You don’t need to plan every detail, but having a rough itinerary helps. Start by deciding how many days you’ll stay in Dubrovnik itself, and how much time you’d like to leave for day trips. Build around the basics — walking the city walls, swimming in the Adriatic, visiting Mount Srđ — and leave space for breaks and spontaneous stops.
Make a simple list with three parts:
must-do activities (walls, cable car, zipline, etc.)
flexible time for walking, beach, or a sunset drink
open slots for possible tours or rest
This helps you avoid feeling like you’re missing something, and gives each day a bit of rhythm.