Dubrovnik has been on my radar far longer than the existence of Game of Thrones. I’ve been daydreaming about seeing the walled Old City from the moment I heard of it and saw pictures. A few years ago, driving to Slovenia from Montenegro I was desperate even to get a glimpse. I had to see that it was real with my own eyes. It was incredible even if it was just for a few seconds.
This time Jaka and I were taking the journey to Dubrovnik so he could attend a conference. We stayed in Cavtat which is about a 20-minute drive past Dubrovnik. On the way down I was glued to my map watching for when I might see it again. I took like ten pictures in the span of those few seconds even though I knew I would be going the next day. I can’t put my finger on it. The whole night I was squirming and giggling over the thought I would actually walk the walls the very next day.
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After an anxious night of sleep, I was up early the next day to venture to the Old City by myself. It feels so cliche every time I say it but Dubrovnik might be one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. I had the dumbest biggest smile on my face the entire time I was there. There was something so magical and unique about the sheer size of the walls and all of the architecture. I would not say it is the best place to visit and get a taste of Croatia; it is very crowded, incredibly expensive, and honestly, very touristy. But if you love medieval towns, then you must visit at least once!
Of course, I cannot write this article without mentioning Game of Thrones (no spoilers!). I visited the weekend the series finale aired so it was extra exciting for me. I’m a fan of the show and cinematography so seeing the places they filmed was really amazing. It’s so cool to see how they transform seemingly mundane spots to iconic scenes many of us know and reference. I will mention a few spots below.
So after the longest intro ever I want to dive into the history of Dubrovnik a bit because it is really interesting for such a small place. Then I will share some tips to get the most out of your travels (aka don’t repeat my travel fails) and share some of the things you shouldn’t miss when visiting.
Table of Contents
History of Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is a city in the southern part of Croatia. It is primarily known for the Old City of Dubrovnik which is one of the world’s best-preserved medieval cities and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The history of Dubrovnik’s origins is a bit unknown. While there is documentation showing a settlement here in the 7th century there is archaeological evidence of a pre-Christian settlement.
Due to its location, it benefited greatly as a port operating in the Adriatic Sea. I won’t go greatly into detail about which kingdom or country Dubrovnik was part of over its history because we will be here all day. A very similar situation to other European cities in this region. Although, differently, because of its location and importance as a port it also operated for periods of time as a free state.
Dubrovnik greatly benefited from this maritime economy and was more exposed to new ideas and was the first in the region to adopt certain aspects of art, architecture, and institutions. For example, the longest continuously operating pharmacy in the world is in Dubrovnik. They also established social housing in 1347 and banned slave trading in 1418. A very progressive agenda for a city that now appears frozen in time.
One thing the tour guide shared which I found very fascinating was that because Dubrovnik is a very small walled city this makes it more susceptible to spreading illnesses. When anyone arrived to the city they were required to stay in a quarantine building for 40 days. Even those who were citizens and have returned home from abroad. They went to great lengths to avoid an epidemic that they would open delivered letters over boiling vinegar and even had a group of “plague police” composed of the immune.
For the next 500 years, Dubrovnik would be under French, Venetian, and even Austrian rule. After this, they began alliances with Slovenia and Serbia, became part of Croatia and eventually formed the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Unfortunately, after their declaration of independence in 1991, Dubrovnik was attacked by Serbia and Montenegro and a significant portion of the city was damaged. Almost 100 civilians killed. When in Dubrovnik you will see signs and maps explaining the main attack and showing which buildings were hit. You can even see some of the damage on buildings that were not repaired.
I know for some this is a very sensitive topic, especially for locals, and I am not trying to make broad strokes over a complicated history, but more of an introduction for context. I clearly cannot discuss history and politics at length in this format, but I do encourage you to read more about the places to you travel to, take a tour, and talk to locals. Places are living communities with stories so don’t shy away from learning them!
Dubrovnik Today
Now for some slight clarification. Dubrovnik is actually larger than the walled city you see in photos. It has a population of approximately 42,000 but the Old City only has about 1500 or less. This is for a range of reasons but a major one is that the cost of living in the Old City is not possible for locals. They discovered renting out their homes to travelers would make them very good money and they can live elsewhere. Dubrovnik is very expensive. I was warned and still found myself very shocked at the prices everywhere I went.
This is an important topic that I won’t push now, but it is a growing issue throughout the world as tourism becomes more and more accessible, affordable, and (let’s say it) trendy. Remember that even though you are on vacation, this is someone else’s home. So be mindful of local customs, traditions, and the people.
Dubrovnik is now also famous because of Game of Thrones. Walking through the city you hear lots of tourists referring to it as King’s Landing as it was the inspiration for the show and a few notable scenes were filmed in Dubrovnik. You can even take a Game of Thrones tour through the city to see the various filming locations.
How to get to Dubrovnik
There is always an option to drive to Dubrovnik depending where you are but don’t underestimate the length of Croatia! We drove from Ljubljana and it took about 8 hours. If you are driving from the north of Croatia note that you must enter into Bosnia and Herzegovina at one point for a few kilometers before getting to Dubrovnik. Check your visa requirements.
Dubrovnik is serviced by the Dubrovnik Airport which is in Čilipi, a 30-minute drive south of the city. This page does an excellent job of sharing which airlines you can use from each European country to Dubrovnik.
Ferries run between Bari, Italy and Dubrovnik, Croatia and you can check the availability through