3 Days in Dubrovnik: A Day-by-Day Itinerary

Get ready for honey-coloured stone, sparkling Adriatic views and a skyline of towers and terracotta roofs that looks almost too perfect to be real. Dubrovnik is small, easy to walk and full of drama, which makes it a dream for a three-day city break. This plan suits first-time visitors, couples, families with older kids and anyone who wants the big sights without rushing.

The pace is relaxed. You get one big experience each morning, a slower afternoon and plenty of time for sunset. Day 1 is all about the Old Town and its famous walls. Day 2 takes you across the water to Lokrum island. Day 3 lifts you up Mount Srđ for the view of a lifetime, followed by an easy afternoon on the coast. Plan less, see more.

At a glance

Day	Area	Highlights
1	Old Town and Pile	City Walls, Fort Lovrjenac, Stradun, Old Port at sunset
2	Lokrum island and Ploče	Boat from the Old City port, historical gardens, swimming, evening stroll
3	Mount Srđ, then Cavtat or Lapad	Cable car views, Museum Dubrovnik in Homeland War, seaside afternoon

Day 1: Old Town and the legendary City Walls

Morning

This is the day for Dubrovnik’s most famous views! Start early and go straight to the City Walls. Walking the full loop is the classic Dubrovnik experience, with the sea on one side and the Old Town rooftops on the other. Enter near Pile Gate, the main western entrance, and take your time: there’s a photo stop every few steps.

What to pre-book: tickets are sold on the official webshop of the Society of Friends of Dubrovnik Antiquities. The official FAQ says you don’t need a reservation. You can still buy your ticket online in advance, pick your date and activate it at the entrance. Ticket prices and opening hours change with the season, so check the official site before you go. The FAQ also says children under 7 enter free and children aged 7 to 18 pay a children’s ticket.

Two rules from the official code of conduct are worth knowing. First, the ticket covers one tour only and you can’t re-enter, so finish your loop before you stop for coffee. Second, bring water, a hat and sunscreen, as the Society itself recommends.

Afternoon

Here’s a lovely bonus: your City Walls ticket also gets you into Fort Lovrjenac, the fortress on a rock just outside Pile Gate. It’s a short walk from the gate (under 10 minutes), and the views back to the walls are spectacular. It doesn’t work the other way round, though: a ticket bought at Lovrjenac doesn’t cover the City Walls.

Then walk back through Pile Gate onto the Stradun, the polished limestone main street that runs the length of the Old Town. From here, everything is a few minutes on foot. Explore the side lanes, look into churches and squares, and consider the Rector’s Palace near the eastern end of the Old Town. For current prices and hours at the Rector’s Palace and other museums, check the Dubrovnik Museums official site.

Planning to see several museums as well as the walls? Look at the Dubrovnik Pass. Its official site describes it as a city pass that includes entry to the City Walls, museums and galleries, plus public transport. Compare the current pass price on the official site with the cost of the single tickets you actually plan to use.

Evening

Walk east to the Old Port as the light turns golden. Watching boats bob in front of the walls is a perfect, free end to your first day. Dinner is easy: the Old Town and the streets just outside its gates have options for every budget.

Day 2: Lokrum island escape

Morning

Pack your swimsuit: today you swap stone streets for green paths and swimming spots. Lokrum is a protected nature reserve just off the Old Town, and the trip over is half the fun.

Go to the Luža ticket office in the Old City port, a short walk from the Stradun. The official Lokrum website lists the ticket at EUR 30 per person, including entry to the reserve and a return trip on the official Lokrum boat. The site gives the Luža office hours as 08:00 to 16:00.

The official boat schedule from 28 September 2026 has a first departure from the city harbour at 09:00, then a boat every 30 minutes from 10:00 to 17:00. Return boats leave Lokrum 15 minutes after each city departure, so the crossing is short. The last boat back from the island leaves at 18:00. Schedules change with the season, so always check the latest schedule on lokrum.hr before you go.

Afternoon

Take a slow afternoon on the island. Explore the historical gardens, follow the forest paths, find a rocky spot for a swim and enjoy the view back to the city walls. Bring water and swim shoes for the rocks. Watch the time and get to the pier well before the last boat.

