Some Basic Information

What Dubrovnik Offers

From the top you can take in the incredible panoramic views of Dubrovnik down below and across the Adriatic Sea. On the opposite side is a beautiful backdrop of the mountains leading to Bosnia.

There isn’t much at the top of the hill other than an expensive gift shop and the Panorama Restaurant and Bar. Try and grab a table at the front towards the bottom of the hill for the best views. I spent a good two hours in the restaurant marvelling at the views accompanied by the most delicious Tuna Salad.

Dubrovnik Old Town

Dubrovnik’s famous old town is a labyrinth of steps and alley-like mazes offering a different view with every corner turned. Sometimes there are cafes with rows of chairs along the steps. Sometimes clothes drying on lines hanging from house to house above the streets below.

To access the Old Town you have to walk through one of two ‘Gates’ known as Pile Gate in the West, and Ploce Gate in the East. Once you pass the threshold you will enter a completely different world of marble stone streets, red tiled buildings and meandering alleyways.

Getting Lost Wondering The City Streets

The Old Town is a great place to just wonder with no destination in mind. The streets can be narrow, winding then leading to stairs that fill you with dread at the thought of having to tackle them! Sounds awful but actually great fun!

Doing a tour of the Old Town would offer some historical insight to this city’s complex and fascinating history. It was heavily attacked during the Yugoslavian war of independence in the early 90’s, and as you wonder the streets there is evidence of the shelling the city endured. However, I do recommend you carve out time to simply just get lost in its’ vastness. Climb the cobblestone steps and discover the quieter areas of town. I seem to always find new nooks and crannies along the quaint side streets and there’s never a shortage of stray yet friendly cats. Just make sure you are respectful since yes, people actually live here.

People watching along the Stradun

The Stradun is the main high street of the Old Town and its a hive of shops, cafes, restaurants, bars and street acts. It’s a little more expensive than the bars and shops tucked away a couple of street back but nothing that would raise an eyebrow.

Do as the locals do in Dubrovnik and have a coffee and people watch along the shop framed, marble stone floor street. You’ll spot locals dressed like they’re coming off a fashion catwalk and some very interesting tourists from all over the world.

Kayak The Adriatic Sea

This has to be one of the most fun activities I did whilst in Dubrovnik and is a great way to see the city from out at sea, providing you’re fitness levels are good. Make your way to Polce Gate outside of the city wall near the bus depot, not far from the West Harbour, and you will see a few kayak stalls all battling for your custom.

You can pay for a guided tour in a group of maybe 6 to 8 others, or like I did, paid 300 Kuna (Euro45/GB£35) for 3 hours to hire the equipment and explore solo. I think it is one of the best ways to experience what the sea facing landscape has to offer and uncover the hidden areas of Dubrovnik. I kayaked from the harbour out along the sea side city walls, and out across the Adriatic Sea to the nearby island of Lokrum Island. Definitely worth doing if you can.

Walking the City’s Wall

Another must do whilst in Dubrovnik is to explore the 1.4mile (2kms), 19.5 feet (6m) thick defensive walls surrounding the city that has protected it from raids for centuries. Today, the walls are still standing tall. You just have to conjure the strength to climb the 80ish stone steps to reach the summit!

The ticket price to visit these walls is 250 Kuna (Euro30/GB£27.80). There are several ticket check gates along the way, so keep your tickets safe.

The best way to access the wall is at Pile Gate near the bus depot. The view along the wall is stunning overlooking the Sea and the red tiled rooves from the buildings below. Peppered in various spots are ice cream stalls and bars offering cool refreshments. Be warned, they are expensive. Keep that bottle of water on your person instead.

That reminds me. Keep your water bottle anyway. There are free water fountains scattered around the city to refill those bottles with ice cold water.

Fort Lovrijenac

If you’ve made time to explore the city walls then you have to make time for Fort Lovrijenac. The entrance to the tower is a small alleyway in the main square outside the walls at Polce Gate, near the bus depot. If you are a Game of Thrones fan then you will notice a small harbour, called West Harbour that was used in several episodes, and a set of doorways leading to the harbour, also used in some scenes from the show.

Lovrijenac fortress was built in the 11th century perched on a rock 37m high overlooking the Old Town, offering stunning panoramic views. There are two movable bridges leading to a door to access the fortress. The walls of the fortress are very solid with many spots up to 40feet (12m) thick.

Ticket prices to enter the Fort are 100 Kuna (Euro13.30/GB£11.40). Fort Lovrijenac was used again in Game of Thrones.

