My Solo Travel to Dubrovnik was the BEST - My Complete Guide

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Find your Perfect Hostel in Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik looks like a movie set, but it is real, easy to explore, and full of friendly travelers.

I picked a hostel right outside the walls, shared pasta with strangers, and never felt bored for a second. This guide gives you the same shortcut: where to sleep food, what to do each hour, and how to stay safe while having fun.

Read on if you want less stress, more swims, and easy new friends.

Top Picks: The Best Hostels in Dubrovnik

Best for Hostel Newbies

Dubrovnik Backpackers C...9.3

from $17.17 | More Details

Best for Female Solo Traveler

Hostel Petra Marina8.8

from $18.57 | More Details

Best Party Hostel

Hostel Angelina - Old T...8.4

from $17.54 | More Details

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Why Dubrovnik is Perfect for Solo Travelers

The Old Town is small and walk-only, so you spend zero on buses. Every street leads back to the main gate, so getting lost is harmless and short.

English is common. Signs, menus, and ferry schedules are clear, which makes solo life easy.

City walls, beaches, hills, and cafés sit close together. You can swap history for a sea dip in five minutes.

Hostels and guided tours run daily, so meeting people takes no extra work. Solo never feels lonely here.

A 2–3 Day Itinerary on Your Own

Day 1 – First look and city walls

• Morning: Enter Pile Gate at 8 a.m. and step straight onto the wall walk. Early entry means thinner crowds and soft light for photos. Bring a takeaway coffee; guards do not mind.
• Afternoon: Exit near the old port and cool off at Porporela pier. Locals jump from the low wall; copy them if you like salty water. Dry in the sun, then grab a spinach burek and fresh orange juice from the Gundulić market stalls. Visit War Photo Limited for powerful stories of the region. It takes one hour and costs little.
• Evening: Climb outside the west wall to Fort Lovrijenac. Your wall ticket gets you in free. Watch sunset paint the roofs gold, then head to Buža Bar, a cliff hole in the wall. Order one local beer and listen to waves below. Join the free ghost tour that leaves Pile Gate at 8 p.m. You will meet other backpackers and learn odd legends.

Day 2 – Sea, islands, and hillside views

• Morning: Book the 9 a.m. sea-kayak group at the old harbor. Guide gives dry bags and breaks often for swim stops in Betina Cave. Paddle around Lokrum Island and under the city walls. Two hours later you feel proud and hungry.
• Afternoon: Take the 15-minute ferry to Lokrum. The ticket is cheap and includes nature-reserve fee. Hike to the Fort Royal for a full 360-degree view. Swim in the Dead Sea, a salt lake that feels like a giant pool. Peacocks roam near the snack bar; they steal fries so guard your plate. Catch the 4 p.m. ferry back. Grab gelato at Peppino’s and rest in shade on Jesuit Stairs, the big stone steps from that famous TV show.
• Evening: Ride the cable car up Mount Srđ at 6 p.m. Take picnic food from a supermarket to save money at the pricey hill café. Watch the sky turn pink then red. Join other travelers on the zigzag path walking down; lamps light the trail until town. Finish with a budget konoba in the alley off Široka Street. Order šporki makaruli, a beef ragù pasta, and house wine by the carafe.

Day 3 – Local bays and hidden museums

• Morning: Catch bus 6 to Lapad Bay before 8 a.m. Stroll the seaside promenade and rent a paddleboard for calm clear water. Free showers sit near Sunset Beach, handy before the ride back.
• Afternoon: Stop at Gruž Market on your return. Try fried sardines sold straight from the boat. Walk to the Red History Museum next door for cool modern exhibits in English. Back in Old Town, explore the Maritime Museum inside St John Fortress. Entry is lower than most sites, and air-con feels nice.
• Evening: Join your hostel’s family dinner—many cook one-pot meals for €8–10, including rakija shots. Afterward the group usually heads to Revelin nightclub in a stone fortress. If clubs are not your thing, grab a seat at D’Vino Wine Bar and share a tasting flight with other solo travelers.

Optional Day Trip – Elaphiti Islands nature escape

• Morning: Take the 10 a.m. Jadrolinija ferry from Gruž to Šipan. The ride is cheap and scenic. Rent a bike near the pier and pedal olive groves to Sudurad village.
• Afternoon: Swim at sandy Šunj Beach on nearby Lopud if tides allow. Snack on fig cake and local goat cheese in a small konoba.
• Evening: Return on the sunset ferry. Back in town, watch free live music on Luža Square before bed.

