This is what's happening in Dubrovnik Now! These are a few of our favourite things
our favourite swimming spots & local day trips
Lokrum Island
This island is about a 15 minute boat ride from the Old Town. It’s a protected nature reserve and a great place to spend a full day. The “beaches” here are huge slabs of rock which back up into a more grassy area with pine trees. There are beach chairs and umbrellas for rent. There is also a botanical garden, an old fortress you can hike to that has great views of Dubrovnik, and a small lake they call the Dead Sea – lots of children learn to how to swim here. There is a restaurant at the far end of the island that used to be an Old Monastery.
Directions: Boats depart every 30 minutes from the Old Town Harbor to the Island Lokrum (last one is around 7:00pm). There is a small stand on the Pier where you purchase tickets.
Buza - Old Town
This is a special spot for locals and if you make it here for a swim, please show respect for them when there. Buza means ‘hole in wall’. This is a hard-to-find local spot right outside the city walls. It’s literally through a little hole in the wall by St. Stjepan which opens onto the cliffs overlooking the water. You basically swim right off the rocks but caution - if no one is swimming in the water when you are there, don't swim.
Directions: You can get there by taking one of the streets behind the big cathedral and walking along the city wall. There’s no real sign (one sign that says "Cold drinks" so pay close attention to any openings in the wall. Also, don’t confuse Buza beach with the Buza entrance to the Old Town.
Banje Beach (East West Club)
This is a pebble beach just outside the Old Town. It’s very popular, great for families and usually very crowded and somewhat of a scene. There are beach chairs, umbrellas and even cabanas for rent. You can rent jet skis and other water activities here too. It has a cool bar area called EastWest Beach Club which becomes a nightclub at night.
Directions: The beach is just outside the Ploce Gates of the Old Town below the Lazareti Complex. If you walk through Lazareti, there are stairs at the end leading down to the beach.
Danče (pronounced: dan-che) is one of the oldest beaches in Dubrovnik and is very popular with locals. It is located in Danče bay, about 5 minutes west of the Old Town. The beaches have several large rocks and jetties for sunbathing as well as a few ladders for climbing in and out of the sea. Not good on windy days.
To access the beach, walk to Gradac Park and follow the narrow path going downhill to the seashore. On the left side along the way, you will see the Franciscan convent and church Sv. Marija that overlooks the beach.
Copacabana / Coral Beach Club
https://www.thebeachdubrovnik.com/
https://www.coral-beach-club.com/
Best Sunsets!! Great food, music and comfortable chairs and beds.
Lapad (possibly closed for 2024 season)
https://sunsetbeachdubrovnik.hr/
All day sun at this awesome Family Beach. This is the largest beaches in Dubrovnik and is located in Lapad Bay, a short drive from the Old Town or quick bus ride. It’s a pebble beach with chairs and umbrellas for rent. There are lots of restaurants, café bars, kids playground and shops in the area. There is also a nice walking path at the far end of the beach that carries on the Hotels along the water - have a drink at the Cave Bar at Hotel More.
Sveti Jakov
https://www.dubrovnik-travel.net/sveti-jakov-beach/
This beach is located about a 20/30 minute walk from outside the city in a cove beneath the church and abbey of St. Jakov (St. James). It’s a pebble and sandy beach with a great view of Dubrovnik and is known to have sun for the longest period of time. There are chairs and umbrellas for rent and a small restaurant. There is also a very scenic but steep staircase which you may or may not have to walk (you will use the staircase if you walk or take a taxi but you can also take a water taxi from the Old Town to the beach).
Directions: Bus Number 8. Walking 20 /30 minutes, car or water taxi. If you take a water taxi, it will drop you off at a small pier at the end of the beach.
Lopud Island
Lopud is a small island off the coast of Dalmatia, southern Croatia. It is economically the most developed of the Elaphiti Islands, and can be reached by Ferry in the Gruz Port from Dubrovnik. The island is famous for its sandy beaches in particular the bay of Šunj. Best to hire the golf cart to take you the beach on the other side of the island as it's a long hot walk) Lopud is the second largest island of the Elaphiti islands, between Koločep and Šipan.
