Dubrovnik, visit the pearl of the Adriatic

Dubrovnik is a beautiful coastal town in Croatia, known for its stunning Old Town and impressive city walls. It got its name after the oak trees that grew on Mount Srđ above the town, which the locals called Dubrava.

Once, Dubrovnik was one of the most important maritime republics in the Mediterranean. Because of its rich history, the Old Town of Dubrovnik was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979.

Interestingly, it has become very popular in recent years, thanks to filming scenes for the famous HBO series “Game of Thrones“.

From fortress walls to narrow alleys and secret beaches, Dubrovnik is full of stories waiting to be told…

 

 

How to get to Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik is located on Croatia’s southern edge, on the Dalmatian coast and along the Adriatic Sea. It is very close to the borders of Bosnia & Herzegovina on the East and Montenegro on the South. The town is easily accessible by air, land and sea.

♦ By air: The international Ruđer Bošković Airport, known as Čilipi Airport is located in Čilipi, about 15 km away from the town. It connects Dubrovnik with domestic towns (Zagreb, Osijek, Rijeka, Split) and dozens of cities throughout Europe and the Middle East.
You can rent a car from the airport to the centre or catch the Dubrovnik Airport Shuttle Bus, which costs 4 EUR. The taxi costs approximately 45 EUR, or more if you book a private transfer. With “Dubrovnik Transfer Services Company”, in ultra-luxury cars and vans, you will feel like a movie star 🙂

◊ By land: Depending on the start location, follow the Adriatic Highway which runs along the east coast of the Adriatic Sea, passing through Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro.
Many travel agencies organize bus tours from the region to Dubrovnik. And we visited it during a one-day excursion from Trebinje, BiH, with a travel agency from Belgrade.

♦ By sea: Dubrovnik is connected with other towns and islands (Hvar, Korčula, Split, Rijeka, Budva, Bari, Hvar, Brač, etc) via ferry boats. Besides the ferry, about 80% of tourists come within daily excursions from cruisers.
Gruž Port is the main cargo and passenger port of Dubrovnik, located about 2 km from the Old Town. From the port to the Old City, it takes approximately 30 to 40 minutes on foot. You can also catch the bus to the Pile Gate, which takes around 10 to 15 minutes. Taxi can charge you from 10 to 13 EUR from the port to the Old Town.

 

What to know before the visit to Dubrovnik

♦ Best time to visit: Like many other destinations, spring and autumn are the best periods to avoid hot summer days.

◊ Currency: Credit cards are widely acceptable, but it is always good to have cash. Payment is in EUR.

♦ Prices: Well, the prices are slightly higher than in the other towns in the region, including accommodation, food and tickets for various attractions. For example, a small bottle of water costs 2.5 EUR, a scoop of ice cream costs 3 EUR, a coffee or Coca-Cola costs 5-6 EUR, and a beer costs 6-10 EUR. The public toilet costs 1 EUR and it can be paid only in coins. The parking lot is located outside the Old Town walls. It costs 10 EUR for one hour.
Generally, with a lower budget, you can expect to spend between 100-150 EUR per day for food, accommodation, and tickets.

◊ Luggage: It is not allowed to pull luggage on wheels through the Old Town.

♦ Transport: “Libertas” is a public bus company which runs frequently, from the port to the Old Town and other parts of the town every 10-20 minutes. There are 9 city lines, and the price ticket costs 1.73 EUR (valid for 1 hour). Taxis and Uber are also available. The main bus station is located in the Gruž district, close to the harbour. From there, you can catch the buses to other towns in Croatia and Europe as well. Check here for more information.

◊ Crowd: Be prepared for the huge crowd. Walking around could be difficult, especially during group tours. Also, there are many narrow corridors and steps to the restaurants, bars, apartments and city walls, so wear comfortable shoes.

 

A few words about the history of Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik was founded in the 7th century as Ragusa, by Roman refugees fleeing Epidaurum (the ancient Greek colony, and later part of the Roman province of Dalmatia). In the present time, Ragusa is a small town of Cavtat, located about 18 km from Dubrovnik. 

