How gay friendly is Dubrovnik?

Croatia's Coastal Queen.

Also, a potential new drag name for Seby…

We first visited Dubrovnik in the 2000s, back in the days before Game of Thrones existed. It is a historic coastal city in southern Croatia, known for its pretty medieval Old Town, fortified walls, and stunning views over the Adriatic Sea. Fast forward a decade, and now it's an obligatory pilgrimage for GOT geeks (like me) wanting to prowl the streets of King's Landing, shaking the Shame Bell (an actual app you can download on your phone) at your partner.

Fast-forward another decade(!), and while the GOT obsession has started to subside, the city remains a romantic destination, drawing millions of tourists each year. It's truly remarkable, unique, and a joy to explore – both the old town, the neighboring coastal towns, and the surrounding islands. It also makes for a handy base to visit places further afield, like Kotor in Montenegro and Mostar in Bosnia.

The only downside is it's busy. Like, really busy, especially in the peak summer months when coachloads of tourists are dropped into the city every day, along with thousands of day-trip visitors docking from cruise ships.

This article is based on the many jaunts we've experienced in Dubrovnik over the past few decades, most recently part of a layover aboard the La Demence gay cruise.

1. Is Dubrovnik safe for gay travelers?

Completely safe, absolutely fine. Short and sweet.

Dubrovnik is super touristy with people from all over. Each time we've visited, we've felt welcomed. Hotels/apartments we've stayed at have never had an issue renting to two men sharing. Even walking the streets hand in hand felt fine – it's so touristic and international that no one batted an eyelid.

And the bonus? As of May 2022, Dubrovnik even has its very own gay bar – Milk!

The only thing we'd say is that Croatia is a conservative nation. Whilst it is a member of the EU, which requires all member states to adhere to a strict set of laws with equality and discrimination, Croatia maintains a ban on gay marriages that it introduced in 2013 after a referendum. Society is religious and conservative, so be cautious with PDAs when traveling to other parts of the country.

2. Is there a gay scene in Dubrovnik?

First thing is to manage your expectations. Dubrovnik's medieval old town is small. It feels more like a tourist attraction than a place where people stay. Despite this, the first (and only) gay bar opened its doors in May 2022, called Milk.

Located right in the heart of the city, Milk is open every evening, with a live DJ blasting out the best pop hits…Padam, Lady Gaga…I was very happy here 🙂

My only beef with Milk (and this goes for every bar in Croatia) is that smoking is still permitted indoors. So, after a night out, I have to factor in a shower to wash the smell out of my hair. First World Problems, yes, I hear ya. But when you've spent ages blow drying your curls, it's a pain in the butt to do…

Find out the latest events happening at Milk on the Milk Instagram and also on the Milk website.

3. Best place for LGBTQ+ travelers to stay in Dubrovnik?

My honest answer here is anywhere. It will come down to your budget.

Every place I've stayed in Dubrovnik over the years, whether solo, with Seby, or friends, has been gay friendly. Double bed request for two men has never been an issue. This is a city that has been welcoming hordes of tourists for decades, gays included.

However, Dubrovnik ain't cheap! Which is why I say your budget is likely to govern where you will stay. For my recent trip in May 2025, I just scoured the Map on Booking.com to find a place to suit my budget, balanced with the reviews. For my first-ever trip to Dubrovnik in the 2000s as a solo backpacker on a budget, I stayed outside the city walls.

So my advice, if you've got the coin for it, stay in the city walls. Hotels are not cheap here, but you'll be right in the heart of it all. Otherwise, consider staying somewhere outside the old city – the further away you go, the cheaper it gets.

4. What are the best things to do in Dubrovnik?

Dubrovnik may be small, but trust us, she knows how to work it. On our first visit, I dragged Seby out at 7 am to walk the famous city walls. Romantic – to me, yes. I'm a natural morning person. To Seby, well, after the initial grunts and moan, he got into it – believe me, it's not a bad idea to do this before the hordes of tourists start to arrive in the late morning. The views over the terracotta rooftops and Adriatic Sea were worth every sweaty step.

We spent hours getting lost in the Old Town, ducking into little alleyways, finding hole-in-the-wall gelato shops (pistachio easily the best flavor), and gawking at baroque beauties like St. Blaise Church and the Rector’s Palace.

For the best sunset in town, we recommend heading up Mount Srđ. It's a good 1-hour hike. Alternatively, you can take the cable car, but at €30 per person each way, you might opt for the cardio workout. We brought a bottle of wine with us, sat on the rocks, and watched the whole city blush golden…easily our favourite memory.

Another sunset gem: grab a few Aperol Spritz at Buza Bar, the hidden cliffside spot that feels like it might collapse into the sea at any moment. Just remember to ask them to go easy on the ice to avoid watering down the flavor.

5. Culinary highlights of Dubrovnik

Food-wise, Dubrovnik seriously delivers.

