunning scenery and architecture makes it one of the coolest places to visit in Croatia. If you’re a fan of Game of Thrones then you’ll probably already have an idea of how pretty the city looks and the kind of views you’ll get here. The city walls surrounding the old city of Dubrovnik were used frequently in the Game of Thrones TV series. This is where you should start your visit to Dubrovnik.

The cost to explore the city walls is around 150 Croatian kuna (HRK) which is around £18 / $23. It is well worth it. You can walk all the way around the city and explore little towers that would’ve protected the city in the 14th century right through until the 17th century. The walls reach a height of roughly 25m which gives great photo opportunities at every turn including over to Lokrum Island from the harbour side.

Spending 4 Days in Dubrovnik

View from the City Walls

Day One, Afternoon: Enjoy the views from Srd Mountain

After enjoying the sights of the city walls, take a short walk to get the cable car up to the Srd Mountain. The cost is 85 HRK (£10 / $13) one way or 140 HRK (£17 / $22) return. It’s quite a nice walk down the mountain and through some woods so you could get the cable car up and walk back down. You can’t go up without having a drink in the Panorama Restaurant & Bar though! The views of the old city and surround islands are amazing and not to be missed!

In 1991, the city was besieged by the Yugoslav People’s Army with the Dubrovnik old city suffering extensive damage from the bombing. Croatian forces were stationed at Fort Imperial on top of Srd Mountain to fight off the invading armies. The Fort is the symbol of defence of Dubrovnik. The Croatian fight for independence started in 1991 and didn’t end until 1995. In the UK, we get taught a lot about World War 1 and World War 2 but it’s crazy to think that this war was only around 20 years ago.

Fort Imperial has been turned in to a Museum of Croatian War of Independence and exhibitions the war between 1991 and 1995. It features a lot of photos, weapons, videos and artefacts from the period. The cost is around 30 HRK (£4 / $5) and it’s worth it to learn more about the wonderful city and the horrendous period in Croatian history.

Top Tip: Go to the top of the museum for even better views of Dubrovnik and the coastline!

Day Two: Tick off another country!

Another great thing about Dubrovnik is that the city is close to other countries so you can go off and explore the region. Montenegro is a short two hour bus journey away from the Croatian city with Kotor and Budva being the popular destinations.

Kotor also joins Dubrovnik on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. There are many things to see in Kotor including the beautiful Cathedral, city walls, a fortress and also the views of the Bay of Kotor. It’s a great place to spend a few hours before heading to Budva.

Budva is roughly 30 minutes further into Montenegro and features a lovely old town, the citadel and a beach too. I loved grabbing an ice cream and just wandering around in Budva. It has the same feel and styling as most cities and towns around this region and the old town reminds you of Dubrovnik.

Kotor Old Town, Montenegro

Kotor Old Town

Day Three: Paradise – Island of Mljet

The island of Mljet. This was the highlight of my trip to Dubrvonik. Nothing came close to this amazing place!

The island of Mljet is arguably the most beautiful island along the Adriatic coast. There are ferries and tour groups running from Dubrovnik to Mljet multiple times a day. Mljet National Park makes up the northern region of the island and it is paradise! You can hire bicycles to travel around the island which I’d recommend so that you can see more of the ‘hidden away’ parts of the island.

There are two salt lakes here and a smaller beautiful island of St Mary lies in the middle of the bigger one. It’s a small island but has a nice monastery that’s also worth a visit. You can also take part in a variety of sports with plenty of places to hire equipment or buy experiences.

One of the greatest experiences of this trip was sitting on my own on a beach, at one of the two salt lakes, with nothing but an inquisitive shrimp keeping me company. There were no tourists nearby, no sounds and the water was so clear. I could’ve sat there for hours. Amazing place!

According to legend, Odysseus was so enchanted by Mljet that he stayed here for seven years… I can see why! I LOVE MLJET!

Paradise! Island of Mljet, Croatia

Paradise! Island of Mljet

Day Four: Tick off your third country!

I know the article title is Spending 4 Days in Dubrovnik but a trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina rounds off a four day trip to Dubrovnik quite nicely. One of the most popular cities for tourists is Mostar. Mostar is a great place to wander around in and experience the local markets. There are a few bars and restaurants overlooking the water which are great places to chill.

