Dubrovnik

Why Dubrovnik works

Dubrovnik's city walls, largely completed by the 16th century and stretching nearly 2km around the entire Old Town, remain among the best-preserved medieval fortifications in Europe, and a full circuit on foot — roughly 90 minutes at an easy pace — offers views over terracotta rooftops on one side and the Adriatic's improbably turquoise water on the other. Within the walls, the Stradun, a limestone-paved main street polished to a shine by nine centuries of foot traffic, connects the Onofrio Fountain to the clock tower, passing Baroque churches and the Rector's Palace, seat of the Republic of Ragusa, a maritime power that rivalled Venice for centuries before Napoleon dissolved it in 1808. Dubrovnik's dramatic setting made it a natural filming location for King's Landing in Game of Thrones, and dedicated walking tours now trace filming spots including Fort Lovrijenac, perched on a cliff outside the walls. A cable car climbs Mount Srd for a wider panorama over the walled city and offshore islands, while a short boat ride reaches Lokrum, a forested island nature reserve with a botanical garden and a small saltwater lake. The Old Town suffered significant shelling during the 1990s Yugoslav wars, and a museum within the walls documents the siege and subsequent UNESCO-funded restoration that returned Dubrovnik to its current, meticulously preserved state.

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