After the fall of the Roman Empire, Dubrovnik was ruled by the Byzantine Empire and later by the Republic of Venice. However, between the 14th and 19th centuries, Dubrovnik was a free state. It became one of the wealthiest and most important maritime republics in the Mediterranean, rivalling Venice.

Known as the Republic of Ragusa, Dubrovnik flourished through maritime trade, diplomacy, and a fierce spirit of independence. Also, owing to a strategic treaty with Turkey, Dubrovnik had a major trading role between the Ottoman Empire and Europe. It became a centre of literature and art from the 15th to 17th centuries, as well.

In 1667, a terrible earthquake destroyed the city, and about 5,000 residents were killed. Napoleon ruled the town from 1808 until 1815, when he gave Dubrovnik to Austria. Then, it was part of Croatia, i.e. the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (later Kingdom Yugoslavia), and SFRJ.

After the Croatian War of Independence in the early 1990s, Dubrovnik became part of the Republic of Croatia. The town was restored and it became one of the Mediterranean’s main tourist destinations.

 

 

What to see and do in Dubrovnik 

Generally, two to three days are enough to enjoy strolling around the town and visiting nearby beaches. But if you have limited time, think about joining organized tours to see the most interesting spots and feel the Adriatic atmosphere.

There are six neighbourhoods in Dubrovnik: Old Town, Pile, Ploče, Gruž, Lapad, and Babin Kuk.

 

The Dubrovnik Harbour, Walls and Gates

The Walls of Dubrovnik are the town’s landmark. It takes about 2 hours to stroll along the 2 km-long medieval walls with ramparts and six fortresses (Bokar, St John, Lovrijenac, Revelin, St Lucas, and Minčeta), built between the 13th and 17th centuries. Some of the walls are up to 25 metres high. If you can, go for a visit early in the morning or late afternoon to avoid crowds and summer heat.

 

There are two main entrances to Dubrovnik. The Ploče Gate and city harbour are located in the eastern part of the town. The Pile Gate is situated in the western part of the old town, close to the Lovrijenac Fortress. 

 

The Ploče Gate – Vrata od Ploča

We started our tour by passing through the Ploče Gate, named after the Ploče district where it is situated. It is usually less crowded than the Pile Gate.

 

The gate was built in the 14th century. It consists of a stone bridge and inner and outer gates. So, we passed the outer gate and went along Fort Revelin, built in 1549 as the defensive building of the port. By the way, inside the fort, there is a nightclub where rock concerts and techno parties are held throughout the year.

Above the inner gate, you can see the statue of St Blaise with the city in his hands.

 

There is an open terrace with a beautiful view of the city harbour in front of Fort Revelin.

 

Going further, we passed by Saint Luke’s Church from the 9th century. Above the door, there is a stone statue of three saints and 1787 carved into the lintel stone. Between this church and the Chapel of the Annunciation, there is an open space with a collection of stone cannonballs that were fired from the city walls over the years.

 

On the right side, there is the Dominican Monastery. It is a huge monastery complex from the 15th century with a church, bell tower, cloister, and museum.

 

On the left side, there is a passage to the city harbour. Follow the path on the right, you will come to the main street of Dubrovnik: Stradun.

The City Harbour and Fort St John (Sveti Ivan)

The City Harbour of Dubrovnik is located in the eastern part of the town. It was designed and constructed by local engineer Paskoje Miličević in the late 15th century. Even today, it looks the same, including three arches of the former great arsenal built in the late 12th century. But today, it houses a Gradska Kavana restaurant & cafe, and a theatre.

Well, in the present time, the port is a place for private boats of local citizens. Also, the regular boat lines to Lokrum Island, Cavtat and various sightseeing boat tours, depart from the Old Port.

 

The impressive fort of St John Fortress is also known as the Mulo Tower. The first walls were built in 1346 to defend the harbour on the south-east side. Actually, it is a complex of the Gundulic Fort, the Dock Fort and their bastions, merged into one fortification from 1552 to 1557.

