Day Trips from Dubrovnik- where to go Near Dubrovnik Croatia
Planning a trip to Croatia and looking for the best day trips from Dubrovnik? You’ve come to the right place!
I’ve travelled to every continent and more than 45 countries. I say this not to brag, but to let you know that I’ve seen a lot of the world. So when I say that Dubrovnik is one of the top places I’ve visited in the world, it’s high praise.
I first visited Dubrovnik on a Mediterranean cruise in 2017 and it immediately stood out as a place I hoped to return. Flash forward six years and I recently returned for two nights on a Balkans road trip.
Again, I was blown away by the beauty, culture, and history of the city. Since Dubrovnik is such an amazing city, it’s the ideal place to position yourself for a series of day trips in the region.
Surrounding Dubrovnik are beautiful islands, and amazing countries such as Montenegro and Bosnia that can easily be reached in one day.
Below, I provide a list of the top day trips from Dubrovnik, guided tours, and tips for visiting the destinations on your own.
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What are the Best Day Trips from Dubrovnik Croatia?
As a mentioned above, Dubrovnik is a great place to kickoff day trips because it allows you to see the area while spending extra time in Dubrovnik.
Since Dubrovnik is located on the coast, it’s super easy to get to island destinations. In addition, it’s a close drive to neighboring countries such as Bosnia and Montenegro.
Below, I explain the best day trips from Dubrovnik and the top things to do in those destinations. I also share easy tours that include transportation, activities, and all the logistics for your day trip.
If you have a rental car, I’ll also explain how to take these day trips on your own.
1. Mostar Bosnia Herzegovina
Mostar is straight out of a fairytale. The town has cobblestone streets, a flowing river, and a historic bridge. The popular old bridge, Stari Most, is even an UNESCO world heritage site. If you haven’t been to Mostar before, it’s a must.
In addition to the beautiful tourist area and whimsical feel, Mostar also has an important modern history. Throughout the city you will find ruins of the 1990’s war between Yugoslavia and Bosnia when Bosnia fought for their freedom.
Since Mostar is only a few hours from Dubrovnik, it makes for the perfect day trip.
Travel Time from Dubrovnik: 2.5 hours
Guided Tour: This full day tour starts with a two-hour drive to Bosnia, stopping first at the Kravica waterfalls for a swim and lunch.
Next, continue on to Mostar for a tour of the old town and time to wander the charming streets. Finally, stop at the medieval town of Pocitelj before returning to Dubrovnik.
Visiting on your Own: If you have a rental car, visiting Mostar is simple. There is very little wait time at the border and the roads are well-maintained.
In Mostar, I highly recommend taking this free walking tour to learn about the history and see the highlights of the city. For lunch or dinner, visit Hindin Han and request an outdoor table to have river views.
2. Kotor Montenegro
Both times I’ve visited Dubrovnik, I’ve also visited Kotor. Since they’re so close together, it’s a no brainer to visit both. Kotor reminds me of a smaller version of Dubrovnik.
Both are historic, walled cities with a ton of history, beautiful water views, and alleys to discover.
Although they are very similar, Kotor is smaller and requires less time to visit. For these reasons, it’s a great Dubrovnik day trip.
Travel Time from Dubrovnik: 2 hours
Guided Tour: This tour visits all the highlights of Montenegro in one day. First, head to the coastal city of Perast, with an optional boat tour of a floating church, Our Lady of the Rocks. Continue on to Kotor for free time to explore the old city.
Finally, enjoy free time in Budva to explore the city or spend time at one of the beaches. This tour is quick paced but will give you a taste of the three most popular stops in Montenegro.
Visiting on your Own: If you have a rental car, I suggest visiting Kotor on your own so you can come and leave on your own timeline. The drive between Dubrovnik and Kotor is along the coast and super scenic.
Stop at viewpoints along the way for amazing water views. Once you arrive in Kotor, there is parking in the outskirts of Old Town.
