Everything You Need to Know for Your Trip to Dubrovnik

If you are traveling to Dubrovnik, the Pearl of Adriatic there is one thing that you need to know: its magnificent walls are not the only thing worth seeing once you are there. Sure, that is the most famous part of Dubrovnik but there are a lot of places surrounding this romantic city that it would be a shame to miss. Also, if it’s your first time going to this area you probably want to know when it is the best time to visit and where to stay. We are about to show you how to make the best out of your trip to Dubrovnik.

Keep reading, take notes, and plan your trip to the Pearl of Adriatic.

When to visit Dubrovnik?

So, let’s say you are planning a trip. You would care to know when it’s the best time to visit the certain place you are dying to visit – in this case, beautiful Dubrovnik. Since it is a coastal city you are probably thinking that it’s best to visit there in the high season, which is in June, July, and August. But popular places like Dubrovnik tend to get really crowded in the high season, so you might consider other options. If you like to explore new places in peace you can put Dubrovnik in your planner in spring or fall, the best time would be in May or September when it is warm enough to dip in the amazing seawater but not too crowded as it gets in the summer.

How to get to Dubrovnik?

Depending on where you are coming from it can get more or less difficult to get to Dubrovnik. If you live in Europe, somewhere near Croatia it’s pretty easy, you will book a direct flight or travel by car if you are not too far away. If you are already staying somewhere in Croatia, it’s easy to get to Dubrovnik with either car or a bus ride. But if you are coming from outside of Europe it is best to book a flight to Amsterdam or Paris and then fly to Dubrovnik.

Where to stay in Dubrovnik?

There are a few options. You can go to a hotel and pay a lot or find an apartment via one of the popular platforms and pay a little less. But you will get the best price if you book your accommodation directly from some of the locals. Also, there are a few nice camping spots around Dubrovnik, so that is an option too if you are feeling extra adventurous.

What to do in Dubrovnik?

Visit the Old Town

Number one thing that you have to do when in Dubrovnik is visiting the Old Town that was built in the 13th century. Its walls were built to protect the city from danger from land and sea. These magnificent walls recently found new fame and a way to attract many visitors from around the world – they were used as a location for King’s Landing in the Game of Thrones TV series. You just have to see them yourself. But we have to note it’s not free, you have to pay 150 kunas (around 20 euros) to get to know the walls very well.

There are many significant spots inside the walls but the best way to explore it to enter the Ploče Gate and wander around, let the narrow streets guide you. We will mention a few more places that are interesting and picturesque, even though the whole Old Town is very much like that. One of the places that you will stumble upon is the Church of St. Blaise, Dubrovnik’s patron saint – wonderful Venetian Baroque-style church built in the 18th century. Right in front of the church, there is a 15th-century statue of Orlando the knight carved into a stone column.

Image by Martin Falbisoner

Not far away from the church, you will find the Rector’s palace that’s been around since the 13th century when Dubrovnik was the Republic of Ragusa. The Palace doubled as the seat of the city government and the apartment and office of the Rector of the Republic. It includes two halls, a courthouse, a jail, an armory, and a gunpowder room. You should definitely check it out, its architecture is amazing.

St. John’s Fort is one of the most important Dubrovnik landmarks, the first one that you spot on panoramic photos of the Pearl of Adriatic and it protected the city harbor since the 14th century. The walls are surely impressive, but there’s more to see inside of them. The fort houses a maritime museum, an aquarium, and the art studio of the painter Đuro Pulitika.

St. John’s Fort

Image by Marcin Konsek

One more thing that you have to do when you visit a Mediterranean city is to stroll down its main street. In Dubrovnik that is Stradun that connects two city gates (Pile and Ploče), two fountains (large and small Onofrio Fountains) as well as two bell towers (the City Bell Tower and that of the Franciscan Monastery). There are many features to explore in Stradun street, but we will let you do that yourself. 

Stradun

Image by Paulo O / CC BY-SA 2.0

Climb up to Srd mountain

If you want some really good panoramic photos of Dubrovnik you have to see it from above, in this case, it means from Srd mountain. You can get up there by cable car, which is probably best in the summertime but if you hike you will see much more. You will have a chance to meet goats and horses on your way up and nature is amazing. And when you get up there you will be amazed by the view. You can also have a cup of coffee or a meal up there in a restaurant or you can visit the war museum in case you are interested in hearing about the history.

Visit local beaches

There is the main city beach, of course, but why not wander around the city and find one of the amazing local beaches that are less crowded, such as Pasjaca Beach, Dance, and Sveti Javoc beach. You can do some cliff jumping but be careful because of the rocky bottom. If you are a fan of water sports you can go kayaking or snorkeling, too.

Visit gorgeous places around Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik is set in such a position that there is a lot of beautiful places in the surrounding area that you can easily visit. One of them is the Island of Lokrum is set right across from the Old Town, just a 15-minutes ferry ride away. The trip itself is amazing because you are crossing crystal clear water. When you get there nature will amaze you, there are beautiful gardens with peacocks everywhere and the water is amazing. Go to the Lokrum Visitor Centre where you can learn about the island’s history and the curse that ancient monks once cast on the island.

Island of Lokrum

Image by Richard Mortel / CC BY-SA 2.0

Pelješac peninsula is about an hour away from Dubrovnik and much less crowded. It is a place that is best known for its amazing vineyards and nice oyster meals. You have to climb up to the Great Wall of Europe in Ston – an epic monument that gives you the view that will leave you breathless.

There are many more places around Dubrovnik in Croatia but why not visit other countries when they are so easily accessible? Go south and visit Montenegro, you will find the amazing towns of Kotor and Budva. You will see stunning old towns and enjoy your day much cheaper than in Dubrovnik. Also, you can visit Bosnia, go to Mostar that is totally different than anything you’ve seen in Dubrovnik, you will notice the Turkish influence everywhere you go, and we believe that you will love it.

We could talk for days about Dubrovnik and the amazing places surrounding it, but we must wrap it up, this is enough for a 7-day trip. Dubrovnik is an amazing romantic city, totally worth visiting and you have to explore the gorgeous Old Town. In case you need assistance, visit our Cultural Places platform and find a media guided tour through it. Also, you have to explore the beautiful nature around it and just enjoy yourself to the max! You will not regret a single minute you’ve spent in the Dubrovnik area.