 

Today, the fort houses the city’s Aquarium on the ground floor, and the Maritime Museum on the 1st and 2nd floors.

 

 The Pile Gate – Vrata od Pila

The Pile Gate is located at the end of Stradun Street, on the western side of the walls. It was built in the 14th century. For many years, it was the main entrance to the town. Today is the same – it is the main entrance for tourists arriving by bus from cruise ships.

 

The outer city gate with a Renaissance arch was built in 1537. It is connected to the inner gate by a wooden drawbridge which once was closed when the night came. But today, it is open all the time for numerous visitors. Above the gate, there is a Statue of St. Blaise.

 

Close to the entrance of Pile Gate are several tour agencies, a taxi station, restaurants, the Tourist Bus station, and a Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Bus tour. In a word, very crowded place.
And yes, there is the Gelateria Dubrovnik with an excellent choice of ice cream flavours! One scoop is 3 EUR, and 2 scoops cost 4,5 EUR. The gelato was so delicious,  a perfect refreshment for sunny and hot days 🙂

Across the street, opposite the Pile Gate, the Wine Museum is situated in the representative building from the 18th century. There, you can see artefacts, tools, and documents about the story of Dubrovnik’s winemakers since the days of the Dubrovnik Republic.

 

Fort Minčeta and Fort Bokar

Together with the Bokar Fortress, the fort Minčeta protected the Pile Gate and the north-western side of the city.

Minčeta fort is located on the left side of the Pile Gate’s walls, at the highest point of Dubrovnik. This place offers the best panoramic city and sea views. The fort got its name after the Menčetić family, who owned the ground where the tower was built. First, the construction started in 1319, according to the design of architect Ranjina. Then, Michelozzo di Bartolomeo from Florence built a new system of 6-meter-thick walls from 1461 to 1463.

Also, on the top of the fort, a new round tower with a semicircular and small tower with holes for cannons was built. After him, the architect Juraj of Dalmatia continued the reconstruction of the walls.

 

The building of the Bokar Fortress was also designed by Michelozzo, in 1461. Then, some improvements to the roof were made in 1570. Since that period until today, the fortress has looked the same through centuries. The fort is also known as “Zvjezdan”.

 

The sea is washing the fort foundation, and it looks so impressive! Today, it is a starting place for kayak tours to Lokrum Island or around the caves and coast. By the way, this gate served as a filming location for the “Game of Thrones” series.

 

Fort Lovrijenac – Fort of St. Lawrence

This fortress is located on a 37-meter-high cliff outside the city walls, close to Fort Bokar. Once, Fort Lovrijenac was protecting the town from Venetian forces, and it was built in only three months. The fortress is also known as “Dubrovnik’s Gibraltar”.

It is triangular shaped and it has three terraces. Above its entrance, there is a message engraved: “NON BENE PRO TOTO LIBERTAS VENDITUR AURO”, which means “Freedom is not sold for all the gold in the world”.

🎬 Do you know that the Lovrijenac Fortress was a major filming location for “Game of Thrones” representing the Red Keep?
Also, it i a stage for the play ˝Hamlet˝ during the Dubrovnik Summer Festival.

 

The entrance fee to Fort Lovrijenac is 15 EUR for adults, but it is included in a Dubrovnik Walls ticket and the Dubrovnik City Card.

 

The Old Town (Stari Grad)

So, let’s go back for a walk through the Old Town. In a word, it is like going back into the past. Surrounded by massive stone walls, it is a labyrinth of marble streets, churches, Renaissance palaces, and small squares.

By the way, only pedestrians are allowed in Old Town. If you come by car, you have to park it in a parking lot outside, near the walls.

Take a look at several must-visit spots in the Old Town, nestled between the Ploče Gate and the Pile Gate.

 

Stradun (Placa Street)

Stradun has been the main street in the town since the 13th century. This wide pedestrian street is 296 m long.
Interestingly, it connects two gates in the eastern and western parts of the town. At the beginning and the end of Stradun, there are also two fountains and two bell towers.

