5 great things to see and do in Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is the centerpiece of any trip to Croatia. It’s a harbor city on the Adriatic coast with a magnificent walled Old Town. Dubrovnik was a small supply port called Ragusa during the medieval age of sailing, but today it is one of the Balkans’ top attractions.
Old Town Course #1
PRIVATE TOUR: Highlights & Hidden Gems of Dubrovnik With Locals
Stradun Street At the junction with the old harbor is Dubrovnik Cathedral. It’s the largest church in the city and was built in the 12th century with a donation from Richard, King of England. It was destroyed in the great earthquakes that hit the Balkans in the Middle Ages, but was rebuilt. The interior is famous for its paintings depicting the Ascension of the Virgin. You can usually get a bird’s eye view of its magnificent facade by climbing the Dubrovnik walls.
Also worth seeing are the Franciscan Monastery, famous for its pharmacy, the Dominican Monastery, which resembles a huge religious art museum, and the Rector’s Palace, which was home to the highest ruler of the Balkans in the 13th century. At the western end of the boulevard is the Onoprios Fountain, which is more of a water fountain than a fountain. The water is quite cool, and travelers often take a drink here.
Stradun Street
Stradun Street is a boulevard that runs right through the center of Dubrovnik’s Old Town. Most travelers to Dubrovnik spend several days walking up and down this street to see the sights. In other words, organizing your trip around Stradun makes it easy to explore Dubrovnik’s Old Town.
The boulevard starts at the eastern end, where the old harbor is located, and ends at the western end, where the Onofrios Fountain is located. At a brisk adult male pace along the straight streets, you can cover it in about 10 to 15 minutes. As Dubrovnik’s main street, the area around Stradun is lined with atmospheric cafes, restaurants, and souvenir shops.
The monasteries, palaces, cathedrals, and walls of the former seafaring port of Ragusa have been preserved, making it feel like you’ve stepped back in time to the Middle Ages. At certain times of the day, guards and military bands dressed in medieval regalia pass by, putting on a spectacular performance.
Franciscan Monastery and Church
A monastery founded by the Franciscans in the 14th century. It is located at the western entrance to Stradun Boulevard. It is said that St. Francis of Assisi, Italy, visited the monastery in the early 13th century and was so impressed by it that he practiced his ministry here. Although it was damaged by a major earthquake and World War II, it still retains much of its original splendor. The Pieta sculpture above the main entrance is a particular highlight. The Franciscan Monastery is famous for the Mala Bracha pharmacy at the entrance. It’s now the oldest pharmacy in the world and is popular for its rose cream and other traditional creams.
Dominican Monastery and Church, a huge religious art museum
A monastery founded by the Dominicans in the 15th century. Located at the eastern end of Stradun Boulevard, it’s a mix of Renaissance and Gothic styles. Titian’s masterpiece St. Mary Magdalene near the altar is a must-see. The interior is now used as a religious art museum, with many works by artists of the Age of Exploration. The library houses a copy of Thomas Aquinas’ “Thomas’ Reply to Paul’s Letter” by the world-renowned theologian.
Dubrovnik Old Port
Just east of the Old Town, through the Ponta Gate, you’ll find a pretty nice harbor. While the new town has the Dubrovnik harbor with its large ferries, this is where merchant ships used to come and go during the Age of Sail. Today, only boats traveling to and from the neighboring island of Lokrum and small fishing boats use the harbor. The island of Lokrum is famous as a filming location for the popular American TV series Game of Thrones. It’s worth a visit if you’re a fan of the show. The breakwater behind the harbor walls is one of Dubrovnik’s best-kept secrets, where you can enjoy the Adriatic Sea. The waves are relatively calm, so you can swim in the sea, and there are small concerts in the evenings.
Dubrovnik Cathedral
Dubrovnik’s largest cathedral. It’s called the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin. It was built in the 12th century with a donation from King Richard of England. Like the city walls, it was destroyed in a major earthquake in the late 15th century, but was later rebuilt in a Baroque style. One surprise was the discovery of the ruins of an ancient church that was probably built before the 12th-century construction of the cathedral. The current church was built three times: in the 7th, 12th, and 18th centuries. The magnificent domed roof is a sight to behold, but don’t miss the ‘Assumption of the Virgin’ painting inside. The museum inside the church houses relics of St. Bryce. If you want to get a bird’s-eye view of its magnificent facade, you should climb the walls of Dubrovnik
Rector’s Palace
A palace built in the early 13th century. It was the residence of the Rector, the supreme ruler of the time, and consisted of an office, drawing room, armory, and prison. The person chosen as “Rector” had to stay here for the duration of his tenure.
It has been renovated several times, including during earthquakes and wars, and is a mix of different architectural styles. The view of Dubrovnik Cathedral from the second floor is spectacular.