Evening

Back in town, walk out through Ploče Gate on the eastern side of the Old Town. The Ploče neighbourhood has lovely sea views towards Lokrum, especially at dusk. Enjoy a relaxed dinner, then head back into the Old Town for a late gelato on the Stradun.

Day 3: Mount Srđ by cable car, then the coast

Morning

Save the biggest, most breathtaking view for last. The Dubrovnik Cable Car takes you up Mount Srđ for a panorama over the Old Town, Lokrum and the open sea. The operator says the lower station is about a 5 to 6 minute walk from Pile Gate, or 7 to 9 minutes uphill from Buža Gate. The ride takes about 4 minutes each way.

Cable car ticket	Price
Adult return	EUR 30
Adult one-way	EUR 17
Child return (ages 4 to 12)	EUR 8
Child one-way (ages 4 to 12)	EUR 5
Children up to 4	Free

Buying online or from other sellers adds a EUR 2 fee. There’s no fee at the lower station cash office or ticket machine.

Opening hours depend on the month. The official timetable lists 09:00 to 20:00 for 21 to 31 October and 09:00 to 17:00 in November. The last car up leaves the lower station 30 minutes before closing. The cable car is closed from December to March. It’s also closed for planned maintenance on 10, 11 and 20 November 2026.

At the top, the operator lists the Museum Dubrovnik in Homeland War, a sobering and important look at the city’s recent history. There’s also a restaurant and a water refilling station.

Afternoon

Choose how to finish on the coast:

• Cavtat: a pretty harbour town south of Dubrovnik. Libertas runs buses there, and its official price list shows a one-way ticket to Cavtat at EUR 4.00. Check the Libertas suburban timetables for departure times and stops.
• Lapad: stay closer and head west to the Lapad peninsula for a seafront promenade, beaches and a laid-back local feel. Check the Libertas city timetable for the best bus from where you’re staying.

Evening

Go back to the Old Town for a farewell evening. Walk the Stradun one more time, find a terrace for dinner and toast three wonderful days on the Adriatic.

Getting there and getting around

From the airport

Dubrovnik Airport (DBV) is south of the city. The Platanus airport shuttle bus is the easiest budget option:

• Price: EUR 10 one-way, or EUR 15 return. The return half is valid indefinitely. Children under 6 travel free, and one suitcase is included.
• From the airport: a bus leaves about 30 minutes after every flight arrival, from the first flight to the last. It stops at the Old Town (Ploče Gate) and the main bus station in Gruž.
• To the airport: buses start at the main bus station (platform 8), then stop at Grawe station and the Cable Car stop near the Old Town. Platanus says the trip takes about 35 minutes from the bus station and about 25 minutes from the Cable Car stop. Summer traffic can add time.
• Tickets: buy online or at the airport counter, the bus station or the Cable Car stop. Tickets aren’t sold on the bus.

For taxis and private transfers, ask the provider for the current fare before you ride.

Local buses

Libertas Dubrovnik runs the city buses. Fares from the official price list:

Ticket	Price
Ticket bought on the bus (one ride)	EUR 2.50
1-hour ticket	EUR 1.73
Two-ride ticket (each ride valid 30 minutes)	EUR 3.19
Daily ticket (24 hours from first validation)	EUR 5.31
Three-day ticket (72 hours from first validation)	EUR 11.95

Libertas sells tickets at its sales points in Pile, Lapad, Grawe, Mokošica and Cavtat, and also has an official Libertas app. The Dubrovnik Pass also includes public transport, according to its official site.

On foot

The Old Town is best explored on foot. There are lots of steps and the stone is polished smooth, so wear comfortable shoes with good grip.

Where to stay

• Old Town: the most atmosphere, with the walls and the Stradun right outside your door. Best for couples and short stays. There are many steps and narrow lanes, which can be hard with heavy luggage.
• Ploče: just east of the Old Town, close to the Ploče Gate shuttle stop and the Old City port for Lokrum boats. Great sea views, a bit quieter, and still walkable.
• Lapad: a greener, beachy neighbourhood on a peninsula west of the centre. Ideal for families and anyone who wants to swim and have easy bus links.
• Gruž: practical and good value, with the main bus station and ferry port. The Platanus airport shuttle starts here, which helps with early flights.

Budget

These are the verified costs for the sights and transport in this plan. Accommodation, food, drinks, taxis and the City Walls ticket aren’t included. Their prices change with the season, and we only list what operators publish.

