Have you ever been to Dubrovnik? If you haven’t, then you are missing out on a lot.
Dubrovnik is a city in southern Croatia and a popular tourist destination. It is most famous for the city walls of the historic Old Town. In fact, UNESCO listed Dubrovnik as a World Heritage site in 1979. To learn more, here is a blog about Croatia.
Are you planning to go on vacation this year? Here are the reasons why you should visit Dubrovnik.
Experience the City Walls
The old town in Dubrovnik is surrounded by a wall. The city walls are the biggest tourist attraction and the major reason why you should visit Dubrovnik. The walls are historic and were built in the 10th Century. They were later modified in the 13th and 14th Centuries. Their purpose was to protect against invaders which explains why they are 6m high and 6m thick. They are almost 2km long.
As you take a walk on the walls, you can see the most stunning view of the old town, Lokrum Island, the Adriatic Sea, Fort Lawrence, and the city.
The walls were featured in the Games of Thrones, which most likely increased their popularity.
It is free to access the old town, but you need to pay to access the city walls. The entrance to the walls is at the Pile Gate.
Visit the Many Tourist Attractions
Other than the city walls, there are many other great places you can visit in Dubrovnik. Given its rich history, there are many ancient buildings and places you can stroll to when in the old city.
One such is the Rectors Palace, designed in 1435 by Onofrio, which houses the Cultural Historical Museum of the city.
There is Fort Lawrence or Fort Lovrijenac that was built in the 11th century. The Fortress is 37m above the ocean with walls 12m thick. That explains why it was never captured by the Venetians.
Just a short distance from the Pile Gate is the Fountain of Onofrio that was built in 1444. Close by is the St. Saviour Church that was built at the beginning of the 16th Century.
The Franciscan Church that was built in the 17th century is another historic site to visit. The church houses rare manuscripts, a medieval pharmacy (the world’s oldest), and an onsite museum.
The View from the Cable Car
You haven’t seen anything magnificent until you take the cable car in the old town. You will get a great view of the walled city, the Lokrum Island, Imperial Fortress, the scenic mountains, and the Elafiti Islands.
Better still, the cable car will take you up to Mt. Srd and you can view the city from there. You can also enjoy the breathtaking sunsets on the hill.
A Trip to Lokrum Island
If you want to experience nature at its best, then you should visit Lokrum Island. It is enough reason for you to visit Dubrovnik this year. It would take you half a day to get to the Island from the city via ferry. You could also rent a sea kayak to the island.
On the Island, you can cross paths with free-roaming peacocks and bunnies. How fun is that?
Do you know where olives come from? Here you can see them on trees. There is an olive grove on the island full of olives.
Another amazing feature you should not miss out on the Island is the Dead Sea. The saltwater lake is located right in the middle and you could take a swim, do scuba diving or just take selfies.
If that is not enough, just behind the lake there are rocks from where you can a great view of the ocean. That’s a great picnic spot right there.
Also, the Benedictine Monastery is located on the island. It has been there since the 11th century. It has a museum, a botanical garden, and a restaurant.
Remember, the island is not accessible between the months of November to April. Note this when planning your holiday.
Lots of Fun Activities
A holiday means having fun. Well, there is no shortage of that in Dubrovnik. The more reasons why you should not miss out this year.
The city is surrounded by beaches on the shores of the Adriatic Ocean. Here you can swim in the blue waters. Just visit the rocky beaches such as the Banje Beach that is a short distance from Old Town, Buza Bar, and Bard Mala Buza.
Also, there are great beaches in the Lapad Peninsula such as Copacabana, Uvala Bay, and Cava. However, these are 4km from Old Town and you will pay an admission fee. Other than that, they are great places to spend time.
Other than swimming, you can go windsurfing, sea kayaking, jet skiing, and snorkeling.
