A short history of Dubrovnik
Fort Imperial · Photo: Bracodbk, CC BY-SA 3.0Look at the shiny stones of Stradun early in the morning, polished by centuries of footsteps. The facades on both sides of the street look alike because after the 1667 earthquake the city was largely rebuilt to the same plan.
For centuries Dubrovnik was an independent merchant city under the name of the Republic of Ragusa. You still see the word "Libertas" from its flag everywhere, and the Rector's Palace was where the republic was governed. The republic came to an end in 1808 under Napoleon. The walls, around 2 km long, survive almost complete.
In 1991 and 1992 the city was shelled and the roofs of the old town were badly damaged. A map beside Pile Gate marks the places that were hit, and a museum in Fort Imperial on Srđ hill covers those years. UNESCO added the walled city to its World Heritage list in 1979.
Dubrovnik neighbourhoods
Babin Kuk, at the western tip of the Lapad peninsula, is the area of large hotels and Copacabana beach. It is practical for families who want to swim by day and take the bus into the old town in the evening.
Boninovo, on the slope between the centre and the peninsula, is a more everyday Dubrovnik of apartment blocks and quiet streets. Steps lead down to the rocky coves below.
Take the cable car up Srđ hill and you get the walls, Lokrum and the islands in a single frame, with sunset the busiest hour. Zaton, to the north, is a quiet village of fish restaurants around a small bay, a nice evening out if you have a car. Cavtat, to the south-east and also reachable by boat, is a small town with its own harbour and pine-covered peninsula, good if you want to escape the crowds.
Where to stay
- Old Town: Inside the walls, with everything on foot.
- Ploče: Just outside the east gate, with old town views.
- Lapad: Beaches and a seafront promenade, 15 minutes from the centre by bus.
- Gruž: Near the ferry port and bus station, cheaper.
- Pile: The old town’s west gate, which is where the buses stop.
When to visit Dubrovnik
In Dubrovnik the crowds decide the season. In July and August it is 28-32 °C and the sea is warm, but the narrow streets and the walls are packed around midday. On days when cruise ships call, the old town is at its most crowded, so checking the ship schedule helps.
For most people the best balance comes in May to June and September to October. The sea stays warm enough to swim until early October, and prices ease a little. The Dubrovnik Summer Festival, from 10 July to 25 August, brings open-air theatre and concerts, and accommodation is at its most expensive then.
In winter temperatures are 8-14 °C and many restaurants and boat services close. The feast of Saint Blaise on 3 February is the day the city celebrates its patron saint and locals pour into the streets.
Food culture in Dubrovnik
On the coast the menu comes from the sea. Black risotto made with cuttlefish ink, grilled fish and oysters from Ston to the north-west are the dishes you will see most often. Meat eaters have Dalmatian pašticada and peka, cooked over embers under a bell-shaped lid, and in most places peka has to be ordered a day ahead.
For dessert there is rozata, a crème caramel scented with rose liqueur. In wine, the reds of the Pelješac peninsula stand out, especially those made from the Plavac Mali grape.
To be honest, prices inside the walls are inflated and quality varies. Move a street or two away from Stradun, or over towards Gruž, and you will find more reasonable options. Lunch is 12:00-15:00 and dinner after 19:00. If the service is good, a tip of around 10 percent is enough.
Dubrovnik trip budget
Dubrovnik is Croatia's most expensive city, and accepting that from the start makes things easier. The currency is the euro. For someone in a hostel or rented room buying from supermarkets, a day runs to about 90-130 € in 2026, with a mid-range hotel and restaurants 200-300 €, and on a comfortable summer trip 450 € and up.
In 2026 the city walls ticket costs roughly 35-45 €, while the Dubrovnik Pass, which covers the walls plus several museums and buses, is worth doing the sums on. A single ride on Libertas buses is 2-3 €, and the Srđ cable car around 25-30 € return.
