Dubrovnik Port, Dubrovnik

Lined with palm trees, Dubrovnik's Old Port is a major focal point of the city featuring breathtaking and unforgettable scenery. Located right next to the picturesque UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Old Town, the port features great shopping at small markets along its tiny cobble stoned streets and fantastic sightseeing activities. Known as the 'Jewel of the Adriatic', the beauty and fun of the Old Port area makes Dubrovnik a popular cruise port in the Adriatic.

Stradun, Dubrovnik

The biggest, longest and widest street in Dubrovnik, the Stradun dates back to the 13th century, while the uniform houses that line it were mostly built in the 17th century. The street is 958 feet (292 metres) long and is the commercial, entertainment and spiritual centre of Dubrovnik. The shiny, slippery, marble-paved Stradun is the main walkway of Dubrovnik's Stari Grad, and the best place to get a feel for the 'pulse' of Dubrovnik.

Marin Drzic's House, Dubrovnik

Croatia's literary genius, Marin Drzic, has been immortalised by turning his Dubrovnik home into a museum which introduces visitors to the writer with a 40-minute presentation on his life and work. The house itself has been restored the the 16th-century Rennaissance period that Drzic lived in. The presentation is also a good introduction for visitors to the history and culture of Dubrovnik itself.

Opening Times:
9am to 1pm, closed Sundays. The presentation is shown to groups of 15 at a time.

Admission:
20kn (adults); 10kn (students and children)

Dubrovnik City Walls, Dubrovnik

The impressive walls enclosing the ancient city of Dubrovnik were laid out in the 13th century and became an ongoing work for almost two centuries. They are among the finest in the world and are the city's main attraction. The fortified walls are up to 10 feet (3m) thick on the sea side, and at least twice as thick on the land side to guard against invasion by the Turks in the 15th century, and reach 82 feet (25m) in height. Visitors can access the walls via a steep stone stairway where they will be rewarded with superb views over the old city and out to sea. A walk around the old city from this fascinating vantage point is a must for visitors to Dubrovnik. The detached Lovrjenac Fort to the west of the old city stood guard against both land and sea invasion and is also worth a visit for its superb views.

Opening Times:
Opening times vary according to the season, but generally 9am to 6:30pm (summer), 10am to 3pm (winter).

Admission:
70kn (adults); 30kn (children)

Sponza Palace, Dubrovnik

Built between 1516 and 1522, the Sponza Palace was the center of medieval Dubrovnik, complete with a mint, a weights and measures office and a Custom-House, a place where the goods brought by merchants from all over the world would be conveyed and custom fees collected. A mixture of Gothic and Rennaissance architectural styles, Sponza is one of the most beautiful palaces in the city and has been well-preserved so visitors today can still enjoy its stunning facade.

Franciscan Monastery, Dubrovnik

The 14th century Franciscan church and monastery enclosed in the walls of medieval Dubrovnik boasts one of the most beautiful Romanesque cloisters in Dalmatia. Within the monastery complex is a working pharmacy, which has been in business since 1317. A museum houses relics from the original medieval pharmacy such as medical books, instruments and weight scales, as well as some gilded church relics. The massive library contains some 30,000 volumes with 1,500 handwritten documents.

Opening Times:
9am to 6pm daily in summer

Admission:
30kn (adults), 10kn (children)

Mljet Island, Dubrovnik

Covered by forests, vineyards and small villages, Mljet Island is most famous for its national park, occupying the western half of the island. The main attractions in the national park are the two salt water lakes, Veliko Jezero (Great Lake) and Malo Jezero (Small Lake), and the 12th-century Benedictine monastery situated on an island on Veliko Jezero. The lakes are popular for swimming and the beauty of this unspoilt oasis attracts nature lovers and the promise of tranquillity. Mljetsland is Croatia's greenest and is said to have captivated the Greek legend Odysseus for seven years.

