Table of Contents
About
Dubrovnik is located in the southern part of Croatia and lies on the coast of the Adriatic Sea.
The city is well-known for its Old Town surrounded by massive stone walls. In the past few years, tourism in Dubrovnik has highly increased due to the world-famous TV series ‘Game of Thrones’, which was partly filmed in this city. Now, many fans place Dubrovnik on top of their travel itineraries to see the popular ‘King’s Landing’ – one of the seven kingdoms in the show – which is set in Dubrovnik.
In the Old Town, you will find narrow, cobblestone alleyways in baroque-style, monasteries, churches, and last but not least plenty of restaurants and cafés. The diverse surroundings of Dubrovnik promise you entertained throughout your stay. The city is located between the Adriatic Sea with beautiful beaches and islands to explore and forested mountains that offer hiking trails and breathtaking views. The variety of attractions in Dubrovnik make the city a perfect travel destination for families as well as young backpackers.
History and Culture
Dubrovnik’s history dates back to the 7th century, which is when the city was founded by refugees from Epidaurum. Even though a fire in 1296 destroyed a large part of the city, developments did not stop. In the 13th century, the Old Town, which is now the most popular tourist attraction in Dubrovnik, was built.Also, the city underwent a lot of developments in the 15th and 16th centuries, which was put on hold in 1667 when a catastrophic earthquake damaged the city and killed nearly 5000 citizens. Luckily, the city did not get completely destroyed and the buildings affected by this earthquake have been restored. This is why tourists can now marvel at the centuries-old architecture. Moreover, Dubrovnik plays an important role in Croatian literature. Due to its impressive cultural and political history, Dubrovnik was declared a World Heritage Site in 1979.
Things To Do in Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik Old Town
The Old Town with its magnificent city walls is the most popular attraction in Dubrovnik. Here tourists can feel like they are in ‘Game of Thrones’ themselves while sightseeing and strolling through narrow streets and the baroque-style buildings. There are several entrances to the Old Town of Dubrovnik. The main one is called Pile Gate and leads you directly to Stradun street. This is the main street of the city and a street you should make a priority in your itinerary when visiting the Old Town. The cobblestone street is made out of limestone and has atmospheric houses on each side. Here, you will find many shops, restaurants, and cafés.
Several walking tours offer daily excursions to the Old Town with local travel guides. This is also a good way to meet new people if you are on a solo trip. If you want to see as much as possible on your vacation in Dubrovnik, it is recommended to buy a Dubrovnik Card, which will give you free entrance to several buildings, monuments, and museums.
Walls of Dubrovnik
One of the most impressive sights in the Old Town of Dubrovnik are the enormous city walls that surround the entire Old Town. These walls were built as early as in the 13th century and were supposed to protect the city from invaders. In the 15th century, 15 towers were added, from where approaching enemies could easily be seen. The walls are made out of limestone and are up to five meters thick. Once you are inside, you can climb up and walk on top of the walls. This procedure follows a one-way principle to avoid traffic and it takes approximately two hours to walk the whole circuit around the Old Town. From the top of the walls, visitors can enjoy spectacular panoramic views of the city and the Adriatic Sea.
Even though visitors are not restricted to needing a tour guide when climbing up the walls, it is highly recommended if you would like to learn more about the wall’s history and get more background information.
St. John’s Fortress
The St. John’s Fortress – which is often referred to as Mulo Tower – is located near the port and is connected to the city walls. It has a round shape and is made out of limestone. The fortress was built in the 14th century as a defensive mechanism for the city, as pirates used to invade the city semi-regularly. After St. John Fortress was built, the people of Dubrovnik would let down a heavy metal chain from the top of the building to destroy the invader’s ships in the port.
Today, there is a small aquarium inside the fortress as well as a maritime museum on the first floor. Here, visitors can learn more about the maritime trade of Dubrovnik that used to be the main income for the city and the reason why Dubrovnik was considered prosperous as early as in the 12th century.
Fort Lovrijenac
Another famous fortress visitors shouldn’t miss is the Fort Lovrijenac, which is also known under the name St. Lawrence Fortress. The fortress has a triangular shape and three terraces as well as thick outside walls. It is believed that this building was built in the 11th century as a continuation of the city walls. During this time, troops from Venice were planning to build a fortress in the same place and take over the city. To their surprise, the people in Dubrovnik found out about this place before they arrived and built a fortress first – 37 m above the sea level. Intimidated, the Venetians gave up their original plan of conquering the city and Dubrovnik kept the ability to rule itself as a free state.
Nowadays, Fort Lovrijenac is used for theatre, for example, Shakespeare’s famous play Hamlet which takes place on one of the three terraces. The entrance fee is 200 HRK (ca. 31USD).
The Clock Tower on Luza Square
Next to Sponza Plaza, tourists can find the Clock Tower on Luza Square. The tower is 31 m high and was built in the 15th century. Not only does it present the date and time but also the current status of the moon. The tower was damaged several times throughout history which lead the tower to lean more and more to one side over the years. In 1928, it was finally torn down. After this, the city reconstructed the tower in its original design. The tower includes two bronze sculptures which are supposed to be the bell strikers. Locals also call them Maro and Baro.
A steep staircase leads up to the top of the tower. From there you will have a magnificent view over Luza Square with Sponza Palace and Orlando’s column – a statue of a knight who used to fight against invaders of the city. Now, the statue is a symbol of freedom.
