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Dubrovnik
A walled medieval city on the Adriatic, with marble streets, terracotta roofs and sea views from every rampart
A walled medieval city on the Adriatic, with marble streets, terracotta roofs and sea views from every rampart
About 2km of medieval walls and towers encircle the old town, with views over the rooftops and the sea. Walking the full circuit takes around one to two hours.
Go at opening time or late afternoon to avoid heat and crowds.
Photo: Sean MacEntee, CC BY 2.0
The polished limestone main street, running from the Pile Gate to the old port, lined with Baroque buildings, churches, the Rector’s Palace and Onofrio’s Fountain.
Photo: Richard Mortel, CC BY 2.0
A wooded island a short boat ride from the old port, with botanical gardens, a ruined monastery, a fort, rocky swimming spots and peacocks. No one stays overnight.
Photo: Jerrye and Roy Klotz MD, CC BY-SA 3.0
A cable car climbs to the top of Mount Srđ for the classic view over the walled city and the islands. A Napoleonic fort at the top houses a museum on the 1991–92 siege.
Photo: dronepicr, CC BY 2.0
Try black risotto (with cuttlefish ink), fresh grilled fish, Ston oysters, pašticada (braised beef) and rozata (custard pudding).
Restaurants inside the walls are expensive; Gruž, Lapad and side streets away from Stradun offer better value.
Dubrovnik Airport (DBV) is about 20km south of the city; shuttle buses take around 30 minutes to the Pile Gate. Buses and ferries link Dubrovnik with Split and the islands.
Croatia is in the EU and the Schengen area and uses the euro. EU citizens need only an ID card; citizens of the UK, US, Canada, Australia and many other countries can visit visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, with biometric registration under the EU Entry/Exit System. An ETIAS travel authorisation is also due to be introduced. Check current rules before you travel.
Dubrovnik is Croatia’s most expensive city. The city walls ticket is the biggest sightseeing cost. Croatia has used the euro since 2023. Prices on the coast rise sharply in July and August.
Prices can double in July and August.
Walls, islands and views.
Walk the city walls early, explore Stradun and the Rector’s Palace, and watch sunset from a bar outside the walls.
Take the boat to Lokrum for swimming, then the cable car up Mount Srđ in the late afternoon.
Visit the Elafiti islands, Ston for oysters and its long walls, or Cavtat.
🛂 Entry rules: EES and ETIAS
Croatia is in the Schengen area, which has two EU border systems for non-EU visitors.
EES (in force): since 10 April 2026 the EU’s Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors’ passport details, fingerprints and a photo the first time they enter the Schengen area, replacing passport stamps. Allow extra time at the border on your first trip; later crossings are quicker. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens are not registered.
ETIAS (not yet running): a €20 online travel authorisation for visitors who don’t need a visa, such as UK, US, Canadian and Australian citizens. It hasn’t started and no start date has been confirmed, so nobody can apply yet; ignore websites that offer to “pre-register” you for a fee.
Visa-free visitors can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the whole Schengen area, not per country.
Official information: EU: Travel to Europe (EES & ETIAS) · Reviewed September 2026
July and August are very busy and expensive; June and September are often the best balance of weather and crowds.
Check cruise schedules and visit the old town early or late on busy days.
Marble streets are slippery; wear shoes with grip.
The Dubrovnik Pass includes the walls, museums and local buses.
Quick answers for planning time in Dubrovnik.
Yes, Croatia joined the Schengen area and adopted the euro on 1 January 2023.
Around one to two hours for the full circuit of about 2km.
Yes, it was listed in 1979.
By shuttle bus or taxi, in about 30 minutes.
May, June, September and October, when it is warm but less crowded.
Google Maps works well; download offline maps for islands and national parks.
Free
Croatian is the language; English is widely spoken in tourist areas.
Free
Bookable boat trips, walking tours and national park excursions.
Free
Planning a wider trip? Our Croatia travel guide covers getting there, costs, when to go and more.