Top 5 Ragusa Full-Day Tours: See the Best of Dubrovnik’s Neighbor

Dubrovnik, or Ragusa, is this great place to kick off these Adriatic explorations, you know? You’ve got the ancient walls, that bustling Old Town; it’s quite scenic, that’s for sure. Still, there’s tons more to experience just outside the city. Seriously, there is, from charming islands to some pretty interesting historic towns. We’ve pieced together what might be the top five full-day tours you might want to check out from Ragusa, each with its own vibe and offering a super unique peek into Croatia’s character.

1. Lokrum Island Escape: A Close-by Adventure

So, Lokrum, it’s almost like Dubrovnik’s backyard, just a short ferry hop, really. Now, what could draw you here, anyway? Well, first off, you have this Benedictine monastery ruins—total photo material, if you like that stuff. But wait, that is not it, there is a saltwater lake there; locals often call it the “Dead Sea,” and it’s the spot for a chill swim. It feels like a real escape without actually escaping too far. By the way, watch out for peacocks; they are everywhere, and that alone is quite an experience.

What to expect on this kind of outing?

The Ferry ride to Lokrum should be like, less than 15 minutes; frequent departures mean you get some flexibility.
The Benedictine Monastery. Be prepared for about an hour or two of wandering. Its pretty scenic
Swim time. So, the saltwater lake; don’t miss it. Supposedly, there are some nice secluded beaches all over the place, as well.

In some respects, the vibe on Lokrum is really laid back. If you like relaxing a bit and catching some rays in a different environment, maybe this trip has your name on it, arguably? Or just maybe you would be interested in more stuff!

2. Ston & Pelješac Peninsula: Oysters, Wine, and Ancient Walls

Think you love food? How about really scenic drives? Then there is a Ston and the Pelješac Peninsula. Picture this, driving along the coast and experiencing some amazing vineyards all on the way to Ston, basically famous for their pretty decent oysters and some serious defensive walls from way back when. Those walls could almost rival Dubrovnik’s in some respects, in that case you would enjoy it too.

What to do on this tour:

Stop by a local oyster farm. If they offer tastings and some explanations about their whole cultivation method.
Wander Ston’s Walls. Really walk around the whole stretch if you like, get into that view.
Check out the wineries. The Pelješac region is pretty decent and quite reputable for its red wine, especially Dingač.

Arguably, it’s a really popular stop; the Mali Ston, that little village right by Ston, is known for some amazing seafood spots. Make some reservations, usually. What kind of people might appreciate this outing the most? Wine enthusiasts for one and folks really just hoping to check out something other than more beaches or stone streets.

3. Korčula Island: Allegedly Marco Polo’s Home

If you’re feeling a day trip, consider taking the ferry to Korčula. Known as this gem with a pretty similar little walled town kind of just like Dubrovnik, many believe, anyway, it’s Marco Polo’s potential hometown; you’ll come across plenty of that memorabilia there, seemingly. So, the Old Town, you know, that place that you go with narrow streets and historic churches, is pretty easy to enjoy on foot, but that is not all that the city has to offer.

Some of the cool spots and things to experience:

Old Town Exploration. Enjoy checking out some unique spots there, like that Cathedral of St. Mark, and the Marco Polo House.
Moreska Dance. Its a performance and unique to Korčula, a sword dance. Usually, performances take place during the summer.
Beaches. Yeah, you should try out some of those secluded spots that Korčula boasts. Try out Pupnatska Luka. Its a spot that will leave you quite impressed.

It seems like the ferry from Dubrovnik might take around two to three hours, maybe? So, it’s more of a commitment, yet definitely the scenic voyage. What sort of crowd would enjoy Korčula? Individuals who don’t shy away from a lengthier sea voyage and, as a matter of fact, individuals interested in taking walks throughout some different but awesome walled settlements. Don’t sleep on those unique cultural nuggets on the area, too.

4. Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina: Stepping into Another World

Fancy a bit of an adventure, actually? Have a look at a day out to Mostar, which is in Bosnia and Herzegovina. I am referring to it, as a totally cool city, arguably most famous for the bridge, the Stari Most and the town. You’ll get a pretty different feel here from the Croatian coastline vibe.

Why should anyone want to explore this specific destination?

The Stari Most (Old Bridge). Totally awesome photo opportunities, they’ve got divers there who’ll leap off for small cash reward from visitors.
Old Bazaar (Kujundziluk). You could grab traditional crafts. Also a super place to haggle for some keepsake treasure for yourself.
Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque. That is a smaller Mosque than what you are typically used to seeing around Mostar, yet, seemingly it has arguably this awesome vantage spot for bridge snaps.

Of course, you’ll cross the border, remember? In that case, carry the I.D., whatever you use to travel around. Its typically quite a busy trip with regard to travel duration; maybe budget like, around three hours one way. Some tourists should expect something different; basically, they should expect other scenery and, also the cross-cultural piece.

5. Montenegro’s Bay of Kotor: Fjords without the Freeze

So, picture a spot like fjords only considerably sunnier, too? That is Kotor. This excursion gives some beautiful scenes right along with a few little ancient settlements basically dotted about the bay. Usually, the entire location looks quite story-book-y if I am being candid, naturally.

Trip features to not overlook:

Kotor Old Town. Usually a small, walled section having cool Venetian construction.
Perast. What could be a super picture taking location, offering two smaller island destinations nearby.
Our Lady of the Rocks. The pretty neat church that is right on that man made island. Many tours may include a fast boat trip up to this spot, and that should happen often.

Like the Mostar journey, the border comes to mind, just remember the travel docs; expect around three hours for those travels by car, that makes for a bit of a hectic travel. If your interested in incredible sceneries? Check it out, the Adriatic shore here has tons of quite gorgeous landscape scenes.