The second floor of the palace is a museum and the courtyard is used for performances. Please note that photography is prohibited inside the palace.
Old Town Course #2
Pile Gate -Placa Street – Gunduliceva Poljana Market – Ploče Gate
Dubrovnik Discovery Old Town Walking Tour
Pile Gate
Dubrovnik is Croatia’s flagship tourist city. From its beautiful harbor to its mysterious limestone mountains, it has a lot to offer. But it’s most famous for one reason: it’s a step back in time to the Middle Ages in the Old Town.
The main gate of the Old Town, the Pile Gate. The largest entrance and the center of tourism in the Old Town, it’s the perfect place to start your tour of the Old Town. It’s always crowded, with tourist information centers and one-day tours meeting points.
Start your journey back in time to the Middle Ages at the Fillet Gate.
Placa Street (Placa Stradun)
After passing through the Fillet Gate, you’ll find yourself on Placa Street, the center of Dubrovnik’s Old Town. It runs through the Old Town from east to west, and it’s no exaggeration to say that all the sightseeing spots in the Old Town are connected to Placa Street. The boulevard is dotted with small alleys where you can find hidden cafes, bakeries, and restaurants.
Enjoy the exotic atmosphere created by the white sidewalks and the historic buildings flanking them.
Gunduliceva Poljana Market
If you continue along Plača boulevard, you’ll find Dubrovnik’s oldest market, Gunduliceva Poljana Market. This small market is held every morning in Gundulic Square and sells everything from fruits and vegetables to groceries and specialties such as cheese and spices.
The market is open from morning to noon, so we recommend starting your sightseeing early in the morning to get the most out of your visit.
Ploče Gate
When you’re done exploring the Old Town, head to the Ploče Gate, the eastern entrance to the Old Town. It’s smaller than the Pile Gate, but equally as majestic. It’s less crowded than Pile Gate, so it’s a great place to start a leisurely tour of the city walls.
Dubrovnik Ancient Walls, full of romance
Ancient City Walls & Wars Walking Tour
A 180-degree turn in time as you pass through the Fillet Gate
In the city and on the walls that surround it. See Dubrovnik from different perspectives. You’ll be sure to enjoy a romantic day in the white medieval city.
There are two main ways to get a bird’s eye view of Dubrovnik’s Old Town. The first is to climb to the observation deck on Mount Srđi, and the second is to climb the Dubrovnik city walls and make a big circle. Both promise great views, so if you have enough time, I recommend doing both.
Travelers prefer the entrance with the Onoprios Fountain. This is because it offers a panoramic view of the long stretch of Stradun Boulevard. Afterward, turn counterclockwise along the city walls and you’ll see the azure Adriatic Sea. The red color of the Adriatic Sea and the red roofs of the Old Town is overwhelming.
Near the city walls, with a panoramic view of the Adriatic, is the “rich man’s cafe”, which has become famous among travelers in recent years. If you come here in the summer, you’ll be walking under the scorching sun with no shade. Be sure to bring sunglasses, sunscreen, and long sleeves to protect your eyes and skin.
Take the cable car up Mount Srđi
Dubrovnik Shore Excursion: Explore Dubrovnik by Cable Car (ticket included)
If you want a panoramic view of Dubrovnik’s Old Town and the azure Adriatic Sea, you can climb Mount Srđi. There are two ways to get to the observation deck: on foot or by cable car. The cable car is the obvious choice for most travelers. After about 10 minutes on the cable car, you’ll reach the observatory.
It’s a great place to visit during the day, but we recommend going up at sunset. This is because you can see the view during the day, sunset, magic hour, and night view. Magic hour is the magical time when the sky turns blue for about 30 minutes right after sunset. This is the most photogenic time of the day. If you time it right, you’ll be able to snap a photo with the Adriatic Sea and Dubrovnik’s Old Town in the background, and you’ll get something close to a masterpiece.
You can also take the cable car back down from the top of Mount Srđi and visit Dubrovnik’s old harbor nearby. Once a supply port named Ragusa, it was a hub for merchant ships large and small during the Age of Sail. Nowadays, a new harbor has been built nearby and most ships depart from there. Only boats traveling to and from the neighboring island of Lokrum leave from here. Behind the harbor walls, near the breakwater, there is a hidden spot where you can enjoy a drink while looking out over the Adriatic.
Banje Beach
Dubrovnik Kayak Rental on Banje Beach
From the blue Adriatic to the white Old Town to the red sunsets, Dubrovnik has it all.
Make the most of your day with a more relaxed itinerary.
Drive through the old town and pass through the Ploce Gate to find Banye Beach. Located right near the Old Town, it’s a favorite among locals and tourists alike, as it’s an easy way to combine sightseeing and swimming. The combination of the Old Town walls, the blue Adriatic Sea, and Lokrum Island is mesmerizing.
