The Best Day Trips from Dubrovnik

Only .35 nautical miles from the walls of Old City Dubrovnik, visiting Lokrum Island makes for a fun outdoor adventure, especially when reached via kayak tour that includes paddling right outside the walls for an epic view before continuing to the island. It’s also possible to reach by ferry, just a 10-minute ride away. The island is a nature reserve and was a stand-in for the city of Qarth in the hit series “Game of Thrones.” Both the 12th-century Benedictine monastery and botanical gardens, open to visitors, were used as film settings. While you’re here, watch for the peacocks and rabbits that roam through this nature preserve.  You can also enjoy sunbathing on picturesque beaches and dips in the saltwater Dead Sea lake.

It’s easy to reach Cavtat with the seaside town less than a 30-minute drive from Dubrovnik. If you don’t have a rental car, catch a taxi or take the bus, a 40-minute ride from the medieval city. It’s the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle with a serene atmosphere and a lovely waterfront promenade. Not only are there beautiful, less crowded beaches, but a number of historical and cultural sites. Near the picturesque harbor, you’ll find the Renaissance-style Rector’s Palace showcasing manuscripts from 19th-century scientist Baltazar Bogisic. You can also visit the Vlaho Bukovac House which is the former residence of the renowned painter. The Baroque St. Nicholas Church and 15th-century Franciscan monastery are just two of the other highlights.

The Elaphiti Islands, made up of three inhabited islands: Kolocep, Lopud, and Sipan, can be reached by ferry in an hour from Dubrovnik. Private Croatia tours and group tours are also available for visiting this beautiful island group, with Lopud and Kolocep car-free, providing an especially peaceful atmosphere with unspoiled natural beauty. Throughout the archipelago, there is a mix of sandy and pebble beaches edging crystal-clear cobalt waters for everything from swimming and snorkeling to kayaking. Lopud is ideal for hikers. The trek to the top of its highest hill brings stunning views and the remnants of a 16th-century fort that can be explored. You’ll find a 16th-century Renaissance castle in Sipan and sandy beaches for sunbathing and swimming in Kolocep. 

The Peljesac Peninsula, known for its pebble beaches, mountains, vineyards, and shellfish, is only 30 miles north of Dubrovnik. It’s often included on a variety of tours, most notably tastings of the region’s famous oysters and its wine, although it’s also possible to reach by taxi or bus. One of the most popular destinations is the village of Ston, home to the world’s second-longest walls and the longest in Europe, stretching for almost 3.5 miles with towers and fortresses. Like Dubrovnik’s walls, the 14th/15th-century walls were built to protect the area and lucrative salt pans can be walked for breathtaking views. Ston is also the place to sample mouthwatering oysters straight from the sea, complemented by the region’s wine.

Mljet Island is one of the most popular stops on an island-hopping Croatia cruise, but it’s also easily visited from Dubrovnik on any type of Croatia vacation. Known as the country’s greenest island, much of it is covered in dense forest, while Mljet National Park makes up nearly a third. Its star attractions are two saltwater lakes in vibrant shades of blues and greens. Great Lake (Veliko) has an islet in the middle with a 12th-century Benedictine abbey and church, accessed via a short boat ride. With small, idyllic beaches along the lake shores, one can enjoy sunbathing and swimming. Kayak rentals are available for paddling around or you might rent a bike to explore the park’s scenic paths.

Montenegro is just southeast of Croatia, with Perast and Kotor, less than a two-hour drive away. If you don’t plan to drive, there are multiple tour options as well. Or ride the bus, a two-hour and 10-minute ride to Kotor, tucked into a secluded stretch of the Bay of Kotor. The Old Town is a UNESCO-listed site surrounded by medieval stone walls with a backdrop of dramatic mountains. There are many attractions to explore while wandering the cobbled streets, including St. John’s Fortress, Pima Palace, the Clock Tower, historic churches, and stone homes. Nearby is Perast, one of the prettiest towns along the bay with its top attraction, Our Lady of the Rocks, a manmade islet with a church and museum.

If you head north of Dubrovnik about 2.5 hours, you’ll come to Mostar in Bosnia & Herzegovina, another outstanding day trip for exploring multiple countries. The historic village itself was developed in the 15th and 16th centuries as an Ottoman frontier town. Tucked into a deep valley where the Neretva River flows through, one of its most iconic symbols is the Stari Most Bridge that crosses the brilliant blue-green water. Daring locals can often be seen leaping off the old bridge that’s one of the remains of the Ottoman Empire’s long control over the region. You’ll see more reminders of Mostar’s rather brutal past too, including bullet holes in the walls, dating from its conflict in the 1990s.