Dubrovnik - Travel Guide
Dubrovnik is simply spectacular, with limestone buildings topped with red tile roofs set against a deep blue sky and sea.
While the walls are a main attraction, the Old Town has different European architectural styles among its churches, synagogue, palace and houses.
Why Go:
Dubrovnik is on Croatiaâs Dalmatian Coast, at the very southern tip of this boomerang-shaped country.
Carefully restored after bomb damage during Croatiaâs war for independence in the early 1990s, Dubrovnikâs baroque architecture, enclosed in a massive wall, is a key reason for visiting the city.
You can easily stroll through the Old Town (Stari Grad) in a day, leaving the rest of your trip to explore the beautiful nearby beaches, islands and villages.
When to Go:
Tourists descend on Dubrovnik particularly in the high season of July and August, when the weather is hot and dry, most festivals are occurring, and the sea is balmy.
Winters are mild and rainy. September and October still have good weather but fewer tourists.
What to See
The main attraction in Dubrovnik are the 2 km-long city walls. Enter by Pile Gate, where you can get up to the top of the wall.
The walls are interspersed with towers, forts, and gates.
The large Minceta Tower is the most impressive fort while Fort Lovrijenac offers a spectacular view from its cliff-top vantage 37 meters above the sea.
The wall walk is open daily from 9 am â 6:30 pm, and it takes about an hour to complete the entire wall route. Information: +385/20 425-942; fee: 15 kn adults/ 5 kn children.
Enter the Old Town (Stari Grad through Pile Gate (Vrata od Pila), which leads to the pedestrian throughway known as Stradun.
As you begin walking, you'll see on your left side the Renaissance Church of St. Savior followed by the Franciscan Monastery.
On the right side is Onofrio's Great Fountain.
Stradun is intersected with many small streets where you can find shops and restaurants with outdoor seating.
Stradun itself buzzes with people, street musicians, cafes, and shops. It ends at Luza Square, where the colorful area includes the Sponza Palace and St. Blaise's Church.
Turning to the right on Pred Dvorem is Dubrovnik's most important architectural building, the Rector's Palace. The beautiful arches and sculpted columns of this Gothic-Renaissance building should not be missed.
There are 17 churches in Dubrovnik so if you had to choose one to visit, the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary is a natural choice.
It has roots going back to the 7th century but its current form is a beautiful Baroque structure.
Located south of the Rector's Palace on Kneza Damjana Jude 1, its Treasury (Riznica Katedrale) has an excellent display of icons, art, and church relics (tel: +385/20 411-715; open weekdays 9 am to 12 pm, and 3 pm to 7 pm).
The Synagogue (Zudioska 5, tel: +385/20 321-028) is Europe's second oldest synagogue and the oldest Sephardic synagogue.
Open only by request, it continues to function as a place of worship.
What to Do
Dubrovnikâs location by the sea draws water enthusiasts, from sun bathers to more active types. You can swim, fish, sail, and dive in a truly magnificent setting.
The sea also provides good eating, and the local people provide the cuisine. Nearby islands provide picturesque villages, wine and nature areas.
Divers claim that the Adriatic Sea is a top place for a beautiful diving experience.
The Diving Club of Dubrovnik offers equipment rental, guided excursions, and classes.
Beaches near Dubrovnik consist of public and private ones; the latter usually belong to hotels.
The most popular public beaches include Banje, a pebble beach with a view of the Old Town.
Another pebble beach is St. Jakov, located on the eastern edge of the Old Town.
A sandy beach is Lapad Beach, right at Lapad Bay. At each beach, you can rent umbrellas or get refreshments.
Stop in at the Aquarium (Akvarij) where you can cool off while looking at undersea creatures (D. Jude 2, tel: +385/20 427-937; open: 8 am - 8 pm, entrance fee: 15 kn, children 10 kn).
The Summer Festival starts the evening of July 10th and lasts until August 25, offering programs that include dance, music, theater, folk performances and more.
Dubrovnikâs mild nightlife includes several bars and clubs.
For dancing, try the Latino Club (Brsalje 11, near Pile Gate). Open Thursday, Friday, Saturday from 10 pm - 4 am.
Or listen to music at the Troubador Hard Jazz Cafe (Buniceva poljana 2, tel: +385/20 323-476), located not far from the Cathedral.
Shopping
Europe's oldest pharmacy is in Dubrovnik, dating from 1318. The Franciscan Pharmacy is located on Stradun, just inside the Pile Gate.
Here you can find a unique souvenir or gift for under 10 USD, such as lotions and creams made from medieval recipes.
For other shopping, there are shops lining Stradun and Od Puca where visitors can buy clothing, wine, and embroidered linens.
Gundulic Square has a farmer's market daily except Sunday.
The bookstore Algoritam (Placa 8 (Stradun), tel: +385/20 322 044; fax: +385/20 322 043; E-mail: dubrovnik@algoritam.hr has a solid selection of English-language books, located in the Old Town. Open Monday-Friday from 9 am-8:30 pm and Saturday 9 am-3 pm.
Getting There and Getting Around
You can get to Dubrovnik by car, bus, ferry, and plane but not train.
Cilipi Airport is 18 km (11 miles) from the city center.
For intercity buses, the main bus terminal (Put Republike 38, tel: +385/20 357-088) is a 25-minute walk to Pile Gate.
You can drive to Dubrovnik but there is limited parking in the summer. Many visitors take ferries, which run between cities on the Adriatic coast and also to islands near Dubrovnik.
