Dubrovnik

Overview

Dubrovnik's Old Town is a UNESCO-listed maze of marble streets, Baroque churches, and a full loop of medieval walls you can walk in about two hours. It gets busy - this is peak Adriatic real estate - but the city's structure rewards a bit of planning: see the main sights early, then use the surrounding coast and islands to spread out.

Getting There

Dubrovnik Airport (DBV) connects to major European cities seasonally in high volume; a shuttle or taxi covers the 25-minute ride into town. Ferries also link Dubrovnik to nearby islands and up the coast toward Split.

Top Experiences

• Walk the full City Walls loop right at opening, before both the heat and the crowds build
• Take the cable car up Mount Srd for a panoramic view over the Old Town and the Adriatic
• Ferry to Lokrum Island, a short ride away, for swimming and shaded walking trails without the Old Town crowds
• Watch sunset from the Buza Bar, built into the cliffs just outside the city walls

Local tip: Check the cruise ship schedule the night before - when two or three ships are in port, the Old Town's main street gets genuinely difficult to move through by mid-morning.

Food to Try

Seafood dominates, unsurprisingly - try black risotto (made with cuttlefish ink), fresh grilled fish by weight, and a glass of local Croatian white wine from the Peljesac peninsula.

Practical Info

• Currency: Euro (EUR)
• Getting around: The Old Town is pedestrian-only and walkable; buses cover the rest of the city
• Booking ahead: City Walls tickets and popular restaurants should be booked in summer
• Footwear: The marble streets get slippery when wet - skip anything without grip