Dubrovnik

About
Climate
Getting there
Getting around
Things to do
Food
Shopping
National Holidays

Dubrovnik

One of the most-visited cities in the Adriatic, with monumental city-walls 1,940 meters long and 25 metres high, located at the foot of Srdj Mountain, Dubrovnik was inscribed on the list of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites in 1979. George Bernard Shaw was enchanted by this beautiful city, about which he said “those who seek paradise on Earth should come to Dubrovnik”, as well as, famously, describing it as “the pearl of the Adriatic”.
Originally called Ragusa, the city was founded in the 7th century as a refuge for coastal residents fleeing the advancing barbarians. The city thrived through extensive trade with other maritime ports such as Genoa, Pisa and Venice. Its continental trade networks also extended its reach into the Balkans with the Ottoman Empire. At the beginning of the 13th century, Dubrovnik fell under the control of the Venetian Republic.
From the 14th century trade with the local region flourished and the city also prospered industrially and culturally.
In 1667 Dubrovnik suffered a catastrophic earthquake which destroyed a large amount of Renaissance art and architecture in the city. The city was reconstructed in the baroque style that has survived intact until today. By the time Napoleon arrived in 1806, the city’s dominance as a Mediterranean hub trade faded. The Republic of Ragusa was officially dissolved in 1808. However, after Napoleon’s fall, Dubrovnik became part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1815, where it would remain until 1918.
After World War I, Dubrovnik became part of Croatia which was part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenians. After World war II, this became Yugoslavia. During 1990s civil war in Yugoslavia, Dubrovnik suffered some damage but the city has now been restored to its former beauty.
With massive walls punctuated with turrets, towers and gates enclosing streets, churches and palaces packed with art treasures, you will never run out of things to see and do in Dubrovnik. Beyond the walls, a hilly, indented coast and clear waters make Dubrovnik a prime resort destination.

Climate

Dubrovnik is one of the sunniest places in southern Europe. The town has a Mediterranean climate which traditionally has warm and dry summers and mild /cool and sometimes very wet winters. Summer, especially July and August are the "high season" months on the coast and on the islands with an average temperature of 28°C and an average sea temperature of 24°C.
The best time to visit Dubrovnik would be May, June, September, and October as the weather is still nice. The sea is warm (18-20°C), although it is not unusual for a couple of continuous days of rain accompanied by the southern wind "jugo". In September and October most of the cruise ships have abandoned the port, and the prices are a bit lower, although some services, such as ferries, may already operate by winter schedules.

Getting there

By Air: As Dubrovnik is the most southern city in Croatia, the most practical way to reach it is to do so by air, especially as there is a very good frequency of flights during the summer months.
Qatar Airways flies directly from major Australian cities via Doha to Dubrovnik from June to October. Emirates Airlines also operates seasonal summer routes between Dubai and Dubrovnik through Flydubai.
Dubrovnik is also very well connected with major European cities with direct flights from/to London, Dublin, Vienna, Paris, Frankfurt, Athens, Rome, Milan, Venice, Barcelona, and many others. Croatia Airlines have several daily flights a week from Zagreb to Dubrovnik.

By Bus: There is an international bus service from Trieste in Italy, which takes about 12 hours. There are also bus services to Dubrovnik from neighbouring Bosnia & Herzegovina and Montenegro.
Dubrovnik can also be reached by bus from Zagreb (which takes about 12 hours), Rijeka or Split.

By Ferry: An international ferry service from Bari runs from late March to late October (with a higher frequency in summer).
There is a fast catamaran option to Dubrovnik from Split, which takes 4.5 hours each way, and makes stops on the islands of Brac, Hvar, Korcula and Mljet en route. The service runs daily in peak summer (end of May to mid-October), and several times a week from the end of April and through to the end of October.

By Train: Dubrovnik cannot be reached by train – it does not have a train station.

By Car: If you choose to drive, then the recommended way is to follow the autobahn to Split and from Split continue to Dubrovnik following the Adriatic coast road which is single-carriageway and closely follows the coastline. The trip from Zagreb to Dubrovnik takes about 7 hours, and from Split to Dubrovnik about 3.5 to 4 hours.
Roads in Croatia during summertime tend to be overcrowded especially on border crossings, so please be aware of this. Allowed alcohol blood level content in Croatia is 0.0, and everything above is punishable by law.

Dubrovnik airport
Dubrovnik Airport is located in Cilipi, approximately 20 km from Dubrovnik and 6 km from Cavtat.

Getting around

There are no trams, trains, or metros in Dubrovnik, but the Old Town is easily accessible by bus and navigable on foot.
Bus: There are 13 bus lines that operate within the city of Dubrovnik itself, and almost all of them either pass through or start/end at Pile Gate. Bus tickets can be purchased from newspaper kiosks or from the driver once you board the bus. The price of one ticket is approx. 12-15 Kunas and tickets must be validated in the machines upon boarding the bus.

Taxi: There are numerous taxis ranks around the city, including at the main traffic points such as Pile Gate, the bus station, and the port, and of course at the airport too.

