Best Free Things To Do in Dubrovnik on a Budget

In this guide to free things to do in Dubrovnik, we explore what you can see without spending much on your trip to this fascinating city, all while not missing out on too much.
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Arijana & Matej

Croatian-Slovenian full-time travel duo, photographers, bloggers and travel journalists for over 4 years. We write in-depth travel guides about destinations we have personally visited, providing practical travel tips and recommendations.

Free things to do in Dubrovnik, Croatia

Free things to do in Dubrovnik

Traveling to Dubrovnik is not cheap!

After all, it is one of the best places to visit in Croatia. Plus, its beauty and charm bring in large crowds of wealthy tourists, which means higher prices in the long term.

However, after our last week-long visit to Dubrovnik, we found many free things to do in Dubrovnik that allow you to enjoy it and not miss out on too much.

1. Walk through Pile and Ploče Gate

Dubrovnik is an open-air museum that offers plenty of free things to see, and the first one on the list is to walk through the Pile or Ploče Gate to reach the Old Town inside the city walls.

Free things to do in Dubrovnik - old city walls, Ploče gate
Ploče Gate, one of the stunning entrances to Dubrovnik Old Town

2. Walk along the ancient streets of Dubrovnik Old Town

One of the absolute best free things to do in Dubrovnik is definitely to stroll through the ancient streets of the Old Town.

Free things to do in Dubrovnik - walk the ancient streets

Make sure to walk along Stradun, the main street, but don’t forget to take one of the side streets to find even more stunning architecture, historical buildings, and narrow passageways offering a glimpse into the real Dubrovnik.

Free things to do in Dubrovnik - narrow streets of Old Town

3. Visit the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary

To see another great example of stunning architecture for free while in Dubrovnik, you can visit The Cathedral of the Assumption of The Virgin Mary.

Unlike most cathedrals in popular tourist places, this one is still free to visit.

And even without going to the cathedral, you will see it from many corners of the lower part of Old Town.

Free things to do in Dubrovnik - Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary

4. Find Game of Thrones filming locations in Old Town

It’s easy to see why Dubrovnik was chosen for the filming of Game of Thrones.

The city’s unique architecture and stunning coastline provide the perfect backdrop for the iconic King’s Landing. And with all the preserved forts and walls, it’s just the perfect fit.

Luckily, you can visit some of the GOT filming locations for free while in Dubrovnik, like the Jesuit Stairs, Fort Lovrijenac (which you can see from the west harbor or Gradac Park), Pile Gate, Stradun, and St. Dominic Street.

Free things to do in Dubrovnik - free to visit Game of Thrones filming locations in Dubrovnik - Jesuit Stairs
Jesuit Stairs

5. Take in the views at Dubrovnik harbors

The charming harbors are the best places to visit for free in Dubrovnik whenever you want to cool down and get a view of the city and its architecture from a cool perspective.

Free things to do in Dubrovnik - views of West Harbor Bay
West Harbor of Dubrovnik – Kolorina Bay

6. Swim on Banje Beach

Hitting Dubrovnik’s beaches is the best free thing to do in Dubrovnik on a hot summer day.

Topping the list of the best beaches in Dubrovnik is Banje Beach, located near Ploče Gate. It’s extremely picturesque and offers a beautiful view of the harbor and the Old Town.

Free things to do in Dubrovnik - Banje Beach

Even if you don’t plan to swim, Banje Beach is one of the best free spots to visit in Dubrovnik for fantastic views.

7. Cliff jump underneath the City Walls

The best free activity in Dubrovnik is cliff jumping underneath the City Walls.

This has to be one of the most incredible cliff-jumping spots in the world. The height isn’t too crazy, and the water is deep enough just below, so it’s open to everyone.

8. Play basketball at the world’s coolest basketball court

Another one on the list of coolest spots for sports activities is the basketball court just below the high City Walls.

However, while many come to play basketball with a stunning backdrop of the Dubrovnik Old Town, this is also one of the best free places in Dubrovnik to simply get great views without paying for the City Walls ticket.

Free things to do in Dubrovnik - basketball court under City Walls
View of the basketball court from City Walls (paid)

9. Hike up Mount Srđ for fantastic views of Dubrovnik

The last free activity to do in Dubrovnik is a hike up to Mount Srđ for breathtaking panoramic views of the city and the crystal-clear Adriatic Sea.

It’s the best viewpoint of Dubrovnik Old Town and also the surrounding area, including Lokrum Island.

Free things to do in Dubrovnik - hike up Mount Srđ

You can hike up Mount Srđ for free in about one hour. Check this starting point on Google Maps or use the Way of the Cross trail on AllTrails.

10. Visit Gradac Park for views of Fort Lovrijenac

Lastly, for even more free views of Dubrovnik, head to Gradac Park to see Fort Lovrijenac (Fort Lawrence) from another perspective. It’s just a 10-minute walk from Pile Gate.

Free things to do in Dubrovnik - free views of Fort Lovrijenac from Gradac Park

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there anything for free to see in Dubrovnik?

There are plenty of free things to see in Dubrovnik, which still give you a great insight into this fascinating pearl of the Adriatic.

Can you walk the City Walls in Dubrovnik for free?

Unfortunately, city walls are not among the free things to see in Dubrovnik, and you need to pay an entrance ticket.

Are beaches in Dubrovnik free to visit?

Yes, you can visit beaches for free in Dubrovnik, and you only need to pay if you use one of the beach loungers/chairs.

Final thoughts

Coming from low-income families from Croatia and Slovenia, we understand the need to see free things in Dubrovnik, as it can get quite expensive to pay for all the ticketed attractions.

And hopefully, with our list, you can have a great time in Dubrovnik and still see almost everything that Dubrovnik is famous for.

Have a great trip!

Free things to do in Dubrovnik Guide

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Picture of Arijana & Matej
Arijana & Matej

Full-time travelers, photographers, bloggers and travel journalists.

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We're Arijana and Matej, a couple and travel blogging duo from Croatia and Slovenia who thrive while slow-traveling. And we have been doing it for over 4 years.

During and after our travels, we love publishing in-depth, researched and above-all, useful travel guides, full of personal first-hand information on the places we personally visited.

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