Glimmering on the Adriatic coast, enchanting Dubrovnik is Croatia’s most up-market destination. Lauded by George Bernard Shaw as “Paradise on Earth”, the city delights with its Mediterranean-style culture and the marbled streets of its UNESCO World Heritage old town.
As one of the best-preserved medieval walled cities in the world, Dubrovnik’s old town is surrounded by sturdy fortifications that stretch for almost two kilometres, punctuated by two monumental arched gates and frequent turrets and towers. Inside you’ll discover pedestrianised cobbled streets lined by Renaissance buildings which open onto aristocratic squares featuring elegant Baroque churches. Stroll down the main street, Stradun, and you’ll be greeted with countless cafes and restaurants, each perfect for a coffee and a spell of people watching.
Thanks to its position on the Dalmatian Coast, Dubrovnik also boasts many beaches where you can pleasantly pass a day sunbathing and taking a dip in the pristine and calm Adriatic. While you’re here, it goes without saying that you can look forward to dining on the freshest of seafood. Venture out into Dubrovnik’s Bay, and you’ll encounter the 72-hectare wooded island of Lokrum where according to legend, Richard the Lionheart was cast ashore after being shipwrecked.
When to go
May to October is an ideal time to visit with sunny days and warm waters. July and August can be very busy. Visit in summer for the annual Dubrovnik Summer Festival, a 45-day-long cultural event with live plays, concerts, and games. Winters can be quiet and January is best avoided with many hotels, restaurants, and shops closed for the month. February 3 is St. Blaise's Day, Dubrovnik's patron saint. The city celebrates with parades and festivities, although the rest of spring can be quiet until Easter.
What to do
- Walk along the old city's walls
- Relax on beautiful beaches
- Admire Renaissance buildings such as Sponza Palace, the Rector's Palace, St. Saviour Church, and the Franciscan Church and Monastery
- Swim in the azure Adriatic Sea
- Take the cable car up to Mount Srd
- Visit the world's oldest arboretum and the third oldest European pharmacy
- Take a tour of the wooded island of Lokrum
