A Practical Travel Guide for Dubrovnik, Croatia

Located in the southern part of Croatia, the City of Dubrovnik is rich in history and culture, that is why it is a popular tourist destination in Europe. It borders the Adriatic Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. The architecture is old but sturdy which history claims to have never been breached. TV and filmmakers love using the city as an inspiration for their fictional towns. It is recognizable as King’s Landing, the fictional capital for the HBO’s Game of Thrones and the set of the movie, Robin Hood: Origins starring Taron Egerton and Jamie Foxx. Two interesting facts about this gorgeous coastal city is that the slave trade has been abolished since 1418 and is home to the oldest pharmacy in Europe opened in 1317.

The coastal city of Dubrovnik dates as far back as the 7th Century when refugees from Epidaurus settled there. The city was referred to as The Republic of Ragusa up until 1808. The city withstood sieges from the Saracen which lasted 15 months due to its unbreachable walls until the 13th century where it lost its control to The Republic of Venice before breaking free in 1358. It prospered once more and even became a competitor to its former colonizers, the Venetian empire. It fell again due to an earthquake and was taken over by Napoleon in 1806 after a period of decrease in trade. The city was taken over by the Habsburg Empire after the defeat of Napoleon in 1815-1918. The city has received famous tourists such as the novelist Agatha Christie, Lord Byron who called it,” the pearl of the Adriatic” and Irish writer George Bernard Shaw who said, “Those who seek paradise on Earth should come to Dubrovnik.”

There are multiple ways tourists can get to Dubrovnik. One is through the Dubrovnik airport sometimes referred to as Čilipi Airport. From the airport, the city center is 15 km away making it easy to travel by road. There are shuttle bus transfers that cost 35 Kuna or 5 Euros, taxis that cost 250 Kuna or 35 Euros or car rentals that vary in prices around the airport building. There is bus or train transportation going from Montenegro to Dubrovnik. The bus drops passengers either at Old Town station or the new Main Bus Station with amenities like a lounge area, ATM’s, information centers, etc. the other is through Split to Dubrovnik via the twice a week flight to Dubrovnik airport. From Split, one can use a ferry company; either Jadrolinija or Kapetan Luka which cost approximately 220 Kuna or 27 Euro. There are also buses that ply the route of Split to Dubrovnik for at least 4 hours for 131 Kuna. The other option is to drive from Split to Dubrovnik through one of two routes; A1 motorway route which is faster or the coastal route which is more scenic. This may be a bit challenging because one needs to switch from the local road to the highway for a first-time tourist. There are also problems with parking that makes it better to take an organized day trip from Split to Dubrovnik.

To travel from one destination within the city, tourists can use the extensive bus network that is easily accessible at an affordable price.

Being an Old Town, the city has a lot to offer in terms of culture and history. Many classical music lovers gather at Marin Drzic theater for regular classical music production showings. There are many art galleries hosting art exhibitions of all types of artwork including contemporary pieces. The combination of old styles with modern pieces is mesmerizing. The 43000 people living in the city have maintained their traditions which are displayed during essential festivals and religious activities. The women in the city are always well dressed despite their age. Tourists appreciate the local cuisine especially seafood, wine, and olive oil. These are just a few of the many local foods sampled when one visits the many restaurants and food joints in the city. Tourists who visit the town rarely leave before taking a trip around the medieval wall that surrounds the town. The city has many museums which display a lot of relics that are significant in the city’s history.

There are plenty of things tourists can do in Dubrovnik depending on their interests. Those who are into history and culture can visit the museums and art galleries. One can take a cable car up the Srd Hill while enjoying the city beneath them which is a cool way of seeing the whole city. Due to its proximity to the sea, there are a ton of water activities that one can engage in. For those that like fine dining and exciting nightlife, there are many restaurants, clubs, and bars everywhere in the city. There is something for everyone.