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Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik is a walled stone city on the Adriatic, where polished stone streets, red roofs and clear blue sea meet in one of the most beautiful old towns in Europe.

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Photo: Alexey Komarov / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik lies at the southern tip of Croatia, on a narrow strip of coast between the mountains and the Adriatic Sea. For centuries it was the capital of the Republic of Ragusa, an independent maritime state that lived from trade and diplomacy and took the word Libertas, freedom, as its motto. Its Old Town, completely surrounded by medieval walls, has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1979. Much of it was rebuilt after the great earthquake of 1667, and it was carefully restored again after the war of the early 1990s. Around forty thousand people live in the city, most of them outside the walls, in neighbourhoods such as Lapad and Gruž. The currency has been the euro since 2023. Dubrovnik is small and very popular, and in summer the Old Town can be extremely crowded, especially when cruise ships are in port. Yet early in the morning, in the evening and outside the peak months, it becomes a calm, walkable place where the sea is never far away. Boat trips, beaches and terraces make it easy to start talking with other travellers.

Places to visit

The City Walls

The walls run for almost two kilometres around the Old Town and are the best way to understand the city. The walk takes one and a half to two hours and passes towers, bastions and the Minčeta Tower, the highest point, with views over the red roofs on one side and the open sea on the other. There is little shade, so go as early as possible in the morning or in the late afternoon, take water and wear comfortable shoes. The main entrance is near the Pile Gate, and the walk is one-way.

Stradun and the Old Town

Stradun, also called Placa, is the main street of the Old Town, a straight, polished limestone street that runs from the Pile Gate to the Luža square. It is lined with stone houses rebuilt after the 1667 earthquake. Along the way you will find the large Onofrio's Fountain, the Franciscan Monastery with one of the oldest pharmacies in Europe, the Sponza Palace, the Church of Saint Blaise, the city's patron saint, and the Rector's Palace. The narrow side streets climb steeply up stone steps and hide small restaurants and quiet corners.

Lokrum Island

A green island just off the Old Town, reached by a short boat ride from the old harbour during the warmer months. Lokrum is a protected nature reserve with pine and oak woods, a botanical garden, peacocks wandering freely, the ruins of a Benedictine monastery and a small saltwater lake known as the Dead Sea, where the water is calm and warm. Nobody is allowed to stay overnight, so check the time of the last boat back.

Mount Srđ and the Cable Car

The hill behind the city rises over four hundred metres, and a cable car takes you to the top in a few minutes. From there you can see the whole Old Town, Lokrum and the Elafiti Islands. On the summit stands Fort Imperial, a Napoleonic-era fortress that now houses a museum about the defence of the city during the war of the 1990s. If you are fit, you can also walk up along a zigzag path, which takes about an hour.

Lovrijenac Fortress

This fortress stands on a high rock outside the western walls, protecting the city from the sea and land. Its terraces offer one of the best views of the walls and the Old Town, and it is often used as a stage during the summer festival. Fans of Game of Thrones will recognise it as one of the locations used for King's Landing.

Lapad and Gruž

These two neighbourhoods west of the Old Town are where much of the city's everyday life happens. Gruž is the main port, with ferries and boats to the islands and a morning market selling fruit, vegetables and fish. Lapad is a green peninsula with hotels, a long pedestrian street, pine-shaded paths along the sea and beaches such as the bay of Lapad. Prices are often lower than inside the walls, and the atmosphere is more relaxed, especially in the evening.

Where to go out

The Buža cliff bars

On the seaward side of the Old Town, small openings in the walls lead to simple bars built on the rocks above the water. Buža means hole in the local dialect. You sit on terraces right above the sea, swim from the rocks during the day and watch the sun go down over the Adriatic in the evening. They are simple, informal and very popular, so arrive early for a good spot, and only jump into the sea where it is clearly safe.

Dubrovnik Summer Festival

Every year from 10 July to 25 August, the city hosts one of the oldest and best-known festivals in Croatia, with theatre, classical music, dance and opera. Performances take place in the open air, on squares, in palace courtyards and in fortresses such as Lovrijenac, so the city itself becomes the stage. Some events are ticketed and others free, and on festival evenings the Old Town is full of people meeting before and after the shows.

Evenings in the Old Town

When the day visitors leave, the Old Town changes character. Stradun fills with people strolling, the steps of the side streets turn into terraces, and wine bars and cafés stay open late in summer. You will often hear live music in the squares, from small bands to traditional a cappella klapa singing. It is the most atmospheric time of day and the easiest moment to start a conversation.

The Feast of Saint Blaise

On 3 February, Dubrovnik celebrates its patron saint with a procession, music and old customs that have been followed for more than a thousand years. The celebration is recognised by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage. It is a good reason to visit in winter, when the city belongs mostly to its residents and the atmosphere is local and warm.

Sunsets and nights in Lapad and Banje

Outside the walls, the evening continues on the beaches and promenades. Banje beach, just beyond the eastern gate, has a view of the walls and beach bars that stay lively after dark in summer. In Lapad, the pedestrian street and the bay have cafés, cocktail bars and music, and it is where many young travellers and seasonal workers go out.

Things to do

Take a Game of Thrones or history walk

Many scenes of King's Landing were filmed in Dubrovnik, and guided walks show the Jesuit Staircase, Lovrijenac and other locations. History walks explain the Republic of Ragusa, its diplomacy and the siege of the 1990s. Group tours are also an easy way to meet other travellers.

Kayak around the walls and Lokrum

Sea kayak tours start from small beaches near the walls and paddle around the Old Town towards Lokrum, often with a stop at a cave or a quiet cove for swimming. You see the walls from the water. Tours are suitable for beginners, but mornings are calmer and less hot.

Go to Ston and the Pelješac peninsula

About an hour north of the city, the small town of Ston is surrounded by stone walls that are among the longest defensive walls in Europe. The bay of Mali Ston is famous for oysters and mussels, which are served fresh in restaurants by the water. Continue onto the Pelješac peninsula, known for strong red wines made from the Plavac Mali grape, where many wineries welcome visitors.

Explore the Elafiti Islands

This group of small islands north-west of Dubrovnik can be reached by ferry from Gruž or on organised boat trips. Koločep, Lopud and Šipan are quiet and almost car-free, with villages, old churches and walking paths. Lopud has a rare sandy beach, Šunj, on the other side of the island.

Taste Dalmatian food

Local cooking is based on fish, seafood, olive oil and vegetables. Try black risotto coloured with cuttlefish ink, grilled fish, octopus salad and, for dessert, rožata, a local caramel custard. The cheaper konoba restaurants outside the main streets are often the best.

Great first-date spots

Good to know

Best season

May and June, and September and October, are the best months: the sea is warm enough for swimming, the days are long and the city is less crowded. July and August are hot and very busy, and on days when several cruise ships are in port, the Old Town is packed around midday, so explore early in the morning or in the evening. In winter the city is quiet and many hotels and restaurants close, but it is calm and authentic.

Getting around

The Old Town is pedestrian only and full of steps, so walking is the only way to explore it. City buses connect the Pile Gate with Gruž, Lapad and the other neighbourhoods; tickets are cheaper when bought from kiosks before boarding. The airport is about twenty kilometres south of the city, with shuttle buses timed to the flights. There is no railway station. Ferries and catamarans from Gruž serve the islands and other coastal towns.

Language & meeting people

The local language is Croatian, but English is widely spoken, especially by younger people and anyone working in tourism. A simple dobar dan for good day and hvala for thank you are appreciated. People are friendly but can be busy and tired at the height of the season, so conversations are often easier in spring and autumn. Boat trips, walking tours and beach bars are natural places to meet other travellers.

Where travelers & expats meet

Dubrovnik does not have a large permanent foreign community, but in season it fills with travellers, seasonal workers and remote workers. Lapad, with its pedestrian street, bay and hostels, is where many younger visitors stay and go out. The Buža bars, the terraces of the Old Town and the cafés of Gruž are also popular. Group tours, kayak trips and island excursions are easy ways to meet people.

Frequently asked questions

Is Dubrovnik good for solo travellers?

Yes. It is compact and safe, and boat trips, kayak tours, walking tours and beach bars make it easy to meet other people. Accommodation in the Old Town is expensive, so many solo travellers stay in Lapad or Gruž, where hostels and guesthouses are more affordable.

How many days do I need in Dubrovnik?

Two or three days are enough for the walls, the Old Town, Srđ and Lokrum. Add a day or two if you want to visit the Elafiti Islands, Ston and Pelješac, or nearby places such as Cavtat.

How can I avoid the crowds?

Visit the walls and Stradun early in the morning or after five in the afternoon, and check the cruise ship schedule, which is published online, to avoid the busiest days. Travel in May, June, September or October if you can. Lokrum and the islands are calmer, especially early in the day.

Is Dubrovnik expensive?

It is one of the most expensive places in Croatia, especially inside the walls and in July and August. The currency is the euro. You can save money by staying outside the Old Town, eating in konobas away from the main streets, buying food at the Gruž market and swimming at the free public beaches.

Where can I swim in Dubrovnik?

Banje is the closest beach to the Old Town, with a view of the walls. You can also swim from the rocks below the Buža bars, on Lokrum, and at the beaches of Lapad. Most beaches are pebbly or rocky, so water shoes are useful.

Is it safe to meet someone from an app in Dubrovnik?

Dubrovnik is generally very safe, and the same simple rules apply as anywhere: meet in a busy public place for the first time, tell a friend where you are going and arrange your own transport home. Cafés on Stradun, the terraces of Lapad and the Buža bars at sunset are natural first meeting places.

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