Uber: Uber also operates in Dubrovnik.

Cable Car: The Dubrovnik Cable Car is one of the more modern elements of public transport in Dubrovnik, taking passengers up to the top of Mount Srdj (405m above sea level) in only four minutes.

Ferry: There are regular boats from the Old Town harbour to the island of Lokrum. Other ferry or catamaran lines connect the city with the islands of Sipan, Mljet and Lastovo (year-round) and also Korcula in summer.

Car: driving in Dubrovnik can be chaotic due to the high volume of tourists in the high season and a complicated one-way system. Parking spaces are at a premium and the Old Town is pedestrianised.

Things to do

Old Town: When you enter Dubrovnik Old town, in front of you is Stradun, the main street in the old town. Here you will find the Onofrio Fountain, built in 1438. On the right is the Franciscan Monastery, with one of the oldest functioning pharmacies in Europe, in operation since 1391. At the other end of Stradun, you will find the locals’ favourite meeting place, the Orlando Column, with the nearby Sponza Place and the baroque Church of St. Blaise. Here also is the Rector’s Palace, built in 1441, which is now a city museum packed with valuable and historic exhibits.
Opposite the palace through a narrow street is a square, Gunduliceva Poljana, which is the site of the busy morning market. In the same square is the Jesuit Monastery that is from the early 18th century.

Dubrovnik Old Town Walls: The city walls were originally constructed in the 10th century, although fortified considerably in 1453. They are 3m thick along the sea wall, and 6m thick inland. The Old Town has fortresses at its four corners, which are the Minceta Tower, Revelin Fortress, St John’s Fortress, and Bokar Bastion. You can walk along the Old Town walls, and this is one of the things you should do when in Dubrovnik.

Sponza Palace: Constructed in 1522, it houses the city archives upstairs whilst downstairs is used for exhibitions, and during the Summer Festival.

Pile Gate: Since the 16th century, the western gate was and is the traditional entrance to the Old Town. The gate contains a statue of St Blaise, Dubrovnik’s patron saint.

Onofrio’s Large Fountain (Great Onofrio Well): Originally constructed in 1438 by Italian architect Onofrio della Cava, the fountain was partially damaged in the 1667 earthquake. The fountain was part of the city’s water mains constructed in the 15th century which brought water from the Dubrovacka River 12km away.

Ploce Gate: The eastern entrance to the Old Town, this gate stems from the 15th century.
Franciscan Monastery: The main part of the monastery was destroyed in the earthquake of 1667 and was rebuilt. The monastery also contains what is thought to be the oldest pharmacy/apothecary in Europe, from 1316, and a calming cloister from 1360.

Dominican Monastery: located just behind the Sponza Palace and Ploce Gate. The monastery dates from the 14th century and features beautiful stairways that lead to the Church and the statue of St. Dominic. In the heart of the monastery, there is a 15th-century Gothic cloister with arches, columns, plants and well (see below photos). The monastery was established in 1255. There is also a Museum within the Monastery complex that displays numerous exhibits of religious art from Dubrovnik and beyond including paintings and various reliquary

The Church of St Blaise: a Baroque church, built between 1705 and 1717, which features a silver statue of the Dubrovnik patron saint on the altar, holding a model of the city, which is brought out each year during the Festival of St Blaise. The stained-glass windows of the church are relatively recent, having been added in the 1970s.

Clock Tower: an elegant 31 m high timepiece, dating from the 15th century is a magnificent landmark of the Old Town. It is located at the very end of Stradun, next to Sponza Palace in Luža Square. The clock tower overlooks Orlando’s Column and St Blaise Church.

The Cathedral: The cathedral currently standing dates from 1673, designed by Roman architect Andrea Buffalini to replace the original 12th century cathedral which was destroyed by the earthquake. The cathedral includes an Assumption of Our Lady/The Virgin painting that has been assumed to have been painted by Titian. The Treasury of the cathedral is home to the skull of St Blaise which has been encased in a jewel-encrusted crown. Another earthquake in 1979 saw cause to dig drains beneath the cathedral; these excavations uncovered a Romanesque cathedral beneath the current one. Further digging, uncovered another church underneath this one, dating from about the 6th century.

Rector’s Palace: Mainly designed by Onofrio della Cava – who also designed Onofrio’s fountain – the Rector’s Palace has a somewhat turbulent history. Currently home to the city museum, the palace was home to the Rector, who acted as a kind of figurehead of the Republic of Ragusa with little actual power.

Dubrovnik Cable Car: One of Dubrovnik’s famed attractions used to be its cable car – built in 1969 – which rose up to the top of Mount Srdj above the city, giving visitors a chance to take in some (even more) spectacular views of the Old Town and the shoreline. A journey to the top of Mount Srdj takes only 3 minutes, and once there you can take in the views whilst enjoying a snack, or something more, at the cafe at the top.

