I fell in love with Croatia on my first visit, but on that trip, I didn’t have a chance to head south down the Adriatic coast to Dubrovnik, so this time, it was a must-see!
The most popular part of Dubrovnik is the historic Old Town. Located between Mt. Srd and the shimmering Adriatic Sea, Old Town Dubrovnik will leave you with a sense of awe at the beauty as you explore its medieval walls, cobblestone streets and baroque buildings.
Short on time? You can see the best of the city in one full day of exploring.
Stepping through Pile Gate, the main entrance into Old Town, you find yourself on Stradun, the main street. This limestone paved pedestrian street runs for 300 metres through Old Town.
The wide boulevard is lined with shops, cafes and restaurants, with churches located at both ends. Near Pile Gate, is the Renaissance church, St. Saviour, the only church that didn’t fall during the earthquake in 1667. At the other end, you’ll find the Church of St Blaise, the patron saint of Dubrovnik.
Onofrio Fountain is also located near the entrance. This large fountain has been providing the city with fresh spring water since 1438. It’s also quite the work of art with 16 slides, all featuring a carved masked face.
Perhaps the most famous sight in Dubrovnik are the medieval walls. For great views of Old Town and the Adriatic Sea below, walking the walls is a must. The walls date back to the Middle Ages and are one of the largest in Europe.
Beginning at Pile Gate, the walls run 1940m uninterrupted around Old Town. They are 25m in height at the highest with 16 towers, 3 forts, 6 bastions, 2 drawbridges and 3 main gates. The views are amazing as you make your way around the Old Town from above.
Some of the best views come from climbing up into Fort Minceta, a 14th century fort.
Plan to spend about two hours to walk around the walls, enjoying the views and stopping for great photo opportunities.
Tickets can be purchased just inside Pile Gate or online for both the walls and Fort Lovrijenac. Adults €35. Under 18 €15. Hours vary depending on time of year.
Across from the walls you’ll find stand alone Fort Lovrijenac 37m high up on the rocks, offering great views of Old Town and the Walls of Dubrovnik.
Admission is included with the Walls ticket or can be purchased on it’s own for €15
One of my favourite things to do, was wander around Old Town’s cobblestone streets.
There are steps everywhere as you explore Old Town, climbing up and down as you make your way through narrow alleys and tight corners which open into large squares with fountains and statues.
There are also many beautiful old churches. Apparently before the earthquake in 1667 there were 47 churches in total! Many are open to the public and the interiors are well worth a look.
Just outside the walls at one end, is the old Port of Dubrovnik, filled with fishing boats and the ferry that runs across to Lokum Island.
It is the perfect place to grab some gelato from one of the delicious gelato stands and enjoy a break by the water!
The Rector’s Palace is a gothic style building which used to be the seat of the Rector of the Republic who governed Dubrovnik between the 14th century and 1808. It was also the seat of the Minor Council and the state administration and housed an armoury, the powder magazine, watch house and a prison.
Today, inside the Palace is a museum filled with information and artifacts. It is also a music venue, where you can attend classical music concerts!
There are no shortages of restaurants in Dubrovnik, especially in Old Town. Enjoy a delicious meal of fresh caught seafood on one of the many street patios. We found a family owned mediterranean style place with some delicious seafood and local wine.
Dubrovnik also has a few options for craft beer. Located off Stradun, is Glam Beer Therapy, a hole in the wall craft beer bar, featuring local craft beers.
As you are wandering around, you might feel like you’ve stepped onto a movie set and with scenes from Game of Thrones, Star Wars, James Bond and more being filmed here, it actually is!
If Game of Thrones is your thing, there are tours you can take to see some of the filming locations.
After a day of exploring, head up to the top of Mt. Srd for a great view of the sunset over Old Town and the sea beyond. You can get there by taking the cable car (which is pricey at €27RT per person ), walking, although it is a good hike or taking an Uber like we did!
There’s a restaurant located at the top as well as some adventure tour options. Unfortunately, the night we were here, there was too much cloud cover for a good sunset, but it was still a great view.
Large lamps hang along the streets and outside the shops and restaurants with the names and logos on them. While Old Town is beautiful during the day, it’s definitely worth strolling around at night as well when the lamps are all lit, especially along Stradun to St Blaise Church.
The lovely peninsula of Lapad, with beautiful beaches and plenty of cafes and restaurants to enjoy along the water, offers a break from busy Old Town.
We chose to stay in this area at the Hotel Dubrovnik Palace, right on the Adriatic Sea. The perfect spot to enjoy your coffee with a beautiful view of the turquoise Adriatic in the morning and a gorgeous sunset at night. The hotel also offers a small beach area and several pools looking out to sea, nice rooms and a delicious buffet breakfast!
From here, it is easy to get to Old Town by car or bus. The bus stops right outside the hotel and drops you by Pile Gate in Old Town. Costs €2.
From Dubrovnik, it is also easy to take a day trip to Montenegro either by renting a car or taking a bus trip like we did.
If you’re heading to Croatia, be sure to add Dubrovnik to your must-see list! Živjeli!
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