Although its population barely exceeds 40,000, it's one of the most prominent tourist resorts of the Mediterranean and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979.
Dubrovnik is both a seaport and the centre of the Dubrovnik-Neretva County. Its population was 42,615 inhabitants according to census data from 2011. Dubrovnik is nicknamed Pearl of the Adriatic.
With its sublime location, overlooking the calm blue waters of the Adriatic, Dubrovnik is one of the world’s most magnificent walled cities.
Now a Unesco world heritage site and Croatia’s most up-market destination, it was once the capital of the wealthy sea-faring Republic of Ragusa (1358-1808).
During its Golden Age in the 16th century, it had one of the largest merchant naval fleets in the world, with consulates in more than 50 foreign ports.
Brave sailors, hard-bargaining merchants and shrewd diplomats, the people of Dubrovnik became extremely rich, leading sophisticated lifestyles and valuing refinement and the arts.
Tourism is the most important industry in Dubrovnik so according to data from 2012, there were 45 hotels:- twelve 5 star hotels, nine 4 star hotels, twenty two 3 star hotels and two 2 star hotels.
The city of Dubrovnik was built on maritime trade. In the Middle Ages it became the only city-state in the Adriatic to rival Venice.
Supported by its wealth and skilled diplomacy, the city achieved a remarkable level of development during the 15th and 16th centuries.
Dubrovnik was one of the centres of the development of the Croatian language and literature, home to many notable poets, playwrights, painters, mathematicians, physicists and other scholars.
Today Dubrovnik is the proudest in Croatia's tourist cap, an elite destination and one of the most beautiful towns in the Mediterranean. Dubrovnik used to be an independent republic, surviving mostly on trade.
It managed to survive many centuries, with constant threats to its territory, particularly from the mighty Ottoman Empire and Venice. As early as 19th century, it was discovered by celebrities as a place to be seen.
Royalty, presidents and diplomats have all favoured the city.
The late Pope John Paul II was a fan of Dubrovnik and was even made an honorary citizen. Out of the 23 top luxury hotels in Croatia in 2010, a dozen were located in Dubrovnik.
Today, visitors come here for leisure, not to trade. The main draw is the charming pedestrian-only old town, packed with aristocratic palazzi and elegant Baroque churches, contained within sturdy medieval fortifications.
Add to this the beaches, pristine sea, informal eateries serving top-notch seafood, chic five-star hotels and adventure sports facilities, and your holiday is made.
Which is why people like Beyonce, Roman Abramovich, Sir Roger Moore and Bob Geldof have recently been spotted here.
What's more, Dubrovnik's Old Town has been a popular filming location in recent years. The Game of Thrones television series and the Star Wars: Episode VIII film were both shot here, while the Robin Hood: Origins film has also been in the making here this year.
Dubrovnik is steeped in stunning architecture and sculptural detail, and boasts spectacular churches, monasteries, museums, and fountains.
A multitude of typical towns and excursions include: The Elaphiti Islands, the attractive town of Cavtat,the Konavle valley, Mljet Island, Korcula Island, Ston and Peljesac Peninsula.
The neighbouring towns of Kotor and Perast in Montenegro or Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina also make for intrigiuing day trips.
Dubrovnik historically is a Croatian city on the Adriatic Sea. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations in the Mediterranean Sea, a seaport and the centre of Dubrovnik-Neretva County.
Its total population is 42,615 by 2011 census 2011. In 1979, the city of Dubrovnik joined the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.
The prosperity of the city was historically based on maritime trade; as the capital of the maritime Republic of Ragusa, it achieved a high level of development, particularly during the 15th and 16th centuries, as it became notable for its wealth and skilled diplomacy.
In 1991, after the break-up of Yugoslavia, Dubrovnik was besieged by Serbian and Montenegrin soldiers of the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) for seven months and suffered significant damage from shelling.
After repair and restoration works in the 1990s and early 2000s, Dubrovnik re-emerged as one of the top tourist destinations in the Mediterranean.
After the fall of the Ostrogothic Kingdom, the town came under the protection of the Byzantine Empire. Dubrovnik in those medieval centuries had a Roman population.
After the Crusades, Dubrovnik came under the sovereignty of Venice (1205–1358), which would give its institutions to the Dalmatian city.
After a fire destroyed almost the whole city in the night of August 16, 1296, a new urban plan was developed.By the Peace Treaty of Zadar in 1358, Dubrovnik achieved relative independence as a vassal-state of the Kingdom of Hungary.
In 1991 Croatia and Slovenia, which at that time were republics within Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, declared their independence. At that event, Socialist Republic of Croatia was renamed Republic of Croatia.
Despite demilitarisation of the old town in early 1970s in an attempt to prevent it from ever becoming a casualty of war, following Croatia's independence in 1991 Yugoslavia's Yugoslav People's Army (JNA), by then composed primarily of Serbs, attacked the city.
The new Croatian government set up military outpost in the city itself. Montenegro, led by president Momir Bulatovic, and prime minister Milo Đukanovic, coming to power in the Anti-bureaucratic revolution and allied to Slobodan Milosevic in Serbia.
They declared that Dubrovnik would not remain in Croatia because they claimed it historically had never been part of Croatia.
This was in spite of the large Croat majority in the city and that very few Montenegrins resided there, though Serbs accounted for 6.8 percent of the population.
On October 1, 1991 Dubrovnik was attacked by JNA with a siege of Dubrovnik that lasted for seven months. The heaviest artillery attack was on December 6 with 19 people killed and 60 wounded.
The number of casualties in the conflict, according to Croatian Red Cross, was 114 killed civilians, among them poet Milan Milisic.
Foreign media was criticised for placing heavier attention on the damage suffered by the old town than on human casualties.
Nonetheless, the artillery attacks on Dubrovnik damaged 56% of its buildings to some degree, as the historic walled city, a UNESCO world heritage site, sustained 650 hits by artillery rounds.
The Croatian Army lifted the siege in May 1992, and liberated Dubrovnik's surroundings by the end of October, but the danger of sudden attacks by the JNA lasted for another three years.
Following the end of the war, damage caused by the shelling of the Old Town was repaired. Adhering to UNESCO guidelines, repairs were performed in the original style.
Most of the reconstruction work was done between 1995 and 1999. The inflicted damage can be seen on a chart near the city gate, showing all artillery hits during the siege, and is clearly visible from high points around the city in the form of the more brightly coloured new roofs.
ICTY indictments were issued for JNA generals and officers involved in the bombing.
General Pavle Strugar, who coordinated the attack on the city, was sentenced to a seven-and-a-half-year prison term by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia for his role in the attack.
The 1996 Croatia USAF CT-43 crash, near Dubrovnik Airport, killed everyone on a United States Air Force jet with United States Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown, The New York Times Frankfurt Bureau chief Nathaniel C. Nash and 33 other people.
Dubrovnik has a borderline humid subtropical and Mediterranean climate, since only one summer month has less than 40 mm (1.6 in) of rainfall, preventing it from being classified as solely humid subtropical or Mediterranean.
It has hot, muggy, moderately dry summers and mild to cool, wet winters. The Bora wind blows cold gusts down the Adriatic coast between October and April, and thundery conditions are common all the year round, even in summer, when they interrupt the warm, sunny days.
The air temperatures can slightly vary, depending on the area or region. Typically, in July and August daytime maximum temperatures reach 28 °C (82 °F), and at night drop to around 23 °C (73 °F).
In Spring and Autumn maximum temperatures are typically between 20 °C (68 °F) and 28 °C (82 °F). Winters are among the mildest of any Croatian city, with daytime temperatures around 13 °C (55 °F) in the coldest months. Snow in Dubrovnik is very rare.
The annual Dubrovnik Summer Festival is a 45-day-long cultural event with live plays, concerts, and games. It has been awarded a Gold International Trophy for Quality (2007) by the Editorial Office in collaboration with the Trade Leaders Club.
The patron saint of the city is Sveti Vlaho or Saint Blaise, whose statues are seen around the city. He has an importance similar to that of St. Mark the Evangelist to Venice.
One of the larger churches in city is named after Saint Blaise. February 3 is the feast of Sveti Vlaho or Saint Blaise, who is the city's patron saint.
Every year the city of Dubrovnik celebrates the holiday with Mass, parades, and festivities that last for several days.
