The best ways to get around Dubrovnik

Tucked between looming Mt Srđ and the turquoise waters of the Adriatic Sea, the historic city of Dubrovnik scores highly for its stunning natural setting. Covering some 21.35 sq km (8.25 sq miles), this small city is easy to navigate – the 13th-century old town acts as its nucleus, but Dubrovnik stretches northwest along the coast to include the resorts of Lapad and Babin Kuk on the peninsula.

Naturally, visitors gravitate toward Dubrovnik’s star attraction, the historic old town – Stari Grad to locals – which is protected by massive fortified city walls. Most sights are concentrated within these walls, in a compact area of less than half a square mile, so the majority of visitors tackle Dubrovnik on foot.

To travel further afield, public transport is available to all corners of the city, including up to the main port of Gruž and across to popular Banje Beach to the east. And if you want to beat the crowds, boats offer a completely traffic-free travel option too. Here are the best ways to get around Dubrovnik.

Explore Dubrovnik’s historic old town on foot

The best (and only) way to get around Dubrovnik’s compact old town is on your own two feet. Enclosed by its age-old walls, the old town is completely pedestrianized. The only motorized vehicles you may see here are early morning delivery vans servicing shops and restaurants on the Stradun, the main thoroughfare.

Strolling the Stradun and the grid of narrow lanes and alleys that extend from it is a delight. However, the old town can lose some of its sheen when it gets impossibly crowded in the peak summer season, especially when cruise ships are in port.

For a rewarding guided walking tour of Dubrovnik’s old town or tours themed around topics such as Game of Thrones or “Walls & Wars,” book a tour with Dubrovnik Walks.

Tips for avoiding the old town crowds in Dubrovnik: Check the Dubrovnik Port Authority website to see how many cruise ships are due to dock on any given day. If you can’t avoid the most congested days, plan to wander around the old town early in the morning to take everything in at a slower pace, noting the city’s fabulous architectural details. To get an idea of visitor numbers before you head out, take a peek at the live camera on the Stradun.

Dubrovnik buses are cheap and…