Why Stay in Dubrovnik?
Dubrovnik's perfectly preserved medieval city walls enclose one of Europe's most beautiful old towns, rising above the sparkling Adriatic Sea. Known as the 'Pearl of the Adriatic,' Dubrovnik gained additional fame as the filming location for King's Landing in Game of Thrones. The Stradun marble boulevard, the baroque churches, and the city walls walk — offering 360-degree views of terracotta rooftops and the azure sea — create a destination of extraordinary beauty.
Hotels within the Old Town walls offer the most atmospheric experience, but options are limited and premium-priced. Most visitors stay just outside the walls in Ploče (east, with beach access) or Lapad (west, with a beautiful bay beach). The cable car to Mount Srđ provides panoramic views of the city and the Elafiti Islands. Water taxis connect the Old Town harbour to beach areas along the coast.
The beaches around Dubrovnik range from organised resort beaches with sunbeds at Banje (right beside the Old Town walls) to secluded coves accessible by kayak. The island of Lokrum, a 15-minute ferry ride from the harbour, offers a car-free nature reserve with swimming spots, peacocks, and a Game of Thrones exhibition. The Elafiti Islands — Koločep, Lopud, and Šipan — make excellent day trips.
Dubrovnik's dining scene celebrates Dalmatian cuisine — grilled fresh fish, black risotto made with cuttlefish ink, pašticada (slow-cooked beef stew), and local Plavac Mali wine. Restaurants on the city walls offer candlelit dinners with sea views. The nightlife scene, centred around the bars carved into the cliffs beneath the walls, is atmospheric and memorable.