Dubrovnik's Old Town is one of the most perfectly preserved medieval cities in Europe, a walled limestone city on a rocky peninsula jutting into the impossibly clear Adriatic, its marble streets polished smooth by centuries of footsteps, its churches and palaces testimony to the independent Ragusan Republic that once rivalled Venice for Adriatic supremacy. The city walls, walkable in their entirety (1,940 metres), provide the most dramatic urban walk in Croatia and one of the finest in the Mediterranean.
For the luxury traveller, Dubrovnik's enduring appeal lies in the combination of cultural depth and extraordinary natural setting. The Adriatic here is at its most translucent, varying shades of blue and green across shallow limestone sea floors, and the islands immediately accessible from the city extend the experience beyond the city walls. The Dalmatian coast spreading north towards Split and south towards Montenegro provides some of the finest yacht charter territory in Europe.
The Old Town and City Walls
Dubrovnik's Old Town demands a full day of slow exploration, the Stradun (main street) from the Pile Gate to the Bell Tower, the Rector's Palace, the Franciscan Monastery with its medieval pharmacy, Sponza Palace and the Dominican Monastery cluster the major sights, but the Old Town's greatest pleasure is in getting deliberately lost in the warren of steep alleys rising from the Stradun to the city walls.
The walls are best walked in the early morning (opening at 8am) before the cruise ship visitors arrive and before the summer heat makes the exposed limestone surfaces punishing. The views from the walls over the terracotta rooftops to the islands beyond, and down into the Adriatic below the southern ramparts, are the finest in the city. The Fort of St Lawrence (Lovrijenac) on its rock above the western gate offers additional elevation and context.
Island Excursions and Day Trips
The Elaphiti Islands, Kolocep, Lopud and Sipan, are accessible by boat in under an hour and offer the old Ragusan Republic's summer villas, sandy beaches (rare on this rocky coast) and a tranquility completely absent from the city in high summer. Lopud's Sunj Beach is the finest sandy beach in the immediate Dubrovnik area and makes for an excellent half-day excursion.
Hvar, two to three hours up the coast by fast catamaran, is Croatia's most glamorous island, a long, lavender-scented island with a medieval fortified town, a hilltop Venetian castle and a summer nightlife scene that attracts an international crowd. Korcula, with its perfectly preserved old town on a peninsula, is smaller and more tranquil than Hvar and well worth including in any extended Dalmatian itinerary.
Luxury Hotels in Dubrovnik
The Adriatic Luxury Hotels group (Villa Dubrovnik, Hotel Excelsior, Villa Orsula) operates properties that combine the finest Old Town and coastal locations with Croatian hospitality of genuine warmth. The Villa Dubrovnik, clinging to the cliff above the sea between the Old Town and Cavtat, offers the finest property in terms of design and intimacy, each room with its sea-facing balcony and the cliff-edge pool creating an experience of considerable elegance.
The Hotel Bellevue, built into the cliff above Miramare Beach with a funicular descent to the water, provides a different kind of luxury, more contemporary in design but with comparable views and the finest private beach in the immediate Dubrovnik area. For those preferring to be directly adjacent to the Old Town, the Hotel Stari Grad in a converted 16th-century building within the walls offers unique historical immersion.
Beyond Dubrovnik: Montenegro and the Bay of Kotor
Montenegro's Bay of Kotor is just one hour south of Dubrovnik, a dramatic fjord-like inlet enclosed by mountains, with the walled medieval town of Kotor at its head. The Regent Porto Montenegro and One&Only Portonovi make Montenegro an increasingly compelling destination in its own right. The combination of Dubrovnik city, Dalmatian coast exploration and Montenegro makes for one of the finest two-week itineraries in Europe.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time to visit Dubrovnik?
May, June and September to October offer the most pleasant conditions, warm enough for swimming, manageable crowds compared to peak summer, and the long golden evenings of Mediterranean autumn. July and August are very busy with cruise ship visitors. The walls and Old Town are best experienced in the early morning regardless of season.
Is Dubrovnik worth visiting despite the crowds?
Yes, the Old Town's beauty is genuinely extraordinary and justifies any effort required to experience it outside peak hours. Staying within or immediately adjacent to the walls and exploring early morning (before 9am) and evening (after 6pm when day visitors leave) provides a very different experience from the midday crowds.
What is the best way to get to Dubrovnik?
Dubrovnik Airport receives direct flights from most major UK airports with British Airways, easyJet and Croatian Airlines. The flight takes approximately two and a half hours. Transfers to the Old Town take 30-45 minutes. Summer airport capacity is limited and pre-booking is essential.
Can you combine Dubrovnik with other Adriatic destinations?
Croatia's Dalmatian coast is ideal for combining Dubrovnik with Split (Diocletian's Palace), the islands of Hvar and Brac, and potentially Montenegro's Bay of Kotor. We regularly arrange ten to fourteen day itineraries combining multiple Adriatic destinations by flight, ferry and private transfer.
