We are traveling to the Dalmatian city of Dubrovnik, also known as the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic Sea’. This port city is the pride of Croatia. The attractions of Dubrovnik are rich in history and culture and are surrounded by breathtaking nature. It’s no wonder the city is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List!
The earthquake that struck in 1667 severely damaged the entire city, but it managed to rebuild itself to full glory. Sadly, this glory was once again compromised in the 1990s due to armed conflicts, but the city has persevered and recovered. Dubrovnik shows that when a city has a goal and stands strong together to achieve it, nothing is impossible!
In this blog, I will take you through the must-see Dubrovnik attractions. From stunning nature to historical monuments and even a famous Game of Thrones location.
Are you also curious about the surroundings of Dubrovnik? Join our Dubrovnik Bike Tour: discover the surroundings.
As the name suggests, during this tour you will cycle around Dubrovnik in the beautiful Konavle. Konavle is known for its stunning green nature. Along the way, you will encounter a lot of rural architecture and monuments, with occasional stops. The guide will provide you with all the information and history along the way.
During this tour, you will completely unwind and escape the busy city life.
Let’s now begin our journey through Dubrovnik. During this journey, we will get to know the rich history, culture, and natural beauty of this ‘Pearl of the Adriatic Sea’.
The first 10 attractions can be found in the old city of Dubrovnik, while the attractions afterward are located outside the old city and are more focused on nature and surroundings rather than history :)
City walls of Dubrovnik
We start right away with a (quite literally) highlight of the city: the 1,940-meter-long, 1.5-6 meter wide, and on average 24-meter-high city walls!
Are you walking with us?
The oldest parts of these iconic walls date back to the 7th century when they were still wooden palisades. In the 12th century, the first fortifications began, and in the 14th and 15th centuries, the last parts were completed. Together, they now form the city walls of Dubrovnik as we know them.
These walls (and accompanying forts) have endured a lot and now tell us the impressive history of Dubrovnik. This is truly one of the Dubrovnik attractions you must see!
Once atop the wall, we have a stunning view over this once again thriving, resilient city and the beautiful Adriatic Sea.
You can access this wall from 3 different locations:
- next to the St. Saviour’s Church (Crkva sv. Spasa)
- next to the St. Luke’s Church
- next to the Maritime Museum at the fort of St. Ivan (Tvrđava Sveti Ivan)
Dubrovnik City Walls ticket:
- available online and on-site from €18.00
- or free access with the Dubrovnik Pass
Read more about the walls of Dubrovnik…
Stradun
Once off the city wall, we walk onto Stradun street. This street is essentially the beating heart of Dubrovnik. Stradun begins at the Pile Gate and runs 300 meters through to the harbor. This main street of Dubrovnik divides the old city into two parts. It was once a canal that separated various islands. It was later filled with concrete to create a street.
Let yourself be carried away by the flow of tourists and locals as the sun reflects off the gleaming limestone. Don’t think too much and enjoy the carefree and lively atmosphere that lingers in and between the various cafes and restaurants.
During your walk along Stradun, you will experience the real Dubrovnik. In the many side streets, you’ll find restaurants serving local dishes. There are also many historical Dubrovnik attractions and authentic Dalmatian houses to discover.
Church of St. Blaise
For over 300 years, this beautiful Catholic church has been a gem on Stradun Square. As the name suggests, the church is dedicated to Saint Blaise, known in Croatian as Sveti Vlaho.
There is a story about the patron saint Blaise: that he saved the city from the Venetians.
The Venetians had anchored their ship at Dubrovnik, claiming they only wanted to replenish their ship’s rations. St. Blaise realized this wasn’t the whole truth. While replenishing their rations, they were actually scouting for Dubrovnik’s weak spots to launch a targeted and successful attack.
Saint Blaise warned the priest Stojko, thwarting the Venetians’ cunning plan. Since then, every year on February 3rd, St. Blaise’s Day and the Day of the City of Dubrovnik are celebrated.
This patron saint of Dubrovnik also has his own statue in the church. This statue holds a miniature version of how Dubrovnik looked at the time, depicting the architecture of that era.
After the earthquake, this was the only statue that could be saved and repaired, making it one of the most important statues in Dubrovnik.
