Why leave Dubrovnik at all? Given all the historic attractions of the Old Town, the City Walls, the terrace cafés and the sea-facing restaurants, it’s a fair question. But if you’re here for a few days, you may wish to explore further.
A day trip might involve a boat or catamaran somewhere, to Lokrum, Lopud or Korčula, meaning the journey is all part of the adventure. You could also spend a day amid the greenery of a historic arboretum at Trsteno, admiring art in Cavtat or hiking around the medieval fortifications of Ston.
All of these suggestions are open year-round, with connections by public transport. There will be more services to choose from in spring and summer – but you’ll be sharing that boat or catamaran with far more fellow passengers. For details of local buses, see the Libertas website. For sailing schedules (not Lokrum), see Jadrolinija.
Cavtat
Croatia's most renowned painter and sculptor both left their mark in Cavtat, a pretty resort and cultural hub within easy reach of Dubrovnik. Born and raised in Cavtat, artist Vlaho Bukovac (1855-1922) is known for his symbolist paintings. The house in Cavtat where he was born contains a museum dedicated to his work. When he was 17, Bukovac painted frescoes inside the 19th-century property, a fitting background for discovering his paintings and mementos. Overlooking Cavtat, the wealthy Račić family, commissioned famed sculptor Ivan Meštrović to build their mausoleum using the high-quality Brač stone. You find this majestic work by the town cemetery at the peak of the peninsula. Cavtat is 40 minutes from Dubrovnik by regular Libertas bus 10 – it’s also out towards Dubrovnik Airport, if that’s your final destination.
Korčula
No longer fought over by Turk or Venetian, by French or Austrian, the island of Korčula is one of Dalmatia’s most relaxing getaways. The main town of the same name, on the north-eastern tip of the island, has one of the best-preserved medieval centres in the Adriatic. Rising above, the slim belltower denotes St Mark’s Cathedral, one of the finest examples of Dalmatian church architecture. Taking three centuries to build, it stands guard over the narrow Pelješac Channel, protecting the riches contained on the sixth largest island in the Croatian Adriatic. So lush with dark pine forests, vineyards and olive groves the ancient Greek settlers called it Korkyra Melaina (‘Black Corfu’), Korčula has managed to avoid the tourist trap tendencies of its original Greek namesake 480km south. In winter, a catamaran leaves the main harbour at Gruž in Dubrovnik at 7am, taking two hours to reach Korčula town. The service back is at 7.25pm.
Lokrum
An uninhabited isle on Dubrovnik's doorstep, Lokrum is an unspoilt isle lush with pines, palms and cypress trees. Its verdant coastline beckons from the hotel windows of Ploče. Dotted with diverse ruins and remnants – medieval, ecclesiastical, Napoleonic, Habsburg – Lokrum has long been given over to nature. Boats leave Dubrovnik Old Town harbour from 9am, and then every half-hour from 10am. The last one back is 5pm – and it is not permitted to stay overnight. The crossing only takes 15 minutes. See here for schedules.
Lopud
For a destination of fewer than 300 residents, known as the middle one of three main Elaphiti Islands first mentioned by Pliny the Elder, Lopud has seen its international profile raised considerably of late. Popular with the Beckhams, who have enjoyed family holidays here, Lopud also stages the Ponta Lopud Film Festival in June, the star guest for 2023 being Edward Norton. The rest of the year, in winter at least, it’s pretty much you and those 278 residents amid the olive groves that provide much of the local income. Four ships a day sail to Lopud from Dubrovnik, journey time an hour.
Ston
Ston, and its counterpart Mali Ston, sit on the cape of land connecting the Pelješac peninsula to the mainland. Known as a salt-producing town, Ston was an important military fort of the Ragusan Republic, and the defensive walls are the second largest in the world after the Great Wall of China. Despite this military history, nowadays Ston is a small, laid-back fishing town, which offers dramatic views – think crumbling churches, olive groves and a stunning coastline. Visitors also drawn by the superlative oyster farms which supply the finest restaurants in nearby Dubrovnik. Local buses, including three run by Libertas daily, take an hour to reach Ston from Dubrovnik.
Trsteno
Nature and history combine at Trsteno, once the Renaissance summer residence of the noble Gučetić-Gozze family in the 1400s. Its lovely gardens have been cultivated over the course of 500 years or more – the plane trees certainly date back half a millennium. One of the locations used in the hit TV series Game of Thrones – the Arboretum doubling up as the palace gardens of the Red Keep – this relaxing attraction owes much to the Age of Discoveries, when sea captains would bring back rare and exotic seeds and plants from their travels. The grounds run down to the sea, encompassing a grotto and a Baroque fountain. Local Libertas buses run to Trsteno four times a day, taking 20 minutes. Admission is €10. Winter opening hours are 8am-4pm daily.