Attractions
Dubrovnik's wonderfully scenic old town is a joy to explore on foot. While the area can definitely be discovered independently, we do recommend taking at least one guided walking tour to gain insight into its fascinating history, which dates from the 7th century; Discover Croatia runs full-day tours from $50/person with lunch, while Atlas Travel Agency covers the same ground in private tours for about $180 (for two people).
Any visit to Dubrovnik should start with a walk along the city’s main claim to fame, its 25m-high City Walls (Gunduliceva Poljana 2; daily May–Oct 9am–7pm, Nov–April 10am–3pm; $5), accessed to the left of the old town's northernmost Pile Gate. The 2km circuit will take you along the impressively preserved ramparts, parts of which date from the 8th century (though most of the fortification actually took place between the 13th and 16th centuries); the stroll provides a terrific introduction to the city, with marvelous views of old town rooftops, domes, and church spires glimpsed along the way – just don’t attempt this one-hour walk in the middle of a summer day, as there’s no shade from the harsh sun.
The next major landmark to visit is the Rector’s Palace (Pred Dvorom 3; June–Sept Mon–Sat 9am–1pm & 4–5pm, Sun 9am–1pm, Oct–May Mon–Sat 9am–1pm; $2.50), which will give you a taste of Dubrovnik's 15th-century heyday, when it rivaled Venice as the most important trade center in the south Adriatic. This Gothic-Renaissance building once served as the seat of government (interestingly, city rectors couldn’t leave the premises during their month-long terms, so the palace was a de facto prison!); today it houses the Cultural Historical Museum (same hours) with a smallish but informative collection of paintings, period furniture, and other historical tidbits, as well as a striking atrium used for classical concerts in the summer months.
Dubrovnik also boasts several important religious centers worth seeing. You’ll find a couple of impressive monasteries: the Dominican Monastery (Sv Domina 4; daily 9am–5pm, til 6pm in summer; $2.50), home to an orange tree–filled Gothic cloister and museum showcasing religious paintings from the Golden Age; and the Franciscan Monastery (Placa 2; daily 9am–5pm, til 6pm in summer; $3.30), site of the city’s oldest pharmacy (allegedly also the oldest in all of Europe) and a curious collection of ancient medical books and laboratory equipment in its treasury. The next point of interest not to be missed – literally! – is Dubrovnik’s grand cathedral (Kneza Damjana Jude 1; daily 6.30am–8pm; $1.70) with its remarkable Baroque architecture; head to the treasury to find a multi-paneled altar painting by Titian, the famed Renaissance master, and a relic skull of St. Blaise, Dubrovnik’s patron saint. For a point of contrast, also be sure to visit the the city’s 15th-century synagogue (Žudioska 5; May–Oct Mon–Fri 9am–8pm; call 385/20 321 028 for other opening times; free), said to be the second-oldest in all of Europe.
To round out your visit, head to Luža Square, anchored by the free-standing Orlando’s Column, which dates from 1418. Here you’ll also find the architecturally eclectic Sponza Palace; it dates from 1522 and once served as a mint and custom house but today houses the State Archives; its courtyard and atrium serve as a summer venue for art exhibits and concerts. Had enough history? There’s an aquarium inside St. John’s fortress (Damjana Jude 2; Mon–Sat 9am–1pm & 5pm–7pm; $2.50) and a Museum of Modern Art (Put Frana Supila 23; July–Sept Tues–Sun 10am–1pm, 5pm–9pm, Oct–June Tues–Sun 10am–7pm; $3.30) that features works by contemporary Croatian artists.
HITTING THE BEACH
While you can spend days on end exploring Dubrovnik’s ancient monuments, not all is history-heavy in this sunny Adriatic city. Dubrovnik’s coastal setting lends itself well to beach and poolside activities, too. Several hotels have pools overlooking the old town; our favorite of these, the four-star Villa Argentina, is reviewed below. Even if you don’t book yourself into a hotel with a pool, there are still plenty of beach options within easy reach. You can catch some rays on the Banje Beach, just east of the old town, below the 16th-century Lazareti complex that once quarantined city visitors for 40 days; the sand here gets pretty crowded in summer months. Another good spot is the recently renovated East West Beach Club on an excellent strip of sand close to the old town Ploce gate; you'll find beach chairs and food on hand. The best bet of all, however, is across the bay from the beach club: the forested (and supposedly haunted) island of Lokrum, a mere 20-minute ferry ride away from the old town port and trimmed with a succession of pretty coves and rocky beaches; you'll also find a derelict 11th-century Benedictine monastery and a lush botanical garden to explore here when you need a break from tanning.
DAY TRIPS FROM DUBROVNIK
If you have the time, we also recommend making a couple of excursions outside Dubrovnik. The Trsteno Arboretum, a 15th-century clifftop villa estate with a spectacularly landscaped garden planted with oleander, rosemary, lavender, pomegranate and cypress trees (daily May–Oct 7am–7pm, Nov–April 8am–3pm; $3.50), is just 30km north along the coast. Most buses heading north of town will stop here, so it’s easy to visit independently, but you can also join a half-day guided tour for about $35.
If you can go further afield, head to the scenic, car-free Elaphite Islands, which are accessible by ferry from the Dubrovnik harbor (several departures daily; 25- to 100-minute trips, depending on the island port); all-day cruises to the three most popular islands – Kolocep, Lopud and Šipan – are also available for about $30.