Short and crisp: The Best Hostels in Dubrovnik

1. Old Town
2. Hostel Marker Dubrovnik Old Town - best for Solo Traveller
3. My Way Hostel - best for Solo Traveller
4. Villa Divine - best for Party Hostel
5. Hostel Beta Old Town

Old Town

8.7

"…Rooms are spacious and cozy with awesome brick walls and dark curtains. Beds are large and more

Hostel Marker Dubrovnik Old Town

8.7

Old Town

Svetog Ðurda 6... more

My Way Hostel

8.0

"…Very unfriendly staff, they didn’t meet agreements without intervention of the travel agency. The more

Villa Divine

8.7

Babin Kuk

"Great - Best hostel I've ever stayed at. Very welcoming hosts in Mia and perro, great at putting more

Hostel Beta Old Town

8.6

"More of a guesthouse than a hostel - Lovely clean rooms and is nice to have a bed rather than a more

Hostels in Dubrovnik

Hostels beat hotels for budget and social life. Dorm beds near Pile Gate cost a fraction of Old Town rooms and still sit five minutes from every sight.

Many host weekly barbecue nights, cliff-jump outings, and wall-walk meetups. Staff book kayak tours and day trips at group rates, saving you cash and planning time.

Is Dubrovnik Safe for Solo Travelers?

Overall crime is low. Pickpockets work busy Stradun, so keep cash deep and phone zipped. Use bank ATMs built into stone walls to avoid scam machines.

Women can walk the alleys late, but choose lit routes and skip shortcut stairways after bars close. Share an official taxi or the night bus to Lapad if staying outside Old Town.

Rock bars have no guardrails. Do not mix strong cocktails with high jumps. Tap water is safe, and pharmacies sell sunscreen if you run out.

How to Meet People?

Say yes to the free hostel walking tour on day one; chats flow while climbing endless steps. Kayak guides pair solo guests, turning a paddle into a two-hour talk.

Cooking classes in Gruž teach black risotto and pour wine all lesson. Game of Thrones tours gather superfans who swap episode theories over coffee after.

Locals are kind but busy serving peak crowds. Fellow travelers usually fill your dinner table faster.

Best Neighborhoods to Stay Solo in Dubrovnik

• Old Town: Stone alleys, no cars, steep stairs. Perfect for nightlife lovers who value a two-minute walk home.
• Pile Gate Area: Just outside walls, flat lanes, cheaper dorms, and quick buses. Good mix of calm and access.
• Lapad: Beachfront, long promenade, sunset cafés. Best for morning swimmers and relaxed evenings.
• Gruž: Working harbor, big market, ferry docks. Ideal for day-trip fans and tight budgets.

Where to Eat and Drink in Dubrovnik

Breakfast cheap at Pekara bakery: ham burek and espresso under €5. Sit on the fountain ledge and watch tour groups assemble.

For lunch grab a seafood sandwich at Barba or fresh fruit at Gundulić Square. Refill your bottle at Onofrio’s Fountain to avoid buying water.

Coffee break? Cogito near Ploče Gate has strong Wi-Fi and bar stools, perfect for solo planning.

Dinner on a budget means konobas outside the walls. Look for chalk signs offering daily plates like octopus salad and mashed potatoes.

Drinks: cliff bars for sunset, Irish pubs for sports, wine bars for local plavac mali by the glass. Sit at counters to spark conversation.

Final Tips and Surprises

Pack water shoes; sea urchins hide in rocks. Start wall walks early or late to dodge heat and crowds.

Food and coffee cost more inside walls. Walk five minutes out for half the price.

Stairs rule this city. Travel light and keep hands free for rails. Your legs will burn, but the views pay you back.

Backpacking Dubrovnik? Here's What You Need to Know

These are the guides I wish I had before visiting. I've been there, had fun, did some minor mistakes, and now I'm passing the best tips on to you. Safe travels!

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About the author: Anna Kiefer

My travels have taken me from the vibrant streets of Vietnam to the tranquil beauty of Spain, each destination adding a new chapter to my journey. For me, travel isn’t about counting countries or ticking off lists; it’s about the freedom it brings and the stories that unfold with each new adventure. At Hostelgeeks, my goal is to infuse our brand with this sense of freedom and discovery.

Whether it’s finding the perfect 5 Star Hostel or sharing a hidden gem in a bustling city, I’m here to ensure that our travelers get more than just a journey – they get an experience that resonates with the joy of exploration and the freedom of the open road.