The Old Town of Dubrovnik is depicted on the reverse of the Croatian 50 kuna banknote, issued in 1993 and 2002.
The city boasts of many old buildings, such as the Arboretum Trsteno, the oldest arboretum in the world, dating back to before 1492.
Also, the third oldest European pharmacy is located in the city, which dates back to 1317 and is the only one still in operation today. It is located at Little Brothers monastery in Dubrovnik.
Many Conversos or Marranos were attracted to Dubrovnik, formerly a considerable seaport. In May 1544, a ship landed there filled exclusively with Portuguese refugees, as Balthasar de Faria reported to King John.
Another admirer of Dubrovnik, George Bernard Shaw, visited the city in 1929 and said: If you want to see heaven on earth, come to Dubrovnik.
In the bay of Dubrovnik is the 72-hectare (180-acre) wooded island of Lokrum, where according to legend, Richard the Lionheart, King of England, was cast ashore after being shipwrecked in 1192.
The island includes a fortress, botanical garden, monastery and naturist beach.
Among the many tourist destinations are a few beaches. Banje, Dubrovnik's main public beach, is home to the Eastwest Beach Club. There is also Copacabana Beach, a stony beach on the Lapad peninsula, named after the popular beach in Rio de Janeiro.
Dubrovnik has also been mentioned in popular film and theatre. In the 1997 film 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea with Michael Caine, one of the characters said to have been dreaming of fairy from Dubrovnik.
A feature of Dubrovnik is its walls (1.2 million visitors in 2017) that run almost 2 kilometres (1.2 miles) around the city. The walls are 4 to 6 metres (13–20 feet) thick on the landward side but are much thinner on the seaward side.
The system of turrets and towers were intended to protect the vulnerable city. The walls of Dubrovnik have also been a popular filming location for the fictional city of King's Landing in the HBO television series, Game of Thrones.
Dubrovnik has an international airport of its own. It is located approximately 20 km (12 mi) southeast of Dubrovnik city centre, near Cilipi. Buses connect the airport with the Dubrovnik old main bus station in Gruz.
A network of modern, local buses connects all Dubrovnik neighbourhoods running frequently from dawn to midnight.
However, Dubrovnik, unlike Croatia's other major centres, is not accessible by rail; until 1975 Dubrovnik was connected to Mostar and Sarajevo by a narrow gauge railway (760 mm) built during the Austro-Hungarian rule of Bosnia.
The A1 highway, in use between Zagreb and Ploce, is planned to be extended all the way to Dubrovnik.
Because the area around the city is disconnected from the rest of Croatian territory, the highway will either cross the Peljesac Bridge whose construction is currently stalled, or run through Neum in Bosnia and Herzegovina and continue to Dubrovnik.
The downside of this is that the majority of locals have sold up their properties for use in tourism and moved to the modern suburb of Lapad, so that the old town is little more than an empty museum in winter.
The number of people permanently residing in the historic centre has dropped from 5,000 (in 1991) to 500 (2014), while the number of visitors has increased exponentially, there's even talk of limiting the number of people that can enter the Old Town at any one time by issuing tickets for entry during peak season.
And prices for virtually everything are almost double what they would be anywhere else in Croatia. But that doesn’t seem to be deterring the ever increasing number of holidaymakers.
Visitor numbers keep going up and up, and in 2013 the number of cruise passengers disembarking in Dubrovnik in one year exceeded one million for the first time.
The city has had to make an agreement with cruise companies that not more than 8000 passengers should disembark on any one day, to prevent overcrowding, though this rule is sometimes disregarded in peak season.
For most people, the best months to go to Dubrovnik are May to June or September to October, these are sunny days with the sea warm enough to swim, and hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions open, but with less crowds though it will still be busy.
During peak season, July to August, Dubrovnik is over-run by tourists, hotel prices rocket, restaurants and beaches are packed, and there are queues at all the main attractions, but on the positive side you get the Dubrovnik Summer Festival and a glitzy nightlife.
Low season, November to April, can be lovely, though most facilities are closed and the weather is less reliable.
Some hotels and restaurants now open for Christmas and New Year, but almost everything is shut through the rest of January. And while a few places reopen for Carnival in February, the new season only really begins at Easter.
Most of the top attractions are concentrated in the car free old town, within the medieval walls. Two monumental arched gates, Pile to the west and Ploce to the east, serve as entrances to the old town.
They are joined by the main thoroughfare, Stradun or Placa. Off each side of Stradun lies a grid of narrow alleys some involving steep stone steps, harbouring countless cafes, restaurants and apartments to rent.
Immediately east of the old town, in the Ploce neighbourhood, a string of half-a-dozen luxury hotels line the coast, while 2km west of town, opposite Gruz Port, Lapad peninsular is where you’ll find the main concentration of big modern mid-range hotels and several beaches.
Dubrovnik airport (IATA: DBV) is located about 20km to the south of the city.
The following airlines operate services to/from Dubrovnik Airport:
Aer Lingus (Dublin-seasonal), Aeroflot (Moscow - seasonal), Air Berlin (Munich-seasonal, Stuttgart-seasonal), Air Serbia (Belgrade), Austrian Airlines (Vienna), B&H Airlines (Sarajevo-seasonal), Blue1 (Helsinki), Bmibaby (East Midlands-seasonal).
British Airways (London-Gatwick), Croatia Airlines (Amsterdam, Athens, Belgrade-seasonal, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, London-Gatwick, Munich, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Pula, Rome-Fiumicino, Split, Tel Aviv, Vienna, Zagreb, Zürich), DanubeWings (Bratislava), EasyJet (Berlin-Schönefeld-seasonal).
Geneva-seasonal, Liverpool-seasonal, London-Gatwick-seasonal, Milan-Malpensa-seasonal, Paris-Orly-seasonal), Estonian Air (Tallinn), Flybe (Birmingham-seasonal, Exeter-seasonal, Southampton-seasonal), Germanwings (Berlin-Schönefeld, Cologne/Bonn, Hamburg).
Iberia Airlines (Madrid-seasonal), Iberia operated by Air Nostrum (Valencia-seasonal), Israir (Tel Aviv - seasonal), Jetairfly (Brussels-seasonal), Jet2.com (Belfast-seasonal, Edinburgh-seasonal, Leeds-seasonal, Manchester-seasonal), Lufthansa (Munich).
Luxair (Luxembourg), Monarch Airlines (London-Gatwick-seasonal)Birmingham-seasonal Manchester-seasonal, Norwegian Air Shuttle (Bergen, London Gatwick, Madrid, Oslo-Gardermoen, Stavanger, Stockholm-Arlanda, Helsinki, Trondheim, Warsaw), SmartWings (Prague-seasonal).
Tarom (Bucharest - Henri Coanda Airport, seasonal), Thomson Airways (London-Gatwick, London-Luton, Manchester-seasonal), Turkish Airlines (Istanbul), Vueling (Barcelona-seasonal), Wizzair (London-Luton)
Croatia Airlines operates buses between the airport and the main bus station in Kantafig (HRK40, 45min), which is 2.5km northwest of the Old Town. Taxis from the airport to the centre will cost HRK350.
Going to the airport a bus aims to leave the main bus station 2h before each international flight, and costs HRK40. The airport shuttle schedule is different everyday, but there is a shuttle virtually every 30 minutes.
Departure times are also displayed in various tourist agencies near Buza Gate or the tourist information office at Pile Gate.
The bus passes close to the Old Town en route to the airport and you can board this bus at the bus stop on Petra Kresimira 4 just above the Old Town, by the lower cable car station.
There is no train to Dubrovnik. A narrow gauge line used to link Dubrovnik to Sarajevo but was closed in 1976.
The closest rail station is Split, a 4 hr bus ride from Dubrovnik. From there you can take one of the 2 tilting-trains (ICN) to Zagreb.
In the Summer-months 2 Nighttrain link Split with the rest of Croatia, one to Zagreb-Osijek and one to Zagreb-Siofok-Budapest.
The railway-station Ploce, less than 2h by bus from Dubrovnik has been closed since december 2014. From there, you can connect to busses from the Croatian-Railways tot Metkovic. There are no more trains to Mostar and Sarajevo.
