DUBROVNIK
Area: Croatia


Location:
In S Croatia, lying nearly at the end of the long thin strip of Dalmatian coast. Split 135 miles NW. Cavtat 13 miles SE. Airport 14 miles SE.

Telephone code from UK:
385 20

Position:
Backed by steep barren mountains and fronting the Adriatic Sea. The city proper is on the lower slopes, while the Old Town and tourist district of Lapad lie on peninsulas either side. The small island of Lokrum is opposite the Old Town, while the 13 Elaphite islands, including Kolocep, Lopud and Sipan, lie adjacent to the coast NW of the city.

Description:
The Old Town, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, is a masterpiece of renaissance town planning. Rebuilt in the 17th century after an earthquake, the origins date back to the 7th century AD. It was an independent city state for a number of centuries, once boasting the 3rd-largest merchant shipping fleet in the world, and the prosperity of that period is still evident today. Enclosed within 1­ miles of walkable city walls and fortifications, it is rich in architectural delights including palaces, museums, churches and public buildings. The central street is undoubtedly Stradun, a broad stone-paved thoroughfare connecting the Pile gate at the W, to the Sponza Palace and Bell Tower at the E. Numerous little streets and alleyways, often with many steps, radiate from Stradun towards the city walls. The whole of the Old Town is car-free. The 2-pronged Lapad Peninsula is a pleasant residential and hotel district with forested hillsides and attractive bay. A few hotels, cafes, park and tennis courts straddle a small pedestrian street at the centre, connecting the main road and the bay. More hotels lie along the secluded shores of the rocky promontories. A meandering footpath allows coastal strolls around the Babin Kuk district. On the other side of the peninsula, a larger bay contains a ferry and cruise ship terminal and, a little further north, a yacht marina. The commercial city proper has little to offer for the tourist but does contain a couple of hotels. The region is recovering from the loss of its tourist trade due to the country's independence struggle in the early 1990s. Today, however, it is one of the safest parts of Europe with street crime virtually unheard of, and a warm welcome given to the growing numbers of returning foreign visitors.

Suitability:
Sun worshippers and history buffs, but generally those lying somewhere between the two. Families and couples are well-taken care of and there is a resurgence in the conference market here. Water-sports enthusiasts will find great conditions but limited facilities and sailors will be in their element here. The younger set will probably soon get bored.

Accommodation:
A number of good and sometimes classy hotels rub shoulders with old-fashioned budget properties. Generally built in the 60s and 70s, the better hotels have undergone recent refurbishment. A few hotels are located on the coast, just E of the Old Town, but the majority are to be found 2» miles NW on the Lapad Peninsula.

Shopping:
Limited, but some good-value finds are possible. The Old Town offers a small selection of outlets selling souvenirs, books and jewellery, and a few boutiques offer the latest fashions. A number of galleries sell local artwork. The city proper caters to the locals and on the Lapad Peninsula shopping is virtually non-existent. Traditional lacework is probably the most authentic souvenir to be found.

Beach:
A few small pebbly bays but the majority of the coastline is rocky; many hotels have concrete platforms with access to the sea. The small offshore islands also offer a further choice and are often favoured by naturists. Lack of sand ensures the waters are some of the clearest in Europe, if not the world, and also some of the cleanest.

Entertainments:
Daytime: exploring the Old Town; walking the walls, visiting the museums and galleries, or just sitting in a Stradun cafe, people-watching. Sunbathing and swimming; limited seasonal water sports; tennis. Boat trips to nearby islands. Nightlife: a couple of discos but mainly concentrated in the bars and cafes. Regular concerts in the Old Town provide cultural diversions, and the summer festival (July and August) is a huge attraction with its music, drama, poetry and folklore. The pre- or post-dinner stroll is highly popular.

Eating:
The greatest choice of restaurants is in the Old Town where numerous characterful options, often hidden away in side streets, produce good meals at reasonable prices. The Lapad Peninsula has a limited choice of eateries, generally serving snacks and smaller meals. Seafood, poultry and meat, primarily pork, feature on most menus, often grilled or cooked on the spit. Smoked ham is a speciality of the region. The most ethnic cuisine to be found is probably pizza! Nationally produced wine and beer are a good accompaniment to most meals.

Public-transport:
Regular local buses operate between the Lapad Peninsula and the Old Town, and regional buses run NW to Split and SE to Cavtat from the bus station. Taxis usually need to be ordered from hotels but are often available outside the Old Town. Boat services connect the nearby islands to the mainland and seasonal water taxis also serve various popular points along the coast.

Local-excursions:
Guided tours of Old Town. Island of Mljet _ national park and monastery. Island of Korcula _ medieval town. Elaphite Islands and fish picnic. Folklore tour _ into the lesser-known Dalmatian hinterland. Medjugorje _ religious pilgrimage site. Canoeing; rafting. Night cruises.