What to do in Dubrovnik: from one hour to four days.

Total duration

60 minutes door to door

Walking & difficulty

1.4 km · easy, flat limestone, one short staircase if you add the Jesuit Steps

Estimated budget

€0–10 (gelato €3, water €2)

Transport options

Bus 1A/1B/3/8 to Pile, taxi or private drop-off at Pile or Ploče. Nothing is driveable inside the walls.

Accessibility

Stradun and the Old Port are step-free. Avoid the Jesuit Staircase with a wheelchair or pram.

With children

Perfect with small children — no tickets, no stairs, toilets at Pile, and shade under the arcades by 17:00.

Seasonal tips

June–September: do this before 09:00 or after 18:00, the marble reflects heat. Winter: everything is empty and lovely.

Nearby beaches

None within the hour — Banje is a 7-minute walk from Ploče if you change your mind.

Toilets

Public WC just inside Pile Gate and at the Old Port (≈€1, coins).

Water refill

Onofrio's Big Fountain at Pile and the Small Fountain at Luža — both drinkable, free, cold.

Photo spots

Pile bridge, the top of the Jesuit Staircase looking down, and the Old Port breakwater.

Total duration

2 hours

Walking & difficulty

2.5 km · moderate to hard — roughly 1,000 uneven steps, no shade on the north side

Estimated budget

€45–60 per adult (€40 walls, €6–10 drink)

Transport options

Bus 1A/1B/3 to Pile, or a private drop at Pile. Ploče entrance is quieter and closer to paid parking.

Accessibility

Not wheelchair or pram accessible — the walls are stairs only. Use the cable car instead for a step-free panorama.

With children

Children under 7 are free but the circuit is long; bring water, a hat, and plan an exit at Ploče halfway.

Seasonal tips

May–September: go at 08:00 opening or the final 90 minutes before closing. There is genuinely no shade at midday.

Nearby beaches

Šulić (Kolorina) cove sits below Fort Lovrijenac — tiny, pebbly, 4 minutes from Pile.

Toilets

Inside the walls circuit near the Maritime Museum, plus the Pile public WC before you start.

Water refill

Fill up at Onofrio's Fountain before entering — there is one small refill point on the walls and it is often busy.

Photo spots

Minčeta Tower steps, the south wall above Buža, and the rooftop panorama near St. John's Fortress.

Total duration

4.5–5 hours

Walking & difficulty

4 km · moderate — the walls are the hard part, everything else is flat

Estimated budget

€75–95 per adult (walls €40, cable car ≈€27, museum ≈€6–18, lunch €18–25)

Transport options

Walk everything inside the walls. Cable car base station is a 10-minute uphill walk from Ploče, or a 4-minute drive.

Accessibility

Skip the walls: Stradun, the museums and the cable car are all step-free or lift-served, which makes a genuinely good accessible half day.

With children

Swap the Rector's Palace for Lokrum's peacocks if the children are under eight. The cable car is a guaranteed win.

Seasonal tips

Cruise-heavy mornings can flood the Old Town by 10:00 — check the arrivals before you fix the order.

Nearby beaches

Banje Beach is 7 minutes from Ploče Gate if you want a swim before the cable car.

Toilets

Pile, Old Port, cable car base station and the Srđ upper station all have facilities.

Water refill

Both Onofrio fountains; also a refill tap at the cable car upper terrace café.

Photo spots

Srđ upper terrace at golden hour, the fortress ruin behind it for a crowd-free frame.

Total duration

12 hours, comfortably paced

Walking & difficulty

6 km · moderate — walls plus island paths

Estimated budget

€115–155 per adult (walls €40, Lokrum ≈€30, cable car ≈€27, food €35–50)

Transport options

Walking plus the Lokrum ferry from the Old Port. A private transfer is worth it only for the airport or hotel legs.

Accessibility

Drop the walls and Lokrum's upper paths; the Old Town, ferry deck and cable car remain accessible.

With children

Lokrum is the day-maker for children — a shallow saltwater lake, peacocks and the Iron Throne replica. Bring water shoes.

Seasonal tips

Lokrum ferries run April to early November only. Off-season swap in Trsteno Arboretum or Cavtat by boat.

Nearby beaches

Banje (7 min from Ploče), Šulić below Lovrijenac, and Lokrum's rocky east shore.

Toilets

Lokrum has facilities near the monastery and the lake; carry €1 coins for Old Town WCs.

Water refill

Onofrio fountains, plus taps by the Lokrum monastery café.

Photo spots

Walls at 08:30, Lokrum lake at midday, Srđ at sunset — that is the full arc of the light.

Total duration

2 days

Walking & difficulty

9–11 km total · easy to moderate

Estimated budget

€200–280 per adult including tickets, boat and meals

Transport options

Bus 1A/1B/3 between Gruž, Lapad and Pile; ferries from Gruž; private transfer if you prefer door to door.

Accessibility

Public Jadrolinija ferries board more easily than small tour boats; Lopud is car-free and flat along the front.

With children

Šunj's shallow sand bay is the best family swim in the area. Pack shade — there is little of it.

Seasonal tips

Boat tours thin out after mid-October. In winter, replace day two with Ston and an oyster lunch.

Nearby beaches

Šunj (Lopud), Sunset Beach and Copacabana on Babin Kuk, Lapad Bay promenade.

Toilets

Gruž ferry terminal, Lopud harbour, Lapad promenade.

Water refill

Public taps on the Lapad promenade and at Gruž terminal; take 2 litres onto any boat.

Photo spots

Lopud harbour from the ferry, Šunj from the hill path, Lapad promenade at dusk.

Total duration

3 days

Walking & difficulty

12–14 km total · easy

Estimated budget

€300–420 per adult, more if you add a private driver for day three

Transport options

Day 3 is the one where a car or private driver genuinely pays for itself — Konavle buses are sparse and wineries are rural.

Accessibility

Cavtat's promenade is flat and step-free; most Konavle wineries have ground-floor tasting rooms.

With children

Konavle is farms, rivers and animals — a real break from crowds for children after two city days.

Seasonal tips

Grape harvest runs late August to September and the valley smells of it. Spring brings wildflowers and empty roads.

Nearby beaches

Cavtat's Rat beach, Pasjača below Popovići (steep steps, spectacular), Plat bays.

Toilets

Cavtat harbour, Sokol Grad, most wineries.

Water refill

Village fountains in Konavle are drinkable; the Ljuta river source is icy and clean.

Photo spots

Pasjača beach from the clifftop, Cavtat harbour at sunrise, Konavle vineyards in late light.

Total duration

4 days

Walking & difficulty

16–18 km total · easy to moderate

Estimated budget

€420–600 per adult depending on the day-four choice and whether you drive yourself

Transport options

Cross-border days need a passport and, if you rent a car, a green card from the rental desk. Border waits vary hourly.

Accessibility

Kotor's old town is flat; Mostar's bazaar is cobbled and steep in places. Both are doable seated with a private vehicle.

With children

Kravice Falls is the family winner — waterfalls you can swim under. Kotor is better for older children.

Seasonal tips

July–August border queues can add 1–2 hours each way. Shoulder season crossings are usually 10–20 minutes.

Nearby beaches

Prapratno (Pelješac), Kravice river pools, Pasjača, plus everything from days 1–3.

Toilets

Border rest stops, Ston town square, Kotor's main gate.

Water refill

Carry 2 litres per person on any cross-border day — the wait is the thirsty part, not the walking.

Photo spots

Perast from the water, Stari Most from the riverbank below, Ston walls climbing the hillside.