ROL Cruise recommends...
1. Travel back in time with a walk around Old Town
Compact enough to walk from one side to the other in only a few hours, Dubrovnik’s Old Town is characterised by red-roofed buildings, narrow alleys and cobblestone streets lined with shops, museums and historic buildings. As you walk around, you may recognise some of the views from Game of Thrones – Dubrovnik was used as one of the main filming locations for King’s Landing, a fictional city within the hit TV series.
2. Take in the magnificent views
See Old Town from new angles with a walk along the city’s famous city walls. Climb the myriad steps to the top of Minceta Fortress, where you’ll be richly rewarded with breathtaking views of Dubrovnik and the surrounding islands. Not far from the walls is the 412 metres tall Srđ Mountain. A cable car ride to the top offers spectacular panoramas of the red-tiled rooftops and the sapphire blue of the Adriatic sprawled out below.
3. Marvel at the city’s architectural wonders
Dubrovnik is full of beautiful and fascinating historic buildings. In operation since 1391, Franciscan Monastery includes one of the world’s oldest functioning pharmacies. The Church of St Blaise, meanwhile, celebrates the patron saint of the city and is a real feast for the eyes, with an interior richly decorated in Baroque style. If you enter Old Town from the west, look up at the monumental arched gate and you’ll see Saint Blaise holding Dubrovnik in his hand.
4. Relax at the beach
Dubrovnik offers a variety of beaches to suit all tastes. The family-friendly Banje Beach is the most popular with visitors and provides jet skis, showers and inflatables. Copacabana Beach offers an even greater range of activities, including parachute boat rides, water chutes and pedalos. For a more peaceful seaside retreat, head to Sveti Jakov – in spite of being a favourite with locals, it’s rarely crowded.
5. Explore the nearby island of Lokrum
Taxi boats will take you to the idyllic island of Lokrum in a mere 15 minutes. Less than one mile wide, the island’s only inhabitants are the roaming peacocks that were brought over from the Canary Islands around 150 years ago. Take a walk through the peaceful botanical gardens or have a picnic on one of the island’s pristine beaches (don’t forget to bring food from the mainland, though – there are no shops or restaurants on the island).
