The 14 Best Things To Do In Cavtat, Croatia
Last Updated: January 7 2024
When most people plan a trip to Croatia, they usually prioritise visiting places like Dubrovnik, Split, and Zagreb. However, in our opinion, every Croatia itinerary should include Cavtat too!
Cavtat is a picturesque town on the Adriatic Coast, southeast of Dubrovnik. It’s best known for its ancient old town, pristine coastline, luxury hotels, Mediterranean restaurants, and so much more.
Today, we’re going to show you the very best things to do in Cavtat so you can plan the perfect trip. We’ll tell you everything you need to know, show you where to stay, discuss how to get around, and answer some frequently asked questions.
If you’re looking for a wonderful Mediterranean getaway, stick around!
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The Best Things To Do In Cavtat, Croatia
1. Wander around the Old Town
Easily one of the best things to do in Cavtat is simply wander around the Old Town, which is something we did most days. Cavtat has a magnificent Old Town that features ancient buildings, some of which even give Dubrovnik a run for its money.
First of all, we recommend walking along the scenic seaside promenade. Here, you’ll find charming orange-tiled buildings, boutique shops, picturesque sea views, and quaint cafes.
You could stop here for a coffee in Caffe Bar Amor Towards the end of the promenade, you’ll come to the Franciscan Monastery – an old church and bell tower built in 1484.
After that, head through the narrow alleyways up to the Mausoleum of the Racic Family. This striking cemetery sits atop a hill that offers unparalleled views of the harbour and Old Town architecture.
On your way back into the town, stop by the Bukovac House Museum and admire the artwork of Croatian painter Vlaho Bukovac.
2. Have some Ice Cream
One thing we noticed about Cavtat (or Croatia in general for that matter) is how good the ice cream is. So much so, you have to try some during your time here!
In all honesty, we got an ice cream every day because we wanted to try as many flavours as possible. In Cavtat, there are two or three brilliant ice cream shops, but our favourite is Paradiso Ice Cream.
Paradiso takes things to the next level by offering a huge menu that features all the classic flavours and unique options like Snickers and Kinder Bueno, and premium ice cream that’s smooth, creamy, and most importantly delicious!
To top things off, most ice creams here come with pieces of chocolate and biscuit shoved on top. You can order ice cream in a tub or large waffle cone, and you can combine any flavours you want.
What’s not to like?
3. Walk the Coastal Path
One of the best free things to do in Cavtat is to walk the coastal path. Known by the name Šetnica oko Rata, the coastal trail in Cavtat is a popular attraction because it offers impressive views of the coast and allows tourists to see most of the town in a short space of time.
The trail is only a couple of miles long and we started the hike from Cavtat Parking Lot, making our way around the coast anticlockwise.
This quite beautiful and relatively flat trail leads through lush pine forest, which offers a pleasant break from the midday heat, along the shoreline, and around the bay into the Old Town.
Along the way, you’ll come across plenty of places to stop and admire the sea views and secluded swimming spots. Make sure you buy a Paradiso ice cream at the end of your walk!
4. Take a Day Trip to Dubrovnik
Cavtat is conveniently placed for day trips to Dubrovnik, so you should spend at least one day there during your trip.
From Cavtat, you can catch one of the local ferries to Dubrovnik. We recommend getting the ferry because the ride is stunning and it only takes 30 to 40 minutes.
There are ferry companies all over town. All you have to do is buy your ticket and get on. Tickets cost approximately 30 Croatian Kuna (£3.50) each way.
When you arrive in Dubrovnik, you’ll want to prioritise seeing the main attractions. In our opinion, you should start by walking the city walls, before then walking along the main street (Stradun). After that, you could grab something to eat in one of the restaurants on the walls and take the cable car to Mount Srd.
To find out more about Dubrovnik and the best things to do, check out our One Day In Dubrovnik Guide!
5. Go Sea Kayaking
Thanks to the calm waters around Cavtat, kayaking is a popular pastime that can be enjoyed all year round, so why don’t you take to water and hire a kayak from your hotel or a local water sports company?
We rented a two-person kayak for one hour from our hotel for roughly 70 Croatian Kuna (£8) and we had a great time. If your hotel doesn’t have any kayaks, you could hire one from the Diving and Watersports Center.
Once you have your kayak, it’s simply a case of getting out on the water and exploring. Where you go and how far is totally up to you and will mostly depend on where you hire your kayak from.
In our experience, the sea is calm enough to go quite a way out. If you rent a kayak near the Old Town, there’s no reason you can’t kayak around the headland and back.
