12 Best Things to Do for Couples in Dubrovnik

Betina Cave is a massive cavern in one of the many coves that indent the shore around Dubrovnik. Inaccessible by land, there are plenty of boat trips there or you can rent a kayak and paddle yourself to this comparatively secluded spot. With striking scenery and a sense of isolation despite being less than a kilometre east of Dubrovnik’s Old City, the cave offers a charming little escape for couples.

The tiny pebbly beach has been popular with locals for centuries. It's in the shade for a lot of the day because of the surrounding rock formations, getting only a couple of hours of sunlight in the mornings.

St Jakov’s Beach is a secluded beach at the end of a coastal walk east from Dubrovnik Old City. Variously known as St Jacob’s Beach, St James’ Beach or Plaža Sveti Jakov, the shore here is pebbly sand while the sea is especially clean and vividly blue – well worth taking the 163 steps down the cliff. There are sun loungers and parasols available for rent and there's a small eatery at the southern end.

Off in the distance, you’ll see the bustling harbour with the mighty Fort St Ivana guarding its entrance. Up on top of the cliff is the St Jakov Church, which gives the beach its name. Old and charming, it's worth checking out.

Despite being part of the often-crowded Old City, Porporela somehow remains a fairly isolated, romantic spot. It’s a 19th-century pier that juts out into the sea from Fort St Ivana, forming a protective barrier for the harbour. Right at the end of it is a modern lighthouse – it's no larger than a lamppost, so it doesn't disrupt the view.

About 60 metres in length, the pier has a line of benches along its length, all looking out to sea and Lokrum Island. If you're lucky enough to get a seat, you can enjoy a pleasant sea breeze with the view.

Konavle (sometimes Konavli) is a rural region a little way along the coast from Dubrovnik. Reachable by bus from the Old City, Konavle is known for its striking natural beauty, including waterfalls, watermills and canals.

A pleasant place for hiking, horse riding and cycling, highlights include the well-restored Sokol Grad castle, the charming Cavtat Old Town and many spots along the Ljuta River. If exercise isn't your idea of fun, you can book a scenic train ride through the region.

The Trsteno Arboretum (and most of Dubrovnik) will certainly look familiar to fans of the Game of Thrones series. The 15th-century palace grounds were used for filming the many scenes taking place in the gardens of King's Landing. The beautiful flowers, ponds, sculptures and views are worth the 12-km bus ride northwest from Dubrovnik.

A big part of what makes the gardens especially remarkable is the diversity of the plants grown here. The noble family that once owned the grounds asked ship captains to bring seeds back from far-off lands, resulting in a collection that includes 2 famous Oriental plane trees, one of which is over 50 metres tall.

Lopud Island is home to 2 coves, one of which has a small village in it. You can reach the island by taking a ferry that drops you in the small marina at the northern end of Lopud Beach. The beautiful Franciscan monastery overlooking the bay is a sign of the romantic charm to come. As you walk or cycle around the village, you can find many lovely cafés.

If you walk through the hilly interior of the island, past hilltop churches and forts, you get to the quieter cove and Sunj Beach. The secluded sandy beach offers a pleasant escape while still having a good choice of facilities like restaurants and sun loungers.

The reputation of Lady Pi-Pi as one of the most romantic restaurants in Dubrovnik is exceptional. And that's no small claim, given the huge choice of atmospheric eateries you can find in the Old City. Its location, at the top of the stairs by the northern wall of the city, gives the place a degree of isolation and a feeling of being away from the crowds. You also get a great view across the famous red rooftops of Dubrovnik’s mighty forts and castles.

The food at Lady Pi-Pi is excellent. The specialities are fish and grills. The one downside is that it's a small and very popular place – you might have to wait for a seat for some time. However, the service is friendly, which helps make the wait more pleasant.

If you're a fan of Game of Thrones, you'll certainly enjoy a day trip to Lokrum Island. Just 600 metres off the coast, the 1.6-km-long island is almost entirely covered by forest, except for some very important sites. The Benedictine Monastery here, aside from being beautiful and historical, played various parts of Qarth in Game of Thrones. There's also a restaurant, a museum and a replica of the Iron Throne inside.

Other interesting and Instagram-worthy sights on Lokrum Island include The Gardens of Maximilian and the 19th-century Fort Royal, the ruins of a former quarantine zone and a very beautiful botanical garden.

Café Buza is a pleasant little bar and eatery in a unique location in Dubrovnik. If you read that it's outside the Old City Walls, you might think that it's in the extensive newer part of the city. You'd be wrong – it's precariously perched on the rocks between the walls and the sea. This remarkable setting might mean that it’s a little tricky to find. However, it also gives tremendous views across the Adriatic and Lokrum Island.

Sadly, Café Buza has been a victim of its own success. While it's rightly considered a must-visit venue, prices are higher than the average by quite a considerable margin, so don’t expect to be rubbing elbows with the locals at this café.

Head just outside the Old Town and hop on the Dubrovnik Cable Car for an incredible ride to the peak of the city. It's quite unusual for somewhere so ancient to have such a modern way to see the sights, but it's excellent for those whose legs aren’t quite up for the steep climbs.

Enjoy 360° views on the 4-minute journey to the top of Mount Srđ, then take your time soaking up the sights of the Old Town and beyond from up high. There are more than just magnificent views at the top – you can find a souvenir shop and a restaurant boasting exceptional views, too.