Once youâre in Dubrovnik, you can get around easily by foot or by bus, of which there are seven lines that take you through the city.
Dubrovnik is on Croatiaâs Dalmatian Coast, at the very southern tip of this boomerang-shaped country.
Carefully restored after bomb damage during Croatiaâs war for independence in the early 1990s, Dubrovnikâs baroque architecture, enclosed in a massive wall, is a key reason for visiting the city.
You can easily stroll through the Old Town (Stari Grad) in a day, leaving the rest of your trip to explore the beautiful nearby beaches, islands and villages.
When to Go:
Tourists descend on Dubrovnik particularly in the high season of July and August, when the weather is hot and dry, most festivals are occurring, and the sea is balmy.
Winters are mild and rainy. September and October still have good weather but fewer tourists.
What to See
The main attraction in Dubrovnik are the 2 km-long city walls. Enter by Pile Gate, where you can get up to the top of the wall.
The walls are interspersed with towers, forts, and gates.
The large Minceta Tower is the most impressive fort while Fort Lovrijenac offers a spectacular view from its cliff-top vantage 37 meters above the sea.
The wall walk is open daily from 9 am â 6:30 pm, and it takes about an hour to complete the entire wall route. Information: +385/20 425-942; fee: 15 kn adults/ 5 kn children.
Enter the Old Town (Stari Grad through Pile Gate (Vrata od Pila), which leads to the pedestrian throughway known as Stradun.
As you begin walking, you'll see on your left side the Renaissance Church of St. Savior followed by the Franciscan Monastery.
On the right side is Onofrio's Great Fountain.
Stradun is intersected with many small streets where you can find shops and restaurants with outdoor seating.
Stradun itself buzzes with people, street musicians, cafes, and shops. It ends at Luza Square, where the colorful area includes the Sponza Palace and St. Blaise's Church.
Turning to the right on Pred Dvorem is Dubrovnik's most important architectural building, the Rector's Palace. The beautiful arches and sculpted columns of this Gothic-Renaissance building should not be missed.
There are 17 churches in Dubrovnik so if you had to choose one to visit, the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary is a natural choice.
It has roots going back to the 7th century but its current form is a beautiful Baroque structure.
Located south of the Rector's Palace on Kneza Damjana Jude 1, its Treasury (Riznica Katedrale) has an excellent display of icons, art, and church relics (tel: +385/20 411-715; open weekdays 9 am to 12 pm, and 3 pm to 7 pm).
The Synagogue (Zudioska 5, tel: +385/20 321-028) is Europe's second oldest synagogue and the oldest Sephardic synagogue.
Open only by request, it continues to function as a place of worship.
What to Do
Dubrovnikâs location by the sea draws water enthusiasts, from sun bathers to more active types. You can swim, fish, sail, and dive in a truly magnificent setting.
The sea also provides good eating, and the local people provide the cuisine. Nearby islands provide picturesque villages, wine and nature areas.
Divers claim that the Adriatic Sea is a top place for a beautiful diving experience.
The Diving Club of Dubrovnik offers equipment rental, guided excursions, and classes.
Beaches near Dubrovnik consist of public and private ones; the latter usually belong to hotels.
The most popular public beaches include Banje, a pebble beach with a view of the Old Town.
Another pebble beach is St. Jakov, located on the eastern edge of the Old Town.
A sandy beach is Lapad Beach, right at Lapad Bay. At each beach, you can rent umbrellas or get refreshments.
Stop in at the Aquarium (Akvarij) where you can cool off while looking at undersea creatures (D. Jude 2, tel: +385/20 427-937; open: 8 am - 8 pm, entrance fee: 15 kn, children 10 kn).
The Summer Festival starts the evening of July 10th and lasts until August 25, offering programs that include dance, music, theater, folk performances and more.
Dubrovnikâs mild nightlife includes several bars and clubs.
For dancing, try the Latino Club (Brsalje 11, near Pile Gate). Open Thursday, Friday, Saturday from 10 pm - 4 am.
Or listen to music at the Troubador Hard Jazz Cafe (Buniceva poljana 2, tel: +385/20 323-476), located not far from the Cathedral.
Shopping
Europe's oldest pharmacy is in Dubrovnik, dating from 1318. The Franciscan Pharmacy is located on Stradun, just inside the Pile Gate.
Here you can find a unique souvenir or gift for under 10 USD, such as lotions and creams made from medieval recipes.
For other shopping, there are shops lining Stradun and Od Puca where visitors can buy clothing, wine, and embroidered linens.
Gundulic Square has a farmer's market daily except Sunday.
The bookstore Algoritam (Placa 8 (Stradun), tel: +385/20 322 044; fax: +385/20 322 043; E-mail: dubrovnik@algoritam.hr has a solid selection of English-language books, located in the Old Town. Open Monday-Friday from 9 am-8:30 pm and Saturday 9 am-3 pm.
Getting There and Getting Around
You can get to Dubrovnik by car, bus, ferry, and plane but not train.
Cilipi Airport is 18 km (11 miles) from the city center.
For intercity buses, the main bus terminal (Put Republike 38, tel: +385/20 357-088) is a 25-minute walk to Pile Gate.
You can drive to Dubrovnik but there is limited parking in the summer. Many visitors take ferries, which run between cities on the Adriatic coast and also to islands near Dubrovnik.
Once youâre in Dubrovnik, you can get around easily by foot or by bus, of which there are seven lines that take you through the city.