Dubrovnik

1. Lovrijenac: One of the most impressive locations in Dubrovnik, the Lovrijenac fortress is built upon a 37-metre high sheer rock structure. Watch this triangle-shaped fortress overlooking the sea built right at the cliff, and learn about the reasons for its importance in Croatia’s defence from the sea.

If you are a Game of Thrones fan, you might recognize this iconic fort as it has appeared in many scenes. Club this fort with many other iconic attractions with the Game of Thrones tour. You can also admire this 1000-year-old historical site; as it is now a prime destination for many plays. 

Location: Ul. od Tabakarije 29, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia

Timings: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Entry fees: 50 - 200 Kuna

2. Walls of Dubrovnik: One of the major attractions of Dubrovnik’s old town is the quite distinctive walls of Dubrovnik in the surrounding area. These walls are home to 6 major fortresses of the city including Lovrijenac, Revelin, Minceta, Bokar, St Lucas and St John. Each and every fortress aligned inside the wall, can be discovered and admired with a well guided tour and known for its history of the country Croatia. The walls provide some of the best views in the city as they overlook the vast sea.

Timings: 08:00 PM to 07:30 PM

Entry fees: 50 - 200 Kuna

3. The Cathedral of the Assumption: One of the most famous Roman Catholic cathedral in Dubrovnik is the Cathedral of Assumption. While it was destroyed in the catastrophic Croatian earthquake of 1667, it has been rebuilt and restored to its former glory.

The primary attractions here include the altar of St John of Nepomuk which is carved out of violet marble. Marvel at the huge collection of religious paintings housed inside the museum including the most prominent one - the Assumption of the Virgin.

Location: Ul. kneza Damjana Jude 1, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia

Timings: Monday - Saturday: 9 AM to 5 PM, Sunday: 11 AM to 5 PM 

4. Sponza Palace: A sublime example of gothic and renaissance architecture, the Sponza Palace is renowned to be one of the most gorgeous palaces in the city of Dubrovnik. It is one of the only few buildings that could survive the earthquake of 1667. You can admire this home to a memorial dedicated to the Croatian war of Independence.

On the modern floor, you can also get a sneak peek at the most significant documents related to Croatian history. Art connoisseurs would also want to visit this palace as it also serves as one of the hotspots to host events and exhibitions. You can admire the neatly curated museum in the palace which is home to many state archives and a 1000-year-old collection of manuscripts.

Location: Stradun 2, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia

Timings: 8 AM to 6 PM

5. Franciscan Church and Monastery: Franciscan church is considered to be one of the largest and grandest Franciscan monasteries in the entire world. Renowned for its Baroque architecture, this monastery is also home to a pharmacy which dates back to 1317.

If you are a curious history buff, you will be amazed by the friary, church, pharmacy and a library inside. At the Placa, here you can witness many artefacts in the Pharmacy including an array of old jars, grinders, and tools that were used to make medicines in former times. 

Location: Poljana Paska Milicevica 4, 20000, Dubrovnik

Timings: 9 AM to 6 PM

6. Rector’s Palace: Built in the late 15th century, the Rector’s palace used to serve as the residential palace of the then Rector of Croatia. Built in gothic-renaissance architectural style, the palace contains his office and private chambers. In modern times, the palace has been turned into a Cultural History museum, with artefacts related to mediaeval and ancient Croatian history on display. 

Visitors here can marvel at the restored rooms which are rather artful and contain portraits, coats of coins and arms that date back hundreds of years ago.  On some days, the hall also hosts various concerts and lively events, in which you can partake to have entertainment. 

Location: Ul. Pred Dvorom 3, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia

Timings: 9 AM to 6 PM

Entry fees: 50  - 100 Kuna

7. Red History Museum: If you wish to know all about Croatia’s modern history, this is the place to be as this interactive museum is entirely dedicated to how life was in Croatia under the communist rule. There are several large rooms inside the museum with numerous artefacts from the said period. Interactive displays and multimedia are also utilised to provide a fun learning experience. The museum also features talks, workshops, film projections and a small library.

Location: Ul. Svetog Križa 3, 20000, Dubrovnik

Timings: 9 AM to 10 PM

Entry fees: 50 Kuna 

 

8. Fort Imperial: Learn more about Croatia’s renowned defence by exploring the Fort Imperial which played a rather crucial role for Croatia during the Homeland war. Situated right adjacent to the scene of the fierce battles the palace delves deeper into Croatia’s famed war history.

You can admire the dedicated museum inside the fort which showcases the defence prowess of Croatia. If you visit this fort during the end of the day, you can catch one of the most beautiful sunsets and panoramic skyline vistas. You will have to take a cable car, one of the most interesting highlights of the place.  

Location: Srd ul. 2, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia

Entry fees: 15 - 30 Kuna

1. Wander around Old City Walls: Stroll through the coastal city of Dubrovnik surrounded by old yet majestic walls – a feature that proved to be a boon during Croatia’s defence against its invaders. You can partake in several dedicated walking tours of these magnificent walls which ideally last for around 2 hours. Learn and know deeply about the Croatian history and war mechanisms, as you wander in the old city walls. You can also relish in some gorgeous vistas as you embark on the journey.

