Bucket list destination:
Dubrovnik, Dalmatia, Croatia
Dubrovnik, often described as the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’, has to be one of the world’s most glorious fortified towns.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Dubrovnik is probably Europe’s best example of a late medieval walled city, its architecture and fortifications remarkably well-preserved.
The pedestrian-only Old Town of the former independent Republic of Ragusa (1358-1808) is packed with proud aristocratic buildings, a testament to its past as a wealthy seafaring state.
Aside from outstanding architecture, it offers blissful seascapes, decent pebble beaches, excellent fish restaurants and some of Croatia’s most luxurious hotels.
Touted as the new Riviera, this picturesque and culture-rich hotspot manages to seduce and accommodate everyone from trendsetters and celebrities to honeymooners and cruise ship passengers.
Dubrovnik’s fortified Old Town is sandwiched between Mount Srd on one side and the glistening Adriatic on the other. Founded in the 7th century, it gained its present layout in the 12th century.
Stradun, the main thoroughfare and public meeting space, stretches 300m from Pile Gate to Ploce Gate (the two main entrances into the historic centre).
Lapad peninsula, which is home to many hotels, lies 2km west of the Old Town, opposite Gruz port.
Our selection of the best Viator tours of this destination, plus helpful tickets and transfers
Dubrovnik
Price: €18
Min age: 0
Rating 4.88 / 5 [765 ratings]
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Dubrovnik
Price: €43
Min age: 0
Rating 4.80 / 5 [570 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
Dubrovnik
Price: €20
Min age: 0
Rating 4.94 / 5 [180 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
Dubrovnik
Price: €19
Min age: 0
Rating 4.52 / 5 [168 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
Dubrovnik
Price: €45
Min age: 0
Rating 4.81 / 5 [128 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
High season (July and August) sees the city hot and crowded; on the plus side, the Dubrovnik Summer Festival creates a vibrant nightlife scene. Spring and autumn (May-June, September-October) are possibly the loveliest times to visit – the weather is dry and sunny, the sea is warm enough to swim in, and the Old Town is busy but not packed.
In winter (November-April), many hotels and restaurants are shut and the weather is unreliable, but the city is blissfully crowd-free.
Dubrovnik’s international airport, located near Čilipi, is 17km south east of the Old Town. An airport bus meets all incoming flights, dropping passengers at Pile Gate (the main entrance to the Old Town) and Dubrovnik bus station, next to Gruž port and close to Lapad peninsula. Taxis are also readily available at the terminal.
If you’re staying in Dubrovnik, you really don’t need a car – the Old Town is pedestrian-only, and there are regular, efficient bus services between the Old Town (Pile Gate entrance), Lapad peninsula and Gruz port. In any case, parking can be problematic. However, a car is a bonus for out-of-town excursions. The nearby Elafiti islands are served by a network of inexpensive ferries and catamarans, which depart from Dubrovnik’s Gruz port.
Dubrovnik is not a major shopping destination, but one don’t-miss experience is the morning open-air market in the Old Town. The Old Town is also home to an increasing number of designer boutiques, which are worth a browse.
Locally produced wines (notably red Dingac and Plavac from Peljesac, and white Posip from Korcula) and paintings of the Old Town by Dubrovnik-based artists.
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Dalmatia, Croatia
A magical, unspoilt archipelago of a thousand-plus islands stretching along Croatia’s southern coast. A heady mix of sea, mountains, adventure sports and medieval buildings