Many houses were destroyed after the devasting earthquake and fire in 1667. After that, the Republic of Ragusa (the former name of Dubrovnik) passed a law requiring a specific layout of all residential buildings in the town. This construction model can be seen even today.

 

Stradun is also known as Placa (from the Latin word “platea” which means ulica). It is surrounded by stone palaces, churches, houses, shops, cafes, and restaurants. Various events, concerts, New Year’s Eve celebrations, a procession for the Feast of Saint Blaise, and the opening night of Dubrovnik’s Summer Festival are held there.

And of course, it is always full of tourists…

 

Luža Square and the Clock Tower

Luža Square is located on the eastern end of Stradun Street. It is surrounded by the most important buildings in the town.

 

First, you can see the Clock Tower from 1444, one of the town’s landmarks. It had four bells which warned the residents of potential danger. The tower is 31 m high. It has a clock and a “golden ball,” which shows the time and phases of the moon.

During the earthquake in 1667, the tower was damaged, but it was rebuilt in 1929.

 

Next to the bell tower, there is a 15th-century Onofrio small fountain, designed by the Italian, Onofrio della Cava.

Then, you can find Dubrovnik’s theatre in a building from 1865. It was named after Marin Držić (1508-1567), one of the best Renaissance playwrights and prose writers of the Republic of Ragusa.

 

Sponza Palace

The beautiful Sponza Palace, or Customs Palace Divona (from dogana, customs) is situated on the other side of the Clock Tower.

It was built in the 16th century in the Gothic-Renaissance style. During the years, it served as a customs office, warehouse, mint, armoury, treasury, bank, and school. Also, it was the cultural centre of the Republic of Ragusa. The first literary institution in Dubrovnik was founded there, the “Academy of the Congruent”, which gathered the most educated citizens of Dubrovnik.

Interestingly, it survived the terrible earthquake in 1667 without damage. Today, it houses the Dubrovnik State Archive, which holds about 100,000 manuscripts, including some from the 12th century.

 

Rector’s Palace (Knežev dvor)

This stunning Renaissance-Gothic palace was built in 1435. It was the seat of the government and residence of the Prince (Rector) of the Dubrovnik Republic.

 

The Rector’s Palace was rebuilt several times due to damage caused by earthquakes and explosions.

But even today, it looks amazing: the staircase, the archways, colonnades, magnificently carved pillars…

 

It is not surprising that the palace was also one of the filming spots with Daenerys Targaryen in the “Game of Thrones”.

 

Once, the palace had state offices, an armoury, a courtroom, the notary’s office, the law court, a prison, and the Rector’s residence.

Nowadays, the palace houses the Cultural Historical Museum. There you can see the artefacts of Dubrovnik’s history and culture from the mid-14th century to the early 20th century.
Opening time: every day from 9 AM to 6 PM (to 4 PM in winter). The price ticket is 15 EUR for adults and 8 EUR for children. The visit to the Rector’s Palace is included in the Dubrovnik Pass ticket.

 

Dubrovnik’s Cathedral 

The Cathedral of the Assumption (Katedrala Marijinog Uznesenja) is a Roman Catholic cathedral. It is the seat of the Diocese of Dubrovnik.

According to legend, King Richard I of England (Richard the Lionheart) was shipwrecked on the island of Lokrum in 1192 on his return from the Third Crusade. Richard the Lionheart prayed that if his life was spared, he would commission a magnificent church. So, he fulfilled his wow. The king gifted 100,000 gold coins to Dubrovnik and left behind a person of trust to care about it. In a word, the Romanesque basilica was built inside the city walls, and it was one of the most beautiful churches in the region.

Unfortunately, the church was destroyed in an earthquake in 1667. The new church was built in the 18th century, with a treasury that houses 182 reliquaries with relics from the 11th to 18th centuries.

 

Church of St. Blaise – Crkva Svetog Vlaha

This church is dedicated to the city’s patron saint, St. Blaise. It is celebrated on the 3rd of February, which is also the City of Dubrovnik Day.

