Cavtat is a super charming coastal village located 20 km south of Dubrovnik Old Town and a few km from the Dubrovnik Airport.
Cavtat actually existed way before Dubrovnik did. It was founded by the Greeks in the 6th century BC under the name Epidaurus, and later it became a Roman settlement with the name Epidaurum — both names you will see if you visit Cavtat.
I have visited Cavtat several times during my years in Croatia, but I have never actually explored it as I did recently, when I recorded this video.
We walked all over the village, explored the old town, walked along the Riva, visited beaches, and I must say Cavtat got to me — I really liked the place.
What to see and do in Cavtat
I would recommend the following when in Cavtat
Take a walk along the Riva and continue around the peninsula on the scenic walking path. Also stroll along the bay towards the north until you reach the beautiful beach Žal
Visit the Mausoleum of the Račić Family. Follow the path between Konoba Galija and the monastery — there are quite a few stairs, but the view from the top is absolutely worth it
Explore the small streets of the old town, especially Prijeko Street, which is stunning There are around 10 streets leading uphill from the Riva to Prijeko Street
Visit the Shell Museum in Cavtat, featuring over 3500 different species of seashells — one of the largest private collections in Europe
If you like watersports, visit the EPIDAURUM Diving & Water Sports Center, where you can take a beginner’s diving course or try various types of water activities, from the calm ones to those with an adrenaline rush
Take a boat trip to Dubrovnik, Mlini, or Srebreno. Boats run frequently, and several companies offer this service. We paid 15 euros for a return trip to Dubrovnik with a sailing time of about 1 hour
Take a boat trip to the Elaphiti Islands (organized trips). The boat usually leaves early in the morning and returns in the evening
Visit Cape Oštro on the Prevlaka peninsula — the southernmost point of Croatia (around a 45-minute drive). From the cape, you can see Montenegro
Visit the island of Lokrum, a nature reserve located just off the coast of Dubrovnik. Boats sail from the old town port in Dubrovnik, but there might also be boats from Cavtat during the main season.
Visit Trebinje in BiH, a beautiful historical town located a one-hour drive from Cavtat, crossing the border at Gornji Brgat. If you are traveling with kids, you may consider a visit to Grad Sunca, a water and dino park near Trebinje.
As the Montenegrin border is only 22 km from Cavtat, a visit to Herceg Novi, Kotor, Budva, or Tivat is also an option. However, the border crossing is notoriously known for its delays, so be prepared.
Beaches in Cavtat
Cavtat, of course, also has some nice beaches, and from all the sea urchins we saw, the water is of excellent quality.
The Cavtat City Beach is a nice, smaller pebble beach with a concrete plateau at the end of the Riva (in front of the Monastery). Deck chairs and parasols can be rented on the concrete part.
Around the head of the peninsula, there are several smaller rocky beaches and a small pebble beach called Rat.
On the western arm of the bay, in the direction of Hotel Croatia, there are several concrete areas. Further out, you’ll find the Spinaker Restaurant & Lounge Bar, which offers a great view of Cavtat.
The biggest beach surprise I had in Cavtat is that they actually have a small sandy beach, located in a bay near Hotel Cavtat. Unfortunately, there is a port right in front of it with lots of small boats.
The largest beach in Cavtat is Žal, located in the bay to the north, in front of Remisens Hotel Albatros. It is a fairly narrow pebble beach. Several watersport activities are offered here, including an inflatable aquapark. At Žal beach, we saw beer offered for as little as €2.70 for 0.5 l.
Further out in the bay towards Dubrovnik, there are several more secluded beaches such as Obod, Cista Luka, and Tiha. In this area, you can also find an FKK nudist beach.
Shopping & Practical Info in Cavtat
In Cavtat, you’ll find a few smaller Studenac grocery shops. For larger shopping, the closest option is the K Centar Sub City shopping mall in Srebreno (11 km from Cavtat, in the direction of Dubrovnik). In Čibača (15 km towards Dubrovnik), there are Lidl, Kaufland, and Maxi Konzum.
Although Cavtat is only 6 km from Dubrovnik Airport, getting there (or back) is relatively expensive as there is no shuttle bus. A taxi from the airport costs around €25. Uber or Bolt are alternatives, but they can be difficult to find for such a short ride. Public buses do stop on the main road in front of the airport, but there are very few daily departures.
If you book accommodation in the old town (where there are several nice villas), be aware that it is a no-car zone. If your accommodation does not offer parking nearby, there is a large parking lot on the north side of the main peninsula — note that this parking is not free (€3/hour).
The bus station in Cavtat is located in the centre. The local bus company Libertas operates regional buses to Dubrovnik and other destinations. There are no direct buses from Cavtat to Montenegro, Bosnia, or other Croatian cities — you will need to travel to the Dubrovnik bus station for those connections.
Final Impressions
I really liked Cavtat — it has a fantastic atmosphere and the old town is genuinely charming.
The village is suitable for all types of travellers. Older couples as well as families with children will enjoy spending a holiday here.
I particularly appreciated that almost all restaurants clearly display their menus on the street — other towns in Croatia could definitely learn from this.
Proximity to the airport — is that a problem? For me, it wasn’t. I noticed the planes on the first day, but by the second day, I didn’t even pay attention to them anymore.
I loved the sunset — it was really beautiful.
