1. Walk the Dubrovnik city walls

It is fair to say that a visit to Dubrovnik isn’t complete without a walk atop the town’s incredibly charming fortified city walls.

Though I was in awe straightaway when arriving in Dubrovnik’s ‘picture-perfect’ old town, I somehow intuitively decided to walk the historic city walls at the end of my trip.

And it was definitely worth the wait.

It was in fact, the absolute best possible way to end my time in Dubrovnik.

From the moment I made my entrance to the walls, I was welcomed by the most amazing views of Dubrovnik’s old town, with its aged white-washed buildings and iconic terracotta roofs – as well as a mesmerizing panoramic view over the shimmering Adriatic.

Since that point, the views only became better and better, with my absolute favourite views coming from the summit at Fort Minceta.

Do however take into account, that it takes roughly 2 hours to finish the 2-kilometre loop, and I recommend doing it in the late afternoon when the lighting is perfect for photography, and it’s significantly less warm.

2. Admire Dubrovnik Old Town’s interior

Any trip to Dubrovnik should obviously involve at least a full day to explore the incredibly charming architecture and ‘picture-perfect’ laneways of Dubrovnik Old Town.

Seeing the time-worn streets of Dubrovnik Old Town for the first time is an unforgettable experience, and almost impossible to describe in words (I’m really trying my best, folks).

Dotted throughout these picturesque cobblestone streets, you’ll find a wide array of incredibly charming historic buildings, each more beautiful than the last.

That’s why I’d sincerely recommend taking the time to take it all in; it truly is one of the best things to do in Dubrovnik in my view.

Some of my favourite landmarks in Dubrovnik Old Town include:

Franciscan Monastery | Situated directly after the Pile gate, this enchanting 14th-century monastery houses a historic pharmacy, library and church.

Large Onofrio’s Fountain | Built in 1438 as part of a water supply system, the Large Onofrio’s Fountain is considered one of Dubrovnik’s most famous landmarks.

Jesuit staircase | An elegant Baroque staircase that connects the Jesuit Church of St. Ignatius with the lower-lying Gunduliceva Poljana square.

Rector’s Palace | Dating back to the 14th century, this palace used to serve as the seat of the Rector of the Republic of Ragusa.

Dubrovnik Clock Tower | This towering traditional clock tower was built in 1385 and is considered one of the most iconic buildings in Dubrovnik.

Church of St. Blaise | Built in 1715 in ornate baroque style, this church was dedicated to Dubrovnik’s patron saint.

Dominican Monastery | Situated in the eastern part of town, the impressive Dominican Monastery was built around the same time as the city walls.

Sponza Palace | Designed in Dubrovnik’s iconic Gothic-Renaissance style, Sponza Palace is one of the few buildings in the old town to survive the 1667 earthquake.

Yup, that’s a lot to process! Fortunately, the historic old town is pretty compact, making it the perfect size to navigate in a few hours.

3. Sample Dubrovnik’s best gelato at Peppino’s

A refreshing scoop (or two) of gelato after a long day of exploring is one of my favourite things to do during my travels, and this was obviously also the case in Dubrovnik.

Long-time readers of Where the Souls Wander will know that I take it quite seriously to find the best-regarded gelato shops, meaning you’re pretty lucky to stumble upon this post.

Set in the historic laneways of Dubrovnik’s old town is Peppino’s, a small artisanal gelato boutique that is, without doubt, the best place to visit if you’re after a refreshing treat during the fierce summer heat.

Be warned though, Peppino’s serves a great variety of delicious, creamy gelato, making it quite the challenge to pick your flavours – I eventually ended up here two days in a row.

Lemon Pie premium and Raffaello are two of my favourite flavours, but if you’re after something more uncommon, try a scoop of the Mozart – marzipan, pistachio and nougat, or Jaffa cake.

Additionally, there is a variety of vegan, gluten-free, and organic options available – so you won’t have to worry about that.

Another great gelateria worth trying is Dolce Vita, situated just off the lively Stradun.

4. Join a Game of Thrones tour

If you’re familiar with HBO’s blockbuster series Game of Thrones, you’ll damn good know that Dubrovnik doubles as the capital of Westeros, Kings Landing.

As someone who admires the Game of Thrones series, walking among these extraordinary filming locations in real life, gave me deja vu moments on multiple occasions.

Though I enjoyed uncovering those filming locations on my own, I’d highly recommend joining a guided walking tour that takes you along the series best-known scenes and filming locations.

Some of the scenes and locations that you’ll visit on a 2-hour Game of Thrones tour include the Red Keep, Blackwater Bay, Cersei’s infamous ‘walk of shame’, as well as Kings Landing’s gate amongst plenty of others.

While the series has already come to an end (don’t worry, no spoilers here), joining a tour is still easily one of the most popular things to do in Dubrovnik.

So if you’re into Game of Thrones like I do, make sure you step in the footsteps of one of your favourite characters.

5. Walk the Stradun

It is inevitable that your first introduction to Dubrovnik includes a walk along the charming Stradun, which to me is the warmest possible welcome to the old town.

Running straight through Dubrovnik Old Town is Stradun, a charming street that is considered the beating heart of Dubrovnik, connecting Pile Gate in the west with Ploče gate in the east.