The church is built in a beautiful Baroque style. This is immediately evident from the complex facade with statues of various saints. When you step inside the church, this style is also reflected in the detailed interior full of splendor.
Dubrovnik Cathedral
Previously, other cathedrals stood on the site of this cathedral. In the 12th century, a Romanesque-style church was built, partially funded by the English king ‘Richard the Lion Heart’. He had promised this after being shipwrecked on the island of Lokrum and being helped by the locals.
As a result of the 17th-century earthquake, this church was almost entirely destroyed. The senate of Dubrovnik then called upon the Italian architect Andrea Bufalini from Urbino. This architect subsequently designed the new cathedral in Baroque style.
Will you join me? Let’s wander through the three sections of the cathedral together!
We start in the main building, where we pass by the beautiful altar. Then we descend to the Chapel of St. Mary of the Angels, where we admire various paintings, and we conclude our tour in the cathedral’s treasury. This room, full of splendor, proudly houses magnificent treasures that remind us of Dubrovnik’s many connections with major Mediterranean seaports.
In 30 years, these designs truly came to life in the cathedral as we know it today. They are still maintained, and the damage caused by the bomb in 1990 has been fully restored.
The cathedral is truly the place to feast your eyes while delving deep into the city’s history and culture. A Dubrovnik attraction not to be missed! You can enter without a ticket.
Read more about the Cathedral of Dubrovnik…
The Dominican Monastery and Museum
Adjacent to the cathedral is the monastery.
Although not immediately visible, this monastery was also affected by the 1667 earthquake. Fortunately, the city was able to restore it, and it stands as firm as ever.
Let this monastery be an example of the wise saying: ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’. As the monastery was incorporated into the city wall, this style was also maintained. Simple and with little decoration. This is a complete contrast to the interior. This contrast makes the inside even more striking!
This repository of many ancient treasures consists of roughly three important parts.
- The museum
The valuable collection of jewelry, paintings, and historical objects makes the museum a true treasure trove of art and culture. They tell the story of Dubrovnik’s cultural and spiritual history.
- The library
This is truly the pride of the monastery. If anything was important to the monks in the past, it was their books. Not only did they sometimes write them themselves, but they also derived all their knowledge and wisdom from them.
The library of the Dubrovnik monastery houses various rare books and manuscripts. Some of these are said to be of inestimable value…
- The garden
For the monks, the garden was not only a multifunctional but also an essential part of the monastery. It included their vegetable garden as part of their food production. It also served as a meditation place, a source of medicine, a learning place, and much more.
Because this was such an important place for them, it was always excellently maintained. This is still evident today. The garden is still maintained as it was then. As we wander through the garden, we feel completely at peace and one with nature.
- The Dominican Monastery is located at a passage between the Palača Sponza and the Ploče Gate.
- Tickets available on-site
Fort Lovrijenac
We walk just outside the city walls and arrive at Fort Lovrijenac. Or as the locals call it: Fortica or Sveti Lovro.
This fort was originally built so that Dubrovnik could protect itself from attacks from the sea by, for example, Venetian fleets. The fort, therefore, has an impressive structure and appearance with massive walls ranging from 4 to 12 meters thick and is built on a 37-meter-high cliff.
This also provides a spectacular view as we look over the wall. A panoramic view of the old city and the adjacent Adriatic Sea it protected. Now, the fort is used for various events such as performances and festivals.
As a Game of Thrones fan, this was truly one of the Dubrovnik attractions not to be missed. This fort was used as a filming location for the Red Keep in King’s Landing. It felt as if I was walking behind Tyrion Lannister and Varys as they strolled along the walls.
- Tickets available on-site
- or access with your city walls ticket
Sponza Palace
This once bustling center of the city should not be missed during our tour of Dubrovnik attractions. This building is one of the few that survived the 1667 earthquake.
Unlike the previous attractions, the Sponza Palace was not built in the Baroque style. The design for this palace opted for a unique Dubrovnik style, a mix of Gothic and Renaissance styles.
How can these influences be recognized? Simple! When we look at this building, we see, among other things, the arched galleries. Gothic architecture is known for its vertical lines, which are also visible in the tall narrow windows. The elements are pointed and provide a stately appearance.
