10 Day Trips from Dubrovnik

Probably the most popular Croatian town among tourists. Despite the small number of inhabitants, counting a bit under 50 000 of them, Dubrovnik joined the World Heritage Sites in 1979. Although we think the city itself is enough to fall in love with Croatia, if you plan to explore the region around Dubrovnik, here are top 10 places to visit!

1) Island of Korcula

The island of Korcula is mostly known as the birthplace of Marco Polo, a famous merchant traveller. It is situated between the cities of Split and Dubrovnik and due to its great connections to the mainland, it is a very popular tourist destination. The old town of Korcula is especially worth paying a visit to. Don’t forget Lumbarda, Vela Luka, Blato (the largest town on the island) and much, much more…

There are two options to get to the island:

• By ferry: Ferries from Dubrovnik to Korcula operate from May to October. The journey takes 1h 50min and one ticket costs 130 HRK (18€).
• By bus: There are only two buses one can use to reach the island from the city. The journey takes 3h and 15min. The bus drives from Dubrovnik to Orebic (the closest port to Korcula) and once arrived, it embarks on the car ferry Orebic – Korcula. This journey lasts 15min. The bus ticket costs approximately 100 HRK (14€), with the ferry ticket included.

2) Ston

Ston is a small municipality near Dubrovnik, located at the south of Peljesac peninsula. It had a major role in the history of the region as it served as the main port of Ragusan Republic. Today, the city is known for its centuries old salt pans and city walls, as the oldest stone walls in Europe (5.5km) and large oyster production.

You can reach the city by bus or by car:

• By bus: There are departures from Dubrovnik to Ston every day. Ticket prices range from €5 to €8, depending on the time of departure and bus carrier. You can check bus schedule and book your ticket here.
• By car: There are 60km of distance between the two cities. Depending on the traffic, you can reach Ston in 50min – 1 hour. The expense of the journey is about 8€ – 10€. If you don’t have your own car, consider renting it online.

3) Cavtat

The city of Cavtat is located only 15km south of Dubrovnik. It is the centre of Konavle municipality and if you’re trying to avoid the hassle of Croatia’s ‘pearl city’, this is the place to go. Crystal clear blue sea, wide promenade with palm trees, cobbled streets with traditional red-roofed brownstone houses and colorful atmosphere are waiting for you.

You can choose among a few options to reach Cavtat:

• By bus: this is the best and the cheapest option, since the suburban line nr.10 drives from the city of Dubrovnik directly to Cavtat. Check out the departure schedule. It costs 25 HRK (3€) per way.
• By boat: Boat trips run regularly on the route Dubrovnik – Cavtat, be sure you’ll run into ticket sellers. The journey is 40min long.
• By car: this is the fastest option, you can arrive to the city in 10 minutes. If you don’t own your car, rent one prior to your arrival.

4) Split

Although people think it is not possible to go there and back within a day, this is actually a very popular excursion among tourists, despite the distance of 215km. Split is Croatia’s second largest city and has so much to offer, from great beaches and excellent nightlife to many attractions like the Diocletian’s Palace… And these are only a drop in the ocean.

The connections between these two cities are well-developed:

• By bus: There are many bus lines between the cities. The journey takes 4h 30 min and the price of a ticket is from 13€.
• By car: If you are travelling by car, you can drive along the highway, just follow the signs for Split. You will pass through Croatia-Bosnia border crossing at Neum city, so make sure you have all the necessary documents. The trip is approximately 3.5h long.

5) Budva (Montenegro)

When people say Montenegro, Budva is usually the first association that comes to someone’s mind. Our closest ‘Ibiza’ is only a short ride away from Dubrovnik (93km). The biggest attraction is Budva’s Old Town, which is a peninsula extending from the mainland into the sea. The islands of Sveti Nikola and Sveti Stefan are also something you have to visit.

There are several means of transport you can use to reach Budva:

• By bus: In high season, there are several bus companies driving on this route. However, the rest of the year only one bus line is available. The journey takes 2 to 3 hours with a single fee of 20€.
• By car: You can pass the distance of 93km in less than 2 hours, depending on the traffic. It will cost you approximately 75HRK (10€).

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6) Kotor (Montenegro)

Kotor is a coastal town in Montenegro which served as an old Mediterranean port in the Venetian period. Lately the city has become a very popular tourist site with the magnificent Gulf of Kotor and the old town of Kotor which are included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list.

You can visit the city by bus or by car:

• By bus: Bus connections between these two cities are frequent and the cost of a bus ticket is approximately 18€ per direction. The journey is 2 hours long. Keep in mind that there are more departures during summer season.
• By car: The distance between Dubrovnik and Kotor is 92km, which you can pass in 2 hours. If you don’t have your own car, we recommend to rent one online.

7) Mostar and Medugorje (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Mostar and Medugorje are well-known among tourists from the surrounding countries, who sometimes come exclusively to see the important Catholic site in the city of Medugorje, and Mostar, a splendid city nearby (25km), situated on the Neretva river. If you go there, enjoy the Old Bridge built by the Ottomans in the 16th century, as one of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s most recognizable landmarks.

The connections between Dubrovnik and Bosnian cities are well-developed:

• By bus: There are a few daily buses to Mostar during winter time and several daily buses during summer time. Travel time by bus is about 3 – 4 hours for the price of 115 HRK per way (15€). Once arrived to Mostar, it is easy to find a bus to Medugorje, since the departures are very frequent.
• By car: The travel distance from Dubrovnik to Mostar is about 140 km, which equals a travelling time by car of approximately 2 hours. The route follows the Adriatic coast to Opuzen from where it continues via Metkovic to Mostar.

8) Orebic

Orebic is a small place located on Pelješac peninsula. It is a perfect getaway from the crowds of Dubrovnik, with a peaceful atmosphere, great beaches, lovely bars and restaurants.

There are few ways of reaching Orebic:

• By bus: From Dubrovnik to Orebic there are several daily bus departures from Dubrovnik Bus Station. The journey takes 2.5 hours and a single ticket costs approximately 86 HRK (12€).
• By car: The distance between the two cities is 110km, which is about a 2-hour-long drive. Rent a car in case you did not come with your own.

9) Island of Mljet

Mljet is the most forested island on the Adriatic. Beautiful nature, crystal clear sea, lakes, islands, rich cultural heritage make the island a true paradise on earth. Another benefit is the National park Mljet situated on the island and the oldest national park on the Adriatic which includes two deep bays known as the Great Lake and the Small Lake.

You can visit the island of Mljet by the following option:

• By catamaran: Mljet is connected by high-speed catamaran ‘Nona Ana’ with Dubrovnik port, which operates on this route throughout the year. The stops are Sobra and Polace (once a day even Sipanska Luka).

10) Elaphiti Islands

Elaphites are a small archipelago consisting of several islands northwest of Dubrovnik. In high season they attract a large number of tourists because of their beautiful beaches and pristine scenery.

Elaphiti Islands are accessible only by one means of transport:

• By ferry: Ferry line from Dubrovnik to Elaphite Islands connects islands Lopud, Sipan, and Kolocep several times a day. The exception is Sunday and holidays. Paying a visit to the three inhabited Elaphites in one single day can be tricky due to the timetable, so make sure to inform yourself prior to your journey.