Dubrovnik dazzles with its timeless beauty, rich history and dramatic coastal setting. From its iconic city walls to island escapes and panoramic views, this Adriatic gem offers an unforgettable blend of culture, legend and seaside charm.
Rising directly from a wave-lapped promontory, the Old Town is ringed with 15th-century stone walls as much as 80 feet high and 20 feet thick.
Stroll along the 1.3 miles of city walls to look down at the town’s terracotta roofs and grid of worn-smooth streets.
As you enter the Old Town, Dubrovnik’s wonderful marble-paved pedestrian thoroughfare, Placa, extends before you, all the way to the clock tower at the other end of town.
Narrow side streets and alleys lead to a Franciscan monastery, a tiny 15th-century synagogue and Gundulic Square, which fills most mornings with a lively food market.
Don’t miss nearby Lokrum Island, a UNESCO-protected park known for its saltwater ‘Dead Sea’ lake, dense pine forests, Benedictine monastery and Game of Thrones filming locations.
When it comes to the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’, as Byron called Dubrovnik, it’s hard to imagine anyone becoming inured to the city’s smooth marble streets and mix of cafes, museums, churches and Baroque buildings. Or failing to be inspired by a walk along the ancient city walls, which for five centuries protected a sophisticated, independent republic – a rival even to Venice as a maritime power in the Mediterranean.
Be sure to ride the Dubrovnik cable car to the top of Srd Hill for breathtaking views of the Old Town, and to visit the laidback Elaphiti Islands, whose turquoise waters offer excellent swimming and snorkelling. Also worth a daytrip is lush Lokrum Island. Legend has it that Richard the Lionheart was washed ashore on Lokrum after his ship was wrecked coming home from the Crusades. Today it’s better known for its role in Game of Thrones, which was partly filmed on the island.
Hotel Dubrovnik Palace sits serenely on the seafront between fragrant pine forest and the turquoise waters of the Lapad peninsula, just a few minutes’ drive from Dubrovnik’s medieval Old Town.
Perched on a cliff overlooking sheltered Miramare Bay, Hotel Bellevue boasts sweeping views of the Dalmatian coastline from almost every window. Effortlessly cool, contemporary and chic, this state-of-the-art seaside retreat is only a few minutes from Dubrovnik’s magnificent 6th-century Old Town.
Flanked by a scenic hilly landscape on one side and the pristine Dalmatian shoreline on the other, this impressive resort offers much to many. From its lofty hillside perch, the resort commands sublime sea views overlooking the Elaphiti Islands and is home to a string of restaurants, an outstanding spa, peaceful pools and unsurprisingly, beautiful sunny gardens.
Like all the best hotels, the Excelsior has a rich history. You only have to look at the wall of fame next to the piano bar to get a sense of its 1960s heyday. Queen Elizabeth II, Elizabeth Taylor and Sir Roger Moore have all stayed here, and once you step out onto one of the sweeping terraces you’ll feel every inch the movie star
Contemporary and light-filled, with sweeping views of the Adriatic lapping at the rocky shore, this modern hotel is built into the cliffside just a little along the coast from the honey-hued walls of Dubrovnik. It is home to newly-refurbished accommodation with sun-kissed terraces, the heavenly Villa Spa, alfresco dining, and a romantic rooftop bar.