Location: Main entrance is right outside Pile Gate

Timings: 08:00 PM to 07:30 PM

Entry fees: 50 - 200 Kuna

2. Walk through Stradun: Explore Stradun or Placa as it is locally known, which is also one of the busiest streets in the city. Go on the thrilling walk on this 300m long main road which begins from the Pile gate on the western front and ends at the Ploce gate. Strolling along this stretch made out of marble tiles is possibly the best way to take a deep dive into Croatian history. You can admire many iconic landmarks that fall on this street like Onofrio’s fountain, Franciscan museum and Dominican monastery.

3. Explore Dubrovnik Cathedral and treasury: Know this Baroque assumption of the Virgin Mary cathedral, a perfect place for history buffs that dates back to the 12th century. Apart from marvelling at its gorgeous architecture, you can also visit the treasury inside the cathedral which is one of the key highlights of the city.

This treasury is home to 132 relics sourced from several saints from the 11th to 19th century. Most prominent relics include the gold-plated skull, leg and arm of Saint Blaise and a piece of the true cross.

Location: Ul. kneza Damjana Jude 1, 20000, Dubrovnik

Timings: Summer: 9 AM to 5 PM

                Winter: 10 AM to 12 PM, 3 PM to 5 PM

Entry fees: 5 - 15 Kuna. 

 

4. Discover Loggia Square: Indulge in the true essence of Croatia by discovering the Square of the Loggia, yet another busiest place of the city of Dubrovnik. You can admire the various monuments for its architectural splendour including a mediaeval bell tower that is from the 15th century.

Other landmarks that you can explore while walking through the Loggia square are – catholic church of Saint Blaise, the old city hall. One can also spend some quality time at the cosy traditional restaurants here.

Location: 20000, Dubrovnik

5. Visit Fort Lovrijenac: Bask in the glorious history of Croatia as you indulge in the learning experience of knowing about Fort Lovrijenac. You can relish in some of the best views this city has to offer when you visit the fort. Perched on a cliff, overlooking the sea, the fort offers some of the best vantage points in the city to marvel over the gorgeous vistas of the sea. You can also get mesmerised by the museum inside the fort that will reiterate why it played a pivotal role in Croatian defence during the Homeland war.

Location: Ul. od Tabakarije 29, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia

Timings: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Entry fees: 50 - 200 Kuna

6. Discover Rector’s Palace: Walk through the Rector’s palace, the main seat in Croatia during the Ragusa rule. Witness the magnificent palace, which has now turned into a cultural history museum after numerous constructions from time to time.

Wrapped in gothic architecture, this is one of the most interesting places to know about the history of Dubrovnik. Inside the palace, there is a museum that holds many special artefacts like paintings from old masters, coats of arms of many noble families, original keys of the city gates and more!

Location: Ul. Pred Dvorom 3, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia

Timings: 9 AM to 6 PM

Entry fees: 50 - 100 Kuna

1. Take the Cable Car up to Mount Srd: Dubrovnik is a very scenic city and if you wish to marvel at the best views of the city and the surrounding areas with your partner, taking a cable car to mount Srd is your best bet. On clear days, it is believed that you can see up to 60 kilometres of panoramic views, making up for a perfect date evening with your loved one. 

2. Enjoy a Private Boat Trip: The waters of Dubrovnik are considered to be truly extraordinary as you can explore small islands, caves and coves with your beloved. Whether you wish to simply relax in the crystal clear sea or aim to escape the urban hustle bustle with your partner, one of the private boat excursions is bound to excite you. Major attractions that will be covered during boat rides include the three Elaphite islands, Panorama cruise, Mljet’s national park and more.

3. Visit Gradac Park: Gradac park is one of the best places in Dubrovnik if you wish to spend some time in the tranquil and beautiful nature with your partner. It is built on top of the cliffs that outline the Dance beach, providing surreal views of the sea. There are numerous beaches that you can go to after strolling in the park with your loved one. 

4. Explore Betina Cave Beach: A beautiful pebble beach located in a picturesque cave, it is renowned for its unusual shape and clear sea. Since the beach is not accessible by land, it remains isolated most of the time, giving you some quality time with your partner. This makes it one of the best places for couples to enjoy their privacy and enjoy the surreal natural beauty at the same time.

By Air: Take on the frequent flights to the capital city of Zagreb, or directly to the international airport of Croatia called the Cilipi Airport to reach Dubrovnik. 

By road: Dubrovnik is very well connected to all the major cities of Croatia. Some of the popular highways that go through Dubrovnik include the likes of A1, A11, A7 and A8 motorways. 

By train: Direct trains are available from Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Germany and the Czech Republic. Ploce is the closest railway station to Dubrovnik and is the most popular one as well.

If you wish to explore Dubrovnik for a week, budget travel would cost 6,505 Croatian Kuna while if you wish to up the luxury ante, the budget can be around 38,266 Croatian Kuna. 

1. Locals of Dubrovnik dress casually but stylishly at the same time. Pack accordingly and consider packing in beachwear as well.

2. Book stays in advance because it might get a little too crowded during the peak season.