At the same time, the Renaissance symmetry is undeniable in, for example, the windows and doors. These are also adorned with fine embellishments, which is very characteristic of the Renaissance style.
This beautiful palace was once home to the customs office. If you wanted to bring your trade into Dubrovnik, you had to declare it here. It was truly the commercial center of the city. On the wall, the following text can still be seen:
FALLERE NOSTRAVETANT; ET FALL PONDERE: MEQVE PONDERO CVM MERCES PONDERAT IPSE DEUS.
This text means: it is forbidden for us to deceive or falsify weights, and when I weigh goods, God weighs them with me.
This reminded everyone to trade honestly, and they better not dare to lie or weigh incorrectly.
The palace has been home to various activities, including a school and a meeting place. Now, the Dubrovnik archive is housed here. This archive is considered one of the richest in Europe. We cannot view the original documents, but copies are displayed.
When we visit the palace, we first walk through the courtyard under the many arches. Special events and exhibitions are now regularly organized in this courtyard. Theater performances are also held here; the acoustics and elegant architecture of the courtyard are a performer’s dream.
We also visit the Memorial Room of the Defenders of Dubrovnik. Here, an exhibition about the Croatian War of Independence is displayed. This impressive exhibition tells the story of the soldiers who perished in this terrible conflict.
Rector’s Palace
The Rector’s Palace is a perfect spot to travel back in time and learn about the political and cultural aspects of the past. It was the seat of government in the former Republic of Dubrovnik. There’s no better place to delve into Dubrovnik’s political history.
This palace comprises various sections, each with its own role.
- The city museum
The city museum hosts various exhibitions. There are permanent exhibitions on historical artifacts, culture, costumes, art, and much more. Temporary exhibitions often focus on one of these areas but in a slightly different way.
Throughout the museum, there are various displays providing explanations about the items on exhibit.
- Historical rooms
The original historical rooms, as they were used in the past, have been preserved. We can fully immerse ourselves in the role of the rector as we stand in his bedroom, pretending to prepare for an important meeting in one of the conference rooms.
- Atrium and courtyard
After a long meeting, we finally escape the hustle and bustle and relax in the courtyard and Atrium garden. Here, we can enjoy the fresh air and the cozy atmosphere. Birds sing their cheerful songs, and the leaves of the trees rustle gently in the wind.
And once again, the Game of Thrones fangirl in me emerged when I arrived here. The scene where Daenerys Targaryen asks the spice king of Qarth for ships to carry her army across the Narrow Sea was filmed at the front of the palace.
- Tickets available on-site and online
- Price from €10.00, depending on age
Church of St. Ignatius
This church has withstood several bombings. Several stained glass windows were destroyed, and the altar was also damaged. Fortunately, they were able to restore everything after the war, and the church is open for us to visit once again.
The baroque style of this church is undeniable. The design depicts various moments from the life of Saint Ignatius. In 1885, several niches were also created in the church. These niches were built in honor of Our Lady of Lourdes and are among the oldest niches around.
As we walk through the church, there’s so much to take in. The baroque style in this church is truly a feast for the eyes. With all the decorations, the colorful dance of sunlight through the stained glass windows, and the beautiful altarpiece of Ignatius in the center, this church has earned its place on this list of Dubrovnik attractions.
The church was built by the Jesuit order, a group of priests. Next to the church stood the Jesuit college, which played an important role in the education and culture of Dubrovnik.
Jesuit Stairs
This group of priests also leads us to these stairs. The Jesuit Stairs were built as a passage between the Church of St. Ignatius and the Jesuit college.
Like the church, these stairs were built in baroque style. It’s an incredibly impressive staircase with ornate balustrades and elegant steps. Walking up the stairs, you have a fantastic view over the old city of Dubrovnik and the Adriatic Sea.
These stairs gained fame after being used as the set for the well-known Walk of Shame scene in one of my favorite series. This Dubrovnik attraction is a must-see for Game of Thrones fans. ;)
After exploring all these beautiful spots in Dubrovnik’s old town, let’s see what lies beyond the city walls.
Velika and Mala Petka Forest Park
Velika and Mala Petka Forest Park are part of Montenegro’s natural landscape. Retreat into this picturesque setting and listen to the birds’ conversations from early morning until late evening. This Dubrovnik attraction is perfect if you want to escape the city and explore Dubrovnik’s nature.
The park is popular not only among hikers but also bird watchers. Depending on the season, you can spot various birds here. Thrushes, siskins, primroses, and even finches find a pleasant home here in winter.
There are various hiking trails in this park. The park consists of the Velika Petka section and the Mala Petka section. In the Velika Petka section, you’ll find mostly paved paths, while the paths in the Mala Petka section are rougher and mainly consist of gravel.
As you walk along the different paths, you’ll pass impressive cliffs, cozy coves, and bustling water streams of the Palace of Dubrovnik, depending on which path you follow. These paths are clearly marked and suitable for all levels.
Mount Srd.
See Dubrovnik from great heights! A visit to Mount Srd is a must among Dubrovnik attractions.
You can reach this 412-meter-high point in several ways.
- You can choose the most reliable way: by car.
Drive at your own pace, with your favorite artist or radio station playing, to the top of this mountain. You can park your car for free here. - You can opt for the sporty way: hiking. Start 20 minutes outside the old city of Dubrovnik and hike through the forest, above the tree line, until you reach the ultimate peak. This 2.1 km hike is accessible for both beginners and more advanced hikers.
- You can choose the tourist way: the cable car!
This cable car is located just outside the old city and is the easiest, fastest, and secretly the most fun way to go up. You don’t have to steer or do anything, just hop in and enjoy the view on the way up.
A return ticket for the cable car is €7 or €27, depending on age.
Once at the top of the mountain, you can relax from your hike by grabbing a bite to eat and a drink at the Panorama Restaurant. Enjoy the stunning view over Dubrovnik with its orange rooftops and glistening streets.
There’s also a historical museum, the Homeland War Museum. It tells the story of the Homeland War from 1991-1995. It’s very impressive and interesting to visit while you’re on top of the mountain. Tickets are only €5.
Lokrum Island
When you look around from Mount Srd, you’ll also see this island. Lokrum Island is the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city for a (half) day. You’ll find complete relaxation on this island full of stunning flora and fauna. Lokrum is a day trip that shouldn’t be missed if you want to see all the Dubrovnik attractions.
For just €5, you can get a ticket to take the ferry to the island. The crossing only takes about fifteen minutes, so even for tourists prone to seasickness, this trip is quite manageable. It’s a short and calm crossing.
Once on the island, you can choose to stroll through the Botanical Garden. In these gardens, you’ll be accompanied by a few peacocks. The ancestors of these peacocks were brought to the island about 100 years ago, and since then, this island has become the new home for this peacock family.
Hidden beneath some plants, you can also find the ancient ruins of the Benedictine Monastery of St. Mary.
The island is, of course, surrounded by the sea, otherwise, it wouldn’t be an island. This also means there are plenty of spots to take a refreshing dip! So don’t forget to bring your packed beach bag and try out different beaches.
Besides the abundant, beautiful nature on this island, there are also several restaurants and cafés. Here you can enjoy a delicious cup of coffee, a refreshing cocktail, and recharge with delightful dishes.
Franjo Tudman Bridge – Vidikovac Lozica
We end at the very tip of Dubrovnik. We’re going to take a look at the Franjo Tudman Bridge. Standing on the bridge, you can take stunning photos of Dubrovnik’s coastline.
What is particularly impressive and highly recommended is to watch the sunset/sunrise. From the Vidikovac Lozica viewpoint, located on the southern side of the bridge, you also have a beautiful view of the city and its surroundings.
Want to make sure you’ve truly seen all the ins and outs of the Dubrovnik area? Join our Dubrovnik surroundings bike tour! During this bike tour, our guide will take you through the region around Dubrovnik. These Dubrovnik attractions are often overlooked because they are outside the city, but they are definitely worth a visit.
Dubrovnik attractions map
Below, I’ve placed all the attractions on the map for you, so you can see where everything is located. Want to customize it? You can! You can zoom in, zoom out, and add extra markers yourself.
I’ve divided the attractions into the following categories:
Orange: City center attraction
Dark blue: Attractions outside the city
Dark green: Nature attraction