Getting There:
Car ferry from Dubrovnik to Sobe, or there a catamaran service to Polace. Schedules vary according to season

Admission:
Admission to the national park is 90kn

Elafiti Islands, Dubrovnik

A popular excursion from Dubrovnik is a day trip to the offshore islands of Kolocep, Lopud and Sipan, which are part of a larger archipelago northwest of Dubrovnik; they are the only inhabited islands in the group and the most popular for visitors. The islands are an escape from the mainland crowds and boast olive groves and orchards, sand and pebble beaches, 15th-century summer residences and several interesting churches and monasteries. Kolocep is the smallest and closest island to Dubrovnik, covered in green vegetation; Lopud is the most visited and is famed for its stretch of sandy beach at Sunj; while Sipan was the summer getaway for aristocratic families in Dubrovnik and is more interesting from an historical point of view.

Getting There:
Depending on the season there are ferries to the islands, but organised day trips are a popular way to visit all three.

War Photo Limited, Dubrovnik

Located in the historical centre of Dubrovnik, the War Photos exhibition space features temporary, changing exhibitions of photographic works relating to war and conflict. The photographs aim to showcase war as it really is, the horror and brutality that is experienced by innocents and combatants alike. War Photo Limited exhibitions are intended to be educational and showcase the work of world-renowned photojournalists.

Opening Times:
Open daily 9am to 9pm (June to September); Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 4pm (May and October); closed from November to April.

Admission:
30kn

Dubrovnik Riviera, Dubrovnik

In close proximity to the city of Dubrovnik are numerous picturesque villages and resorts to visit and explore. About 11 miles (18km) away on the road to Split is the quiet bay of Zaton, with its sandy beaches and pine forest. The town has numerous restaurants, a relic of the days when it was the chosen retreat for the aristocrats of the Dubrovnik Republic. The village of Tristeno features the 'Arboretum', a Gothic-Renaissance park on the coast. In the centre of this village visitors are awed by two gigantic sycamore trees, reputedly 500 years old, standing 197ft (60m) high. Even closer to the city the towns of Kupari, Srebreno, Mlini, Soline and Plat lie along a chain of hills descending to the rim of Zupa Bay, known as one of the most beautiful resorts on the Dubrovnik Riviera, with modern hotels offering a variety of watersports. Closer to town, Lapad Beach is a popular sandy beach with a number of bars and restaurants to while away a sunny afternoon in Dubrovnik.

Cathedral Treasury, Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik has had three cathedrals on the same site during its long history. The first was a Byzantine building dating from the 7th century; the second a Romanesque Cathedral which was destroyed by the great earthquake of the 17th century; and at present the beautiful Baroque structure which was designed by Italian architect Buffalini from Urbino and completed in 1713. The treasury of the cathedral is rich in religious relics, icons, paintings and other items of value. It is also possible to view the archaeological excavations that continue on the cathedral site.

Opening Times:
Weekdays 9am to 8pm. Closed for lunch

Admission:
10kn

Onofrio's Fountain, Dubrovnik

Located in a small square near the Pila Gate and Franciscan Monastery, this large fountain was built in 1438 by the famous Italian architect from Naples, Onofrio della Cava. After sustaining severe damage in a 1667 earthquake, the fountain was repaired and features 16 masked faces, known as 'maskeroni', which supplied water via an aqueduct. This construction was a masterpiece of that time. A smaller Onofrio's fountain located on the opposite side of the Stradun supplied water to the marketplace on Lu~a Square.

Korcula Island, Dubrovnik

One of the bigger Adriatic islands, Korcula Island boasts beautiful views, secluded beaches, vineyards and olive groves, and pretty towns and harbours. Korcula Town is the island's main town situated on the north west coast and the old town, sticking out into the sea, is typically Dalmatian, likened to a small Dubrovnik, with its red roofed houses, fortifications and enclosing walls. Marco Polo is said to have been born here and his house is now a museum. The town is also famous for its 15th-century Moreska sword dance which is performed during summer. Other main towns on the island include the tourist centre of Lumbarda surrounded by vineyards and coves, and the port town of Vela Luka on the east coast.

Getting There:
Buses and ferries depart regularly from Dubrovnik and car ferries also run between Split and Korcula