The trip from Split along the coastal road Jadranska magistrala or D8 is a beautiful scenic journey through small, quaint villages and other tourist destinations.
Just know that in the summer months the trip is likely to take several hours longer than anticipated. What looks like a short trip on a map can take 6h.
A much faster way of simply getting from Split to Dubrovnik by car is to take the A1 highway to Vrgorac and then continue via Staševica, Opuzen and Neum to Dubrovnik.
As you have to pass Bosnia-Hercegovina at Neum and therefore leave for the 10 km section EU, especially in high summer there are long traffic jams entering and leaving Bosnia.
The main bus station is in Kantafig, near Port Gruz and the Tudjman bridge, 2.5km northwest of the Old Town. Local bus 7 operates between this station and Babin kuk, and bus 1abc or 3 serves Old Town, 12 kuna in advance, 15 from driver.
Direct buses run to/from Zagreb (HRK205-234, 11), Korcula (HRK100, 3h), Mostar (HRK100 or €16, 3h), Orebic (HRK100, 2.5h), Rijeka (HRK400, 12h), Sarajevo (HRK160, 5h), Split (HRK100-150, 4.5h), Zadar (HRK200, 8h).
In the high season, there are also multiple buses to the Montenegro cities of Herceg Novi, Bar, Kotor, and Budva and at to Prijedor and Banja Luka (10h) in Bosnia.
A one-way trip to Budva costs HRK128, or €15. Return tickets are much cheaper, so check with the different companies. If buying in person, the ticket agent will sell you any company's ticket.
When coming by bus from Split or cities further north, police officers may board the bus and you may be asked for a valid identity document when crossing the Neum corridor which belongs to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
While the bus companies list trip duration of c. 4 h, be prepared for a ride of closer to 5.5-6h, including Bosnian border checks.
When travelling into Montenegro and the Airport sit on the right hand side not behind driver for best views, and vice-versa for the return. Travelling to Bosnia, sit on the left hand side behind the driver for best views.
A departure listing for the international bus station is available at the website of the city bus operator.
On all intercity buses you pay a separate fee of €2 or HRK10 to the driver for luggage. So keep some change ready.
Many cruise ships come to this port of call, typically docking at the Port of Dubrovnik (Port Gruz) across from the main bus station, 2.5km northwest of the walled old town.
The easiest and cheapest way to get from the main bus station to the Old Town is by using the local buses number 1, 1A, 1B, and 3, which circulate almost constantly and cost 15 kunas one way - 12 kunas if you buy the bus ticket before boarding.
Alternatively, cruise lines usually offer their own shuttle services from the ship to Pile Gate (or somewhere close by) in the Old Town, often for a fee. Some cruise ships anchor offshore just east of the Old Town and tender the passengers directly into the the Old Port.
In 2012, over one million passengers visited Dubrovnik by cruise ship, feedback has suggested the sheer volume of day visitors swamping the city from cruise ships are deterring more lucrative overnight/residential visitors from going there.
Yet there is talk of authorities possibly limiting the number of ships permitted to dock in Dubrovnik each day/week as the city struggles to cope, meaning in the future cruises with Dubrovnik on the itinerary may become rarer and more sought after.
From Rijeka Jadrolinija ferries run up and down the coast. Calling at Split, Stari Grad, Korčula and Sobra on the way. Journey time is up to 20 hr, so consider getting a cabin.
The restaurant serves up some decent food at surprisingly reasonable prices, but bear in mind that the +23% tax is not included on the menu. While the journey is scenic there is nothing in the way of entertainment.
Come prepared with a good book or just sit on the deck and watch the Adriatic Sea go by. This is more than enough entertainment for an afternoon.
From Bari in Italy. The dull engine vibration or the swaying of the boat from high winds are likely to keep you awake. Cabins are strongly recommended.
Although you can sit comfortably enough inside with the cheaper deck pass, interior temperature hovers at 60⁰F or below and makes for a chilly night even in the height of summer.
Sadly this ferry seems quite overpriced: two adult single tickets plus a noisy, small interior 2-berth cabin costs €168.
The Old Town can be comparatively difficult to navigate on first appearances, as it really is a warren of little streets.
There are however signs at the entrances to many of these streets advertising what businesses, shops, restaurants and accommodation are to be found in that direction.
That being said, some of these signs appear to be either intentionally misleading or woefully out of date. For example, there is no office of any bus company within the Old Town, despite what the signs may say.
The city is completely pedestrianised and easily small enough to get around on foot, some of the streets are a little steep though.
If you are not staying in Old Town, it's relatively simple get there by bus, as just about every one leads to the Old Town. However, it might be advisable to get a timetable just in case.
It costs 12 kn just over €1 for tickets bought at any kiosk,or 15 kn bought on the bus; ticket valid for 1 hr. At selected kiosks including the international bus station you can purchase a day pass for 30 kn.
This pass is valid for 24 hr of unlimited travel on the city bus network, starting from the first validation. The easiest way to get from the Main Bus Station to the Old Town is by using the mostly modern and A/C equipped buses number 1A, 1B, 1C which circulate almost constantly.
These buses can be boarded from the bus stop just outside the Main Bus Station. Apart from this, there is another bus service which comes inside the bus station and drops you directly at the Old Town. Schedules are available at the information counter of the Main Bus Station.
Dubrovnik was heavily bombed during the Croatian War of Independence from 1991 to 1995. Almost all of the damage has been repaired; however, if you look closely around the old town, mortar damage in the cobblestone streets and bullet marks in the stone houses are visible.
Roland's Column, in front of the Bell Tower. A slender stone flag staff of the legendary knight. Also known as Orlando's Column. Ever since its foundation in 1950, the Dubrovnik Summer Festival is officially opened by raising a flag carrying the city's motto Libertus on Orlando's staff.
Bell Tower, after the Ploce entrance to the city. On top of the tower are the famous Zelenci or The Green Ones, bronze statues which strike the gigantic bell every hour. They have been recently replaced with copies and the originals are in the atrium of the Sponza Palace.
Sponza Palace, North of the Bell Tower. Gothic Renaissance palace, one of the few buildings that has maintained its form from before the catastrophic 1667 earthquake. Hosts historic archives. Memorial room of defenders. Open 10AM-10PM. 20 kn
Rector's Palace, Pred dvorom 1. Formerly the palace of the Major Council, now houses a museum dedicated to the city's history.
War Photo Limited, Antuninska 6. Open 9AM-9PM. An exhibition centre of war and conflict photography. Exhibits change during the season. Stunning images by world renowned photo journalists.
Pile Gate, at the western end of the Placa Thoroughfare Stradun, Old town. A convenient starting place for your stroll through the Old Town is the Pile Gate. Before entering the Old Town, Fort Lovrjenac, the first among many sites worth seeing in Dubrovnik, provides a good view of the Old Town and its wall.
Placa Stradun, Old town. The Stradun, Placa is the central street of the city of Dubrovnik and is the place where the old city comes to life. During the day, explore the shades of the perpendicular streets and alleys on its sides, and during the night, take walks up and down the Stradun with an ice-cream in hand.
The uniform Baroque architecture of the houses in Placa, with shops on the street level and their knee-like entrances, got its present-day form in the restoration of the City taking place after the disastrous earthquake in 1667, when a large number of luxurious Gothic and Renaissance palaces had been destroyed.
The architectural design of Placa reveals effective solutions and the business sense of the Dubrovnik Republic in those difficult times. Today, Placa is still the shopping centre and venue of major events.
Big Onofrio´s Fountain. In the western Pile entrance of the old town, The fountain stairs are nowadays a favourite meeting place for local youth and where both the tourists and pigeons take rest and refresh themselves with cool water.
Old Port. The eastern part of the Old Town of Dubrovnik; some cruise ship passengers are tendered to the Old Port.
Fort Lovrijenac, From the Pile gate, walk away from the city and then turn left down the steps next to Konoba Gallus. Follow the lane down to the waterfront and then climb the steps up to the fort.
The monumental fort rises above 37 m high rock. It changed roles in the course of history. The main purpose of its construction was defense, and the main idea was to protect the freedom of Dubrovnik. 50kn, or free with city wall ticket.
Aquarium. 8AM - 9PM. 40 kn.
