DUBROVNIK DAY TRIPS – Top 12 destinations to escape the crowds

Hi there, and welcome (back) to the blog. This time, we’re continuing the Croatia series with another article that comes in handy once you’re planning a stay in and around Dubrovnik. Since Dubrovnik is one of the main destinations in Croatia, it welcomes millions of tourists every year again. But after a lot of sightseeing in a crowded city, it’s time to also get out and explore the surroundings. Let’s talk about the best Dubrovnik day trips inside and outside the Croatian border. Enjoy!

1 | Cavtat

18km from Dubrovnik | 20 min by car | 60 min by boat

Cavtat is one of the closest possibilities for a day trip from Dubrovnik and very easy to reach. You can go there by car, ferry, or use the public bus (bus number 10 from Dubrovnik’s bus station). The bus will take you approx. 30-45 minutes and costs around 25kn oneway. This city is quite famous amongst tourists and offers a wide variety of apartments and hotels. (In case you’re about to plan your trip and don’t want to overnight in Dubrovnik, Cavtat would be another possibility in the surrounding area.)

what can you do in Cavtat?

Cavtat offers a beautiful old town and a lot of historical sights. One of the most famous ones would probably be the Racic Mausoleum, which will also grant you a view of the city due to its location on the hill. Besides that, you can visit Rector’s Palace, St. Nicholas Church, and the “Our Lady of Snow” church, for example. I recommend strolling along the beautiful waterfront promenade once you’re done with the cultural sightseeing itinerary. Cavtat also offers many delicious restaurants and some beautiful beaches. Definitely a day trip worth considering once you want to get out of the city and don’t want to drive too far.

→ PASJACA BEACH

Once a hidden gem, this beautiful beach is becoming more popular nowadays. Its location underneath the cliffs is stunning and offers a great view. However, getting to this beach can be challenging since there are many stairs and even tunnels to conquer. There are no restaurants and shops on the beach itself, so it is still one of the quiet hideaways, especially when there are not many tourists. In 2019, it was even rated the best European beach.

2 | Mljet National Park

30km from Dubrovnik | 90min by boat | 2.5hrs by car (&ferry)

Mljet Island – also called “Odysseus Island” – is the greenest island in Croatia, with 90% forest in its complete area. Most visitors travel to Mljet by Katamaran, which takes around 90min from Dubrovnik. The National Park includes most parts of the island and offers impressive vegetation – above and in the sea. Since Mljet island is 37km wide and 3,2 km long, you might want to rent a scooter or a bike to explore more on the island. You can rent Kayaks, Canoes, and bikes once you are on the island, usually directly at the entrance or inside the national park.

what can you do in Mljet?

This island is to be actively discovered. You can hike one of the suggested routes, ride the bike or take the kayak to discover Mljet. To learn more about the history, explore Mljet’s charming towns. Polace is the oldest town on Mljet, Babino Polje is the biggest one. Both cities are an outstanding possibility to explore ancient palaces. In addition, you will find some beautiful beaches in Saplunara and two saltwater lakes called Malo Jezero and Veliko Jezero. After a full day of adventures, you can sit down in one of the restaurants to eat some fresh, delicious (sea)food.

3 | Peljesac

60-100km from Dubrovnik | 1h-2h by car (depending on your destination)

Peljesac is not a city but a peninsula, the second-largest in Croatia, to be exact. This area is famous for fishing and wine, which we will come to in a bit. The highest mountain, called Sveti Ilija, offers a fantastic view of Korcula and sometimes even to Italy. You can reach Peljesac’s south (Ston) by car in only one hour. From here, it’s around 45min until you get to Orebic. If you don’t travel by car, Ston and Orebic can also be reached by bus.

what can you do in Peljesac?