Walking Stradun, sitting in the pine shade of Gradac Park and swimming at the public beaches are free. The edge of the Old Port in the late afternoon is a view that costs nothing too.
Prices are approximate as of October 2026.
Hidden gems and overlooked spots in Dubrovnik
- Pile Gate — Through the western gate with its drawbridge you step into the old town, and Stradun starts here. (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Large Onofrio's Fountain — Domed 15th-century fountain just inside Pile Gate, with water flowing from carved masks. (visit ≈ 10 min)
- Lokrum Island — Short boat ride to an island of peacocks, a small 'Dead Sea' lake and monastery ruins. (visit ≈ 180 min)
- Old Port — A small harbour sheltered by the walls, where boats leave for the islands and evening walks are pleasant. (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Lapad Peninsula — Escape from the old town with pine-wooded trails, quiet coves and a seaside promenade. (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Mljet National Park — A wooded island reached by ferry, where an old monastery sits on an islet in the saltwater lakes. (visit ≈ 420 min)
- Lopud (Elaphiti Islands) — Car-free little island with Šunj sandy beach and old monasteries, an easy ferry day trip from Dubrovnik. (visit ≈ 300 min)
- Gradac Park — A quiet clifftop park in pine shade just west of Pile Gate, looking across to Lovrijenac and the walls. (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Rupe Ethnographic Museum — An old granary with huge grain pits cut into the rock, now telling the story of the region's rural life and crafts. (visit ≈ 40 min)
- Trsteno Arboretum — A Renaissance garden above the sea in a village to the north, with ancient plane trees, a fountain and terraces known from TV filming. (visit ≈ 90 min)
- Cavtat — To the south-east and also reachable by boat, this little harbour town has a walk round its pine-covered peninsula and quiet coves. (visit ≈ 180 min)
Getting from the airport to Dubrovnik
- Dubrovnik (DBV): Airport shuttle bus ≈ 30 min
Getting around
The old town is car-free; Libertas buses run from Pile Gate to Lapad and Gruž. In summer go early in the morning.
Classic places to eat
- Proto: Seafood since 1886.
- Lokanda Peskarija: Mussels and squid in pots by the old harbour.
- Taj Mahal: Bosnian cooking in the old town.
- Buža Bar: A bar on the rocks outside the walls, facing the sea.
- Gradska Kavana Arsenal: The city’s historic café in the old arsenal.
- Kopun: Dubrovnik dishes on a quiet square.
- Dolce Vita: Ice cream in the old town.
MICHELIN-starred restaurants
Last known stars; check the MICHELIN Guide before you go.
- 360 — 1 MICHELIN star, Modern Mediterranean
Romantic views
- Mount Srđ (Sunset): The old town and islands from the cable-car hill.
- Fort Lovrijenac (Sunset): Views of the walls from the cliff-top fortress.
- Stradun (Evening): The shiny stone main street in the evening lights.
- Banje Beach (Daytime): A beach facing the old town walls.
Good to know before visiting Dubrovnik
- Fine: Dubrovnik, Split and Hvar fine walking around town in swimwear or shirtless.
- Fine: Street drinking is fined in places like Split and Hvar.
- Warning: Some rural areas still have marked wartime minefields; stay on marked paths.
- Warning: Drones need registration and permits; Dubrovnik's old town is restricted.
- Cover shoulders and knees in churches and monasteries.
- The currency is the euro; a per-night tourist tax is charged on stays.
- Emergency: 112 (police 192, ambulance 194, fire 193)
- Plugs: C/F, 230V
- Tap water: Tap water is safe to drink.
- Tipping: Tipping is optional; around 10% is common.
Sources: UK FCDO — Foreign travel advice: Croatia, Wikivoyage — Croatia, T.C. Dışişleri Bakanlığı — Türk vatandaşlarının tabi olduğu vize uygulamaları · For information only; rules change, check official sources before you go. Last checked: 2026-10
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