Visia Dubrovnik 5D Theatrum for history and culture, Poljana Paska Milicevica 4 in the Convent of St. Clare, on the right side at the beginning of Stradun through Pile gate. 9AM-8PM. Virtual reality technology guides visitors to Dubrovnik through the history and cultural features of the city and wider Croatia.
City walls, Hours: 08:00-17:30. Entrance fee is HRK150 for adults, HRK30 for children. Students with ID - European Youth card etc. receive 70% discount. You can pay by credit card, but they do not take euros. Keep your ticket, as it will allow you to enter Fort Lovrijenac near Pile Gate.
Walk on the walls around the old town, great views. It may be best to visit the walls during the early morning or the late afternoon during mid-summer months as it can become very hot.
It takes roughly an hour to walk the entire wall, so make sure that you leave yourself enough time before purchasing a ticket.
Dubrovnik is surrounded by its city walls which are 2km long and famous all around the world. There are 3 entrances: on Stradun by the Pile gate, by Fort Saint John’s and at the Custom’s House gate.
Within the city walls you will see Fort Minceta and Fort Saint John’s on the south-eastern side. Also, within the city walls are Fort Lawrence at Pile and Fort Revelin at Ploce. The main entrance is by the Inner Pile Gates.
Minceta Fort is one of the most beautiful cultural attractions in Dubrovnik. It's on the northwest side of the city inside the city walls and was built according to the design of renaissance builder Juraj Dalmatinac.
St. Luke’s Tower can be seen by walking along the landward side of the city walls up to Ploce Gate. St. Luke’s Tower has protected the entrance to the Dubrovnik harbour throughout the history of the city.
St. John’s Fort was constructed in the 16th century and it is really worth visiting; on its ground floor you can visit the Aquarium, and on the first and second floors you can visit the Maritime Museum.
Bokar Fort is on the seaward of the city walls. It was designed by Florentine architect Michelozzi in the 15th century.
Franciscan Monastery, Placa 2. 9AM-6PM.. This beautiful monastery with Baroque Church, houses a Romanesque cloister and the third oldest pharmacy in the world.
Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, Kneza Damjana Jude 1. M-Sa 8AM-8PM, Su 11AM-5:30PM. This impressive building is in the Poljana Marin Drzic.
Supposedly, the original church was built with money donated by Richard the Lionhearted who survived shipwreck on his way home from the Third Crusade. The current Roman Baroque cathedral dates from the 18th Century.
Church of Saint Blaise or Crkva Svetog Vlaha. Baroque Church dedicated to the city's patron saint.
Church of St. Ignatius and the Jesuit College, On an elevated square close to the southern edge of the Old Town. Mass held in English daily at 11:00 in the summer. Ornate Jesuit church, approached via a romantic baroque staircase modeled on the Spanish Steps in Rome (1738).
Built between 1667 and 1725 by architect Ignazzio Pozzo, and like most Jesuit churches of the period was modeled on the Gesu in Rome, the mother church of the Jesuits.
Dominican Monastery. Open 9AM-6PM. This is an exceptionally valuable historic complex, which, besides its religious purpose, also represents the important artistic treasury of ancient Dubrovnik.
Church of St. Sebastian, by the Ploce gate. 15th century church built by the Ploce gate since St. Sebastian is the saint protector against plague.
Serbian Orthodox Church and Museum of Icons. Built from 1865-1877, stands behind impressive wrought iron gates. Houses a number of icons, mainly Byzantine and Cretan. Museum next to church has extensive icon collection. Church admission: free; Museum admission 5-10 kn.
Some museums offer a discount ticket if you visit more than one museum. For example its 70 kn for the Rectors Palace, Ethnographic museum, Rupe and Maritime museum.
Bukovac House (Kuca Bukovac), Bukovceva 5, Cavtat. 9AM - 1PM, 4PM-8PM, Sun 4PM-8PM. Closed Mon. Includes works by Vlaho Bukovac (1855-1922), one of the most famous modern Croatian painters. Part of the house is devoted to exhibitions of works by young artists.
Dubrovnik Natural History Museum, Androviceva 1. 9AM-4PM, closed Sa-Su. The collection of 100 year-old taxidermy specimens dates back to 1872 and may not appeal to everyone.
Franciscan Monastery Museum, Placa 2. 9AM-6PM. Houses artifacts from one of the world's oldest pharmacies. 30 kn.
Sigurata Convent Museum, Od Sigurate 13. Upon request. Entry: 10 kn.
Synagogue and Jewish Museum, Zudioska 5. This originally Sephardic Synagogue is supposed to be the second oldest still in use synagogue in Europe today. A permanent Jewish community here was founded at the end of the 15th century following the exodus from Portugal and Spain.
The Jewish Ghetto was established in 1546 on Jewish street in the old town of Dubrovnik.The community flourished and included respected doctors, merchants and state representatives. Jews in Dubrovnik enjoyed relative freedom, but there were some restrictions on their activities at certain points in history.
The Synagogue is tiny and delightful, with heavy velvet drapes and a richly painted, midnight blue ceiling. The museum contains valuable menorahs and Torah scrolls, alongside information on the history of the Jewish community in Dubrovnik. Entry: 25 kn.
Dominican Monastery Museum, Sv. Domina 4. 9AM-6PM. Paintings and artifacts from Dubrovnik's past. Entry: 30 kn.
The Sponza Palace Museum the Museum of the State Archives. Entry: 20 kn.
The Rector`s Palace Museum, Pred dvorom 1. 9AM-6PM. Artifacts, paintings and furniture dating back from the time of the Dubrovnik Republic. Entry: 70 kn.
The Treasury of Cathedral, Kneza Damjana Jude 1. 9AM-6PM. The Treasury has 182 reliquaries which are carried around the city during the Feast of St Blaise. Entry: 15 kn.
Maritime Museum, In St. John Fortress. 9AM-6PM. Considering how vital sailing and shipbuilding were to the growth of the Dubrovnik Republic, this is one of the city’s most important museums. Entry: 70 kn.
Home of Marin Drzic, Siroka 7. M-Sa 9AM-1PM and by appointment. Memorial house of Marin Drzic, one of Croatia's most famous writers.
The Etnographic Museum the Rupe Granary, Od Rupa 3. 9AM-6PM. Built in 1590, this is a fascinating building in itself, and the exhibits showcase the economic, cultural and spiritual development of Dubrovnik. The folk costumes and textiles give the best flavour of the region where folk culture is still celebrated. Entry: 70 kn.
Lapad Beach or Lapad Peninsula A car free, sandy beach area on the Lapad Peninsula, approximately 3.5 km from the old town, where you can relax in the shade of the numerous trees.
At the end of a long pedestrianized street full of cafe bars and restaurants you will see many popular pebble beaches known as Lapad beaches. These beaches are really beautiful and well used.
Lapad is definitely one of the most beautiful parts of Dubrovnik and you really must visit it. If you take the headland path to the right hand side of Lapad beach, as you look at the Adriatic, you can walk along a charming little coast path with small concrete beaches and ladders into the sea.
These were put in during the Tito era and are ideal for one or two sunbathers. Walking further along is an excellent local fish restaurant - ideal for ending the day. The walk back is not particularly well lit, but perfectly safe.
Banje Beach, Near the Old Town. This is a well located pebble beach. There's a part with an entrance fee, but also a public part which is always livelier and more relaxed.
Great way to beat the heat in the middle of the town. Amazing view to city walls, Old Town Dubrovnik and the island of Lokrum. Beach volleyball, mini football or water polo. You can also enjoy lying on deck chair and having a drink.
Lokrum Island, Take a ferry in Old Town port buy your ticket at the end of the deck. If you want to escape from the beaches which can be crowded during summer, then take a ferry to Lokrum Island. Only 10 minutes by boat and it will cost you 150kn back and forth.
Last ferry is at 8pm during summer, with a ferry departing every 30 minutes. You can swim in some indicated spots where you'll find ladders to get into the sea. Or just choose a nice spot on the rocks where you'll be able to swim and enjoy the peacefulness.
You can also climb a fort in the northern part of the island for a great view of the city. There is an FKK beach at the southern tip of the island.
The reason Dubrovnik has surged in popularity in recent years, aside from its history and beauty, is its starring role in the HBO TV hit - Game of Thrones - where the Old Town has stood in for Kings Landing, Qarth and other fictional places,the show's second season in 2012 taking over Mdina and other places in Malta in season one.
