Best Beaches in Dubrovnik | Croatia Beach Guide

Dubrovnik is one of the world's great historic cities — a perfectly preserved medieval walled city rising directly from the Adriatic Sea. The Old Town's UNESCO World Heritage status is well-earned: the Stradun, its marble-paved main street, has been worn to a mirror polish by centuries of footfall, and the city's history as the Republic of Ragusa is reflected in its extraordinary collection of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture.

The beaches around Dubrovnik are best understood as a complement to the city rather than a destination in themselves. Banje Beach, 300 metres east of the Old Town Ploče Gate, offers a view directly up to the city walls unmatched in the Mediterranean. For better swimming, boat trips to the Elaphiti Islands (Lopud, Šipan, Koločep) reveal white sandy beaches largely unknown outside Croatia.

Dubrovnik's peak season (mid-July through August) sees up to 10,000 cruise passengers daily. Visiting in May–June or September–October provides essentially the same weather and far fewer crowds — accommodation prices fall significantly and Game of Thrones filming locations throughout the Old Town are far less crowded.