6. Visit the Bukovac House Museum
You definitely need to include the Bukovac House Museum on your Cavtat itinerary. Bukovac House is the former home of famous Cavtat resident and Croatian artist Vlaho Bukovac.
Vlaho Bukovac lived between 1855 and 1922, and he became well-known across the world for his eclectic artwork. Today, the house is a small museum dedicated to his work.
The museum is open from 9 am to 7 pm most days and costs 37 Croatian Kuna (£4.28) to enter. The 19th-century building and its stunning architecture provide a wonderful backdrop for Bukovac’s drawings, paintings, and mementoes. Interestingly, it was also one of his canvases!
When he was just 17, the artist painted a series of frescoes on the walls and ceilings that were only discovered in the late 1990s. You can see these paintings during a visit to the house. In fact, Bukovac left a lot of his artwork here, so there’s plenty to look at!
7. Take a Day Trip to Lokrum
You can also visit Lokrum, a small island found just off the coast of Dubrovnik from Cavtat. Approximately a 30-minute boat ride away, this stunning nature reserve features natural attractions and architecture from 1,000 AD.
Some of the most popular attractions on the island include the Botanical Garden, Benedictine Monastery, and Fort Royal. Conveniently, the ferries that take visitors to Dubrovnik also head to Lokrum Island, just tell the captain that you want to go to Lokrum, and they will make a detour.
We recommend taking a walk around the island so you can see the main points of interest. After that, kick back at Mrtvo More – a seawater pool. Here, you can swim and relax in the sun.
We enjoyed finding the island’s many rock formations. Lokrum’s Rock Arch was our favourite because you can take some fantastic photographs from the top.
8. Relax on Cavtat’s beaches
If you’re anything like us, you’ll want to spend a bit of time in Cavtat enjoying the beach. If not, you’re seriously going to miss out because there’s a gorgeous beach here.
Cavtat Beach is only short, but it makes up for its size with golden sands and amazing turquoise waters. In our opinion, you should spend at least one afternoon simply lying on the beach in the sun, swimming in the sea, and sipping a refreshing cocktail.
You could bring your own beach towel with you and lie on the beach, but there are sun loungers available for hire.
When we visited Cavtat Beach, we decided to first grab something to eat (Ivan is a solid choice). After that, we spent a couple of hours just relaxing and enjoying another ice cream!
You might also want to note that boat and sea kayak rental services are found along Cavtat Beach!
9. Enjoy some watersports
If you can’t sit still, you could try a variety of different watersports during your stay in Cavtat. Companies such as Gabriel Watersports offer a huge range of exhilarating watersport activities and excursions.
Popular activities you can take part in include jet skiing, parasailing, inflatable rides, and paddleboarding. To top things off, Gabriel’s also offers a variety of speed boat tours and yacht cruises.
These cruises are perfect for anyone who loves the water but also wants to see more of the surrounding area. You can even rent your own boat if you’d prefer to explore solo.
One of the best activities Gabriel’s offers is a parasailing trip near Dubrovnik. This tour is not only great fun, but it also offers epic views and a unique perspective of the ancient city.
10. Take a day trip to Montenegro
One of the most popular things to do in Cavtat is a day trip to Montenegro, which we highly recommend if you want to tick off some more places from your bucket list. The journey can sometimes be long (up to 2 or 3 hours), but you’ll see a lot in just a short space of time.
Many tour companies and hotels in Cavtat offer day trips out to Montenegro, more specifically, Kotor. This Montenegro Day Trip & Boat Cruise is one of the best tours you can choose.
This tour includes pick-up, drop-off, transport to and from Montenegro, guided tours of Perast and Kotor, and a breathtaking cruise of Kotor Bay. Highlights include the artificial island of Our Lady of the Rocks, Kotor’s Venetian port, Boka Kotorska Bay, St.Triphun Cathedral, and the Maritime Museum.
The only things not included in most Montenegro tours are things like local taxes, tips, and food/drink.
11. Visit Bosnia
Bosnia is another country you can visit from Cavtat, but it will take you roughly 4 or 5 hours to get there. Luckily, there are plenty of tours that will take you there, including this Bosnia Herzegovina and the Old Bridge Tour, which is an absolute must.
Like the Montenegro tour we looked at, this Bosnia tour includes pick-up, drop-off, transportation to and from Bosnia, and a wide range of sites and attractions.
The tour will take you to Mostar – a historic city with numerous UNESCO World Heritage Sites. You’ll first marvel at the famous Old Bridge, where your expert guide will tell you more about the city’s history,
After that, you have the option to visit Počitelj or Kravice waterfalls. We highly recommend the waterfalls because of the impressive cascades and the stunning Trebižat River.
It’s worth noting that most Bosnia tours don’t include entrance tickets and lunch.