There are lots of Thrones walking tours available and you will easily come across these, look for some out at the Tourist Info centers in the City e.g. at Pile Gate, however many of the filming locations you will simply stumble across just by wandering around.
Much of the filming took place on the City Walls with a notable scene from Qarth filmed at the base of the Minceta Tower and also Fort Lovrijenac and the little beach and pier in the cove below it.
Aside from this, seek out the Rector's Palace staircase from Qarth, if you just want to see the staircase, you can view it from the entrance of the palace, and avoid having to pay the expensive 100Kn entrance fee.
A 10min boat ride will take you to Lokrum Island where lots of scenes were filmed, while a day trip down to the Trsteno Arboretum will also look familiar as a number of scenes were filmed there.
A little shop down Zudioska ulica or a nearby street had a replica Iron Throne you can sit on for a picture opportunity for 30kn or free if you buy some GoT merchandise.
Combine your visit with a trip up to Diocletian's Palace in Split and Klis Fortress, and the Old Town and waterfront in Sibenik for the true Game of Thrones experience.
Stradun, Take a walk and enjoy a drink at a cafe on the main thoroughfare of the old town.
Looking at the walled city of Dubrovnik, Croatia From Fort Lovrijenac
Mount Srd, For a great view of the town. There is a fortress on top which contains a small museum describing its history.
Walk up the winding footpath to the fortress and large cross on the hilltop 400 m above Dubrovnik. Walking up from the old town takes about 90 min. There is lack of signature but ask the local though most of them will still direct you to take the cable car.
The path is quite rocky so use suitable footwear. This is the way you could enjoy the best bird eye's view of the sea, old town etc. When you get up to the panoramic terrace, the view is actually not as attractive as what you see along the way when you hike up.
Take the new renovated Cable car and you will be from Down station to Mountain Srd in less then 4 min. Round trip ticket 100 kn - allow an extra 30min-1hr for queuing in the peak season though, with little shade from the summer sun/heat.
Go by car via Bosanka village. Follow Jadranska cesta (D8) towards Mlini and drive past Dubrovnik. Turn left to Bosanka village and follow the road up the hill.
Visit the Fortress Lovrijenac. It was an essential fortification to the defense of the city from both ground and sea attacks. In order to prevent possible mutiny by the commander of the fortress, the walls facing the city are only 60 cm thick compared to those exposed to enemy fire which were 12 m thick.
Above the entrance to the fortress is an inscription that says Non bene pro toto libertas venditur auro, which means Freedom is not sold for all the gold in the world. Remember if you have already visited the City Walls to keep your ticket as it also includes entrance here.
Activities to perform in Dubrovnik
Cliff Jumping @ Cafe Buža. See listing for Cafe Buža in the Drinks section.
Dubrovnik Escape Room, Josipa Kosora 22, Dubrovnik. 10AM - 10PM. The first escape room in Dubrovnik is here, and it's inspired by Game of Thrones. Immerse yourself along your family, friends or colleagues, find the clues and use your brains to solve the puzzles, and prove that you can save King's Landing in 60 minutes.
Dubrovnik Sea Kayaking, Sv. Kriza 3, Dubrovnik. 10AM - 10PM. One of the most popular Dubrovnik sea kayaking tour providers. Departures from Pile Beach, just outside the city walls.
Dubrovnik Trails, Ulica Branitelja Dubrovnika 15. The most interactive sightseeing and treasure hunting experience in Dubrovnik
Lazareti, Frana Supila 8 Ploce, just out side of the east entrance to the Old town. Old quarantine hospital serves as a cultural centre for concerts, exhibitions, workshops, theater, film, night clubs and literature. The concert hall/bar is a very cozy place with a decent sound system.
Gallery Galeriya Tutunplok is open daily 12PM-9PM. Films and theater showings range from 20-40 kn Concerts cost 40-100 kn. A nightclub is open here from 10PM-4AM and will cost you about 30 kn. Gathers a mostly alternative crowd.
Swim, Za Karmenom 1. for free. Swim in the Adriatic Sea below the old wall. In the harbour of the old town, go all around right along the wall, beyond the aquarium and there is a pier and some rocks where you can cool down on a hot summer day.
Avoid stepping on sea urchins, which are commonly found on rocks in the sea water around Dubrovnik, especially if you are wearing no shoes. These are mostly found in clear water and are easy to spot.
Respublica Obscura Escape Room Dubrovnik or Escape Room Games, Ulica Nikole Tesle 4. Respublica Obscura are fun, interactive and immersive escape rooms designed to make you feel like movie stars in this unique entertaining experience. Travel to 16th century Dubrovnik and be the heroes that Save the Republic.
Buggy Safari Dubrovnik, Srđ ul. 2, 20000 Dubrovnik. 9AM - 7PM. Dubrovnik Buggy Safari is the ultimate fun activity for people of all ages. 300 HRK.
Dubrovnik is an excellent starting point for exploring southern Adriatic coast primarily Elaphite islands, Korcula, Peljesac and Mljet.
There are many charter agencies where you can charter a sailing or motor yacht which are based in Dubrovnik. Majority of them operate from ACI marina Dubrovnik (42°40,3’ N 18°07,6’ E) which is based in Komolac.
When you charter a yacht through charter agency and arrive to designated marina there are a few things that need to be done. The most important thing is the yacht check in usually Saturday around 4PM.
Take your time doing yacht check in. Familiarize yourself with the chartered yacht and with the yacht equipment.
The rule of thumb is the more time you take for the yacht check in, the less time you will need for the yacht check out. After that you have to do the shopping for the charter vacation.
Don't neglect the grocery shopping because the sea is unpredictable and you don't want to get stuck on the boat without anything to eat or drink.
You can do the shopping in a marina however the prices are usually much higher there, or you can order from yacht provisioning services who usually deliver the products to the marina at no extra fee.
Sea Kayaking Dubrovnik-Pile Bay, Organized guided and individual tours around the island Lokrum.Experience Dubrovnik from a different perspective and have amazing photos of the city walls from a seaside.
In Jam Yacht Supply. Online provisioning catalog where you can order from a large selection of groceries and other products months in advance and everything you order awaits for you in the marina.
This is convenient because it takes the load of you and the things you must do when you arrive at the marina for your sailing holiday.
Lokrum, Take a ferry to the Island of Lokrum which houses a monastery, a fort with great views of Dubrovnik, botanical gardens and a naturist beach.
Preserved as a nature park this small island is reachable in 10 min in boat-time from the old city port. It offers unparalleled serenity, beauty and peace.
Dubrovnik Summer Festival. Music and theatre festival held since 1949 from 10th July to 25th August.
Famous nationwide for its exquisite selection of drama, plays and concert of chamber music with more then 2,000 artists from 30 countries during 47 days of festival. Be sure to book in advance and don't miss a chance to see some of the open-air performances.
Libertas Film Festival. Film festival held from August 25-30.
Dubrovnik Cable Car, Petra Kresimira 4. bb, 20000 Dubrovnik. The easiest way to come to the cable car is from the Old Town of Dubrovnik. On the northern side of the town there is Buza Street which leads you towards the exit from the city walls.
From there you need to keep climbing towards the fireman station. Once you are at the fireman station, you need to cross the street on your right hand side and keep going straight. After few moments you will see cable car station on your right hand side. 9:00-24:00.
The original cable car was bombed during the conflicts and closed in 1991. It reopened to the public for the first time on 10 July 2010. The view of the Old City will rival that found on any postcard.
There is a small shop at the top and Restaurant Panorama with new outside terraces, restaurant with best view. Directions to the Cable Car are difficult to find in the Old City. 120 kn round trip.
Below are education institutions in Dubrovnik:
- University of Dubrovnik.
- Centre. Croatian language classes.
- American College of Management and Technology - Dubrovnik.
- Nautical College.
- Tourist College.
- University Centre for Postgraduate Studies of the University of Zagreb.
- Institute of History of the Croatian Academy of Arts and Sciences.
- Dubrovnik Language School. Dubrovnik Language School Queen Mary.
