Dubrovnik
Croatia
Visitors have long been enchanted by the beautiful medieval city of Dubrovnik, recently awarded UNESCO World Heritage Site status.
Dubrovnik has a remarkable history: an independent, merchant republic for 700 years until it was occupied by Napoleon, the city grew immensely wealthy through trade with Turkey and India in the East and had representatives as far afield as Africa. Modern Dubrovnik is not only beautiful, but chic and cosmopolitan with a lively nightlife.
Narrow cobbled alleys line the main pedestrian street, the Stradun, and evenings are spent listening to live bands and free opera recitals, sipping drinks in local bars, or eating in restaurants lining the harbour.
The walls that surround the city form an ideal walking tour, with cosy cafes perched precariously on the rocks, and this is the ideal spot from which to see the sun setting over the nearby Elaphiti Islands.
Stay in one of the five star hotels with prime seafront location and views across to the city and the Elaphiti Islands, or at the Pucic Palace, the only good hotel actually within the historic old town. Alternatively, there are some excellent value private apartments that we know well and can book for you. Dubrovnik also makes an excellent base for exploration of the Elaphiti Islands on a sea kayak safari (see the Sea Kayaking the Dalmatian Coast suggestion in the Dalmatian Coast trip).
Testimonials
'The country’s undisputed jewel is Dubrovnik, usually — and quite rightly — named as Europe’s prettiest city'
What’s not to like about Croatia? It has perfectly preserved medieval towns, pristine national parks and postcard-pretty islands within an easy ferry-ride’s reach.
As it’s outside the eurozone, prices tend to be cheaper than mainland Europe, and there are plenty of inexpensive flights available.
So you’d think that the place would be swarming with British holidaymakers, wouldn’t you? Certainly, our European counterparts have cottoned on — there’s been an influx of summer...
Susan D'Arcy
Read More Full archiveAlso Try
 |
Dalmatian CoastCroatiaCroatia has one of the most outstanding stretches of coastline in the world, thanks not just to beautiful beaches and islands, but the charming towns and cities along the length of the Dalmatian Coast. |
 |
Sail the AdriaticCroatiaThere’s a not-so-old adage that Montenegro is best explored on land, and Croatia (aside from Dubrovnik) by sea, and we know the best available boats to help put that into practice. |
