Discover Cavtat

In Cavtat, art and history come together: an artist’s house, collections, churches and a mausoleum offer different insights into the town. There are also hiking and cycling routes, as well as opportunities for diving.

Location and history of Cavtat

Cavtat lies on the Rat peninsula, around a sheltered, accessible bay. The town also includes the Sustjepan peninsula. Its history dates back to the Roman colony of Epidaurus; historically, Cavtat was also called Ragusa Vecchia. During the Republic of Dubrovnik, Cavtat was the Republic’s second most important seaport after Dubrovnik, and a place of trade and administration. These connections provide a shared context for the historical sights without suggesting that they all date from the same period.

Art and collections

Kuća Bukovac opened to the public in 2004. The permanent exhibition showcases works from every phase of Vlaho Bukovac’s artistic career. The Baltazar Bogišić Collection focuses on something different: it includes more than 28,000 museum and library items, as well as Bogišić’s personal archive. Visitors can also see the permanent exhibition The Diversity of Bogišić’s Legacy. Together, the artist’s house and the collection offer two distinct perspectives: the work of an artist across several phases of his career, and an extensive collection with a personal archive and its own exhibition.

Buildings also add to these art and history themes. The interior of the Franciscan Church of Our Lady of the Snow (Gospe od Snijega) features sculptures, paintings, metalwork and textiles; the arrangement of the artworks may change. The Church of St Nicholas was built in the 15th century. The Račić family mausoleum is Ivan Meštrović’s first completed work and combines architecture with sculpture. It received the Grand Prix at the 1925 Paris Exposition of Modern Industrial and Decorative Arts.

Tours, diving and trails

You can discover Cavtat’s unique shell collection on a half-hour guided tour. It includes more than 2,500 specimens from seas and oceans around the world. Diving is available around Cavtat and the nearby islands of Mrkan, Bobara and Supetar. Underwater sites include ancient sites, underwater walls, caves and shipwrecks. Access and conditions depend on local operators and sea conditions.

The eight-kilometre Cavtat–Močići–Čilipi hiking trail begins at the Church of St George (Đurđa) near Mečajac. Most of the route follows a roughly level course and is suitable for recreational hikers. Side paths lead to swimming spots on the Konavle cliffs. Check local trail conditions; access to swimming spots may be affected seasonally.

Cyclists can choose from two routes of different lengths and formats. The 9.5-kilometre Cavtat–Močići–Čilipi route starts at Cavtat bus station, combines paved and gravel sections, and is suitable for trekking and mountain bikes. The 26-kilometre Cavtat–Zvekovica–Miljasi route is a circuit and also starts at the bus station. The distances and circuit format offer a concrete basis for planning; check route details locally, as route and surface conditions can change.

Getting to Cavtat

Dubrovnik Airport is in Čilipi, five kilometres from Cavtat. Taxi services are available for the local onward journey to Cavtat, subject to local operating conditions. Bus line 10 connects Dubrovnik and Cavtat, with services scheduled every 30 minutes. Check the current timetable before travelling to make sure your journey fits your planned travel times.

Discover more destinations: Pridvorje, Močići, Brotnice, Čilipi, Poljice, Komaji, Zvekovica, Mihanići.

For the broader travel overview: Općina Konavle.