There are many local artisans who specialize in domestic crafts. Popular purchases include: handmade tablecloths, linens, and napkins. Many merchants claim that the necktie was invented in Croatia. Another local specialty is little dolls dressed in local garb.
The Pharmacy, at the Franciscan Monastery creates hand creams and other toiletries based on ancient recipes. The pharmacy is one of the oldest in this part of Europe. It has been operating from the time of its foundation to the present day.
While wandering around the Old Town, you will come across many shops that sell Croatian goods such as wine and textiles.
If you have transport there is a Lidl a German discount supermarket, 5 km east of the Old Town near the village of Cibaca - this is where the locals shop to avoid steep Dubrovnik prices.
Magnolika, Ulica Getaldiceva 7, 3rd St. to the right in the Old Town. Small gallery with unconventional art and cool jewellery design.
Clara Stones Jewellery Store, Naljeskoviceva 8, 5th street to the left of Stradun if you go from Pile Gate. Unique handmade Adriatic coral, pearls, gems and jewellery with certificate of authenticity.
Tonci Kera, mestar za bicikle, P. Zoranica 1 please ask at the garage. This is not a regular bicycle repair shop, however the operator of this local garage offers a service.
There are a wide range of restaurants in the Old Town, mostly offering a very similar menu of local seafood and some meat dishes. The cuisine may not be very imaginative, but it is usually of good quality and very fresh.
Restaurants can be crudely separated into slightly cheaper tourist-trap places, and more expensive but first class gastronomic restaurants. There are a few pizzerias, mostly wood-fired and quite acceptable.
The Kras chocolate sold at stores is delicious. Remember that Dubrovnik, more so than the rest of Croatia, is well aware of its status as a tourist hot-spot. Rents for restaurant premises are high and consequently the prices on the menus reflect this.
If you want to save money, it is definitely worth it to get your breakfast and/or lunch from a supermarket instead of a sit-down cafe, which have high markups.
Check out Pemo in the Old Town, Antuninska ul. 4. Fresh fruits, drinks, and sandwiches/pastries cheaper than deli on main street.
In the off peak season of November-March nearly all the top-end restaurants close, leaving only a handful of desperate tourist trap enterprises operating and still charging high prices. You can however still eat well and discounts can be negotiated.
Dubrovnik cuisine is characteristically not very spicy and is famous for traditionalism.
Zelena Menestra
Many Dubrovnik restaurants offer hot starters on the English version of the menu - but these are often large portions akin to primi in Italy.
Barba, Boskoviceva 5 just off Stradun, on the road leading to the north gate. 1000-2400. Small fast-food seafood place, where you sit at communal high counters. Best known for its octopus hamburgers (44kn) and very cheap compared with other local eateries.
Konoba Pjatanca, Kolocepska 2 near the public beach Banje and hotel Excelsior, out of the tourist crowd, you pass the Ploce gate. 10:00-24:00. Traditional Dalmatian kitchen, nice atmosphere, fresh fish every day and only restaurant with local specialities, domestic Smoked ham and Cheese in oil and most wanted dish Baked lamb or veal under the bell Peka .
Konoba Tabak, Vukovarska 34 somewhat hidden behind a larger building. 7:00-20:00. This is a locals place with really good seafood and house wine.
La Luna, Andrije Hebranga 60. 09:00-24:00. Large portions. Really good pizza with fresh ingredients.
Best to have a medium pizza for 1 person or large if you are really hungry, a large can be split in half for not that hungry couples. Only pizza is served before 17:00, for pasta or other dishes you will have to wait until 17:00. 45 kn/medium pizza.
Lokanda Peskarija, Na ponti bb. Traditional Dalmatian appetizers and meals, you get your meal in a large black fisherman's style pot.
Marco Polo, Lucarica 6 near St. Blaise church. 10-24. Good traditional food served in a small outdoor courtyard. Not really budget, but really nice restaurant with different types of food.
Mea Culpa, Siroka Street. One of the best pizzerias on what is becoming a pizza street. Go for pizza or a coffee and brandy and exchange banter with the staff. 70 kn/pizza+bottle of water.
Nishta, Prijeko 30 At the top of the first set of stairs on Palmoticeva, which is the 3rd street on the left when walking from Pile gate. Dubrovnik's first and only vegetarian restaurant, with vegan and gluten free options available upon request.
Pekara Zlatno Zrno patisserie, Petra Kresimira, outside the city walls near the fire station. Nice patisserie / bakery that stays open late. Expensive, but cheaper than those within the city walls.
Poklisar, Ribarnica 1 in the old harbour. Limited but good menu, including pizza and some very enjoyable live piano music.
Pizzeria Scala, Mata Vodopica 3 near Tommy's supermarket. 08:00-24:00. A very nice pizzeria between Lapad and Babik Kuk with good pizza and very good Mexican food/specialties. 40 kn for a normal 30 cm pizza; 50-80 kn for delicious Mexican food/specialties.
Restaurant Salvatore or City walls restaurant, Gradske zidine bb. 8AM - 9PM. This beautiful restaurant will simply take your breath away with the spectacular views of the Dubrovnik Old City.
Spaghetteria Toni, Nikole Bozidarevica 14. A small Italian style restaurant in the old town with outdoor seating providing a wide variety of pasta.
Taj Mahal, Ulica Nikole Gucetica 2 within the old city. Offers a variety of Bosnian/Eastern cuisine such as Cevapcici u lepinji, baklava, and tufahi. The wait can be quite long, and vegetarian options are often sold out.
Yummmy Takeaway, Petra Kresimira IV - 7. Tasty takeaway joint selling burgers, seafood and even Mexican food. Very cheap prices. Just outside of old town walls.
Lady Pipi, from Pile Gate second street on left right at the top of the steps. Worth the climb for magnificent views over the old town from the restaurants' terrace and presumably taking it's name from an ancient water feature just outside the restaurant, not for the prudish.
Grilled fish with vegetables 110 kn, grilled chicken with fries about 70 kn, salads etc. Be prepared to wait for a table with a terrace view as is very popular with locals, alternatively arrive before 8 in the evening to avoid the busiest times. Beware of wasps.
Arka, Gunduliceva poljana in the Old Town. Dalmatian cuisine in an excellent location. Has some good vegetarian options. The baked moussaka especially is worth a try.
Domino Steak House, Od Domina 6. One of the best for a variety of ways of serving steak. Also serves traditional Dalmatian fare.
Dubravka 1836, Brsalje 1 Pile Gate, Brsalje Sq at entrance to the Old Town. Variety of quality domestic and foreign wines, cocktails, homemade ice cream and desserts.
Konoba Atlantic, Kardinala Stepinca 42. Tasty Italian food and inexpensive wine. Try the lobster and prawn ravioli.
Proto, Siroko Ulica (Old Town). Serves very good seafood.
Gils Cuisine & Pop Lounge, Sv. Dominika bb, Near the Ploce gate. A new and rather over the top venue located in the Old town of Dubrovnik with stunning views of the old harbour.
The restaurant offers ultra modern French cuisine and a wine and digestive cellar. A lounge bar has fresh cocktails and funky DJ music. 500 kn/person.
Nautika, Brsalje 3, just outside the Pile gate to the Old City, on the waterfront. Great views of the sea and Old City. Pay attention to the menu prices which switch from Kuna to Euro throughout. Start at 200 kn.
Porat Restaurant & Terrace, Restaurant in Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik hotel, Marijana Blazica 2. Spacious terrace, just outside the Pile gate. Offers international and Croatian cuisine.
The most popular hard alcohol in Croatia is home made rakija. This is a very strong distilled drink made from a variety of fruits. Examples include sljivovica, made from plums, loza, made from grapes, and orahovica, made with walnuts. All are quite strong.
There are many excellent local wines from both the Peljesac Peninsula and Konavle and it is often less expensive than soft drinks like Coca Cola. However, be careful when purchasing wine from unlicensed dealers.
Though the price is very attractive with some being as low as 10 kn or €1.5 per litre it can sometimes be of low quality.
There are numerous cafes throughout the Old Town and the entire city with prices varying according to the location particularly, those located on the Stradun are by far the most expensive but you are paying for the ambiance and people-watching as well. Most cafes serve a wide variety of drinks all day.