According to the legend and chronicle of Dubrovnik, on that night in 971, the Venetians anchored their ships in Gruž and in front of the Island of Lokrum. St. Blaise warned the local priest about their secret intentions and saved the people from the attack.

The church was built in the place of an old Romanesque church from the 14th century. It was very damaged due to the earthquake in 1667 and the fire in 1706. So, the church was rebuilt and constructed in Baroque style by Venetian architect Marino Gropelli in 1715 on the commission of the city authorities.

 

The grand stairs lead to the church. In the centre, there is the main altar with a statue of St. Blaise in gold-plated silver from the 15th century. He holds in hand a model of the city as it looked before the earthquake. Interestingly, only this statue survived the huge fire which destroyed the church.

 

Orlando’s Column

In front of the Church of St. Blaise, there is Orland’s Column, built in 1419. It is the image of knight Orlando, carved in stone, in body armour, with a sword in his right hand and a shield in his left.

According to legend, Orlando and his fleet saved Dubrovnik from a 15-month-long Saracen siege in the 9th century. But, Orlando’s statues (known as Ronald in Europe), were the signs of freedom and were built in several European cities. So, Orlando’s column signified the independence and sovereignty of Dubrovnik.

Unfortunately, it was under reconstruction during our visit (4th of May 2025), and we could not see it.

 

Onofrio’s Fountain

The Fountain of Onofrio is located at the end of Stradun Street on the western part.

It was built in the period from 1438-1440. The fountain was designed by Giordano della Cava, an Italian architect, together with a small fountain on the other part of the Stradun. It was a symbol of the construction of the city’s water supply system, and the water came from a spring 12 km away from the city.

This interesting fountain has a reddish brick cupola and sixteen-sided panels with a “maskeron” (masked face) from whose mouth a tap protruded. From the beginning, on the top of one panel, there was a statue of a dog named “Kučak”, which means”dog”. It represents a guardian and protector of the values of the Republic. Today’s statue is a replica of the original damaged statue, which is kept in the Dubrovnik Museum.

 

St. Saviour’s Church is located close to the fountain. It was opened in the 16th century, but interestingly, it wasn’t damaged in the earthquake in 1667. 

Near the St. Saviour’s Church, there is a flight of stairs that leads to Minčeta Fort. On the other side, there is the Franciscan Church and monastery from the 14th century. The monastery complex includes also a library, two cloisters, a fountain, and a museum with valuable manuscripts and paintings. It houses the inventory of the old Pharmacy from 1317, with furniture from the 16th century and the 15th and 16th-century vases from Siena and Florence as well.

So, if you continue straight ahead, you will pass through the inner Pile Gate. If you turn left, you walk on the second main street of the town, Ulica od Puča.

 

Street: Ulica od Puča

The street named Ulica of Puča is parallel with Stradun connecting the Paskoje Miličević Square with the Gundulić Square.

It got its name after the Slavic word “puč” which means a well. Once, there were many wells along the street. They collected water after the rain and supplied the people of Dubrovnik with water. However, the wells lost their important role when the Onofrio fountain and an aqueduct were built. Despite occasional changes of the street’s name, the name Ulica od Puča remained as a memory of wells.

 

This narrow street is filled with tradesmen’s workshops and small shops with handmade souvenirs, jewellers, leather shops, etc.

 

The Serbian Orthodox Church

The Church of the Holy Annunciation is also located in the Ulica od Puča. It is the Serbian Orthodox Church (Crkva Svetog Blagovještenja), built in 1877.

The church owns a library of about 12,000 books and a valuable collection of icons from the 15th and 16th centuries.

 

The Jesuit Staircase and “Walk of Shame”

Close to Gundulić Square and the local market, you can find the Jesuit Staircase in Baroque style.
It became very popular after the iconic scene known as the “Walk of Shame”. For sure, fans remember the scene in “Game of Thrones”(V season), when Cersei Lannister walked naked through King’s Landing.

The grand staircase is always crowded with people who want to take photos in this movie spot.