One night, we shared a plate of black risotto, a local specialty made with cuttlefish and its ink, which turns the rice jet-black and intensely savoury. Warning: your teeth will look like you’ve been chewing coal, but it’s totally worth it. Seby tried to flirt with the waiter mid-mouthful and ended up looking like a Bond villain…

We also devoured fresh oysters from nearby Ston, famous for having some of the best in the Adriatic. We had them raw, with just a squeeze of lemon, while watching the sunset over the harbour.

And for dessert? We fell in love with rozata, Dubrovnik’s answer to crème brûlée. It’s a silky custard flavoured with local rose liqueur, topped with a golden caramel glaze.

5. Best day trips from Dubrovnik

After a few days dodging tour groups and selfie sticks in Dubrovnik’s Old Town, we were gasping for a breather. So we set off on a few day trips to find quieter corners and more delicious food. Here are a few of our favorites:

Cavtat

Just a 30-minute Uber ride (or 1 hour ferry ride) from Dubrovnik, Cavtat is like the chilled-out younger sibling who enjoys peace and quiet!

We spent the day strolling its palm-lined promenade before sitting down for a lazy lunch at Bugenvila – one of our favourite meals in Croatia. Think fine dining without the fuss, with sea views and plates that made Seby consider licking the ceramic…

Korčula Island

Often called “mini Dubrovnik” (but with fewer crowds and more wine), Korčula is an island day trip dream. We wandered its charming old town, swam off rocky coves, and sampled local Grk wine—yes, that’s really its name. The highlight for us was the beach. We stayed here for the full day with a group of friends as part of a stopover on the La Demence cruise. It's super pretty, reminded me a lot of Sarandë, which I explored as part of my trip in Albania.

Pro tip: if you're visiting from Dubrovnik, be sure to book a catamaran as early as possible, as it takes around 2 hours. And of course, don't forget your swimsuit. If you're looking for a tour as a means to visit Korcula from Dubrovnik, I had my eyes on this Korcula tour from Dubrovnik because it also included a stopover at Ston to explore the salt flats and medieval city walls.

Kotor in Montenegro

Kotor is a hidden gem that not many people know about yet. It's located in Montenegro, so a new country to tick off. It's stunning. The old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the approach into the harbour is considered one of the most beautiful in the world. We visited as part of a cruise and can attest to this.

If not visiting by cruise, I recommend climbing up to the old fortress for some seriously impressive views of the picturesque bay hugged by the dramatic fjord-like mountains.

As with Korcula, we visited Kotor on a different trip as part of a cruise, but it is easy to reach as part of a day trip from Dubrovnik, which is a 2-hour drive away.

Mostar and Sarajevo in Bosnia

If you're up for a longer trip and want to up your country count, consider hopping over to neighboring Bosnia and Herzegovina. Mostar stole our hearts with its iconic bridges, and super cute cobblestone old town filled with Ottoman architecture. We did a GetYourGuide full-day trip to Mostar from Dubrovik, which included a stopover in Pocitelj to visit its impressive fortress, and a less impressive stopover at Medjugorje for a short, underwhelming hike up Apparition Hill to see a statue of the Virgin Mary.

Sarajevo is a deeper dive, complex, moving, and full of history. Whilst not as pretty as Mostar, it's one of the most fascinating cities I've ever visited. A tour through Sniper Alley and the Tunnel of Hope is a harrowing and stark insight into the resilience and hardships faced during the Yugoslav Wars in the 1990s. GetYourGuide has a tour to Sarajevo from Dubrovnik, which also includes a stopover in Mostar. However, we decided to visit Mostar on our trip together. I previously visited Sarajevo on a solo trip in the Balkans.

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Planning your very own gay trip to Dubrovnik 🙂

We've put together everything you need to know to plan your own trip to Dubrovnik. We also recommend reading our Gay Travel Page for invaluable safety advice as well as our travel tips for first-time travelers for more generic practical info.

How to get to Dubrovnik

Most international travelers fly into Dubrovnik Airport, which is located about 20 kilometers from the city. It's served by flights from many airports in Europe, as well as direct flights from Istanbul or Philadelphia. There are long-distance buses to Dubrovnik from the countries surrounding Croatia. Note that there are no train stations in Dubrovnik.

Getting around

Uber is your friend. Bolt also works a treat. Note that cars are not allowed in the Old Town so you'll usually have to head to Pile Gate outside to meet your driver. There is an efficient public bus service run by Libertas – the main stop is also by Pile Gate. Alternatively, renting a car is also an option, but parking is not easy, nor is it cheap!

Visa requirements

Croatia is part of the Schengen area, so most travelers from the US, UK, Australia, and Canada do not need a visa to visit for up to 90 days.

Money matters

Croatia uses the euro. $1 USD converts to around €0.88 and £1 to €1.19.

Language

Croatian is the official language, but English is widely spoken in cities and tourist areas like Dubrovnik. Still, a friendly “bok” (hello) or “hvala” (thank you), goes a long way.

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• We've reviewed which are the best gay cruises in the world!
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• For something more tongue-in-cheek, we've published a guide to traveling with your favorite toys!