La Bodega, Lucarica 1 just off Stradun near Roland's Column. Pleasant cafe close to the city centre. Coffee 22kn, or half price before 1300. Continental breakfast with coffee and fresh orange juice, 50kn. Specialises in hams and cheeses.
Walk towards the sea from Stradun near the Ploce gate, and you'll hit a tiny square with outdoor seating by 4 or 5 different pubs, with live music playing, and large cocktail pitchers with very low alcohol content.
Cafe Buza, Iza Mura. Follow a sign that says cold drinks and enter through a hole in the wall on the south side of the Old Town. Just wander up the stairs on the right side of Stradun coming from Pile gate, until you hit the city walls, and then walk all the way down.
The tables and chairs are set out on the side of the cliff and the beers are served in bottles and plastic cups. You can sunbathe on the rocks or do some cliff-diving but do watch for rocks below. This is lovely in the evening, when the sun is setting and you gaze over at island of Lokrum.
Eclectic chilled out music plays unobtrusively in the background. There isn't much in the way of shelter apart from some palm leaves so Buza won’t open in bad weather. Higher price range.
Casablanca. On one of the streets to the left of Stradun walking from the Pile gate. Look for flashing red and blue lights. This is an interesting, slightly bizarre bar with seating outside on the city stairs, techno music, and may have erotic dancing.
D'vino Wine Bar, Palmoticeva 4a. Coming from Pile Gate they are on the third street off of Stradun on the left. D'Vino Wine Bar has a selection of over 100 fine domestic and imported wine available by the glass, bottle, and in tasting servings.
Largest selection of wines by the glass in Dubrovnik with a very intimate, romantic atmosphere, which is a change of pace from other bars in the city.
Buzz Bar, Prijeko Street 21 is a newly opened bar, already popular among local people of Dubrovnik. It has great selection of local rakija, wine, beer but also has good coffee in the morning.
It is especially nice in hot summer as the street is in shade. On weekends it organizes live music of local entertainers.
Nonenina, Pred Dvorom 4. Chill music fills this lounge bar at night, making it a great place to unwind after a full day of sightseeing.
Nude Noir Dubrovnik- Cocktail Lounge Bohemia or Poljana Paska Milicevica 3, Opposite the Onofrio Fountain. The palatial yet playful architecture of Onofrio, a stylish art and champagne bar and restaurant built into the fabric of a rare Baroque building situated in the centre of the Old Town.
Host to this season of Nude Noir cocktail lounge Bohemia and laid-back decadence between beginning of June and end of September every day from 22.00 till 04.00.
Seductive tunes will be layered through out the night by one of the London's most talented DJ's & Producers, KosmetiQ, to add to the overall sense of pure escape.For those wishing to take their summer sun with a splash of sophisticated decadence, pin Nude Noir Onofrio to your map.
Capitano, Pile. Various kinds of music from studio 54 to Croatian music. Low prices.
EastWest, Frana Supila bb. At the Banje beach at the Ploce gate. Beach club and night club. In the day you can have drinks in the lounge chairs, at night you can party in the nightclub. Amazing view, various kinds of music, popular DJ's and beautiful atmosphere. Free entrance until midnight.
Factory, Put Republike, Gruz, 1 km from the centre. Bus station is situated just 20 m from the Club. Various kinds of music, many popular singers and DJs.
Klub Orlando, Branitelja Dubrovnika 41, 5 min walk along Branitelja Dubrovnika from the old town's Pile Gate. At number 41, on the left, there is a dark car park, belonging to the old hospital . Walk into it, turn right, pass a small building, then ascend a lot of steps.
Dingy club, predominantly metal but seems to cater for anything deemed alternative. Cheap drink prices with occassional international touring acts, definitely in the minority as a tourist here.
Latino Club Fuego, Brsalje b.b., Pile outside the Pile gate. From May till October opens every day from 11PM-6AM. During the rest of the year it is opened on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays 11PM-6AM. Usual 18-25 touristy bunch, and the music is Commercial, R'n'B, House, Dance, Pop and Techno. Entry 40 kn per person with 1 drink included.
Lazareti, on the eastern entrance of the Old Town, by the Ploce gate. house and techno music.
Hostel Marker Dubrovnik-Old Town, Svetog Djurdja 6 in Old Town-Pile Beach, 25 m from sea. checkin: 13.30-14.00; checkout: 10.00. Hostel Marker Old Town Dubrovnik- Pile Bay is not just a hostel. It's a place where you're gonna feel as if you were in your own home, but in Dubrovnik.
Marko the owner is a friendly and obliging guy with a local philosophic attitude. He also offers dorm, private rooms and holiday-apartments with their own kitchen and private bathroom.Located on area where HBO TV hit Game of Thrones where the Old Town has stood in for Kings Landing. Free Internet with WiFi €15-€40 per person.
Hostel Rooms Ana Dubrovnik Old Town, Kovacka 4. checkin: 13.00; checkout: 10.00. Hostel inside the Old Town of Dubrovnik,directly on the historical main street-Stradum. Hostel located in different houses with good location and very friendly owner. 15-45.
Camping Solitudo, Catch bus #7 from the main bus station every hour directly or take bus #1 to the Old Town Pile station and change to bus 6 - 6 and 7, direction: Babin Kuk. 400 m walk to two beaches. 2 people in a tent: 200 kn.
Villa Micika Dubrovnik - Rent a room, Mata Vodopica 10 in Lapad, 200 m walk to the beach. Take Bus #6 from Pile or the bus station to Lapad post office. Funky, clean, character rooms , big shared terrace with BBQ. Free Internet with WiFi, free parking places .
All rooms have TV with local and international channels , A/C, and bathrooms with shower cabin and WC. €18 low season-€26 high season.
Guest House Letizia, Radnicka St, Đura Basariceka 30 in Gruz above the main city port. Go to the Barcelys Hotel and then after hotel 20 m turn on uphill street on left. A few steps above you will find the guest house.
checkin: 13:00; checkout: 10:00. Free WiFi, a garden and a shared terrace looking out to Gruž Bay. Bright rooms with wooden floors, some have a private balcony. Stone barbecue on the terrace.
Guests can also cook in a shared open-plan kitchen, a dining table for 6 is provided, no extra charge is levied for those services. €35-40/ room.
Guesthouse Petrusic, Od Gaja 30 take Bus 8 from Pile Gate. Ask the driver when to get down on Andrije Hebranga near Ulika Topolska perpendicular to Od Gaja 30. checkout: 11:00. Clean, A/C, wireless, friendly host, very clean shared bathroom, close to key-places from Dubrovnik, fridge, coffee machine, dishes available.
Rooms have thin walls. No room-service, but clean sheets or towels available or on request. Only 3 rooms available 2x double bed and 1x twin bed.
One room has it's own separate external bathroom, the other two rooms share a larger external bathroom. Bring anti-mosquito things. €266/ room calculated for 7 nights in September.
Fresh Sheets Hostel, Dubrovnik Old Town, Svetog Simuna 15. one of three hostels inside the Old Town of Dubrovnik.
Dubrovnik Backpacker's Club, Mostarska 2d. Awarded as best hostel in Croatia. Home turned into a backpackers hot spot. Family run with location on Lapad, popular after its beaches and green parks but still just 10 min ride from old town and crowds.
Youth Hostel Dubrovnik, Vinka Sagrestana 3,20 min walk from the Old Town. checkin: 13:00; checkout: 10:00. 82 beds. The atmosphere leaves something to be desired, but it's usually filled with interesting people up for a chat on the balcony. Dorm bed: €16.70.
Apartments Festa, Hildina 2 in the Old Town. A small but compact apartment with kitchenette, complimentary goodies, free wi-fi and a complimentary shuttle to the harbour. There are a range of apartments.
Dubrovnik Old Town Holidays in Dubrovnik Old Town, Situated inside the medieval Old Town of Dubrovnik. Holiday accommodation inside the historical centre of Dubrovnik. The list includes different types of holiday apartments, b&bs and guest rooms.
Fresh Sheets Kathedral Bed and Breakfast Dubrovnik, Buniceva Poljana 6. Superbly located right in the heart of Dubrovnik. Right next to the Cathedral. Each room has amazing unobstructed views of famous landmarks. checkin: 2PM; checkout: 10AM.
Four star accommodation with air-con and free high speed fibre optic internet. Family suites, doubles, twin, and single rooms available.