Elaphite Islands Three Island Tour
Some people recommend this tour because it gives you an opportunity to see three islands (Lopud, Šipan and Koločep). However, the down side is you have a limited amount of at each island so not necessarily enough time to swim and see everything. You can buy tickets for the excursion at one of the stands in the Harbor of the Old Town.
When you want to rent a beach chair or umbrella, you either find the check in table or sit down and someone will eventually come to collect the payment. Cost is between 50 and 150 Kuna.
Our favourite beaches & local Dubrovnik day trips and apartment rentals.
Beyond Dubrovnik
By Ivana Smilović Times Travel
Dubrovnik is amazing and once you visit it – it’s possible that you’ll want to stay forever. However, if you are coming for a few days, it might be a good idea to leave the Old City in order to enjoy some other place! You can enrich your time in Dubrovnik with day trips to the places that are only a drive away and will make a wonderful memory. Here are some suggestions:
1. Cavtat
The easiest place to reach on this list is surely Cavtat, because it’s the closest and luckily you don’t have to cross any borders to visit it! This little gem, often considered as a Dubrovnik’s best kept peaceful secret, is located just around 20 minutes away from Dubrovnik and it carries the role of the centre of the Konavle municipality. Even though it’s a touristic place, it’s still not crowded and you can enjoy a relaxing cup of coffee or a stroll right by the sea without getting frustrated because of the crowds. It’s a perfect little getaway from Dubrovnik, especially during the summer. To reach it, you can just hop on the bus!
2. Kotor Montenegro
If you are in the mood to explore other countries while you’re in Dubrovnik, Montenegro is the perfect choice. Our recommendation is Kotor, which is around 2 hour drive away from Dubrovnik. This beautiful city has one of the best preserved medieval old towns in the Adriatic and is a UNESCO world heritage site. During your day trip you can enjoy just walking around the streets, cuddling with cats for which Kotor is quite famous or if you are feeling active – climbing the ancient walls and enjoying the amazing view on top of the city. Also, you can visit the artificial islet Our Lady Of The Rocks and hear some interesting legends. Many agencies organize trips to Kotor, however you can visit it alone by car or by the bus from the Dubrovnik main bus station.
3. Kravice - Bosnia i Herzegovina
For nature lovers, Kravice waterfalls might be the perfect choice! This natural phenomenon is located on the Trebizat river in Bosnia and Herzegovina, near the town of Ljubuski. The height of a waterfall varies from 26 to 28 metres, with a water amphitheater under the waterfall with a diameter of 120 m. During the summer, you are more than welcome to jump in your swimming suit and enjoy the refreshment of the waterfalls. That is a perfect place for a picnic too – so feel free to carry some yummy food and enjoy it while you are on this beautiful location. The best time of year for visiting is during the springtime when the fall is at its fullest and the arid landscape turns a bright green. To get there, you must drive for around three hours.
4. Mostar - Bosnia i Herzegovina
One of the favorite locations to visit when it comes to tourists in Dubrovnik is certainly Mostar. Located on the Neretva River, Mostar is is the fifth-largest city in the Bosnia and Herzegovina, well known for one of the most recognizable landmarks of the country – the Old Bridge. You can enjoy your time by walking around the city, browsing the colourful souvenirs located at stands and you might even see the spectacle of man jumping from the Old Bridge in the really shallow water. Sometimes, they collect money on the bridge, telling people that they will jump if enough money is collected. The thing you shouldn’t miss is trying amazing food – cevapcici or burek, followed by dessert such as baklava, hurmasica or tufahije. The drive to Mostar lasts around three hours, but many agencies organize day trips to visit it, so you don’t have to drive there yourself.
We want to hear from you...
What are some of your favourite Dubrovnik day trips & beaches?
