Dubrovnik is an amazing destination. Millions of people have visited it over the course of the last few years and most of them have only positive memories from their vacation in Dubrovnik. Exploring the Old Town and all that Dubrovnik has to offer can easily take up all your vacation, and you’ll still have more to explore next time you visit. But there is more. Dubrovnik’s location makes it a perfect base for exploring the many nearby attractions. In this article we bring you our selection of the best day trips from Dubrovnik you can take to make your Dubrovnik holidays even better.
Keep in mind that this is the list of the day trips we would take and we already explored some of the places that these day tours cover. Our goal was to make a list of 5 tours with something for everyone, a bit of adventure, something for sea lovers, something for gastro enthusiasts. We plan to update this list regularly as new trips and experiences emerge.
Let’s explore the best day trips from Dubrovnik .
Why Take a Day Trip from Dubrovnik? First of all, why should you even consider booking such a tour? Well, there are numerous reasons for it. Taking a day trip from Dubrovnik can open a whole new world to you and enrich your stay in this beautiful city. There are many places near Dubrovnik that are worth visiting, just take Mljet National Park as an example. The greenest island and southernmost national park in Croatia is located not so far away from Dubrovnik and it will most definitely leave you in awe.
Then there are notorious crowds, especially when the cruise ships dock in Dubrovnik and the Old Town gets flooded with tourists. Day trips are a great way to escape these crowds and venture into the quieter experience.
Escape the Crowds: Dubrovnik can become very busy, especially in peak season, so a day trip provides a nice break from the crowds.Diverse Experiences: From exploring nearby medieval towns to island hopping, Dubrovnik day trips have something for everyone.Easy Access: Many nearby destinations can be reached within 1-3 hours, making them perfect for a quick getaway while still leaving enough time to explore Dubrovnik as well.Incredible Scenery: The Dalmatian coastline, Montenegro’s fjords, and Bosnia’s waterfalls offer breathtaking experience of nature.
Top Day Trips from Dubrovnik Here’s our selection of the best tours you can take from Dubrovnik, each offering a unique experience and taking you to a different part of southern Croatia and nearby countries.
1. Private Montenegro Day Trip from Dubrovnik As the first day trip from Dubrovnik, we’re putting this Dubrovnik to Montenegro day trip . Montenegro is a country that has a border with Croatia not so far away from Dubrovnik. There are many beautiful places within it and some of them are covered in this tour. Keep in mind that you need a valid passport for this tour since you’ll need to cross the border and Montenegro is not part of the EU.
Highlights:
Visit Kotor , a UNESCO-listed medieval town with impressive city walls and a stunning bay.
Stop in Perast , home to the iconic Our Lady of the Rocks island church .
Explore the beautiful coastal town of Budva , known for its sandy beaches and old town charm.
Enjoy a private and flexible itinerary , allowing for a customized experience.
Why Take This Trip? Montenegro is just a short drive away from Dubrovnik, yet it offers a completely different cultural and natural landscape. This private tour gives you the flexibility to explore at your own pace.
2. Mostar and Kravice Waterfalls Small Group Tour We are still going abroad with this day trip from Dubrovnik, but this time to Bosnia and Herzegovina instead of Montenegro. Through this tour, you’ll explore some of the most famous places in this country – Kravice waterfalls and Mostar. Small group tours often bring a much better experience than large ones and the guides are more attentive to your needs.
Same like with the Montenegro day trip from Dubrovnik, make sure to bring your passport since you’ll cross the border to visit all these stunning places.
Highlights:
Walk across the famous Stari Most (Old Bridge) in Mostar, a symbol of Bosnia & Herzegovina.
Enjoy the stunning Kravice Waterfalls , perfect for swimming and relaxing.
Relaxing small-group experience with a knowledgeable guide.
Why Take This Trip? This tour combines history, culture, and natural beauty , making it one of the most diverse and rewarding day trips from Dubrovnik.
