Story
Key Things To Check Out
When to Visit
Key Events
Slice of Nostalgia
What to do
Local Flavours
Where to Stay?
Did you know?
How to Get There?
Tips & Hints

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As great George Bernard Shaw famously stated: "Those who seek paradise on Earth should come to Dubrovnik!"

DubrovnikA Distinguished Gentleman of Exquisite Taste!

Why you should visit Dubrovnik

The Walls of Dubrovnik

Stradun

Church of St. Blaise

Sponza Palace

Arboretum Trsteno

The Festivity of Saint Blaise

The Dubrovnik Summer Festival

Wild Water Polo League

Story

Established by Exiled Greeks, Coveted by a Myriad of Kings

The history of Dubrovnik is remarkable and starts with a small settlement on an island called Laus, at that time separated from the mainland by a marsh. An invasion by Slavs in the 7th century destroyed Epidauros, a larger Greek settlement nearby (present-day Cavtat), causing inhabitants to flee to Laus and hence establish the city. As an independent merchant republic for 700 years (abolished by Napoleon in 1806), Dubrovnik successfully traded with Turkey and India in the East (with a consul in Goa, India) and had trade representatives in Africa, in the Cape Verde Islands. It even had diplomatic relations with the English court in the Middle Ages and its status was such that powerful and rich Venice was for a long time envious of its prime

Key Things To Check Out

Merchants of Dexterity for the City of Prosperity

The economic wealth of Dubrovnik was partially the result of the land it developed, but especially of seafaring trade. With the help of skilled diplomacy, Dubrovnik merchants travelled lands freely and on the sea the city had a huge fleet of merchant ships that travelled all over the world. From these travels they founded some settlements, from India to America, and brought parts of their culture and flora home with them. One of its keys to success was not conquering, but trading and sailing under a white flag with the word “Libertas” (freedom) prominently featured on it.

The Walls of Dubrovnik

The Walls of Dubrovnik are a series of defensive stone walls constructed mainly during the 12th–17th centuries that have surrounded and protected the citizens of the afterward proclaimed maritime city-state of Dubrovnik (Ragusa). With numerous additions and modifications throughout their history and armed by more than 120 cannons, they have been considered to be amongst the great fortification systems of the Middle Ages, as they were never breached by a hostile army during this time period. This complex structure, a source of pride for Dubrovnik and amongst the largest and most complete in Europe, protected the freedom and safety of a “civilised” and “sophisticated” republic that flourished in peace and prosperity for some five centuries. The old city of Dubrovnik, which includes a substantial portion of the old walls of Dubrovnik, joined the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1979.

Stradun

Stradun is the main limestone-paved pedestrian street of Dubrovnik that runs some 300 metres through the Old Town, the historic part of the city surrounded by the Walls of Dubrovnik. Many of the historic buildings and monuments in Dubrovnik are situated along the Stradun, because of which it serves as a popular esplanade for tourists. Stradun stretches through the walled town in the east-west direction, connecting the western entrance called the “Pile Gate” to the “Ploče Gate” on the eastern end. Both ends are also marked with 15th-century fountains and bell towers. Stradun became the city’s main thoroughfare in the 13th century, and its current appearance was for the most part created following the devastating 1667 earthquake and the following large fire, and because of this all of the 17th-century houses lining the Stradun share the same pattern to prevent the spread of potential fires.

Church of St. Blaise

Dubrovnik’s most beloved church and one of the city’s major sights is the Church of St. Blaise, built in 1715 on the foundations of the badly damaged Romanesque medieval church in honour of Dubrovnik’s patron saint and former protector of the independent Republic of Ragusa. Dubrovnik’s Baroque Cathedral was built in the 18th century and houses an impressive Treasury with relics of Saint Blaise. The city’s Dominican Monastery resembles a fortress on the outside, but the interior contains an art museum and a Gothic-Romanesque church. A special treasure of the Dominican monastery is its library, with 216 incunabula, numerous illustrated manuscripts, a rich archive with precious manuscripts and documents, and an extensive art collection.

The Sponza Palace

The Sponza Palace is a 16th-century palace that survived the 1667 earthquake without damage and with the establishment of the literary academy became the cultural center of the Republic of Ragusa. The inner courtyard of the palace has served a variety of public functions and the atrium served as a trading center and business meeting place. The palace is now home to the city archives, which hold more than 7000 volumes of manuscripts and about 100,000 individual manuscripts, as well as documents dating back to the 12th century, with the earliest manuscript being from 1022.