12. Enjoy the local cuisine
Like most countries in the Mediterranean, Croatia is famed for its cuisine, and this town offers you the perfect opportunity to overindulge. Many restaurants in Cavtat serve local dishes made from locally sourced ingredients.
As you would probably expect from a seaside town like Cavtat, fresh seafood is a big hit. You’ll find restaurants serving mussels, oysters, sharks, and more. You’ll also find a wide variety of meat dishes and delicious sweet desserts.
One of our favourite sweet treats was Fritule, which is a Croatian doughnut-like pastry. Some of the dishes you don’t want to miss include Buzara, Brodetto, and Black risotto.
When it comes to finding the best restaurants in Cavtat, there are a few we would recommend. For the best local food, visit Local Cuisine Dalmatino, La Boheme Restaurant & Bar, and Leut.
13. Stop by Cavtat Cemetary
The penultimate attraction on our list of the top things to do in Cavtat is Cavtat Cemetery. We mentioned this cemetery briefly when we discussed the Old Town and the Mausoleum of the Račić family.
Perched above the town, this cemetery offers breathtaking views of the Adriatic Coast, one-of-a-kind views of the town, and a unique insight into the town’s history. You can access the cemetery from the monastery, Prijeko Street, and by following the coastal path.
The mausoleum, also referred to as Our Lady of Angels is the most fascinating thing to look at here. Built by Croatian sculptor Ivan Meštrović in 1922, the mausoleum pays homage to the ship-owner family Račić and it features a quite beautiful chapel.
In fact, the chapel sits where the former Saint Rocco Chapel and a medieval church once stood.
You’ll only need to spend 10 minutes here so don’t miss it!
14. Take a tour of the Elafiti Islands
The Elafiti Islands, otherwise known as the Elaphites is a group of small islands stretching northwest from Dubrovnik in the Adriatic Sea. From Cavtat, you can easily visit the islands on a day tour, which is perfect if you seek sun, sea, and swimming.
The best tours tend to leave from Dubrovnik, so you might want to jump on the boat there first. Take this Elafiti Islands Boat tour for example!
This relaxed tour takes cruises along the Adriatic Sea to the Elafiti Islands in search of epic views, awesome swimming spots, and ancient history. During the trip, you’ll have the chance to swim in Kolocep, Sipan, and Lopud, enjoy a beautiful Croatian lunch, explore 15th-century Dalmatian villages, and more.
The tour spends most of the time (3 hours) on the island of Lopud, where you’ll find small botanical gardens, the St. Mary monastery, the Museum of Lights, and sandy beaches.
Helpful Information for Visiting Cavtat
How to get to Cavtat
The best way to get to Cavtat is by flying and Dubrovnik Airport (DBV) is only 4.4 km (2.7 miles) away so you won’t have far to travel to your hotel. Dubrovnik Airport serves a wide range of destinations around the world, primarily Europe.
If there are no direct flights from your country, you can fly to another airport in Croatia and transfer. Alternatively, you could fly to another major European country and transfer too.
When you land in Croatia, there are a couple of different options. You can jump in a taxi, book a private shuttle, or catch a private bus to Cavtat.
Thanks to its location, this coastal town is easily accessible from other destinations in Croatia, as well as Montenegro and Bosnia & Herzegovina. Buses are the best option, with several routes available. You can also hire a car that allows cross-border travel for more convenience.
How to get around Cavtat
In our opinion, the best way to get around Cavtat is on foot. In fact, the only time we went anywhere using a mode of transport was when we got the bus to and from the airport, and when we jumped on a boat to Dubrovnik.
All the main attractions are found close to the Old Town. Therefore, you can easily do it all by simply walking around.
Most days, we would simply walk into town to grab something to eat, explore, or simply pick up any essentials we needed for the day ahead. We would then spend the day doing whatever we had planned before ending the day with a meal in the Old Town.
If you’d prefer not to walk, there are plenty of taxis in Cavtat, so you can still easily get around. You can also get around by booking a tour, as most tours include pick-up and drop-off.
The best time to visit Cavtat
The best time to visit Cavtat is between May – June and September – October because the weather is pleasant and sunny, and there aren’t as many crowds. However, if you’re travelling to Croatia for a summer holiday, July and August are the best months to visit.
In July and August, temperatures range between 26°C (79°F) and 38°C (100°F), so you’ll definitely get a tan. It’s worth noting that July and August are peak seasons in Cavtat though, so it will be busier and prices will be higher.
We recommend visiting Cavtat between May and June because it’s still lovely and warm, but temperatures won’t stop you from exploring. August afternoons can be too hot to do much walking and exploring unless you have an ice cream (or two) in hand of course!
