One of the best preserved old towns in the world, with spectacular city walls and a stunning setting that sees it surrounded by mountains to the east, the crystal blues of the Adriatic to the west and the terracotta roofs of the buildings pouring out into the nearby town. Dubrovnik quite rightly sits as one of the highlights of the Balkans, if not the whole Mediterranean.
It’s only downside is, predictably, the sheer volume of fellow tourists that descend into the narrow lanes of the Old Town. I won’t write a detailed review, but my top three tips are:
Tip #1 Make sure you walk the full circle of the City Walls – they are some of the best preserved in the world and give you some of the best views of the Old Town and surroundings.
Tip #2 Make your way up to Mount Srd for views over the whole city – this 412m / 1350ft high hill allows you to the escape the claustrophobia of the Old Town and, because of just how dramatically steep it is next to the Old Town, gives amazing views. Taking the cablecar is the best and easiest way up there but, if the queues are long, just take a taxi which takes 15mins. The other option is a hike along the clear walking trail which although is only 2.5km / 1.5miles is STEEP and will take at least 45mins.
Tip #3 Try to get lost in the Old Town – as with all Old Towns, the experience is all about feeling the magic of the place and imagining what it would have been like to be here before modern times. You don’t really get that by following a guide book and, even if you do, you’ll naturally just be following all your fellow tourists anyway. Instead, just head off in any direction and see where you end up – you can always retrace your steps to see some places you may have missed, and who knows what unusual places you may find
Part of a 2-3 week itinerary – the Western Balkans are a seriously underrated part of Europe and represent one of the best 2-3 week trips you can do in this part of the world with stunning castles and old towns, and some of the best coastline in the world all compactly housed within 8 countries. For the 2-3 week itinerary for the highlights and general tips for this part of the world, see this travel entry and where Dubrovnik fits in –3 week trip around the Balkans States.