Nestled along the Adriatic Coast of Croatia lies the city of Dubrovnik, one of the world’s most scenic places to visit.
There are so many sights in Dubrovnik to cast your eyes on.
You may be setting your sights on its Croatian heritage with the city’s red-roofed buildings or gazing at Dubrovnik’s medieval ambience with its cobblestoned streets, old stone houses and old city walls.
It is no wonder the city is often appreciated and world-acclaimed for being a photographer’s dream.
This guide will take you through the most scenic time to come, walk you through Dubrovnik’s most scenic views, and give you tips for getting those dream photos.
The most scenic time to visit Dubrovnik
The most scenic time to visit Dubrovnik is during the summer.
Summer is when the weather presents the city at its best for most scenic shots with enhanced lighting from the sun on the red rooftop buildings and glistening waters of the Adriatic Sea.
Spring is also a lovely time to visit with crowds on a smaller scale, although the weather is less predictable.
Top tip: Avoid visiting in the winter, as nearly everything in Dubrovnik is closed.
The most scenic spots in Dubrovnik
1. Mount Srđ
Watching over the Old Town of Dubrovnik, like a hawk’s eye, is Mount Mount Srđ, one of the most iconic and scenic locations in Dubrovnik.
With over a 412m elevation, you will find a picturesque landscape view to go straight on that Instagram feed!
This location is incredible because every spot is guaranteed a postcard-worthy shot. Every photo captures the illuminated orange roofs beaming from the sun.
If that’s not all, there is a high-quality restaurant called Restaurant Panorama with a bird’s eye view of the Dubrovnik Old Town from your dinner table.
I highly recommend heading there during Sunset and seeing all the views unfold from your dinner table. However, the only downside is that you may find yourself focusing on the camera rather than the food.
How to find the spot:
You have two options to get to Mount Srđ: Hike or take the cable car.
To join the Mount Srđ Hiking Trail, you must begin your journey next to ‘Staza Prema Utvrdi Imperial’. From here, it’s a slow but gradual ascend to the top.
If hiking doesn’t sound appealing, you can take the cable car from the Dubrovnik Cable Car Station, which costs €27 for a return ticket.
Along the mountain, there are plenty of scenic views of Old Town Dubrovnik, including this;
2. City Walls
The defensive Old Town city walls of Dubrovnik offer Dubrovnik on show at its absolute peak.
Be witness to postcard views at every turn, grabbing every stunning angle of the Old Town, Adriatic Sea and Lokrum Island in the distance.
It takes around 1 hour and 30 minutes to finish the whole lap of the walls. However, it took me about 2-3 hours to complete; I couldn’t help taking pictures of those gorgeous views.
How to find the spot
To get to the city walls, purchase a ticket online or at any tourist office around the Old Town. The walk-up starts on the far end of the Stradun next to Pile Gate.
Top tip: The Dubrovnik Pass gives you free access to the walls. The pass also offers free admission to other Dubrovnik attractions and bonus discounts.
3. Fort Lovrijenac
Perched on a high rock 37m above sea level is the famous fortress Fort Lovrijenac.
The fortress stands the test time. What was once a defensive force used to protect the city from sieges is now the stage for many of Dubrovnik’s theatre extravaganzas.
On the subject of drama, those who have watched Game of Thrones may also recognise this as the filming location for the Red Keep or King Joffrey’s name day.
Although forgetting about its TV or history significance, this place provides an extraordinary view of the Old Town. It is the best place to grab a shot of the curved stone city walls of Dubrovnik.
How to find the spot:
To find the fort, you’ll need to make your way out of the Old Town, past Pile Gate, continuing on the left along the coast until you reach the stairs that lead right up to it.
It costs €35 to access Fort Lovrijenac. However, this includes access to the city walls. (It’s free with a Dubrovnik pass)
You can also opt for a Game of Thrones tour, which includes your entry.
4. Lokrum Island
Right on the doorstep of the Old Town, just 600m across the Adriatic Coast, lies Lokrum Island. Visiting Lokrum Island offers a tropical retreat with abundant scenic spots, making it an essential part of the Dubrovnik experience.
Unsurprisingly, the island was the filming location for Qarth on Game of Thrones.
The island is majestic, with botanical gardens, quaint walking paths, and an all-around serenity hotspot – perfect for that dream photoshoot.
How to get to Lokrum and the best spot
To get to Lokrum Island, catch a ferry from the Dubrovnik Old Port. Tickets cost €30 per adult for a return and access to the island.
Note: You are entitled to a discount if you’ve purchased the Dubrovnik Pass for three days or more.
Although the island has many scenic spots like The Dead Sea or The Gardens of Maximilian in the Benedictine Monastery, my favourite is this rock formation formed right by the coast’s edge.
The location is here.
5. The Stradun
The Stradun is the heart and soul of the Old Town. It’s a long stretch of a limestone-covered street aligned with the Old Town’s establishments.
At the end of the Stradun is the beautiful Clocktower. I recommend coming from the Pile Gate entrance to see the best view of it.
As a warning – In the summer, you’ll find it almost impossible to grab a clear photo of the Clocktower and Stradun. I highly recommend visiting early in the morning.