The Arboretum Trsteno

The Arboretum Trsteno is the oldest arboretum in this part of the world. The arboretum was erected by the local noble family of Gozze in the late 15th century, who requested ship captains to bring back seeds and plants from their travels. The Arboretum reserves a very special place among the old Ragusan, Dalmatian and Mediterranean parks, as it includes the oldest Renaissance Park in Croatia designed in 1502. In 1962 the Arboretum Trsteno was registered in the list of protected natural monuments as a monument of landscape architecture, with the protected area that covers around 255,000 square metres. The pride of the arboretum, two Oriental Planes located on the central market place of Trsteno, are over 500 years old and are unique specimens of its kind in Europe.

When to Visit

Spring or Fall to Avoid Waiting at All

Dubrovnik is an extremely popular tourist destination and a highly cultural city, where the key thing is not to experience the most attractive seasonal events, but to pick the time when you can actually experience them at all. There is no doubt that summer offers the most and winter the least in this exquisite medieval town and brilliant Adriatic sea resort, but visitors need to know exactly when they are coming here to avoid undesired jams and clamour. The grandeur of the city is therefore quite probably the most attainable in spring and autumn, when one can balance out between the less packed event schedule and the reduced excess of visitors.

Key Events

The Festivity of Saint Blaise

The Festivity of Saint Blaise, the patron of Dubrovnik, is a festivity organised on February 3 continuously since year 972, on the occasion of the celebration of Saint Blaise’s day. The festivity is based on the legend of the appearance of St. Blaise, who helped the people of Dubrovnik to defend their town against Republic of Venice. Festivity is attended by a large number of people that include residents of the city, surrounding areas, other parts of Croatia and neighbouring countries, as well as tourists, representatives of state, local authorities and Roman Catholic Church. The festivity was made a part of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2009.

The Dubrovnik Summer Festival

The Dubrovnik Summer Festival is an annual summer festival instituted in 1950 and held every year between 10 July and 25 August. On more than 70 open-air venues of the Renaissance-Baroque city of Dubrovnik a rich programme of classical music, theatre, opera and dance performances is presented. The idea of founding the festival actually derived from the intellectual way of life of the city itself and its living creative tradition, which has bestowed upon Croatian cultural and scholarly history, especially in theatre and literature, many great names and works, and kept it continually in touch with contemporary currents in Western Europe. The threefold programme consists of drama, art and music performances, and has included countless renowned actors, artists, singers, musicians, dance troops and orchestras from around the globe.

Wild Water Polo League

It is almost impossible to find a citizen of Dubrovnik who hasn’t been bitten by the water polo bug. Whether on a professional level or just with friends on the beach, the game is part of the fabric of the region. At the top is the water polo club “Jug” (“South” in English) that was founded back in 1923, one of the most successful clubs in the world and the great pride of the city. However water polo has spread deep in Dubrovnik and away from the professional game too, and the Association of Wild Water Polo League organise a Wild Water Polo League each year. In fact, the Dubrovnik League is the largest amateur water polo championship in the world that started way back in 1922. Every beach has its own team and once a year they all get together to compete for bragging rights in the wild league. The final, played at the end of summer, is a spectacular encounter in the heart of the Old City.

Slice of Nostalgia

Remarkable Ragusa

The Republic of Ragusa was a great scientific and intellectual center of Europe and an early adopter of what are now regarded as modern laws and institutions: a medical service was introduced in 1301, with the first pharmacy, still operating to this day, being opened in 1317; an alms-house was opened in 1347; the first quarantine hospital (Lazarete) was established in 1377; slave trading was abolished in 1418; an orphanage opened in 1432; a 20 km water supply system, instead of a cistern, was constructed in 1438 by the Neapolitan architect and engineer Onofrio della Cava etc.

Along with England, Spain and Genoa, Ragusa was one of the Venice’s most damaging competitors in the 15th century on all seas, even in the Adriatic. Ragusa handled the Adriatic trade on behalf of the Ottomans, and its merchants received special tax exemptions and trading benefits. It also operated colonies that enjoyed extraterritorial rights in major Ottoman cities. Merchants from Ragusa could enter the Black Sea, which was otherwise closed to non-Ottoman shipping. They paid less in customs duties than other foreign merchants, and the city-state enjoyed diplomatic support from the Ottoman administration in trade disputes with the Venetians. For their part, Ottomans regarded Ragusa as a port of major importance, since most of the traffic between Florence and Bursa (an Ottoman port in north-western Anatolia) was carried out via Ragusa.

What to do

Activities in Dubrovnik

There is abundance of things to do in Dubrovnik and everyone will surely find something to their taste. You may enjoy bathing at some of the most beautiful beaches or stroll around lovely coves, while enjoying marvellous and delightful views of open sea. You may opt for something more active and go scuba diving, rowing, trekking or climbing. You may also excite your mind and fill your soul with rich culture and heritage of extraordinary history, or you may explore all the venues of many popular movies and series filmed in the area. Whatever you choose, keep one thing in mind at all times: Dubrovnik simply does not disappoint!

