10 Unmissable Stops For When You Visit Dubrovnik, Croatia

The beautiful city of Dubrovnik, also known as Ragusa, is located in southern Croatia on the Adriatic Sea and it’s one of the most popular destinations in Europe. Not only it is a World Heritage Site thanks to its beautiful fortified Old Town, architecture and culture, you can also find beautiful beaches, shops and a lively nightlife there. All this and more awaits you, whether you visit Dubrovnik for a family trip, a honeymoon or an adventure with friends! And we are here to recommend you 10 things you absolutely need to see during your trip!

1. Dubrovnik Old Town

Stradun and Dubrovnik Clocktower

The beautiful and car-free Old Town is definitely the place to go first when you visit Dubrovnik. It’s the part of the city surrounded by the Walls of Dubrovnik. There are a lot of things to see and to do there, starting from the famous Stradun, the main street where you will usually find most of the tourists. It’s about 300 meters long. Nowadays you will see designs from the 17th century, when the street was rebuilt following a disastrous earthquake. Discover all of the souvenir and traditional shops, food stalls, restaurants, bakeries… anything that you need! The street also connects the western and eastern Gates of the city, Pila and Ploče.

In the Old Town you will also find Onofrio’s Fountains, the Dubrovnik Clocktower, the Sponza Palace, the Dubrovnik Cathedral, the Franciscan monastery and more. Don’t miss the opportunity to explore all the streets and great monuments!

2. Fountain of Onofrio

Big Onofrio’s Fountain

In the heart of Dubrovnik’s Old Town you will find the two Fountains of Onofrio. The one you see in the picture is the major. They both date back to the years of Dubrovnik Republic, more specifically during the 15th century. The Big Onofrio’s Fountain is noticeable for its characteristic cupola, made by an Italian architect. You can actually drink the water from the fountain – it’s safe, fresh and also a more sustainable choice!

3. City Walls

Dubrovnik City Walls

The Old Town is surrounded by the famous City Walls. When you visit Dubrovnik, you should definitely do a tour of the Walls, which began being built in the 13th century. What’s more, you can explore its six fortresses, especially Fort Lovrijenac and Revelin. The views are stunning and evocative, perfect for your travel pictures. Discover the city’s history during the tour. And if you’re a Game of Thrones fan, you can also do a special tour where you can visit all of the locations where the series was filmed and discover lots of fun facts!

4. Dubrovnik Cathedral and Church of Saint Blaise

Church of Saint Blaise

The Roman Catholic Assumption Cathedral is Dubrovnik’s Cathedral and was built in the Middle Age and then rebuilt after the earthquake of 1667. You will be able to see Corinthian and Baroque decorations, along with beautiful frescoes and pictures. Most of the painters of these works were Italian.

The Church of Saint Blaise is also really worth seeing when you visit Dubrovnik. It was built in the 1700s on the rests of an older church from the Middle Age.

You will find both of these churches in Old Town.

5. The Museum of Modern Art Dubrovnik

Museum of Modern Art

You can’t miss a visit at one of Dubrovnik’s museums. The Museum of Modern Art, founded in 1945, specifically holds works from the beginning of the Croatian Modern period and the contemporary art. There are many permanent exhibitions, as well as temporary ones. Paintings, photographs, sculptures in fascinating exhibitions await you in this experience.

6. Port and Porporela

Panoramic view of the Port and Porporela

When you visit Dubrovnik you should take a stroll by the Dubrovnik Port, with its many ships and boats of all types for you to see. It’s about 3 km away from Old Town and it links the city to other Croatian ports, as well as to the Italian one of Bari.

If you want to enjoy a stunning view of the sea, Lokrum Island and part of the city, we recommend you to go to Porporela. This is a pier in Dubrovnik’s Old Harbour where you will find a few benches and a lovely lamppost. It’s a very peaceful and quiet place, not usually busy and perfect to rest a bit after a night walk in the Old Town. Sit down in front of the sea and enjoy the sound of the waves, the city lights. And if you’re lucky, you could also find some street performers which will play some music and make the atmosphere even more pleasurable.

7. Lokrum Island

Lokrum Island viewed from Dubrovnik

This natural island can be found 700 metres south of Dubrovnik and it’s really worth a day trip. It’s full of beautiful natural species to discover and you can reach it from Dubrovnik’s Port. There are ferries going there every half an hour. The trip only lasts 15 minutes and a round trip costs about 10 euros. This island has been a Natural Reserve since 1963 and there you can also find a Benedictine monastery from 12th century. The beautiful caves and cliffs are a view you don’t want to miss!

8. Banje Beach & Copacabana Beach

Banje Beach

If you go to Dubrovnik in the summer, you absolutely should take the opportunity to go to the beach. The most famous is Banje Beach, right next to the City Walls. The umbrella and chairs renting cost can be a bit expensive, but it’s still absolutely worth it. It’s a very lively place with beautiful sea, lots of bars and other facilities. We also recommend you the fancy Copacabana Beach and Cova Beach!

9. Fort Imperial

Fort Imperial

Found on mount Srđ right behind the City Walls, Fort Imperial is a defensive structure which was built by the French in the 19th century. It’s great to go there to visit the structure and enjoy the stunning views of the city of Dubrovnik and Lokrum island from above. You can climb up there by hiking or with the more comfortable and fun cable car.

10. Culture Club Revelin

And finally, if you’re up for experiencing some nightlife, we recommend you the fancy Culture Club Revelin. You will find this beautiful nightclub right in the heart of the City Walls and the location is actually built into an old tower. It’s considered one of the 30 most beautiful nightclubs in the world. During summer, you will always find people on the Stradun which will give you free entries to the club before half past midnight.

Don’t miss an unforgettable experience in this stunning location where you can spend the night dancing to some good music, have a drink with your travel buddies and maybe meet other tourists or locals.

Before you go, here’s some useful links you may need: