Dubrovnik
Discover Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is historic walled city on the Adriatic Sea coast in the extreme south of Croatia. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations of the Mediterranean, a seaport and the centre of the Dubrovnik-Neretva County. Its population is about 65,000 in the greater Dubrovnik metropolitan area as of 2025. Dubrovnik is nicknamed "Pearl of the Adriatic" and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city of Dubrovnik (Latin: Ragusa) was built on maritime trade. In the Middle Ages it became the only city-state in the Adriatic to rival Venice. Supported by its wealth and skilled diplomacy, the city achieved a remarkable level of development during the 15th and 16th centuries. Furthermore, Dubrovnik was one of the centres of the development of the Croatian language and literature, home to many notable poets, playwrights, painters, mathematicians, physicists and other scholars.
What to Experience in Dubrovnik
Famous Beaches
Taste of Dubrovnik...
There is a wide range of restaurants in the Old Town. Most offer a very similar menu of local seafood and some meat dishes, although there is more variety than in other coastal Croatian towns. The cuisine may not be very imaginative, but it is usually of good quality and very fresh. Restaurants can be crudely separated into (slightly) cheaper tourist-trap places, and more expensive but first class gastronomic restaurants. There are a few pizzerias, mostly wood-fired and quite acceptable. The Kraš chocolate sold at stores is delicious. Dubrovnik, more so than the rest of Croatia, is well aware of its status as a tourist hot-spot. Rents for restaurant premises are high and consequently the prices on the menus reflect this. Note that in the off peak season of November–March nearly all the top-end restaurants close, leaving only a handful of desperate tourist trap enterprises operating and still charging high prices. You can however still eat well and discounts can be negotiated. Dubrovnik cuisine is characteristically not very spicy and is famous for traditionalism. Many popular meals are characteristic of Dubrovnik such as zelena menestra (it is the name for many sorts of cabbages and other vegetables with meat), the meat dish pašticada and the famous caramel-based dessert dubrovačka rozata. Since Dubrovnik restaurants are quite popular, many mid-range and high-end establishments provide the option of online reservation. English-language menus are found everywhere.
Festivals & Events
Experience the vibrant festivals and cultural celebrations of Dubrovnik.
There are few ATMs outside the Old Town. Avoid Euronet cash machines located in touristy areas since they may charge random extra fees depending on your card. OTP Banka doesn't charge any extra if you choose charging in the local currency. There are many local artisans who specialize in domestic crafts. Popular purchases include: handmade tablecloths, linens and napkins. Many merchants claim that the necktie was invented in Croatia. Another local speciality is little dolls dressed in local garb. The Pharmacy, at the Franciscan Monastery creates hand creams and other toiletries based on ancient recipes. The pharmacy is one of the oldest in this part of Europe. It has been operating from the time of its foundation to the present day. While wandering around the Old Town, you will come across many shops that sell Croatian goods such as wine and textiles.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsThe following airlines operate flights to/from Dubrovnik Airport: Aer Lingus (Dublin-seasonal), Aeroflot (Moscow - seasonal), Air Serbia (Belgrade-seasonal), Austrian Airlines (Vienna), Bmibaby (East Midlands-seasonal), British Airways (London-Gatwick-seasonal), Croatia Airlines (Amsterdam, Athens, Belgrade-seasonal, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, London-Gatwick, Munich, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Pula, Rome-Fiumicino, Split, Tel Aviv, Vienna, Zagreb, Zürich), DanubeWings (Bratislava), EasyJet (Berlin-Schönefeld-seasonal, London Gatwick-seasonal), Geneva-seasonal, Liverpool-seasonal, London Gatwick-seasonal, Milan-Malpensa-seasonal, Paris-Orly-seasonal), Finnair (Helsinki), Eurowings (Berlin-Schönefeld, Cologne/Bonn, Hamburg), Iberia Airlines (Madrid-seasonal), Iberia operated by Air Nostrum (Valencia-seasonal), Israir (Tel Aviv - seasonal), TUIfly Belgium (Brussels-seasonal), Jet2....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
The Old Town is completely pedestrianized. It consists of a main street that runs East-West. North and South of that street, it is usually impossible to avoid stairs. There are signs at the entrances to many of these streets advertising what businesses, shops, restaurants and accommodation are to be found in that direction. Some of these signs appear to be either intentionally misleading or woefully out of date. For example, there is no office of any bus company within the Old Town, despite what the signs may say. Visitors are asked to carry wheeled suitcases rather than rolling them in the Old Town to reduce noise pollution for residents. The sea taxis (like a motorboat) operate from the bay area, and go to the castle, they accommodate about 3-4 people and are a generally good option. Not expensive, but not cheap either. Still, it's a worthwhile choice for families.
Where to Stay
Private rooms are a good option for those on a budget, starting from around €10 per person for comfort and privacy exceeding those of hostels. The downside is that they may be far from the Old Town, so make sure you check the location. Owners letting out these rooms accost buses at the bus station, so you can ask around and even bargain a little. Dubrovnik has 4G from all Croatian carriers, which extends all along the coastal highway. As of Sept 2021, 5G has not reached this area. Wifi is widely available in public places. Most private accommodation do not offer laundry facilities. If you are staying awhile and are looking for somewhere to wash your clothes then you might require a self-service laundry
Money & Budget
There are few ATMs outside the Old Town. Avoid Euronet cash machines located in touristy areas since they may charge random extra fees depending on your card. OTP Banka doesn't charge any extra if you choose charging in the local currency. There are many local artisans who specialize in domestic crafts. Popular purchases include: handmade tablecloths, linens and napkins. Many merchants claim that the necktie was invented in Croatia. Another local speciality is little dolls dressed in local garb. The Pharmacy, at the Franciscan Monastery creates hand creams and other toiletries based on ancient recipes. The pharmacy is one of the oldest in this part of Europe. It has been operating from the time of its foundation to the present day.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
Dubrovnik has 4G from all Croatian carriers, which extends all along the coastal highway. As of Sept 2021, 5G has not reached this area. Wifi is widely available in public places. Most private accommodation do not offer laundry facilities. If you are staying awhile and are looking for somewhere to wash your clothes then you might require a self-service laundry
Nearby Destinations
Glimpses of Dubrovnik
white and red concrete houses beside sea
aerial view of buildings near ocean
Golden hour drone shot of Dubrovnik, Croatia.
aerial view of city buildings near body of water during daytime
Dubrovnik west harbor
Picturesque scenery in Dubrovnik, Croatia.
people walking on concrete pathway
Sunset sky drone shot of Dubrovnik, Croatia.
city buildings near body of water during daytime
aerial photography of boats on pier and city
white and red concrete houses beside sea
aerial view of buildings near ocean
Golden hour drone shot of Dubrovnik, Croatia.