4 | Korcula

150km from Dubrovnik | 3hrs by car | 2hrs by ferry

Korcula Island is another well-known tourist destination in the region. The island is also called “the green island” due to its Mediterranean climate and variety of vegetation. To get to Korcula, you can take the passenger ferry from Dubrovnik. The ride usually takes around 2hrs (depending on the routing) oneway, running daily. The schedule depends on the season; definitely check the timetables before planning your trip. If you want to take your own car to Korcula, you need to drive the D8 up north and hop on the car ferry in Orebic. Then, you will have to take the car ferry to Korcula, which takes around 25min.

what can you do on Korcula?

The central city on Korcula is called – you guessed it – Korcula. This town offers tons of sights, lovely cafés, and delicious restaurants. You can even visit the house Marco Polo once was said to be born in. In Lumbarda, you will find a beautiful sandy beach. Vela Luka, Brna, Blato, or Medvinjak will be other destinations if you look for smaller, a little less touristy towns.

5 | Elaphiti Islands

10-20km from Dubrovnik | around 40min by boat (depending on the island)

The Elaphiti Islands are an island group northwest of Dubrovnik. It includes 13 islands, yet only three of them are inhabited. Kolocep, Lopud, and Sipan are small, mainly car-free islands with medium to low touristic infrastructure – compared to Dubrovnik. You can reach those three islands by ferry; the schedule depends on the season.

what can you do on Elaphiti Islands?

Most visitors aren’t going for one island but for an island cruise – and so did we. There are a variety of offers to explore the Islands by boat. We went for an 8hr day trip on a small ship, visiting all three Islands and including a meal on the ship.

I really liked the experience because you could get a glimpse of the islands and enjoy the silence. Visiting only one of these islands for a day trip would be too dull for me, but the boat tour was a great alternative. Probably my favorite option for a Dubrovnik day trip.

6 | Split

230km from Dubrovnik | 3hrs by car

Split is Croatia’s second-largest city known for its historical sites that date back to the roman empire. The easiest and fastest way to get to Split would be a 3hr car ride. Public buses are running between the two cities, yet they take nearly 5hrs. Same for the ferry – this one will also take 5hrs. If you’re only going for the day trip, anything else than taking the car wouldn’t be worth it. The amount of time spent on the bus would be way longer than you’d have in the city.

what can you do in Split?

Well, what can you not do? Split offers a ton of attractions for everyone. Suppose you want to dive into history. In that case, you can visit Diocletian’s Palace, Duje’s Cathedral, climb the bell tower or visit one of the museums. If you want to get active, hike the Marjan Hill for a fantastic view or take a dip in the sea. The possibilities are vast, from historic walking tours, food markets, and pulsating nightlife. There are to-dos for everyone!

7 | Trogir

260km from Dubrovnik | 3.5hrs by car

Trogir – the romantic, Venetian pearl with its charming old town. In 1997, Trogir’s old town was added to the UNESCO world heritage sites and still welcomes many visitors all year round. The quickest possibility to get to Trogir would be the car. If you choose to drive the highway route, you will need to navigate through Bosnia and Herzegovina for a bit. This comes with border controls and may also have additional waiting times depending on the season.

what can you do in Trogir?

Trogir offers a variety of things to do. Starting with the old town, you can dive deep into the history and visit the Cipiko Palace, Sveti Petar, Kamerlengo fortress, etc. Then, stroll through the tiny, romantic alleys and sit down in a Konoba for traditional, Mediterranean dishes and local wine. Besides visiting the city, Trogir also offers two city beaches (Medena and Pantan) and a stunningly beautiful promenade along the water.

Since Trogir and Split are quite a drive from Dubrovnik, I’d recommend combining those cities on a two-day trip. They are too beautiful not to explore, and if you’re already making your way up there, you better make it worth it. Give it another day so you can explore more of these two cities.

Since Dubrovnik is located extremely close to the border of Bosnia and Herzegovina, it is a well-known destination for a quick day trip. I’ll tell you a little more about the main destinations usually chosen for a day trip from Dubrovnik and link you to some of the guided tours.