The Good Food Festival

A number of new and interesting gastronomic programs are found within this unique project of the Dubrovnik Tourist Board, which has become an exceptional supplement to the regular tourism offerings for tourist in the autumn month of October and has become a favourite among the locals as well. The new edition of the Good Food Festival brings presentations of culinary specialties typical for this region, educational programs for children, tastings of regional wines, culinary workshops, and events such as “Dinner with a Famous Chef”, workshops on preparing Dubrovnik delicacies, special menus in Dubrovnik restaurants, an “Sights & Bites” culinary tour, a “Sweet Tooth Map” for gourmets, as well as other surprises.

Active Dubrovnik

Most people know Dubrovnik as a stunning city of fabulous cuisine, grand accommodation, amazing beaches and extremely rich cultural heritage. However, Dubrovnik is also a great spot for spending an exciting active holiday and enjoy some first-class adventure. A traveller in search for an intimate escape from the city’s bustle and hustle may choose boating, sailing or sea kayaking to explore several surrounding islands of intact beauty. If you want to remain on the ground and have some exhilarating fun, there are very interesting mountain biking tours and several thrilling adrenalin parks, where you can feel the rush of various individual and team extreme sports. Those who prefer endurance or just supporting other athletes, should definitely experience the Dubrovnik Half Marathon at the end of April, the nearby Ston Wall Marathon at the end of September, or the annual Dubrovnik New Year’s 10K Street Race.

Game of Thrones

Many great movies and series have been filmed in Dubrovnik, so everyone can follow the movie settings of their own choice. However, the deeply embedded roots of Game of Thrones in several Dubrovnik localities crucial to the plot tops them all! For those who have seen the series and are passionate about it, a visit to Dubrovnik will become a beautiful déja vu because of the way in which it was so well integrated into the setting of the series. With a base such as that of the Old Town of Dubrovnik, no special measures were necessary for scenery or special effects in order to play the fortified port city of King’s Landing, a stronghold of the Lannister family. Filming grandly exploits the large outer walls as well as the narrow streets of the old town, where several scenes happen during the course of the episodes.

Lokrum (1/2)

Lokrum is a charming island that covers 72 hectares of thick Mediterranean flora located just 600 metres from Dubrovnik. The island is a perfect getaway from the city rush and its multi-functionality offers something for everyone. Lokrum has an exquisite botanical garden (often seen in Game of Thrones) and wild pristine beaches, and it is a perfect setting for day trips, active holidays and relaxation, as well as concerts, exhibitions and other cultural events. The first written mention of Lokrum was in 1023 when the Benedictine abbey and monastery were founded, and legend also says that Richard the Lionheart was shipwrecked here in 1192 after returning home from the crusades.

Lokrum (2/2)

Today Lokrum is a Nature Reserve and a Special Forest Vegetation Reserve and is inhabited by families of peacocks introduced to the island in the 19th century by the Austrian archduke Maximilian. Lokrum’s special attraction and favourite resort for many visitors is a small crystal clear and calm lake called Mrtvo More (Dead Sea), a unique nature’s treasure linked with the sea. At the island’s highest point at 96 metres (315 feet) above sea level stands Fort Royal Castle, built by the French in 1806. The climb to the fort is quite steep, but once there the views of Dubrovnik and the coastline are quite spectacular.

Lapad

Lapad peninsula makes up for a larger part of Dubrovnik, it is located to the west of the Old Town of Dubrovnik and encompasses several major suburbs of the city. The Lapad bay features an amazing promenade that protrudes all the way to the seaside, connects directly with adjoining splendid beaches and takes you all the way to the end of the peninsula to the most serene view of the islands in the Dubrovnik archipelago, the Elaphiti Islands. A fair amount of restaurants, coffee bars and pastry and ice cream shops found their place on this lovely promenade, with their terraces luring in the walkers to sit and simply enjoy the view. Lapad bay promenade is one of the favourite leisure spots of Dubrovnik community and many of the hotels are also located close to the promenade and the nearby beaches, making the whole area quite lively and touristic.

Cable Car

The best views of Dubrovnik and the surrounding area are, without doubt, experienced from the top of Srđ, a hill located just behind the walled Old Town. The Dubrovnik Cable Car was built back in 1969 and has been enthusiastically used by millions of visitors who want to enjoy the most beautiful panoramic views from the height of 412 metres, as on a clear day you can see up to 60 km (37 miles). For this reason the neighbouring Imperial Fortress was strategically built on this privileged spot back in the early 19th century during the Napoleonic Wars. From the fortress, it is possible to see the entire Old City with Stradun, the Lokrum Island, the Adriatic Sea and various other local attractions.

Local Flavours

Moderation in Seasoning, Intensity in Taste

Lamb
Many restaurants of South Dalmatia pride themselves with excellent lamb. The favourite way of cooking meet is called “ispod peke” (under the bell), which preserves its juicy flavours by using burning wood embers and extreme heat created under a terracotta lid.