The most famous tourist attraction in this wonderful city is the Stari Most, or the Old Bridge in English. The bridge is 24m high and attracts opportunistic locals. Younger men in the city launch themselves from the bridge on a regular basis, but only after raising enough money! However it can be really dangerous. The temperature difference between the mid to late 30s in summer months and the water can be hazardous to the body so it’s usually performed by trained individuals. Don’t jump in after a few drinks!

Stari Most, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Stari Most

Try the blog post Cheap Flights to get some lower cost flights to Dubrovnik. I hope you enjoyed my Spending 4 Days in Dubrovnik article. What was your favourite part of your trip to Dubrovnik? Let me know in the comments.

Spending 4 Days in Dubrovnik

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15 Comments

  1. Fiona Mai
    October 2, 2017 / 7:58 am

    I’ve been to a number of European countries but not yet to this beautiful part of Europe. What a shame! Didn’t know that it’s so easy to get from Dubrovnik to Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina. This region is now on my list for our next 1-week holiday!

    • David
      Author
      October 2, 2017 / 8:57 pm

      Good, I’m glad I’ve convinced someone to go! I loved Dubrovnik and the surrounding areas! It’s a good chance to knock off a few additional countries

  2. October 2, 2017 / 10:21 am

    Mljet sounds like a spot I will have to visit, those blue salt lakes look almost magical. Dubrovnik has really been put on the map by GOT, but I think the city is a charm in itself regardless of the TV series! Such a picturesque place indeed.

    • David
      Author
      October 2, 2017 / 8:59 pm

      GoT really has put it on the map properly but you’re right! There is so much more to the city, it’s just so peaceful, the architecture is amazing and the scenery is fantastic

  3. October 2, 2017 / 11:04 am

    Most definitely on my bucket list – I am hoping to visit for a weekend over Xmas when I am in the UK. I have heard much lately about this beautiful city. I have to admit I am a tad surprised at the prices for entry to the walls and so on it seems more expensive than I thought it would be. Are meals and hotels expensive?

    • David
      Author
      October 2, 2017 / 9:01 pm

      When I was in the country, the locals seemed to say that Croatia joining the EU made the country more expensive. It’s quite an expensive city but probably on par with places in other European countries like Italy.

  4. Flo
    October 2, 2017 / 1:34 pm

    Mljet sounds so incredible! I wish we had done a day trip there when we visited Dubrovnik last year. Did you make it out to Lokrum? Yet another little island we wished we had visited.

    • David
      Author
      October 2, 2017 / 9:04 pm

      Lokrum looked really interesting but I didn’t have time. It was definitely on my list so I was disappointed to miss it, next time!

  5. ravenoustravellers
    October 2, 2017 / 5:58 pm

    We’re so desperate to visit Croatia it looks so dreamy! We’d definitely explore the city walls as we’re big GoT fans! It’s great that there are so many beautiful places you can visit in a day – Mljet looks stunning!

  6. kathymarris
    October 3, 2017 / 4:31 am

    I spent a day in Dubrovnik earlier this year and found the place fascinating. The fact that it is a film location for Game of Thrones does make it even more appealing. I could have walked around those Old Town Walls of Dubrovnik all day and not got tired of the amazing views!

  7. October 5, 2017 / 8:08 am

    Dubrovnik looks like a very interesting city! It is a part of Europe that I don’t know at all and would love to discover. The views from the walls are beautiful.

  8. October 8, 2017 / 4:30 am

    Thanks for sharing. Definitely one of those place we all dream of visiting. I love the architecture, but it’s the natural beauty that really makes me fall in love with this place.

  9. October 10, 2017 / 3:28 pm

    Amazing! My friend was recently in Croatia and just hopped over to Bosnia. So cool to have them so close together! Great guide 🙂

  10. January 23, 2018 / 6:42 pm

    I actually found Dubrovnik suffocating. The crowds made it hard to appreciate everything else. Mljet, on the other hand, was heaven on earth.

    • David
      Author
      January 23, 2018 / 7:32 pm

      I can see how people would think that. I was there when it was a bit quieter but even then it was pretty busy. I’d happily go back purely to go to Mljet. I’ve not yet found anywhere as amazing as there!