With its spectacular 16th century buildings and old town charm, Dubrovnik has so much to offer that you might need more than a day. If you are on a time crunch then I think you can make it work. We spent one day exploring this famous Croatian city and have put together a post about how you can manage to see all the best sights in a short time.
Since we were staying in Split, we took the catamaran to Dubrovnik from Split. Then to maximize our time in Dubrovnik, we got a taxi, which took us straight into the old town gate. The first part of the day started with a pleasant stroll through the narrow cobblestone streets of the old town, where we were able to immerse ourselves into the quaint charm of Dubrovnik. Then we planned the compulsory visit to the Old Pharmacy, part of the Franciscan Monastery, followed by octopus burgers for lunch. After some touristy photos, we took a taxi to a charming cafe up in the mountains, overlooking the entire city. Along the way, we enjoyed the picturesque countryside with its donkeys and cows! Unfortunately, as our day trip to Dubrovnik was coming to an end, we took a ride through the new parts of town then back to the catamaran.
How to spend your one day in Dubrovnik by following our itinerary below:
Note: The Catamaran from Split is dog friendly and comes with comfortable seats, proper toilet and a bar.
The Old Town of Dubrovnik
Widely known as one of the best-preserved medieval cities in the world, Dubrovnik will immediately impress you with its massive fortification walls, parts of which date all the way back to the 11th century. It should come as no surprise that this truly magnificent area conserving thousands of years of history is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The narrow cobblestone streets are lined with small shops, galleries and restaurants, where you can stop by if you want to fully take your time and dive into the charming atmosphere.
Make sure to hike all the way up to reach the Dubrovnik walls, and continue your journey through time. Not only are they remains of the city’s history, but they also offer some of the most spectacular views of the city. Don’t miss the 300 meters of limestone paved streets, which is an iconic tourist attraction as well as the heart of the city.
The Old Pharmacy at Franciscan Monastery
Situated within the Old Town of Dubrovnik, The Old Pharmacy is a compulsory part of your travel itinerary. Established in the 1300s, it is believed to be the world’s oldest pharmacy, which is still operational today. What was once an in-house pharmacy only used by the monks of the Franciscan Church and Monastery, is now a combination of a spectacular tourist attraction and open to the public pharmacy. They make their own toners and moisturizers and I absolutely loved them! I also got an orange water toner, which is perfect for making my clay masks, or just using for hydronation. The almond lotion is also one of my favorites, the natural scent is fantastic, it also comes in a nice jar, which I highly appreciate as I love products in glass and ceramic packaging. The service was fantastic and we got to take some pictures too. Highly recommend stopping by!
Barba
As we were starting to get hungry, we went to Barba to try their signature octopus burgers. I previously read they were delicious, so we had to get one each. The burgers were absolutely huge, though! The massive bread surrounds a burger topped with lettuce and tomato. We would have been impressed and satisfied, but… the burger was filled with flour and hardly had any octopus, it was just weird and not delicious. I suppose for someone who doesn’t eat much octopus it would be good which is why they have over a thousand great reviews, but it didn’t taste good to us. I didn’t like it.
Head to the Mountain
There are numerous ways to reach the top of the mountains. We decided to take a taxi, which only took about 15 minutes from the gates of the old town. If you have more time, though, you can either take the cable car, which is approximately 20 minutes each way or even hike up there, especially if you like being active and love nature. The views of the city beneath your feet and the azure waters of the Adriatic Sea are truly spectacular. I can only imagine how magical this area is as the sun is kissing the horizon goodnight.
If you have an additional day or two, there are a few more things to explore and do in the city:
Banje Beach
Located south of the Old Town, Banje Beach is the most popular beach in Dubrovnik. It can get a bit crowded during the hot summer day, yet it is an excellent spot to spend a few hours relaxing and sunbathing.
Lovrijenac Fortress
Built on top of a rocky cliff, Lovrijenac Fortress is located 37 meters above sea level. One glimpse is enough to be completely overwhelmed by the sheer blue waters surrounding the fortress. While there have been numerous changes to the fortification, it is believed that it dates back to the 13th century. Due to its strategic location, it’s believed that Lovrijenac Fortress was of significant importance for the protection of the entire city.
If you are wondering where to stay during your extended trip to Dubrovnik, I cannot recommend Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik enough. Situated in the old part of the city, it is an excellent location if you would like to be close to all the main tourist attractions. Those of you, who would like to treat yourselves to something extra special, why not book a stay at the Hotel Dubrovnik Palace, which resembles a real castle. Not only are all suites beautifully designed, but they also offer truly spectacular views of the Adriatic Sea.
Last but definitely not least, if you are like us and would like to make the most of every second of your trip to Dubrovnik, you can get in touch with a fantastic taxi:
Taxi Mario over email at marijocvjetanovic@yahoo, or by phone at (+385) 98 974 4504.
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