Dubrovnik

The finest medieval city walls in Europe — a 2 km circuit of stone ramparts encircling the entire Old Town, with extraordinary views over terracotta rooftops and the deep blue Adriatic at every turn.

A three-minute cable car ride from the edge of the Old Town to the 412 m summit of Mount Srđ — delivering a bird's-eye panorama of Dubrovnik, its islands, and the Adriatic that is simply unmissable.

The finest Gothic-Renaissance palace in Dalmatia, once the seat of the Ragusan Republic's rector. Now an excellent cultural history museum with grand atrium, period furniture, and the story of the extraordinary Dubrovnik Republic.

A magical uninhabited island 10 minutes by ferry from the Old Town — a nature reserve where peacocks roam freely among the ruins of a Benedictine monastery, with a beautiful naturist beach and a saltwater lake hidden in the forest.

A hidden gem down a side alley in the Old Town with a shaded outdoor terrace — proper Dalmatian cooking at sensible prices, a rarity in tourist-heavy Dubrovnik. The black risotto and slow-cooked lamb peka are essential.

Fine dining perched directly on top of the Old Town city walls with panoramic Adriatic views — one of the most dramatically situated restaurants in Croatia, serving outstanding contemporary seafood and Pag lamb.

The best vegetarian restaurant in Croatia — a creative Asian-Mediterranean fusion menu served in a beautiful historic stone space inside the Old Town. Even committed meat-eaters are consistently won over.

A genuine culinary heritage experience specialising in the traditional Ragusan capon (kopun) and forgotten Croatian recipes — truffle pasta, capon with local herbs, and dishes that predate the tourist industry by centuries.

A beloved harbour-side seafood restaurant right on the Old Harbour with traditional wooden boats tied up alongside — the freshest fish and mixed seafood platters in the city at prices that won't break the bank.

A bar literally carved into the city walls, with drinks served on rocky platforms above the open Adriatic — one of the most uniquely beautiful and atmospheric bars in the world. Enter through a hole in the wall.

A cocktail bar set inside a natural sea cave at the Hotel More on the Lapad peninsula — with water washing in beneath you and dramatic lighting at night, it is one of the most atmospheric bars in Croatia.

An excellent Croatian wine bar in a stone-walled cellar in the heart of the Old Town, with a knowledgeable team and an outstanding selection of Dalmatian and continental Croatian wines by the glass.

The grand historic café of Dubrovnik, occupying the former maritime arsenal beside the Rector's Palace — a perfect setting for a morning coffee on the terrace with views of Orlando's Column and the bustle of the Old Town.

The best value in the Old Town — thin-crust, wood-fired pizzas at prices that defy the surrounding tourist economy. A favourite of locals and budget-conscious visitors who've found the secret.

The closest beach to the Old Town — a pebble-and-rock beach just east of Ploče Gate with remarkable views back to the city walls rising from the sea. The free rocky section to the east of the paid sunbed area is excellent.

The most beautiful beach in the Dubrovnik area — a gorgeous, gently shelving sandy bay on a traffic-free island, reached by a 20-minute walk through olive groves. The water is spectacularly clear and the island completely car-free.

A guided walking tour of the Old Town filming locations used as King's Landing in Game of Thrones — Fort Lovrijenac (the Red Keep), the Jesuit staircase (Walk of Shame), Diocletian's steps, and dozens more iconic scenes.

Sea kayaking from the base of the city walls — the most active and spectacular way to experience Dubrovnik from the water, paddling past the ancient stone fortifications, sea caves, and hidden coves with an expert guide.

A full-day speedboat tour visiting all three Elaphiti islands — Koločep, Lopud, and Šipan — with swimming stops in crystal-clear coves, a seafood lunch, and the chance to explore car-free island villages at leisure.

A self-guided walk of the complete 2 km city wall circuit — the definitive Dubrovnik experience, offering constantly changing views of the Old Town, the Adriatic, and the island of Lokrum from the ancient battlements.