Where to Stay in Cavtat
One of the best things about Cavtat is the huge range of accommodation options. It doesn’t matter what your budget is, you’ll be able to find somewhere to stay that suits your needs.
Here are some of our top accommodation recommendations for Cavtat:
Budget: Apartments Mira
One of the most budget-friendly properties in Cavtat, this place offers both studio and two-bedroom apartments. These sleep between 2-5 people so are perfect for couples and families.
If you stay here, you’ll be just a short walk from the beach. All apartments come with a fully-equipped kitchenette so you can cook yourself, and some of them offer a private balcony with sea views.
Mid-range: Villa Nick
Located just 10 minutes away from the centre of Old Town Cavtat, Villa Nick is a stunning apartment complex that offers the most amazing self-contained apartments complete with panoramic sea views.
Each apartment features a spacious terrace, comfy bedrooms, a lounge area, a bathroom, and a small kitchen. To top things off, you’ll never be too far away from the main attractions, cafes, and restaurants.
Luxury: Hotel Croatia
If you prefer to travel in luxury, consider staying at Hotel Croatia. Set on a cliff overlooking the sea, this hotel is simply stunning and you can even see Dubrovnik from some of the terraces.
Hotel Croatia features double rooms, junior suites, executive suites, and more. As you would expect, most rooms come with luxury furnishings, sea views, and access to the onsite swimming pools. There are several restaurants on-site too!
Frequently Asked Questions about Cavtat
How many days do I need in Cavtat?
There are lots of things to do in Cavtat so we recommend spending at least 3 or 4 days in the town. This will give you plenty of time to explore, relax, and take a day trip to Dubrovnik.
Alternatively, you could spend a whole week in Cavtat on holiday. We booked an all-inclusive hotel for a week and we had an awesome time!
What is a good budget for Cavtat?
We’d recommend a budget of around £50-£70 per day. However, this will only cover you for cheap accommodation (if you’re sharing), an affordable restaurant meal, and perhaps a drink or two.
There are plenty of Cavtat tourist attractions on offer, so you’ll need to adjust your budget accordingly depending on what you want to include in your itinerary!
Is there much to do in Cavtat, Croatia?
The simple answer to that question is yes, there’s a lot to do in Cavtat. Cavtat offers a wide range of sightseeing opportunities, including easy access to Dubrovnik.
When you’re not wandering through the old town, you’ll find yourself swimming in the sea, cruising along the Adriatic Coast, and tucking into a tasty meal at a Meditteranean restaurant. From Cavtat, you can also jump on a day trip to Bosnia & Herzegovina and Montenegro.
Can I get a boat from Cavtat to Dubrovnik?
Yes, you can get a boat from Cavtat to Dubrovnik. In fact, one of the best things about Cavtat is how easy it is to reach the Pearl of the Adriatic.
There are boat companies all the way around Cavtat Harbour that operate daily ferries to and from Dubrovnik. The journey takes approximately 40 minutes and costs between €10 (£8.70) and €14 (£12.20). Ferries tend to leave hourly and tickets can be purchased when you embark.
Where to Go After Cavtat
Cavtat is located right near the border of Montenegro and Bosnia & Herzegovina, so you can always head onward to these countries if you wish. Otherwise, you have plenty of options in Croatia itself.
If you haven’t already been, our top recommendation would be to visit Dubrovnik next! This amazing city is just a short bus ride or boat trip away, and you’ll find tons of amazing things to do there.
The island of Hvar is another beautiful spot in the country, and it can be accessed via catamaran or ferry. There’s also Split which is the second-largest city in Croatia, just over a 3-hour drive away.
If you’re planning to explore Northern Croatia, the cities of Zadar and Zagreb are two fantastic choices. In terms of natural wonders, we’d suggest heading to the national parks of Plitvice Lakes and Krka.
As you can see there are so many fabulous places to visit!
Final Thoughts on Things to Do in Cavtat
In our opinion, Cavtat is the perfect base for your Croatia trip! As well as the variety of things to do in the town itself, there are ample day trip opportunities, including both Dubrovnik and Lokrum.
Not to mention, you can visit two other countries from Cavtat, so there are plenty of options. Not only that, but this charming town is the perfect place to relax. If you’ve been wondering what to do in Cavtat, then hopefully this guide has given you plenty of ideas for your trip.
If you have any questions about things to do in Cavtat then be sure to get in touch with us via Facebook, Instagram, or in the comments!
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I’m one half of Acouplescalling. I'm passionate about all things travel and photography and I love sharing my experiences with others. I've seen a lot of the world already and I want to help as many people as I can do the same thing!
