Dubrovnik for Travelers
Plenty of photo albums hold pictures of Dubrovnik’s
Old Town. There’s good reason for all the clicking. The stunning site
of this walled city rising from the blue Adriatic against a backdrop of mountains
is a treasured view for new and returning visitors alike.
Carefully restored after bomb damage during Croatia’s
war for independence at the beginning of the 1990s, Dubrovnik’s
baroque architecture, enclosed in a massive wall, is a key reason for visiting
the city. You can easily stroll through the Old Town (Stari Grad) in a day,
leaving the rest of your trip to explore the beautiful nearby beaches, islands
and villages.
Key Points about Dubrovnik
Established in the seventh century, Dubrovnik (called Ragusa until 1918) built
walls early on to protect itself from invaders.
A powerful republic in the Middle Ages, the city for centuries rivaled Venice
as an important trading center. In the 17th century earthquakes devastated
and weakened the city, and from then on, Dubrovnik became
absorbed into various kingdoms and empires, paid tribute to the Ottoman Empire,
and after World War II, found itself in socialist Yugoslavia.
In 1990, the Republic of Croatia declared its independence
from Yugoslavia, and for seven months in 1991 and 1992, the Serb-Montenegrin
army besieged the city, inanely lobbing bombs while the world watched in disbelief.
Today, Dubrovnik stands rebuilt and war-free, with just a
few scars to remind people of its recent history. Tourists flock to this beautiful
city, to visit its monuments and museums, play on its beaches, and revel in
the gorgeousness of the area.
Entry
For stays of 90 days or less, Croatia does not require visas
for visitors from the US, the EU, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. Citizens
of other countries should check with a Croatian embassy or
consulate. All visitors must register with the police within two days of arriving
in Croatia; most hotels do so automatically for their guests.
Fast Facts
The 1990s were a period of war and isolation for Croatia.
Croatia today still struggles economically but tourists will generally find
Western-style accommodations and tourist facilities, although they can be
in short supply during summer months. As a result, many families offer private
rooms for rent to travelers at the bus station and outside the tourist office.
Dubrovnik is located on Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast, at the very southern tip of this boomerang-shaped country. With a population of less than 50,000, tourists swell these numbers particularly in the high season of July and August, when everything is more crowded and expensive. The climate is mild and rainy in the winter, and hot and dry in summer. The temperatures reach100 degrees F or 38 degrees C in July and August but this is also the time of most festivals. Plus, the sea is wonderfully balmy at this time of year. September and October have good weather and fewer tourists.
What to See
A walk through Old Town should be the visitor’s first activity. Start
by entering through Pile Gate (Vrata od Pila), which leads you to the pedestrian
throughway known as Placa and also Stradun, that extends to the other side
of the Old Town. From the gate, for a small fee you can get up to the top
of the wall, which ranges 2000 meters (1.2 miles) in length and averages 1.5
meters (5 feet) thick and is interspersed with towers, forts, and gates. The
large Minceta Tower is the most impressive fort in the system and is a symbol
of the city. Fort Lovrijenac offers a spectacular view from its cliff-top
vantage 37 meters above the sea. The wall walk is open daily from 9 am –
7:30 pm, and it takes about an hour to complete the entire wall route.