3. Dubrovnik Boat Tour: Half-Day Elafiti Islands Adventure We stop with across-the-border trips and focus on Croatian attractions near Dubrovnik. This day trip from Dubrovnik takes you in exploration of the Elafiti Islands which are located near Dubrovnik. They are famous because of their history and stunning beaches on which you can relax far away from crowds.
Highlights:
Visit the stunning Elafiti Islands , including Lopud, Koločep, and Šipan .
Swim in crystal-clear waters and explore hidden sea caves.
Enjoy a scenic boat ride along Dubrovnik’s breathtaking coastline.
Experience relaxation and adventure on a half-day trip.
Why Take This Trip? If you’re short on time but still want to experience island life in Croatia, this half-day boat tour is a perfect way to explore the Elafiti Islands.
4. Boat Tour to Mljet National Park This Dubrovnik to Mljet tour is also the boat experience that will take you a bit further from the Elafiti islands, straight into the southernmost national park in Croatia – Mljet National Park. Mljet is known as the greenest island in Croatia and part of the island is a national park too. Odysseus Cave on Mljet is one of the most stunning places we have visited on the island and through this tour, you’ll have the opportunity to swim inside this magical cave.
Highlights:
Visit and swim at the Odysseus Cave , a stunning natural attraction.
Relax on secluded beaches and swim in pristine waters.
Enjoy a full-day experience with boat transfers and stops at key locations.
Why Take This Trip? Perfect for travelers looking for a mix of history, adventure, and relaxation , this tour takes you to some of Croatia’s most beautiful island destinations .
5. Wine Lovers Tour of Pelješac Peninsula For the final tour on this list, we have chosen something for gastronomy enthusiasts visiting Croatia – a day trip from Dubrovnik to the Pelješac peninsula. Pelješac is the second largest peninsula in Croatia and it’s famous for some of the most famous wines in Croatia. This tour also has a stop in the town of Ston , another great destination near Dubrovnik, famous for its history, oldest saltworks in Europe, and Ston oysters.
Highlights:
Visit top wineries in the Pelješac wine region, famous for its Plavac Mali red wine .
Enjoy wine tastings and cellar tours with local winemakers.
Stop in the medieval town of Ston , known for its impressive stone walls and delicious oysters .
Experience a relaxing day in one of Croatia’s top wine-producing areas .
Why Take This Trip? If you love wine and authentic Croatian gastronomy , this trip offers an immersive experience in one of the country’s best wine regions.
How to Choose the Best Day Trip for You And that’s it, we’re done with our selection of the best day trips from Dubrovnik. With so many options, picking the right tour can be hard. Here’s how to decide which one suits you most:
For History & Culture Lovers → Choose Mostar & Kravice Waterfalls or the Montenegro Tour .For Island Hopping & Relaxation → Choose a Boat Tour to Elafiti Islands or & Mljet Island and National Park. For Wine & Food Enthusiasts → The Pelješac Wine Tour is the best choice.For Adventure Seekers → Go for boat tours, swimming, and cave exploring .
There are more day trips from Dubrovnik out there so feel free to explore them if you haven’t found what you’re looking for here. We wish you a great time on whichever tour you choose.
Tips for Taking Day Trips from Dubrovnik If you have decided to book any of the day trips from Dubrovnik, here are a few more tips before you go to explore nearby attractions:
Book in Advance: Many of these tours sell out quickly, especially in peak season.Bring Your Passport: You’ll need it if traveling to Montenegro or Bosnia .Dress Comfortably: Wear light, breathable clothing and comfortable shoes .Pack Essentials: Sunscreen, swimwear, a hat, and a reusable water bottle are things you must have for such tours.Check Weather Conditions: Some boat tours may be affected by bad weather. Also, it’s better to postpone the tour if the weather is not good.
Before You Venture to Any of the Day Trips from Dubrovnik Although Dubrovnik already offers a lot when it comes to places to see and experiences to try, these trips will most definitely make your vacation in Dubrovnik richer and better. Since there are so many attractions relatively close to Dubrovnik, it would be a shame not to experience at least one of them. It’s up to you to choose which one will it be.
Enjoy your stay in Dubrovnik and have a pleasant day trip from it.