Mount Srdj: At the top of Mount Srdj, and also relatively new, is the Museum of the Croatian War of Independence which, through its various exhibits, shows how Dubrovnik defended itself during the 1991-95 war. The Museum is housed in Fort Imperijal, which was built in the early 19th century when Dubrovnik was controlled by the French (and Napoleon) as a means of defending Dubrovnik.

Food

The food in Dubrovnik has many similarities with the rest of the coastal region. Diet is usually based on Mediterranean food like olive oil, fish, vegetables, and seasoned with rosemary, garlic, basil, and parsley. Here are some examples of the food typical for this area:

Black Risotto: a typical Dalmatian dish and every decent restaurant in Croatia will have it on its appetiser menu.
Stewed mussels: cooked with white wine, garlic, parsley, and breadcrumbs and sometimes the tomato paste for colour.

Fresh Oysters: eating oysters in Mali Ston should be an essential part of any trip to Dubrovnik area. The reason why this is a local delicacy is because oysters that come from the seabed of Mali Ston Bay have been cultivated since ancient times.

“Dirty Macaroni”: a traditional dish, very similar to Italian Pasta Bolognese or Ragu di Carne, and it is the meat sauce that makes them a little dirty.

The Green Stew: one of those traditional Dubrovnik dishes that you won’t be able to taste anywhere else in the world. The main ingredients are different kinds of meat, potatoes and cabbage.

The Ston Cake: Its unusual appearance made this cake a tourist attraction, both in Ston and Dubrovnik. Every house had its own traditional recipe but this cake is basically made of thin, unsweetened pastry typically zitone or penne pasta, locally called makaruli, firmly compressed and mixed with nuts (most often almonds and walnuts), lemon zest, sugar, sometimes chocolate and butter, all bound with beaten eggs.

Rozata: the most popular dessert in Dubrovnik. It is a custard pudding, similar to crème brulee.
Like any other popular tourist town, Dubrovnik is filled with numerous restaurants and cafes. The most popular ones are in Dubrovnik Old Town along the street called Preko, as well as along and off Siroka Ulica Street. For all night party options, check out Latino Club Fuego just outside the Pile Gate. If you want to enjoy sea views, then watch the sunset at Cafe Buza, a café located on a rocky terrace between Old Town’s walls and the sea.

Shopping

The Old Town is the place to go shopping, however, most of the offers are pitched towards the tourist trade. Small shops can be found around Stradun, but the streets north and south offer more variety. The daily market on Gunduliceva Poljana sells tourist items such as lavender oil, arancini, table linens as well as fresh fruits and vegetables. There are more souvenirs people can buy in Dubrovnik, including cravat ties, jewellery, lavender, handmade bags, and clothes. Food lovers can also buy local specialties such as olives, capers, truffle oils, brandies, and fruit liquors (rakija).
Outside the walls, shops are scattered around town with no big mall to gather them in one place. Small shopping centres such as Pemo, Tommy, Mercante and Downtown can be found in the business area of Gruz (a 10 minute walk south of the main bus terminal), as well as in Lapad in the so called DOC centre. These centres also include bigger grocery shops, usually located on the ground floor with a variety of domestic and foreign assortments. Shops in Dubrovnik are generally open from 8 am to 9 pm, sometimes limited during winter months. Most shops are open seven days a week.

National Holidays

Dubrovnik Festa: a mini festival held in the run up to the Festival of St Blaise, organised at the end of January each year. Events include concerts, theatre performances and food and wine offerings.

The Festival of St Blaise: Dubrovnik’s patron saint, takes place each year in early February. The festival includes a number of ceremonies in which locals pay their respect to the saint; the actual saint’s day is on 3rd February. This day is also considered a “City of Dubrovnik Day”, and events are also held to celebrate this.
The Aklapela Festival: held in April, takes place at several locations in the Old Town of Dubrovnik. The festival celebrates the traditional type of klapa (a capella) singing.

Dubrovnik Summer Festival: one of Croatia’s most famous events. In 2021 it will be held from 10th July to 25th August. Each year, the Festival includes theatre, opera, music, and dance events at various open-air venues around the city.

The Maraton Ladja: an annual race that takes place on a 22.5km long portion of the Neretva River from Metkovic to Ploce (both north of Dubrovnik). A ladja is a traditional type of boat that has been used for centuries on the narrow Neretva River; many of the boats used in the race are old boats that have been refurbished. Crews usually come from local towns and villages and can number up to 18 people in total, including a cox and a drummer.

Winter Festival: starts at the beginning of December, stretching through into early January. The Festival includes a Christmas Fair – with traditional Christmas sweet treats and drinks, plus little trinkets on sale – carols and other fun concerts; gastro events (watch out for traditional Dalmatian Christmas dish bakalar – cod – being offered); kids’ events and events involving Santa. As part of the Winter Festival, there’s also New Year’s Eve celebrations, around the Stradun. Celebrations include a free live concert to see in the New Year, as well as fireworks.

Dubrovnik

Climate

Getting there

Getting around

Things to do

Food

Shopping

National Holidays

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