6 Best Sights in Dubrovnik, Southern Dalmatia

Dubrovnik's city walls define the Old Town and are one of the world's most stunning architectural achievements. A walk along the top is the ultimate Dubrovnik must-do for the magnificent views of the sea outside the walls and the terra-cotta rooftops and gleaming white streets within. Most of the original construction took place during the 13th century, though the walls were further reinforced with towers and bastions over the next 400 years. The walls completely encircle the Old Town as part of a fortification system that also includes the Pile Gate (still the main entrance into the Old Town) and Ploče Gate (the main entrance coming from the east); both have drawbridges that used to be raised each night so no one could come in or out—the keys were given to the Rector. There are also six fortresses, including freestanding Fort Lovrijenac to the west and Minčeta Tower to the north (the highest point in the Old Town). On average, the walls are 80 feet high and 2 km (1¼ miles) long, 10 feet thick on the seaward side, and 20 feet thick on the inland side. The inland walls are thicker because when they were constructed, the largest threat came from the Turks who might attack from that direction. (Ironically they got the direction right, but not the source: it was Napoléon, attacking from the inland fortress atop Mt. Srđ, who finally conquered the Republic.)

The entire circuit takes a couple of hours. Tickets can be purchased at the main entrance inside the Pile or Ploče Gate or at a quieter entrance beside the Maritime Museum. Note that the walk can be strenuous, especially in the heat, and involves many stairs with very little shade, so bring water and sunscreen; there are a couple of shops along the way if you need refreshments. In summer months it gets crowded from around 11 am to 3 pm, so it is best done first thing in the morning or later in the day.

Originally built in 1969 and reopened in 2010 after being destroyed in the siege, this is one of the top experiences in Dubrovnik. The ultramodern cable car whisks you up to the top of Mt. Srđ for the best view over the Old Town, Lokrum, and the Elafiti Islands. You can also join an hour-long buggy tour of the area, go for a hike, have a cocktail at the smart Panorama Restaurant, or just grab a seat and enjoy the view. At the top you'll also find the Imperial Fort, built between 1806 and 1812 by Napoléon during his short rule of the city and now home to the Homeland War Museum.

To reach the cable car, follow the signs from the Pile or Ploče Gate along the outside of the wall or climb the steps from the Stradun toward the mountain and exit via the Buža Gate. Buses from Gruž will drop you off right outside the entrance, where tickets can be purchased. If possible, try and plan your visit for sunset, when the views are magnificent and the line is shorter.

Some of Dubrovnik's most natural and peaceful beaches can be found on Lokrum, the island just off Dubrovnik's Old Town. It's a wonderful place to spend a day spotting peacocks (a Hapsburg legacy), feeding wild rabbits, or just enjoying the fresh air among the pines.

Tiny Lokrum has swirled with legend and mystery ever since Richard the Lionheart was supposedly cast ashore there in 1191 upon returning from the Crusades. The story goes that when the Benedictine monks who owned the island at the time were expelled to make room for aristocrats in the 19th century, they left behind a curse on any future owners of the land, including Hapsburg Emperor Maximilian I, who was executed in Mexico just eight years after he turned the monastery into his summer residence. To this day, it is considered bad luck to stay overnight on the island, though many a pair of romantics have tried.

Lush and fertile, Lokrum is home to the ruins of the abandoned 11th-century monastery, which is set among exotic botanical gardens. At the top of the island is a star-shaped fortress built by Napoléon's troops during French occupation and later used by the Austrian army. Footpaths leads down to the rocky shoreline, past the "dead sea" lake, where there are cliffs to jump from, coves to bathe in, and a small stretch of coast reserved for nudists. You can also visit a small Game of Thrones museum with the original Iron Throne (Lokrum was one of many filming locations around town).

To reach Lokrum, take a taxi-boat from the Old Port (€7); tickets can be purchased at the tourist information center beneath the Bell Tower on the Stradun. Boats run every half hour from April through November, and the ride takes approximately 15 minutes.

A counterpart to the Museum of Broken Relationships in Zagreb—except with happier endings—this delightful museum a short walk outside the Pile Gate is a simple life-affirming celebration of romance spread over four floors. Each room has a different theme, from Croatia-specific tales and local lore to celebrity love stories to an exhibit about the movies and series filmed in Dubrovnik (yes, Game of Thrones is represented). The top floors are perhaps the most moving, with items sent in from real people and notes scribbled on heart-shaped Post-its tacked all over the "love wall." 

Located in an industrial factory in Gruž, the Red History Museum tells the story of the rise and fall of communism in Croatia. Founded by a young group of entrepreneurs in 2019, among them a designer, a historian, and a couple who worked on film sets, it is a fun and fresh museum designed to be touched and explored. Taking a steadfastly neutral approach, the exhibits focus largely on everyday life under communism, from the clothing of the era to kitchen sets to sex education, with historical information weaved effortlessly throughout the colorful displays.

The Placa, commonly referred to as the Stradun, is the main street and the beating heart of Dubrovnik's Old Town. Stretching 300 meters from the Pile Gate to Luža Square and the Bell Tower, it was once the shallow sea channel separating the island of Laus from the mainland; although it was filled in during the 12th century, it continued to divide the city socially for several centuries, with the nobility living in the area to the south and commoners living on the hillside to the north. Today, the Stradun is the best people-watching promenade in town, with enough cafés, gelaterias, and boutiques to keep you busy for days.