The Church of St. Blaise

The church is Dubrovnik’s most important historic structure built in the 12th century. By the 17th century a major earthquake destroyed this building and it was rebuilt roughly two decades later. Dubrovnik church bearing Baroque architecture is also known as a treasury which holds many precious jewels such as 138 relic chests made of gold and silver. It is free to enter but donations are welcomed.

Dubrovnik Clock Tower

Another very admirable architecture is the Clock Tower that was built in 1444. The bronze bell weighing more than two tons is placed in a 100feet (31m) high tower. The are two bronze statues that strike the bell on the hour.

Game of Thrones Tour

Dubrovnik is a mecca for hardy Game of Thrones fans and the city was used as the backdrop for ‘Kings Landing’. There are numerous tours offering to take you to all the filming locations. If you are a fan, like myself, rather than being herded around the city I devised my own tour. I defiantly enjoyed the couple of hours invested in this activity… of course, breaking for a beer or ice cream along the way!

Food and Drink

There are no shortages of cafes, bars and restaurants to find for a bite to eat or to grab a cool drink. Below are some places I frequented and worthy of a consideration:

Ice Cream Parlours (Gelato’s)

There are ice cream parlours, known as Gelato’s, everywhere offering an overwhelming array of flavours. Try Peppino’s as you walk through Pile Gate just before the opening to the harbour. It offers cones or cups with as many scoops as you can consume. Peppino’s is very popular so be mindful of the line of people queueing to be served.

Another great Gelato shop is Boccapiena located off Stradum Street. Their slogan is ‘A mouth full of happiness’, and indeed their ice cream is delicious!

Restaurants

Again Dubrovnik’s streets are adorned with restaurants serving every type of cuisine available from pasta to pizza, to burgers to sea food. There is something for everyone. I have to highlight one particular restaurant named Konoba Jezuite that offers an ambient dining setting with some amazing food. Try the black squid ink risotto. It’s delicious…even if it did give me black lips and tongue! You can find Konoba Jezuite opposite the Church of St. Ignatius.

Panorama Restaurant

This is a fairly expensive restaurant located at the top of Srd mountain. You can access this by the cable car. Make a reservation to get the best table with the best views of the old town below.

Gradska Kavana Arsenal Restaurant

This is a great spot for afternoon lunch overlooking the East harbour. It offers all kinds of cuisine. I enjoyed a delicious chicken pasta salad.

Secret Bars …and not so Secret Bars

Dubrovnik offers plenty of places to grab a social drink after a long day of exploration. Some secret, as in they are not sign posted. Others not so secret. The vast majority of bars are found lining Stradun Street. Here are a few bars worthy of a mention.

Dukah Bar

Found on Branitelja Dubrovnika Road opposite the Hilton Imperial Hotel is a short stroll away from Pile Gate near the bus depot. It offers a relaxed atmosphere with stools and couches. Why not try a Shisha?

Buza Bar

This is more of a secret bar in the sense that it’s an extremely busy spot but it isn’t signed anywhere at all. The only clue to its existence is a small arched doorway with a black iron gate leading through the city wall. It hangs on a cliff face on the sea side of the city wall, not far from Konoba Jezuite restaurant.

Dubrovnik Beer Factory

Just located a street back from Stradum Street. Its a quirky dim lit pub with the occasional live band. Give it a try!

Street Food

Street food is perfectly safe, I felt, in Dubrovnik. One recommendation is to try the local ‘Burek’. This can come either in meat or cheese form. It’s almost like a cheese or meat bake from Greggs but larger and made with flaky puff pastry. You will find these food stands and shops peppered all over the city. My favourite is a little bakery called Pekarnica Pile Bakery near Dukah Bar a short hop from the Hilton Imperial Hotel. It’s cheap, tasty and filling.

Market Square

A couple of streets back from The Stradun is a small square with a statue of Gundulicev Spomenik – a Croatian poet. Here you can find a small market selling Croatian trinkets and fresh fruit and vegetables. Look for the stalls that sell typical Croatian snacks. They sell them in bags for 10 Kuna (Euro1.35/GB£1.10). These snacks are orange or lemon rind coated in sugar. They’re very tasty. At the top of this town square are the “Shame” stairs that was a location setting from Game of Thrones.

Whatever you choose to do you won’t be disappointed with Dubrovnik. It has bags of character and heaps of charm. There is something for everyone. Attack the city at your own pace but do one thing and explore the city.

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