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Dubrovnik old town seen from Mount Srđ

Coast guide · Dubrovnik & the south

Dubrovnik: Our Favourites

The pearl of the Adriatic: the city walls, the Stradun, palaces and forts, Lokrum and Cavtat, our favourite restaurants including MICHELIN-starred 360, beaches, the cliff bar Buža and the best hotels, with the full story of the republic.

Coast feature

Dubrovnik: the republic of liberty

By the ULTIMATE Zagreb Editorial Team

For centuries this small city of stone, wrapped in walls above the sea, was an independent republic that lived by trade and diplomacy. Today it is one of the most beautiful places on the Mediterranean.

Dubrovnik old town seen from Mount Srđ
Dubrovnik old town seen from Mount Srđ
The Stradun in Dubrovnik at night
The Stradun in Dubrovnik at night
Fort Lovrijenac above the sea in Dubrovnik
Fort Lovrijenac above the sea in Dubrovnik
Read the full storyClose the story

Walk the walls, stroll the polished Stradun, visit the palaces of the old republic and escape to the island of Lokrum or the harbour town of Cavtat.

Read the full back story below, then explore our favourite places to see, eat, drink, swim and stay.

Area

The back story

  1. The back story

    Dubrovnik: the back story

    Old Town·In depth: history

    The pearl of the Adriatic: how a small city-state of merchants and diplomats built some of the finest walls in Europe and kept its freedom for centuries.

    Explore View on map

Things to see

  1. Walk the walls

    City Walls

    Old Town·Walls·Ticket

    The great walls around the old town, almost two kilometres long, with towers, forts and views over the roofs and the sea.

    Explore View on map

  2. The polished main street

    The Stradun

    Old Town·Main street

    The long, shining limestone main street of the old town, from Pile Gate to the Clock Tower, rebuilt in Baroque style after 1667.

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  3. The main entrance

    Pile Gate

    Old Town·City gate

    The western gate of the old town, with a drawbridge and a statue of St Blaise, the city’s patron saint.

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  4. The seat of the republic

    Rector’s Palace

    Old Town·Palace & museum·Ticket

    The Gothic-Renaissance palace where the Rector of the republic lived and governed, now the Cultural History Museum.

    Explore View on map

  5. An ancient pharmacy

    Franciscan Monastery

    Old Town·Monastery·Ticket

    A monastery near Pile Gate with a beautiful 14th-century cloister and one of the oldest pharmacies in Europe.

    Explore View on map

  6. Survived the earthquake

    Sponza Palace

    Old Town·Palace & archives

    A Gothic-Renaissance palace at the end of the Stradun that survived the earthquake of 1667, home of the city archives.

    Placa 2Explore View on map

  7. Treasury of relics

    Dubrovnik Cathedral

    Old Town·Cathedral

    The Baroque cathedral of the Assumption, rebuilt after 1667, with a treasury of relics including those of St Blaise.

    Ulica kneza Damjana Jude 1Explore View on map

  8. The fortress on the rock

    Fort Lovrijenac

    Pile·Fortress·Ticket

    A fortress on a rock outside the walls, west of Pile Gate, a stage for theatre during the Dubrovnik Summer Festival.

    Explore View on map

  9. Sunset over the city

    Dubrovnik Cable Car

    Srđ·Cable car·Ticket

    A cable car from just above the old town to the top of Mount Srđ, with a famous view over Dubrovnik and the islands.

    Explore View on map

  10. An island escape

    Lokrum

    Lokrum·Island nature reserve·Ticket

    A green, car-free island a short boat ride from the old harbour, with gardens, a ruined monastery, peacocks and swimming spots.

    Explore View on map

  11. A quieter base

    Cavtat

    Cavtat·Seaside town

    A charming seaside town south of Dubrovnik, with a palm-lined harbour and the Račić Mausoleum by Ivan Meštrović.

    Explore View on map

  12. A Renaissance garden

    Trsteno Arboretum

    Trsteno·Garden·Ticket

    A historic garden on the coast north of Dubrovnik, created by a noble family of the republic.

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Where to eat

  1. MICHELIN Star

    360

    Old Town·Contemporary·€€€€

    Dubrovnik’s MICHELIN-starred restaurant, on the city walls by the old harbour.

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  2. Bib Gourmand

    Taj Mahal

    Old Town·Bosnian·€€

    A small restaurant in the old town serving Bosnian dishes, with a Bib Gourmand from the MICHELIN Guide.

    Explore View on map

  3. Terraces over the sea

    Nautika

    Pile·Fine dining·€€€€

    An elegant restaurant just outside Pile Gate, with terraces looking over the sea to Fort Lovrijenac.

    Explore View on map

  4. At the top of the cable car

    Panorama

    Srđ·Restaurant & bar·€€€

    A restaurant and bar at the top of the cable car on Mount Srđ, with a famous view over the city.

    Explore View on map

  5. Seafood classic

    Proto

    Old Town·Seafood·€€€

    A long-established seafood restaurant just off the Stradun.

    ŠirokaExplore View on map

  6. By the old harbour

    Lokanda Peskarija

    Old Town·Seafood·€€

    A popular, relaxed seafood restaurant by the old harbour.

    Explore View on map

  7. A local favourite

    Pantarul

    Lapad·Modern Dalmatian·€€

    A modern Dalmatian restaurant in Lapad, popular with locals.

    Ulica Kralja Tomislava 1Explore View on map

  8. Traditional dishes

    Kopun

    Old Town·Dalmatian·€€€

    A restaurant on a quiet square in the old town, cooking traditional Dubrovnik dishes.

    Poljana Ruđera Boškovića 7Explore View on map

  9. Near Pile

    Sesame

    Pile·Mediterranean·€€

    A cosy restaurant just outside the old town, near Pile.

    Dante Alighieria 2Explore View on map

Bars

  1. A bar on the cliffs

    Buža

    Old Town·Cliff bar·€€

    A bar on the rocks outside the city walls, reached through a hole in the wall, with sunset views and swimming.

    Crijevićeva 9Explore View on map

Beaches

  1. Beside the old town

    Banje Beach

    Ploče·Beach

    The city beach just east of the old town, with views of the walls and Lokrum.

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  2. Family beach

    Lapad Bay

    Lapad·Beach

    A sheltered bay on the Lapad peninsula, with a beach, a promenade and cafés.

    Explore View on map

Where to stay

  1. Views of the old town

    Excelsior

    Ploče·Luxury hotel·€€€€

    A classic luxury hotel east of the old town, with views of the walls and Lokrum.

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  2. On the cliffs

    Villa Dubrovnik

    Ploče·Luxury hotel·€€€€

    A boutique luxury hotel built into the cliffs east of the old town, home of the restaurant Pjerin.

    Vlaha Bukovca 6Explore View on map

  3. Beside Pile Gate

    Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik

    Pile·Hotel·€€€€

    A historic hotel just outside Pile Gate.

    Ulica Marijana Blažića 2Explore View on map

  4. Inside the walls

    The Pucić Palace

    Old Town·Boutique hotel·€€€€

    A boutique hotel in a noble palace inside the old town.

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  5. On the cliffs

    Hotel Bellevue

    Lapad·Hotel·€€€€

    A hotel built into the cliffs above a small bay west of the old town.

    Ulica Pera Čingrije 7Explore View on map

  6. Resort and spa

    Rixos Premium Dubrovnik

    Lapad·Resort hotel·€€€€

    A large resort hotel on the cliffs west of the old town, with a spa.

    Explore View on map

Share your Dubrovnik experience

Been to Dubrovnik? Share your favourite places and tips with other visitors.

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