Spend your time in Kotor wandering the streets and visiting the ancient churches.
Then, hike to the San Giovanni Fortress for amazing views of the city and bay. The hike costs 8 euros and takes around 45 minutes each way.
3. Blue Cave & 4 Islands
One of the must-do activities in Dubrovnik is spending time on the water. There are many islands near Dubrovnik, including the Elafiti islands. The waters of the Adriatic are absolutely beautiful, so be sure to get out on them at least once.
Travel Time from Dubrovnik: 8.5 hour tour duration
Guided Tour: This tour includes a speedboat ride to four different islands, a few swimming spots, and the popular Blue Cave. The four islands you will visit are Mljet, Sipan, Sunj, and Kolocep. I love this tour because it mixes the adventure of the speed boat ride, relaxation of the swim stops, and exploration of the cave.
Visiting on your Own: Since this is a boat tour, it is not feasible to do on your own.
4. Elaphite Islands by Catamaran
As I mentioned above, time on the water is a must when you are visiting Dubrovnik. The Elaphiti islands are a series of small islands near Dubrovnik that are very popular with tourists.
Travel Time from Dubrovnik: 8 hour tour duration
Guided Tour: The above boat tour visits one of the Elaphite islands, whereas this tour visits two. Since this tour only visits two islands, versus four and a cave, there is much more time to explore each location.
This tour takes place on a luxury catamaran with an open bar. The first stop on the tour is the island of Sipan for a swimming break. Next, continue to Lopud for free time to explore the island.
Visiting on your Own: Since this is a boat tour, it is not feasible to do on your own.
5. Peljesac and Korcula Wine Tasting
I have not personally taken this day trip, but I wish I had! This day trip stays close to Dubrovnik but is still a packed day.
In Peljesac, you can go wine tasting or simply explore the small town. Korcula is a walled island with a ton of history to learn about.
Travel Time from Dubrovnik: 1 hour drive to Pelješac
Guided Tour: This tour includes transportation from Dubrovnik to Peljesac and the ferry to Korcula. You are given free time to explore both towns. In addition, visit local wineries to taste Croatian wine and cuisine.
Visiting on your Own: You can easily drive to the Peljesac peninsula in a rental car, then take the ferry to Korcula. Since I did not take this tour myself, I don’t have a ton of advice for the logistics on your own.
6. Split Croatia
Split Croatia is often considered one of the best places to visit in Croatia. Honestly, I was a bit underwhelmed by the city itself and prefer it as a day trip. Some of the top things to do in Split are sightseeing and exploring Diocletian’s palace.
Travel Time from Dubrovnik: 3 hours
Visiting on your Own: The drive between Dubrovnik and Split is super easy to do on your own in a rental car. It’s basically a straight shot on the freeway.
Once you get to Split, there is a day parking lot right next to the Old City. You can navigate to Sugaman Tours Split to find the lot.
Once you park, it’s easy to explore the city on foot. You can simply wander the streets to explore the city and Diocletian’s palace.
Alternatively, this walking tour will give you background information about the history of the city and popular sites.
Summary of the Top Day Trips from Dubrovnik
If you are spending more than three nights in Dubrovnik, I highly recommend planning a few day trips. Dubrovnik is the perfect place to come back to each day after exploring the surrounding area.
Above, I provide a list of the top 6-day trips. If six is overwhelming, the top two day trips I recommend are Mostar Bosnia Herzegovina and Elaphite Islands Catamaran tour. This way you have one day exploring an entirely new country full of history and one day relaxing on the water.
Related Posts:
- Travel Guide & Itinerary For One Day In Dubrovnik Croatia
- 2 Days In Split – The Top Things To Do And See In Split Croatia
- One Day In Kotor – The Best Things To Do And One Day Itinerary
- The Top Things To Do In Mostar Bosnia Herzegovina – Travel Guide And One Day Itinerary
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