The broad 292-meter-long street is the heart of the action and probably where you’ll spend most of your time in Dubrovnik, as it leads to all the best things to see and do in Dubrovnik.

During the summer months though, the Stradun is packed with travellers, making it slightly harder to fully appreciate the wonderful street and its surrounding beauty.

But don’t worry, it takes only one turn to an adjacent laneway or time-worn stairway, and a whole different Dubrovnik unfolds – there truly is something magical about the old town.

Make sure to wander the streets with a camera in hand – you surely stumble upon authentic daily life around every corner.

6. Admire the views from Mount Srd

Rising high above Dubrovnik Old Town, providing the most incredible views of the whole of Dubrovnik, as well as Lokrum in the distance is Mount Srd, an extraordinary vantage point to watch a Croatian sunset unfold.

But not so long ago, Mount Srd was home to one of the fiercest battles during the Homeland War, namely the siege of Dubrovnik.

And though I prefer telling you only about exciting destinations and experiences, I also feel a strong obligation to inform and educate on major historical events.

If you’re curious to learn about the history, make sure to head over to the Napoleonic Fort Imperial, which houses a permanent exhibition that is dedicated to the siege of Dubrovnik in the 90s.

Luckily, Mount Srd is now on the peaceful ground, and a visit is all about the mesmerizing panoramic view of Dubrovnik Old Town and the surrounding islands.

Every evening, locals and travellers alike gather here, as the sun slowly sinks into the Adriatic – and I must admit it, it’s one of the best travel experiences in Dubrovnik.

The easiest and quickest way to the summit of Mount Srd is by jumping aboard the Dubrovnik cable car (more on that later).

For adventurous-minded people (like me), or those on a budget, take a moderate hike that takes you to the summit in roughly an hour, depending on your physical condition.

7. Ride the Dubrovnik cable car

The best viewpoint to experience a sunset in Dubrovnik is without question on Mount Srd, and a ride on Dubrovnik’s cable car is by far the easiest way to get there, making it an excellent option for those on a tight time schedule.

Built back in 1969 to transfer passengers from Dubrovnik Old Town to the summit of Mount Srd, the cable car is now an indispensable part of the city, transferring nearly a thousand visitors daily.

Though the approximately 778-meter journey takes only 5 minutes to complete, the exceptional panoramic views from the cable car are worth every penny of the somewhat expensive ticket.

On top of Mount Srd, you’ll discover two panoramic terraces that both house a selection of telescopes and on a clear day, you can see up to 60 kilometres in the distance.

Tickets are easy to obtain at both stations, and I would highly recommend buying a one-way ticket in the first instance. By doing so, you can opt for the easy hike down if you change your mind on the top.

8. Spend a day chilling and swimming at Lokrum Island

Only a 10-minute ferry ride from Dubrovnik’s Old Harbour lies Lokrum Island, a stunningly beautiful island that makes a perfect place for those who need a little break from the crowds in Dubrovnik.

Lokrum Island is a wonderful place to visit for an afternoon of swimming and relaxing, and accordingly extremely popular with travellers and locals alike.

Not only does it provide a lush forest of black ash pines and olive trees, and incredible rocky beaches, but it also houses an ancient Benedictine Monastery, an impressive botanical garden, as well as a small saltwater lake known as the Dead Sea.

Those interested in Game of Thrones should know that the island of Lokrum was used as the city of Qarth, and at present, the medieval Benedictine Monastery is home to the series legendary Iron Throne.

9. Kayak around Dubrovnik

One of the best activities in Dubrovnik includes an adventurous Kayak tour that takes you around Dubrovnik’s mesmerising walls, as well as beautiful Lokrum Island which is dotted just off its coast.

Those looking for a quick adventure, away from the packed streets of the old town will have an excellent time exploring the stunning highlights that are found along the Adriatic Coast.

The relaxing, yet breathtaking journey takes you to a handful of impressive sites, including the stunning Betina Cave, and Lokrum Island, while also providing a unique seaside perspective of Dubrovnik and its towering city walls.

On top of that, you’ll have the opportunity to go swimming, snorkelling, cliff jumping, or just take it easy on the only beach in Dubrovnik that is solely accessed from the water.

As wonderful as it is exploring the area during the day, it is even more beautiful if you plan to do a Kayak tour during the golden hour – it’s simply a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

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11. Visit Fort Lovrijenac

Nestled on a picturesque cliff just west of Dubrovnik Old Town is Fort Lovrijenac, an impressive medieval stronghold that played a major role in the resistance to Venetian rule.

If the brave people of Dubrovnik hadn’t stood their ground in the 11th century, the Venetians would probably have built a fortress of their own at exactly the same spot, resulting in that they would have kept Dubrovnik under their power.

Sadly, a large part of the fort’s interior was destroyed by reason of an earthquake that hit Dubrovnik in 1667. Fortunately,  it didn’t take long before it was rebuilt to the fortress we visit at present.

Something noticeable is the famous inscription above the entrance, saying: “Non Bene Pro Toto Libertas Venditur Auro” (“Freedom cannot be sold for all the gold of the world”).

Although there isn’t much else to see inside the fortress, I wouldn’t recommend skipping it, and that’s for two bloody good reasons.

May it be the stunning view of the whole of Dubrovnik, or its recent role as the Red Keep in Game of Thrones, a visit to the fortress is simply one of the best things to do in Dubrovnik.