 

At the top of the stairs, there is Boškovićeva Poljana (Bošković Square), named after Ruđer Bošković  (1711-1787), a famous physicist, astronomer, mathematician, philosopher, diplomat, and Jesuit priest from Ragusa. There you can see the Saint Ignatius Church, part of the former Jesuit Collegium Ragusinum, opened in 1729.

 

🎬 “Game of Thrones” Tour

So, for all fans of “Games of Thrones“, there are various walking tours with spots of this fascinating series.

The licensed local guides lead tours which last from two to seven hours. The tour includes a visit to locations in the Old Town, Fort Lovrijenac (Red Keep) and Lokrum (Qarth).

Actually, the Island of Lokrum was turned into a Game of Thrones visitor centre where fans can sit on the Iron Throne, a gift given to Dubrovnik by HBO. Longer tours include visiting Trsteno Arboretum (the Gardens of King’s Landing) and Mount Srdj Mountain. 

There are several shops in the town where you can buy “Game of Thrones souvenirs”.

 

“Game of Thrones tour” costs 25 EUR and more, depending on locations and if they are group or private tours.
Bear in mind that tours are not wheelchair accessible because of many stairs, and step climbing.

 

Mount Srđ and a cable car

For the breathtaking views over Dubrovnik, the sea and the surrounding islets, go up to Mount Srđ,

This mount on the northern side of Dubrovnik is about 400 m high. It got its name after Saint Srđ, one of the first protectors of Dubrovnik, older than St. Blaise (Sveti Vlah).

You can reach it by car or taxi, a hiking trail, and a cable car, which is one of the town’s attractions.
By the way, the price of tickets is a little bit higher than in other destinations. A one-way ticket for adults costs 15 EUR, and a round-trip ticket costs 27 EUR per person. The ticket for kids (4-12 years) costs 4 EUR, e.i. 7 EUR. You can buy them at the lower cable car station (cash and credit cards), and the ticketing machine (credit cards only).

 

The working time is from 9 AM to 9 PM, during the summer until midnight. It is closed in January, February and December, and due to bad weather conditions. Check here for more details.

So, at the top, there is the Fort Imperial built by Napoleon, and finished by Austria-Hungary. For years, it had a strategic influence on the defence of the town. Also, you’ll find the Panorama Restaurant & Bar, a museum, an amphitheatre, the Ohrid pearl shop, and the Coin Blacksmithing Shop with replicas of Dubrovnik’s old money. From Mount Srđ, there is one of the best views of sunset, as well.

 

 

Boat tours 

Dubrovnik has many sailing boats and yachts for various tours and luxury island hopping experiences.
The tours can be group or private. For example, you can take a tour around the Old Town, Lokrum Island, the Cave tour, Elaphiti Islands or a ride to Cavtat. There are several stands with excursion offers along the city harbour.

 

Since we had limited time, we went on a boat tour which lasted about one hour. We ride around the Old Town, walls, Bokar and Lovrijenac fortresses, Lokrum Island, and Dubrovnik coast with a few luxurious hotels.

In a word, you can see Dubrovnik from a different angle, with a magnificent view of the city walls. And just behind them, cafe Bard (Mala Buža) is nestled into the rocks, perfect for sunset drinks, cliff jumping and watching the blue Adriatic Sea and Lokrum Island.

 

Also, we passed close to two cruise ships anchored in the bay, the Emerald Azzurra and the Silver Spirit.

 

And yes, we enjoyed our ride, even though the sea was a little rough….

So, the prices of boat tours range from 15 EUR and more, depending on the location, vessels, services, and duration.
Check here and find the best tour for you.

 

Dubrovnik Beaches

If you stay two or more days in Dubrovnik, spend some time on the beach and enjoy crystal clear water.

Banje Beach is the most popular and crowded beach in Dubrovnik. It is located a few minutes walk from the Old Town. In the middle of the beach, there is a Banje beach club with a little bit higher prices for food and sunbeds. But you can lay on the beach on your towels.

 

There are several mostly pebbled beaches close to the Old Town, as well as on the Lapad Peninsula, Copacabana Beach at Babin Kuk, etc.