Please remember that crossing the border also comes with document checks and additional waiting times, depending on your season. Also, depending on your passport, you should check your personal entry regulations in advance.

1 | Kravice Waterfalls

130km from Dubrovnik | 2.5hrs by car

These waterfalls are one of the most famous destinations in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Hidden in the forests, these waterfalls are truly spectacular. While Trebizat River rushes down 25m in height, you can swim in the natural pool at its end. There are also some rental stations further down the water, where you can get yourself a kayak. You can sit down at a small café, check out an old mill and even a sailing ship. If you’re visiting in the summer months, the hot temperatures will grant you another phenomenal view: the mist at the top of the valley. The waterfalls are closed down for the winter, so keep that in mind while planning your trip.

2 | Mostar

130km from Dubrovnik | 2.5hrs by car

This town is famous for its history, the old town, and the ancient “Stari Most” bridge crossing the Neretva river. It displays a cultural variety between traditions and religions, characterizing the city. Besides Stari Most, you can visit early Christian basilicas and churches, a franconian monastery, synagogues, and mosques. The city center offers a variety of restaurants and cafés and some beautiful parks to go for a walk. In the summer months, you might be able to see men jumping from the old bridge into the Neretva river.

3 | Medjugorje

130km from Dubrovnik | 2hrs by car

Medjugorje is one of the most popular destinations in Bosnia Herzegovina. Why? It is said that in June 1981, the holy mother Mary repeatedly appeared to its habitants. It didn’t take long for the small town to get famous – nowadays, it welcomes millions of pilgrims every year. No matter what you believe in, this place is very unique and worth a stopover.

Most tourists would go for a guided tour to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The variety of offers for such tours is massive. The most common day trip would include visiting the Kravica Waterfalls and Mostar. There are also tours including “only” the cities – yet Mostar is usually always part of the tour. The guided tours can be booked in advance or locally. Depending on the group size, they take around 10-12 hours, and you’re driving in a Minivan/Bus. It’s a great chance to get a short glimpse of the neighboring country and makes an exciting day trip from Dubrovnik.

Montenegro is the second neighboring country in Croatia’s south. Therefore, a quick visit to Montenegro is well-known among the possible Dubrovnik day trips, especially Kotor and Perast.

Please remember that crossing the border also comes with document checks and additional waiting times, depending on your season. Also, depending on your passport, you should check your personal entry regulations in advance.

1 | Kotor

90km from Dubrovnik | 2hrs by car

Kotor has one of the most essential Venetian harbors and cultural heritage well known across the borders. Its 4,5km long city walls were declared as UNESCO world heritage site in 1979. Climbing up “San Giovanni” mountain will lead you to the fortress entrance and offer a fantastic view. While walking through the old town, you will encounter churches like Sveti Trifun or the church of St. Nicholas, which are definitely worth a visit. After the exciting sightseeing walks, head to the old town for some local food to finish off your day trip!

2 | Budva

100km from Dubrovnik | 2.5hrs by car

Budva is Montenegro’s oldest city, located directly on the Adriatic coast. Due to its many beaches, Budva is popular amongst travelers and locals as the best beach destination in Montenegro. The old town of Budva offers many historic sights like the bell tower, the city walls, and – of course – churches. In addition, the city provides a good touristic infrastructure with various hotels, restaurants, cafés, and clubs.

Like the day trips to Bosnia and Herzegovina, most tourists would also choose a guided tour to Montenegro. They usually pick you up with a minivan and bring you to Perast, where you will hop on a boat to explore the bay from the water. After that, you will have some free time in Kotor before heading back to Dubrovnik. They usually last 10-12 hrs as well.

Aaaand it’s a wrap! I hope this guide inspired you to pick your best Dubrovnik day trip destination and make the most out of the city. The area in and around Dubrovnik is definitely worth a visit! So enjoy your stay, and let me know which day trip you’d go for!

As always, stay happy and healthy!

See you soon,