Dubrovnik Attractions: First Visit, Return
Dubrovnik Attractions: First Visit and Second Look
Most people spend their first Dubrovnik day on the Walls and wish they had started earlier. The queue at Pile Gate grows through the morning, so the best plan for a first trip is to be there at opening and leave the second tier of attractions for later in the stay, or for a return.
First visit: three tickets that matter
The City Walls. The circuit runs about 1.94 km around the Old Town, with Minčeta Tower at the high point. The ticket costs about €40 in summer, less in winter, and covers one circuit with no re-entry. It includes Fort Lovrijenac, so a separate fort ticket is not needed. Check the current price and hours on the official Walls shop .
Rector’s Palace. The Gothic-Renaissance seat of the Ragusa Republic’s rector has period furnishings, a courtyard and a cellar of old cells. Entry is €15 for adults and €8 for students, per dumus.hr .
The cable car. A €30 return takes four minutes up Mount Srđ for the best view of the walled city. It stops running from December to March, and wind or lightning can pause it on other days. The cable car site shows the month’s hours.
Choosing a pass
The ten-museum ticket costs €20 and lasts 7 days from first use, which only pays off if you plan several museums. The Dubrovnik Pass comes in 24-hour, 72-hour and 168-hour versions at about €40, €50 and €60; see dubrovnikpass.com for what each covers before you buy. For a first visit with two or three headline sights, separate tickets are often simpler.
Return visit: the second tier
Lokrum. The €30 ticket includes the reserve and the return boat from the Old Port. The island has a botanical garden, peacocks and a small saltwater lake. It closes to visitors from mid-December to February, with details at lokrum.hr .
Fort St John aquarium. Tanks sit in vaulted cellars at the Old Port. Opening days and prices change, so confirm them locally.
Red History Museum. Near Gruž port, this interactive museum covers everyday life in socialist Yugoslavia between 1945 and 1990.
Franciscan cloister and old pharmacy. Entry is €6 for adults. The pharmacy dates from 1317.
War Photo Limited. A serious gallery of conflict photography on Antuninska. It is open daily 10:00 to 17:00 in April and October and until 22:00 from May to September, and shut from November to March. Adult entry is €10, students €6, and children 12 and under are free. Expect hard images.
Guided Game of Thrones walks. Prices are usually in the €25 to €38 range. See Game of Thrones tours for current options.
Crowd timing
The city caps cruise calls at two ships and about 5,000 passengers a day, and the crush peaks between 10:00 and 16:00. Put the Walls first thing or late in the afternoon, and use midday for a museum or a boat.
Verdict
On a first visit, buy the Walls and one more ticket, then walk the rest for free. Keep Lokrum for a return, or for a second day if the weather is good. Wear a shirt and covered footwear between attractions, since the Old Town fines for swimwear. The day trips page covers boats and buses for a second day.