Seafood
South Dalmatian cuisine relies heavily on the fresh fish and seafood caught offshore, often grilled with local olive oil, garlic and lemon. Look for sea bass, grouper, scorpion fish, pilchards, mackerel, squid, sea bream and oysters and you will not regret.

Rakija
These light refreshing spirits have long been used for ailments, treating colds, flu and stomach pains. Some of the most renowned flavours include: mixture of herbs, grapevine, pomegranate, loquat, walnut, rose flower, bitter orange, cherry and carob.

Where to Stay?

Top Value for Money

Dubrovnik is one of Croatia’s best known tourist hotspots, offering exceptional hotel accommodation, as well as a wide selection of high quality private suits and rooms, luxury villas and houses for rent, together with several outstanding campsites. If you want to spice up your visit to Dubrovnik by staying in the heart of the charming old city, you can choose between accommodation in hostels and luxuriously redecorated old palaces. If you prefer modern hotels with their own beaches, you will definitely be thrilled with the contemporary design of the hotels by the sea, as well as modern equipped private apartments in all parts of the town. No matter what you choose, we are sure you will be satisfied and get value for your money!

Did you know?

Grandmasters Set

As a city of knowledge and culture, it is no wonder that Dubrovnik has its own variant of the chess set, used for the game connected with many great minds and various scientific disciplines. The Dubrovnik chess set has chess pieces of a particular type influenced by the Staunton chess set and is used to play the game of chess on special occasions, as these chessmen are considered to have significant historical importance and are considered a timeless design classic. Over the decades the Dubrovnik chessmen were redesigned several times, and since 2014 even the House of Staunton has offered a replica in wood of one of the 1970 Dubrovnik chess sets available at that time

How to Get There?

Flying above All, Driving Decent Overall

Plane
Dubrovnik has an international airport with almost two million passengers yearly. It is located approximately 20 km southeast of Dubrovnik city centre, near Čilipi. Buses connect the airport with the Dubrovnik old main bus station in Gruž.
Car
If you enjoy seeing new landscapes, Dubrovnik can be reached from Central and Western Europe in several ways. There are many different combinations using coastal roads and sections of the motorway. If taking the Adriatic Highway, one can enjoy the seaside scenery. The other option is taking the motorway, which passes through the continental part of the country, where the landscape is different, but no less picturesque.
Bus
The bus terminal in Dubrovnik is located in Gruž near the port, where besides the information and sales office passengers can find a wardrobe, taxi stand, and sales kiosk. The bus terminal is well connected with other parts of the city by regular bus lines, and taxi services are always at your disposal. In addition, a network of modern, local buses connects all Dubrovnik neighbourhoods running frequently from dawn to midnight.
Ship
Dubrovnik is connected to the ports of Split, Brač, Hvar, Korčula and Lastovo by seasonal boat routes. Dubrovnik also has regular boat transfers to nearby islands Lokrum, Koločep, Lopud, Šipan and Mljet. During the tourist season there is also a ferry route between Gruž Port and Bari in Italy.

Tips & Hints

Practical tips

Considering that the easiest way to reach Dubrovnik is by air, especially in summer months when access roads are jammed more often than not, one should definitely visit the official website of Dubrovnik International Airport to plan a journey with more ease.

The great source of information for all travellers coming to Dubrovnik is the Dubrovnik Times, the website that offers news and views from Dubrovnik and Croatia in English, including travel reports, culture, lifestyle and interviews.

In the last few years Dubrovnik and Game of Thrones series have become inseparable in collective minds and hearts of many tourist, especially younger ones. Therefore several websites on the subject have been launched to promote both the show and the city. One of the best is King’s Landing Dubrovnik.

For detailed information on a variety of subjects that enhance your overall experience, Dubrovnik Tourist Board offers comprehensive and practical tips on what and where to do when in Dubrovnik.

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DubrovnikA Distinguished Gentleman of Exquisite Taste!

Why you should visit Dubrovnik

Established by Exiled Greeks, Coveted by a Myriad of Kings

Merchants of Dexterity for the City of Prosperity

The Walls of Dubrovnik

Stradun

Church of St. Blaise

The Sponza Palace

The Arboretum Trsteno

Spring or Fall to Avoid Waiting at All

Key Events

The Festivity of Saint Blaise

The Dubrovnik Summer Festival

Wild Water Polo League

Remarkable Ragusa

Activities in Dubrovnik

The Good Food Festival

Active Dubrovnik

Game of Thrones

Lokrum (1/2)

Lokrum (2/2)

Lapad

Cable Car

Moderation in Seasoning, Intensity in Taste

Lamb

Seafood

Rakija

Top Value for Money

Grandmasters Set

Flying above All, Driving Decent Overall

Practical tips