Things to visit

Spots around the Old Town for a quick visit !!

Here is the list of cool spots to visit in and around the Old Town. Most of the spots listed here are free access. Spots that have paid entrance will have a link where you can buy the tickets. All locations have clickable links so you can use your phone to easily navigate around when you get in the Old Town. Spots at the bottom of the page are outside of Dubrovnik and will require a car to get to them (but I will specify which ones are those)

 

Park Gradac

Located 10 min walk outside the Old Town. This historical park in nice for sumer walks, and is not as crowded as the Old Town. The park is used as a stage for plays during Dubrovnik Summer Festival, and it was also used for filming Game of Thrones seried (king Joffrey’s wedding). Below the park you can also go for a swim at Danče which is popular among local people. It’s a bit rocky down there so be careful!

Beach Šulić

This tiny beach is located half way from park Gradac towards the Old Town. It’s a bit hidden, so most of the times it won’t be crawling with people. It’s popular among local people, which means that the prices in the 2 really cool bars at the beach won’t be as high as in the Old Town. They also offer light lunch menus such as Bruschettas, finger food etc

Pile Harbour and Lovrjenac fort

Located just otside of the city walls. The harbour was also a filming location for Game of Thrones. This harbour is also access point to Fort Lovrjenac. It’s the only fort outside the city walls. You can climb up to the fort and enjoy the view from up there. If you decide to go inside the fort, you need to pay for the entrance. If you plan to visit city walls, you can purchase tickets for Lovrjenac as well (35 euros for walls & fort)

Onofrio Fountain

When entering through Pile gate, this will be the first thing you see on Stradun. It was made by Italian master from Naples in 1438. as a part of Dubrovnik water system. It’s still operational, and water is perfectly safe to drink. So you can drink straight from it or refill your bottles without any fear…just don’t throw coins in it, it’s not that type of fountain 🙂

Maskeron

Peaking out of the wall, just across the Onofrio fountain. It would be hard to spot, if there weren’t people around it trying to stand on it. If you manage to climb on top of it and remain there while you take your t-shirt off, I’ll buy you a drink!

Franciscan monastery & Mala Braća Pharmacy

If you already decided to buy DubrovnikPass make sure to visit the monastery as it’s included in the pass.
Before you enter the monastery atrium, there will be a pharmcy which was established in 1357. It is the oldest pharmacy in Europe which is still in operation. The pharmacy is free access.

Orlando’s Column

Erected in 1418, features armoured knight Orlando who according to the legend, helped the people of Dubrovnik defeat invaders in the middle ages and  helped Dubrovnik to remain a free trade city-state.
His forearm is 51,25 cm long, and in the old days it was used as a unit of measurement called Lakat (elbow)

St. Blaise church

Built in the 1715 and dedicated to patron saint of Dubrovnik republic – St. Vlaho (St. Blaise). It was built on top of an older church (also dedicated to St. Blaise) which was destroyed in a great fire in 1706. It’s interior is not really big and it might be worth visiting inside

Sponza pallace

Sponza was build in 1516 and it was primarily used as the center of Dubrovnik trade. It also served for other purposes such as for minting coins, customs, and a weapons storage. Today, it’s used as an archive for thousands of books, registers, and holds documents as old as 1022 (issued by pope Benedict VIII). It is considered to be of an extreme value.

Rector’s pallace

It was built in 12th century, and it was a home and office of Dubrovnik Republic Rector, which was the highest political office. Interesting thing is that Rectors could only hold the office for 1 month, after which someone else would be elected instead of them. This was the way to keep anyone from getting too much power and putting his own interest in front of the interest of the republic.
Entrance fee is covered with DubrovnikPass

Catheadral

The legend has it that Richard the Lionheart had the Catheadral built here when his ship wrecked close to Lokrum island after coming back from the III Crusade war in 1192. Unfortunately, that church was destroyed in the great earthquake of 1667, and on the same spot this catheardal was raised in 1713.

Jesuit stairs

The stairs were built in 1738 by architect Pietro Passalacque from Rome, and they lead to the Jesuit church in Dubrovnik. Except from beaing really beautiful, they are probabbly most know as a filming location of Game of Thrones. These are the stairs which Cersei Lannister took in the famous ”walk of shame” scene.

Buža bar

No culture or history here…just amazing view on Lokrum island and the open sea. Buža bar gets busy in the summer and for a very good reason, it’s simply amazing to sit here and get a drink while enjoying the view. If you’re brave enough you can even go swimmig here, but be extremely cautious of the rocks!
Keep in the mind that the prices are as steep as the rocks it’s on!

Porporela

It’s a peer in the Old Town harbour. It’s popular spot to just sit down and enjoy the relaxing view of Lokrum and the sea. In the summer time there is also a ”bar” here. It’s basically a stand where you can get drinks and refreshments (including beer and alcohol)

Lazareti quarantine

It’s the first and oldest quarantine in the world! It was established in 1377 by the decision of the Small council as they realised that many merchant ships were exposed to the parts of the world where plague and other diseases were rampant. The incoming passengers were isolated in the quarantine for 40 days before entering the city. 
Today, Lazareti are used for art show and performances.

Places to visit that require a car

Arboretum – Trsteno

it covers an area of 25 hectares. It was established near the end of the fifteenth century as a park and summer residence of the patrician family Gučetić-Gozze. A renaissance summer residence with the encompassing garden, aqueduct, mill, the beautiful fountain with the Sea-God Neptune and nymphs, the belvedere pavilion overlooking the sea and the Elaphite islands

Ston

A small town with walls longer than the ones in Dubrovnik. Besides the walls, it’s also home to a salt farm where salt is extracted from the adriatic sea. Close to Ston there is a village called Mali Ston which is best known for good fish and seafood restaurants. Oysters and mussels are localy grown and served in these restaurants. 

Pelješac Peninsula

Rural area quite famous for quality wine production. There is no specific place to point you to, just driving around should be fun enough. You are almost guaranteed to stumble upon a nice hidden beach, or a wine tasting place. If you plan to visit Pelješac plan a whole day trip.