I managed to grab this view at 7.30 on a Thursday. I can’t bear to think about what a Saturday afternoon looks like.
How to find the spot:
Enter the Old Town from any entrance, and you’ll find it immediately.
Pile Gate is the closest entrance to the Stradun and is facing the direction heading towards the Clocktower.
For those coming from the Ploce Gate, head down and around towards the central part of the Old Town, and you will be there.
6. Near Banje Beach
Banje Beach is Dubrovnik’s most famous beach, offering an outstanding view of the Old Town while sitting in a large relaxing sea area.
However, before you head down to Banje Beach, you can get an even better panoramic view of the Old Town just down the road with the beach in shot.
How to find the spot:
Head out of the Old Town through Ploce Gate to find the viewing spot. Keep walking along the coast until you see signs for Banje Beach.
Don’t walk down the stairs to the beach at this point!
Keep walking until you come across a vantage point that sees Banje Beach from afar. Then, you will have found your postcard-worthy view!
7. The Old Town Port
The Old Town Port of Dubrovnik is one of the city’s most significant areas, both historically and culturally.
As a port city, many small boats surround the harbour and create its main aesthetic, with boats bouncing on the water and decorating the canvas of the backdrop of the city walls.
How to find the spot:
For the best views, I recommend two spots. The first is just outside the Old Town near Ploce Gate, and the second is on the promenade.
I highly recommend heading to the Ploce Gate view at nighttime. It is truly scenic, with the Old Port illuminated by the evening lights along the walls.
8. Jesuit stairs
The Jesuit Stats is one of the most famous areas in Dubrovnik.
This central point leading up towards the Church of St. Ignatius is a fine example of baroque stairs, often overcrowded because they’re very scenic but, most importantly, iconic.
Ever since the Walk of Shame from Game of Thrones premiered to millions of viewers across the Globe, visitors from every stretch of the world have come here every year to walk down and relive the famous scene by walking down the stairs.
The fandom has made this filming location tourist numbers go wild deep within their fandom!
To put it into perspective, I’ve seen tour guides get their customers to download fake bell apps to ring while they walk down the stairs, playing the part of Cersei (don’t worry, a much more filtered-down PG version)
How to get to the spot:
From Pile Gate, walk around the walls in a northeast direction, and you will eventually find it.
Tips for getting the best photos in Dubrovnik
Avoid the cruise schedules.
One of my ultimate tips for visiting Dubrovnik is to avoid going to Dubrovnik when cruises are in port.
The city is a popular cruise stop-off point, so a massive horde of people will be there during cruise day, ultimately dampening your chances of any clear/unobstructed photo shots.
Try to avoid cruise days like the plague. The current cruise schedule is here.
Arrive early in the morning.
No one wants to wake up at the crack of dawn for a photo, which is even more of a reason why it’s an open opportunity for that clear photo.
This little trick works. To put it into perspective, this is the difference at Jesuit Stairs at 7:30 am compared to 10:00 am.
Be patient and respectful.
This statement goes without saying, but I also recommend being patient and respectful of others who are there for their picture.
When I waited for a clear shot of Jesuit stairs at 7:30 am, a couple and an individual spent 10 minutes bickering on either side because they were getting each other in their line of sight during the photo. These are some real first-world problems right there!
A real benefit of remaining patient and respectful to tourists is that they might even offer to take a photo of you or as a couple.
This gesture is brilliant for solo travellers or couples who don’t have the resources like tripods or devices with photo timers to take a photo of them all in the frame.
Opt for less crowded spots.
Crowds cover almost every spot of tarmac in most areas in Dubrovnik, with some hidden spots throughout the Old Town and city are overlooked and can be equally as beautiful.
Places like Buza Bar offer scenic views across the Adriatic Sea with fewer crowds and the luxury of fruity cocktails. There are also less crowded spots outside the Old Town.
My favourite was the observation point Vidikovac Lozica, just next to Dr Franjo Tuđman Bridge. This point offered a stunning panoramic view of the modern part of Dubrovnik and the Adriatic Sea.
Visit off-peak
Visiting Dubrovnik during the hot weather seasons does have its perks, with enhanced lighting for photographers needing a great photo, but sadly, you will find it difficult to get a clear photo without the crowds.
Heading to the Pearl of Adriatic in the shoulder months will solve the crowd issue with the given risk of bad weather – no longer will you find yourself bickering with a Spanish couple for taking a photo shoot on the Jesuit stairs. Just kidding, I hope that wasn’t you.
Conclusion
Well, there you have it: so much of Dubrovnik to explore and many pretty sights to see.
In and around the Old Town or up the stretch of Mount Stradun, you’ll find everything you need for your Instagram feed during your trip to Dubrovnik.
There are so many scenic spots. Just take a walk around and bear witness to much of Croatia’s rich history and stunning architecture.
From the medieval city walls to the long stretch of the Stradun, beauty fills every corner, waiting for visitors to capture its essence.
About the Author
Sam is an adventurer and global travel enthusiast from the UK who has explored over 20+ countries. He aims to help fellow enthusiasts navigate the world more effectively by offering city guides, day trips, itineraries, travel tips and insights into off-the-beaten-path destinations.
