Welcome to Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik is a city you won't forget. Anyone who steps through the Pile Gate for the first time and looks down the Stradun — this straight marble walkway lined with baroque facades, framed by massive city walls — immediately understands why Lord Byron called the city the Pearl of the Adriatic. Dubrovnik is not just a Croatian coastal city: it is a living open-air museum, a UNESCO World Heritage site at every turn, a place where history, sea, and Mediterranean life form an irresistible connection.

• The City Walls — Dubrovnik's famous fortress walls enclose the Old Town over a length of almost two kilometers. The walk on the wall crown is one of the most spectacular city walks in the world: on one side the labyrinth of roofs, church towers, and hidden courtyards, on the other the sparkling Adriatic Sea.
• The Sea — Dubrovnik lies directly on the deep blue waters of the southern Adriatic. The cliffs below the city walls, the hidden bathing coves, the nearby Lokrum Island, and the Elaphite Islands offer crystal-clear water inviting for swimming, kayaking, and snorkeling.
• History of a Republic — The Republic of Ragusa was for centuries an independent city-state that rivaled Venice and the Ottoman Empire. As one of the first republics in Europe, Ragusa abolished the slave trade in 1416 — centuries before the rest of the world. This spirit of independence still characterizes Dubrovnik today.
• Game of Thrones — Dubrovnik became world-famous as the filming location for Kings Landing. The city walls, Fort Lovrijenac, the Jesuit staircase, and the streets of the Old Town are settings for iconic scenes. Fans from all over the world make a pilgrimage here.
• Culinary Delights — Fresh fish from the Adriatic, oysters from the Bay of Ston, black risotto with squid, Dalmatian pršut (ham), local wines from the Pelješac Peninsula: The Dalmatian cuisine is Mediterranean, honest, and delicious.
• Cable Car to Srđ — In four minutes, the cable car floats up to Mount Srđ (412 m). From above, all of Dubrovnik lies at your feet: the Old Town, the sea, the Elaphite Islands, with clear views to Montenegro and Italy.
• Lokrum Island — Ten minutes by ferry and you're on a car-free paradise island: botanical garden, rabbit population, rocky bathing spots, and a small salt lake (Dead Sea). No hotel, no cars, just nature.
• The Light — Dubrovnik's special charm is the light: the dazzling white of the limestone, the blue of the Adriatic, the warm gold of the evening sun on the city walls. Photographers find their paradise here — in the morning and evening, the city is a single painting.

Dubrovnik is a city that touches all the senses: the sound of the sea, the scent of lavender and fresh fish, the feel of smooth marble underfoot. Anyone who has been here once carries this city in their heart forever.

Dubrovnik is compact and easy to navigate. The main areas for visitors:

Old Town (Stari Grad)

For whom: All first-time visitors, history fans, strollers
The UNESCO World Heritage site behind the city walls: the Stradun, churches, palaces, monasteries, restaurants, and bars — all in a small space. Car-free, paved, and full of history. This is where life happens.

Lapad & Babin Kuk

For whom: Beach lovers, families, hotel guests
The green peninsula west of the Old Town with most of the hotels and the best sandy beaches in Dubrovnik (Lapad Beach, Copacabana). Promenade, restaurants, and a more relaxed rhythm than in the Old Town.

Ploče (east of the Old Town)

For whom: Luxury travelers, cliff jumpers
The district above the eastern city walls houses luxury hotels, the famous Banje Beach right in front of the walls, and the path to Lokrum.

Gruž (Harbor)

For whom: Travelers, market visitors
The port of Dubrovnik: Here cruise ships, ferries to the Elaphites, and buses dock. The Gruž Market is the best place for fresh fruit, vegetables, and souvenirs away from the tourist crowds.

1. City Wall Walk — Two kilometers on the crown of the wall, with views of the Old Town's rooftops on one side and the Adriatic Sea on the other. The highlight of any visit to Dubrovnik. → Chap. Old Town
2. Sunset from Mount Srđ — By cable car in four minutes to an altitude of 412 meters. Watch from the panoramic terrace as the sun sets behind the Elaphite Islands and the Old Town is bathed in golden light. → Chap. Old Town
3. Kayaking around the City Walls — Experience the city walls from the water: sea kayaking along the cliffs, through caves, with a swimming stop at Lokrum. The best perspective on Dubrovnik. → Chap. Old Town
4. Lokrum Island — Ten minutes by ferry to the car-free paradise island: botanical garden, Game of Thrones throne, rocky bathing spots, and the small Dead Sea. → Chap. Old Town
5. Game of Thrones Tour — Experience the filming locations of Kings Landing live: the Jesuit staircase (Cersei Walk of Shame), Fort Lovrijenac (Red Keep), the walls (Battle of Blackwater). → Chap. Old Town
6. Oysters in Ston — Fresh oysters straight from the sea in the Bay of Mali Ston: the best oysters of the Adriatic, served by the water with lemon and white wine. → Chap. Surroundings
7. Stradun at Night — In the evening, when the cruise guests are gone, Stradun transforms into a magical place: warmly lit facades, jazz from the bars, the sound of footsteps on marble. → Chap. Old Town
8. Cliff Bar Buža — A bar in the cliffs of the city wall, without a sign, without a roof — just rocks, cocktails, and the view of the open sea. Unforgettable at sunset. → Chap. Old Town
9. Fort Lovrijenac — The fortress on the rocky outcrop west of the Old Town, Dubrovnik's Gibraltar: meter-thick walls, panoramic views, and Shakespeare performances in summer. → Chap. Old Town
10. Elaphite Islands by Boat — Island hopping to Lopud (Šunj sandy beach), Koločep (caves), and Šipan (olive groves and wine). A perfect day trip. → Chap. Elaphites
11. Eating Black Risotto — Crni rižot: risotto with squid and its ink — pitch black, creamy, and umami. The national dish of the Dalmatian coast. → Chap. Understand
12. Cliff Jumping at Buža Bar — Jumping from the rocks below the city wall into the crystal-clear Adriatic water. Not for the faint-hearted, but an adrenaline rush. → Chap. Old Town
13. Day Trip to Montenegro — The Bay of Kotor, one of Europe's most beautiful fjords, is just 45 minutes away. Kotor, Perast, and the island of Gospa od Škrpjela await. → Chap. Surroundings
14. Wine on Pelješac — The Pelješac Peninsula is Croatia's best wine-growing region: taste Dingač and Postup (Plavac Mali) directly at the winery, with views of steep coastal slopes. → Chap. Surroundings
15. Morning Market in Gundulićeva Poljana — The small market square in the heart of the Old Town: fresh fruit, lavender sachets, honey, olive oil, and the authentic Dubrovnik away from the tourist crowds. → Chap. Old Town