Item	Typical cost
Airport shuttle (Platanus)	EUR 10 one-way, EUR 15 return
City bus (Libertas)	EUR 2.50 single on board, EUR 5.31 for 24 hours, EUR 11.95 for 72 hours
Lokrum (entry plus return boat)	EUR 30
Cable car (adult return)	EUR 30
Bus to Cavtat (one-way)	EUR 4.00
City Walls (includes Fort Lovrjenac)	Check the official site
Rector’s Palace and museums	Check the official sites
Dubrovnik Pass	Check the official site

Day 2 (Lokrum) costs EUR 30 for sights and transport. Day 3 (cable car return plus a bus round trip to Cavtat) costs EUR 38. For Day 1, add the City Walls ticket at the current official price.

Practical tips

• Money: Croatia uses the euro. The cable car takes euros and credit cards, and the City Walls webshop takes card payments.
• Closing days: the City Walls are open every day of the year except Christmas Day (25 December). The official FAQ says winter runs from 1 November to 31 March and has its own opening hours.
• Seasonal closures: the cable car is closed from December to March. Lokrum also closes for part of the winter. In 2025 its last sailing day was 14 December, and it opened specially from 31 January to 3 February 2026 for the Feast of St. Blaise. Check lokrum.hr for current notices.
• Dress: wear shoes with grip for the walls and the polished streets. In churches and other religious sites, covering your shoulders and knees is respectful.
• SIM and eSIM: Croatia is in the EU, so check whether your home plan includes EU roaming. If not, an eSIM or local SIM is an easy fix. Compare current offers before you travel.
• Timing: the walls and the cable car are nicest early in the day or later in the afternoon, away from the midday sun.

Heads-up

Dubrovnik is a joy, and a little preparation keeps it that way. Everything below comes from the official operators.

• Heat and sun on the walls: the City Walls code of conduct asks you to check the weather, dress and wear shoes for the conditions, and bring water, a hat and sunscreen. Take this seriously on hot days.
• Stay away from the edges: jumping, climbing or leaning from the walls is forbidden, and so is taking photos from the edge. No selfie is worth the risk.
• One entry only: a walls ticket covers one tour, with no re-entry.
• Weather can stop things for a while: the cable car stops running in high winds, thunderstorms or heavy rain, and the Lokrum boat doesn’t sail in bad weather. Have a plan B, like swapping your days around.
• Closed dates: the cable car is closed on 10, 11 and 20 November 2026 for maintenance, and from December to March.
• Airport shuttle tickets: Platanus doesn’t sell tickets on the bus, so buy online or at a counter first.
• Everyone pays the Lokrum entry: the EUR 30 reserve ticket applies whether you take the official boat or get there another way. Factor it in if you join a kayak or boat tour.

For safety and security updates, check your own government’s official travel advice for Croatia before you go.

Visa and entry

Entry rules depend on your nationality and can change, especially as new EU border systems roll out. Well before booking, check the official website of Croatia’s Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs at mvep.gov.hr and the European Union’s official travel portal at travel-europe.europa.eu.

FAQ

Is 3 days enough for Dubrovnik?

Yes. In three days you can do the City Walls and Old Town, spend half a day or a full day on Lokrum and ride the cable car up Mount Srđ. You’ll still have time for an afternoon on the coast in Cavtat or Lapad.

Does the City Walls ticket include Fort Lovrjenac?

Yes. The official FAQ says a City Walls ticket also lets you visit Fort Lovrjenac. A ticket bought at Lovrjenac doesn’t include the walls.

Do I need to book the City Walls in advance?

The official FAQ says you don’t need a reservation. You can still buy tickets in advance on the official webshop and activate them at the entrance.

How much is the Dubrovnik cable car?

An adult return costs EUR 30 and a one-way ticket costs EUR 17. Children aged 4 to 12 pay EUR 8 return or EUR 5 one-way, and children up to 4 ride free.

How do I get from Dubrovnik Airport to the Old Town?

The Platanus shuttle costs EUR 10 one-way and stops at Ploče Gate, next to the Old Town. A bus leaves about 30 minutes after each flight arrives.

Can I visit Lokrum all year?

Not always. Lokrum closes for part of the winter, and the boats don’t sail in bad weather. Check the latest notices and boat schedule on the official Lokrum website.