Dubrovnik bed and breakfast, Frana Supila 1, Next to the Old Town Gate of Ploce. Air-conditioned rooms with Wi-Fi.
Your Dubrovnik Sweet Home, apartments with terrace, Peline 4, Old Town, The best location, close by the Buza Gate.
Hotel Adriatic Dubrovnik, Masarykov put 9 at the foot of Petka Hill, by the Adriatic Sea. checkin: 2PM; checkout: 11AM. Park and sea view rooms. The city centre is reachable by bus.
Hotel Komodor, Masarykov put 5, Lapad Bay. checkin: 2PM; checkout: 11AM. Swimming pool, complimentary breakfast, free parking for hotel guests and free WIFI in public spaces.
Hotel Neptun Dubrovnik, Kardinala Stepinca 31. Renovated in 2008. 9-story tower with 79 rooms and 12 family suites, all have A/C, a balcony with sea-view and free WiFi.
Hotel Lero, Iva Vojnovica 14, 15 min walk from Old Town. checkin: noon; checkout: noon. Recently renovated city hotel with 155 contemporary designed rooms. Sea views and equipped with regular three star amenities with A/C. Free parking, free WiFi.
Hotel Petka, Obala Stjepana Radica 38 in the Port of Gruz. Convenient for island hopping. Clean A/C rooms, restaurant.
Hotel Splendid, Masarykov put 10. checkin: 2PM; checkout: 11AM. Hotel Splendid is situated in a Mediterranean garden on a pebble beach in Dubrovnik’s Lapad Bay.It offers free parking for hotel guests, complimentary breakfast, free wi-fi in public spaces.
Hotel Vis, Masarykov put 4. checkin: 2PM; checkout: 11AM. Hotel Vis is situated on a pebble beach in Dubrovnik’s Lapad Bay.It offers parking for hotel guests, complimentary breakfast,wi-fi in public spaces.
Pension Stankovich, Matije Gubca 15 at the entrance of Old Town. checkin: 1 P.M; checkout: 10A.M..
TilEuropa - Dubrovnik Leilighet, Frana Supila 21, Dubrovnik, Croatia. Dubrovnik Leilighet.
Ariston Hotel, Kardinala Stepinca 31. 115 luxury sea and garden view rooms a few miles from the Old Town of Dubrovnik right along the Adriatic Sea.
Grand Villa Argentina, Frana Supila 14 near the Old Town.
Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik, Marijana Blazica 2. 5 star hotel near the entrance of the Old Town and overlooking the ancient city walls and fortresses. It was built in 1895 and has 139 rooms and 8 suites.
Hotel Bellevue, Pera Cingrije 7, 1 km from Old Town. 5 star hotel on a clifftop overlooking the Adriatic, 93 rooms on 5 levels. Rooms have a modern nautical themed decor with wooden flooring. Private beach, spa and sauna.
Hotel Dubrovnik Palace, Masarykov put 20, 4.5 km from Old Town. 5 star hotel on a Lapad peninsula, below the park of little Petka woods and with a view to the Elaphite islands.
Hotel Excelsior, F. Supila 12. 5 star hotel of 146 bedrooms and 18 suites. Built in 1913 and completely renovated in 1998 overlooking the Old City. Walking distance to the beaches and Old City 2,000 kn.
Hotel Uvala, Masarykov put 6, Lapad Bay. checkin: 2PM; checkout: 11AM. Conference and spa facilities, swimming pools, parking for hotel guests and WiFi in public spaces.
Pucic Palace, Ulica Od Puca 1 in the middle of the Old Town across from Gundulic Square. 19 room 5 star hotel.
Radisson Blu Resort & Spa, Dubrovnik Sun Gardens, Na moru 1. 5 star beachside resort.
Dubrovnik is a very safe city, though the usual precautions should be taken to protect yourself from pick-pocketing.
The streets in the old town can be quite slippery as they've been smoothed down for centuries by people walking over them.
When entering a port, it is international protocol to hoist a flag meaning; Ready for inspection by Customs.
In Croatia you must always have your headlights on while operating a motor vehicle including all cars, motorbikes and scooters.
Recent changes to the law made this compulsory only during winter daylight savings time. Headlights are no longer required during the day in the summer months although many motorists still leave them turned on.
In Dubrovnik internet cafes are plentiful. Rates are generally 25 kn/hr.
Dubrovnik Travel Corner, Obala Stjepana Radica 40. Summer 8AM-10PM, winter: 9AM-3PM. You can book tours, go online, leave your luggage or make international calls.
Hrvatski Autoklub, If you are stranded, have car troubles, or need help contact HAK. ATMs, Keep in mind that there are few ATMs outside the Old Town.
Most private accommodation do not offer laundry facilities. If you are staying awhile and are looking for somewhere to wash your clothes then you might require a self-service laundry
Sanja & Rosie's Launderette Dubrovnik, Put Od Bosanke 2 Ploce Gate, just outside east entrance to the Old Town. 9AM-10PM. Self-service laundromat. Washing and drying machines are available. 50HRK.
Unfortunately, you may come across bed bugs in Dubrovnik. You can't get hydro cortisone there, so bring your own.
There are many destinations within Croatia that can be accessed from Dubrovnik with popular attractions including Split and the Plitvice Lakes National Park as well as the capital, Zagreb.
This is approximately a 10 hr drive away six hours if you travel outside the tourist season and take the new highway. Check out the timetables at libertas Dubrovnik.
A popular shopping destination for locals, Neum in Herzegovina - Bosnia and Herzegovina offers many cheap goods for frugal travellers. Buses heading between Split and Dubrovnik will often stop for a short while here to collect various supplies.
Montenegro Daily buses operates from Dubrovnik through to Kotor, Budva or Herceg Novi.
Ston is known for oysters and old salt ponds still in use and the longest stone wall in Europe (5 km long).
Trsteno 15 century summer residence with renaissance garden.
Mostar in Bosnia makes a good two day trip by bus from Dubrovnik. The ride will take about 3 hr. The city has a much stronger Turkish feel as opposed to Dubrovnik's Italian.
Sarajevo is worth visiting as it is considered by some as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.
A boat trip to the Elaphiti Islands is well worth while, with plenty of places to swim, fish or relax.
Medugorje Visit the Shrine of Medugorje for a religious experience.
Mljet island. Green island with lakes and monasteries.
Go on a wine tasting tour to Peljesac peninsula.
Cavtat is a pleasant town with a nice waterfront. You can go by ferry from the Old Port for 80kn return, every hour until about 5pm. It's also possible to get there by bus.
Trebinje is a small sized city situated in the Trebisnjica river valley in south eastern Herzegovina, about 30 km by road from Dubrovnik, Croatia, on the Adriatic coast.
Despite its small size, there is plenty going on in this town in the way of live music, festivals, outdoor activities, and nightlife. It is one of the most beautiful cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina and is called the city of sun and platan trees.
Don’t mention the war. It’s still a thorny issue and as many families have mixed marriages somewhere down the line, it’s best to avoid discussing which side was right and which was wrong.
Nudism is accepted on some isolated beaches, normally marked FKK, from the German Freikorperkultur, meaning Free Body Culture. On other beaches, topless bathing is accepted but not encouraged.
When driving, car headlights must be switched on at night, and from late-October to late-March through the day too.
The British Honorary Consulate Dubrovnik is closed until further notice. If you need consular assistance in the area, you are advised to call the British Embassy Zagreb - Ivana Lucica 4, Zagreb; 00 385 1 600 9100; gov.uk
Croatian Emergency services: dial 112
Dubrovnik Tourist Office: Brsalje 5 outside the old town, close to Pile Gate; 00 385 20 312011; experience.dubrovnik.hr.
Open Mon-Sat 8am-7pm, Sun 9am-3pm. There is also a smaller tourist information office at Obala Ivana Pavla II, br. 1, Gruz close to the ferry port; 00 385 20 417983. Open Mon-Fri 8am-3pm, Sat 8am-1pm, Sun closed
Currency: Kuna (Kn). Croatia joined the EU on July 1, 2013 but will not adopt the Euro in the foreseeable future.
Telephone code: 00 385
Time difference: +1
Flight time: London to Dubrovnik is around two hours and forty minutes
Tourism Observer
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