Pasjača Beach is located about a 30-minute drive away south of Dubrovnik. It is surrounded by cliffs, and access is only possible through special stairs carved into the rocks. This beach has been declared as the most beautiful beach in Europe in 2019 by the European Best Destination.

Visit Lokrum Island

The small island of Lokrum is easily reached by boat from the Old Town. During summer, the departures are every 30 minutes, and the ride lasts about 15-20 minutes. The regular ticket for the boat and entrance to the natural reserve is 30 EUR. You can also get to the island by sea kayak.

The island is a popular spot both for locals and tourists. It is a green oasis where you can find a botanical garden, a 12th-century Benedictine monastery, peacocks and rabbits. Also, you can swim in a small saltwater lake known as the “Dead Sea.”

 

Accommodation in Dubrovnik

A wide range of various types of accommodation is available in the town, from apartments and hostels to luxury villas and hotels. Some of them are the best five-star hotels in the whole country, meaning that staying in Dubrovnik is very expensive.

The most luxurious hotels are the Hotel Excelsior 5*, Grand Villa Argentina 5*, Villa Dubrovnik, Rixos Premium Dubrovnik, Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik, Hotel Bellevue Dubrovnik, etc.

 

During our boat trip along the coast, our attention was dragged by the Villa Sheherazade 5*. It is located on a clifftop overlooking Lokrum Island and Dubrovnik’s walls. This renovated villa from 1929 was built in the oriental style with a unique turquoise cupola.

It was a gift of wealthy businessman Wiliam Zimdin to his secret Moorish mistress named Sheherazade, inspired by the 1001 Nights Castle. The huge stone terraces and the Mediterranean garden surround the villa. It has only five deluxe bedrooms, perfect for guests who demand privacy and famous guests.

 

By the way, one of the largest luxury resorts on the Adriatic coast was the Hotel Belvedere. It worked for only 6 seasons, from 1985 to 1991, and it was abandoned after the war. Today, it is the only unrenovated hotel in Dubrovnik.

 

Restaurants in Dubrovnik

Most restaurants in the Old Town offer traditional regional dishes and seafood. Whether you’re looking for street food, fish, or a Michelin fancy menu, you can find something to suit your taste. 

In the Old Port harbour, you can find Gradska Kavana Arsenal Restaurant and Poklisar, a family restaurant with traditional dishes and seafood. The Panorama Restaurant on Mount Srđ offers Mediterranean cuisine and excellent wines, with an amazing view of the sea and town. According to reviews from satisfied tourists, the best restaurants are also Nautika Restaurant (Michelin), Konoba Bonaca, Portun, Tavern Arka Restaurant, Soul Kitchen, Konoba Dubrava, etc.

Best gelato:
♦ Peppino Gelato: one shop in Ulica od Puča, the second one is close to the Dominican Church and Ploče Gate.
◊ Gelateria Dubrovnik, located close to the Pile Gate.

 

What to visit more close to Dubrovnik

Over the centuries, Dubrovnik has had a significant position on the Adriatic Sea.

According to Tripadvisor, Dubrovnik was declared among the top 10 world trending destinations in 2022.

So, enjoy walking along the narrow alleys of the Old Town. Try delicious Mediterranean specialities.
Visit the Dubrovnik medieval walls, and drink a coffee on Stradun Street.
Go kayaking around the walls or to Lokrum Island.
And I am sure that you will take numerous photos of the stone houses, palaces and churches.

If you stay a few days in Dubrovnik, you can visit nearby popular destinations.

♦ Cavtat is a small town with hotels and apartments, located 18 km from Dubrovnik.
◊ The Elaphiti Islands are an archipelago of 13 islets.
♦ Trebinje is a fantastic town in Bosnia and Herzegovina, located 32 km away.
👉 You can read more here: Trebinje, the town of sun and plane trees.
◊Montenegro coast: Kotor, Budva, Herceg Novi.

 

From ancient walls to breathtaking sea views, Dubrovnik is truly unforgettable 🙂