Sponza Palace
Another building to put on your travel itinerary is the Sponza Palace. It is located at Luza Square in the Old Town and was built in Gothic-Renaissance-style from 1516 to 1522. The building is rectangle-shaped and offers a lovely courtyard with sculptures in the center. Over the years, Sponza Palace was used as a cultural center, a bank, a business meeting place, and even a school.
Nowadays, it is home to the city’s archive and holds thousands of documents that are over 800 years old. Besides this, tourists can also visit the Memorial Room of the Defenders of Dubrovnik, where a collection of black and white photographs is displayed. The photographs show men who passed away in the 1990s when the city was under the control of Yugoslavian forces. The best time to visit is in the afternoon when it is less crowded. However, if you don’t want to risk not getting a spot, you should book a ticket in advance. Tickets cost 40 HRK (ca. 6USD).
Dubrovnik Cathedral
The catholic ‘Assumption Cathedral’ was built in Dubrovnik between the 12th and 14th centuries. A legend states that Richard the Lionheart, who was the king of England in the 12th century, was shipwrecked in 1192. Luckily, he got to Lokrum island and survived. To thank god, he promised to build a church on the island. However, the people of Dubrovnik convinced him to build it in the city instead. Following up with his promise, he did so. Unfortunately, the grand church was destroyed in 1667 when a heavy earthquake reached the city. Its reconstructions started in 1713 in the Roman-Baroque-style. The building’s magnificent architecture and interior full of art make it one of the top things to see in Dubrovnik.
Inside the castle, you will find several impressive altars and religious paintings. The altar of ‘St. John’ is made from purple marble and the altar of ‘Our Lady of the Port’ displays jewelry made out of coral whereas the altar of ‘Petilovrijenci’ presents art made of historical bones. When the church was being renovated in 1981, the people of Dubrovnik were astonished to discover the leftovers of another cathedral underneath the ‘Assumption Church’ which is believed to be from the 7th century.
Lokrum Island
Visiting Lokrum island is a great way to escape the city crowds for a day. The ferry departs several times per hour from Dubrovnik’s port and takes about 15 minutes to get to Lokrum island, as it is only 600 meters away. The cost of the ferry is 140 HRK (ca. 22USD). However, visitors have to return at the end of the day, as there is no accommodation on the island and camping is prohibited. Lokrum island is bewildered with pine trees and offers some lovely walking trails. The walking trail around the whole island takes around two hours. The coast is rocky yet the clear water of the sea is ideal to swim in. Saltwater lake ‘The Dead Sea’ is the best place for swimming on this island. It is located in the southern part of Lokrum and a popular spot for swimming and scuba diving, as it is 10 meters deep. ‘The Dead Sea’ is connected to the ocean through several caves and definitely something to put on your bucket list when visiting Dubrovnik.
In Lokrum, you will find a botanical garden as well as the ‘Benedictine Monastery’, which was built in 1023 and was inhabited until the 15th century. During this time, the monks living here were forced to leave the island. A legend says, the monks were so upset about this matter, that they put a curse on the whole island before they left. Today, half of the monastery has been transformed into a restaurant and the other half has been converted into a museum.
‘Game of Thrones’ Walking Tour
For ‘Game of Thrones’ fans it is highly recommended to participate in a ‘Game of Thrones’-themed walking tour. This is also a great thing to do for solo travelers who want to share their enthusiasm with others. The tour takes around two hours and costs 150 HRK (ca.23,50USD). A local city guide will take you to all important sites of King’s Landing and provide you with insider information about the filming progress.
At every site, the guide will provide you with detailed information about the scene that was filmed in this specific sport. This will give you the chance to reminisce about the series’ most memorable scenes that took place in King’s Landing. The tour stops, for example, at the place where the Battle of Blackwater was filmed and the Jesuit Stairs where the legendary Walk of Shame was filmed. Real Game of Thrones fans should certainly make this tour a priority of their vacation to Dubrovnik.
Dubrovnik Cable Car
The top of Mount Srd next to the city offers some of the best views over Dubrovnik. From 412 metres of height, you will have a breathtaking view of Dubrovnik and the Adriatic Sea behind it.
From here, you will see the red-orange rooftops, the city walls, and towers from a bird-perspective. On a clear day, you can even see as far as 60km. While enjoying the view, visitors can also dine in a café or restaurant and go souvenir shopping in one of the small shops on top of the mountain. The cable car departs from a station near the eastern entrance of the Old Town. Although the ride itself only takes about five minutes, visitors should be prepared to wait in a queue for up to half an hour. Tickets cost 150 HRK (23USD) for a roundtrip and can be purchased at the cable car office, online, and even in many accommodations. If you are on a budget, you can also walk up the mountain on a hiking trail which takes a little over an hour.
How to get to Dubrovnik
By Air : Dubrovnik is best reached by air, as it has an international airport with regular flights coming in and out of the city. Several international airlines offer flights to the airport of Dubrovnik. There are even direct flights departing from Zagreb and other European cities. From the airport, you can buy a ticket for the airport shuttle bus which takes you directly into the Old Town of Dubrovnik. Tickets cost 55 HRK (ca. 8,50USD).
By Train : Although Dubrovnik has its own airport it does not have a railway station. The best way to get to the capital of Croatia is to take a five-hour bus to the city Split and the train from Split to Zagreb. Prices vary depending on the bus and train you choose.
By Bus : The bus ride from Zagreb to Dubrovnik takes 12-13 hours which is quite a long time considering the distance. Prices vary depending on the bus you choose.
By Car : If you decide to go on a road trip and drive in your own car, it will only take you between six and eight hours to drive from Zagreb to Dubrovnik.