Dubrovnik
Rising high above the turquoise Adriatic, backed by the rugged heights of Mt Srđ, Dubrovnik lies within sturdy medieval walls, complete with crenelated towers. The former Republic of Ragusa (1358-1808), Dubrovnik is endowed with a fascinating and sophisticated past.
Dubrovnik’s greatest museum is arguably the city itself – a living, breathing, labyrinthine slab of more than a thousand years of history, enclosed within some of the most stunningly well-preserved medieval fortifications anywhere on the Mediterranean. However Dubrovnik also has several excellent museums, which are well worth visiting in their own right – ranging from modern and contemporary art to Socialism, and from folk costumes to photojournalism.
Croatia's best known and most glamorous destination, Dubrovnik is an absolute gem. The Unesco-listed old town, protected by magnificent medieval fortifications, is a huddle of paved piazzas, cobbled alleys and noble stone buildings, taking you back through the centuries. Beyond the walls, pebble beaches backed by fragrant pinewoods give onto the turquoise Adriatic.
Most visitors swarm to Dubrovnik’s exquisitely preserved old town, set within its UNESCO-listed city walls. But at some point, you’ll want to escape the tourist crowds and the Mediterranean sun, and retreat to one of the city’s quiet green spaces, historic gardens or leafy parks.
Known as 'the pearl of the Adriatic' (or the King’s Landing to Game of Thrones fans), Dubrovnik is the single most popular destination in Croatia. The steep demand for this famously gorgeous city is reflected in its prices, which tend to be higher than elsewhere in the country.
Tucked between looming Mt Srđ and the turquoise waters of the Adriatic Sea, the historic city of Dubrovnik scores highly for its stunning natural setting. Covering some 21.35 sq km (8.25 sq miles), this small city is easy to navigate – the 13th-century old town acts as its nucleus, but Dubrovnik stretches northwest along the coast to include the resorts of Lapad and Babin Kuk on the peninsula.
