Introduction
We stayed in Dubrovnik in full season, one week at the end of July, for a family vacation. One day we reserved for visiting the Old Town – a must do visit when you are in Dubrovnik, since it’s one of the greatest medieval cities. The best time to enjoy a relaxing walk through the Old Town is early in the morning, especially if you are there in full season like us. In this way you avoid the heat that can get pretty intense during the day. Also, early in the morning is not very crowded, which gives a more authentic taste of the Old Town.
Old town
We started our visit a 7 am at the main medieval gates of the Old Town, and then headed east to the port, where we enjoyed the beautiful sunrise. Most cafes open at 7 or 8 am so there is also plenty of options to grab your coffee (or breakfast) while getting lost through the medieval walls. If you have more time, you can also visit the palaces, museums, monasteries, churches and many more in the Old Town as well as do small souvenir shopping from the many shops available. This includes many Game of Thrones souvenirs or tours for the fans of the series who will not be disappointed once on site.
You could easily spend a week visiting the Old Town, if you really want to see everything, so based on how much time you plan to spend there, here is a list of attractions you could see. We recommend doing your own research based on time available so you can enjoy the things that you like the most. Attractions you can do: walking on the walls of the Old Town, visit Rector’s Palace, Sponza Palace, Red History Museum, Dubrovnik Cathedral, Dominican and Franciscan Monasteries, Church of St. Blaise, Lovrijenac Fort etc.
Things to do while in Dubrovnik:
In summary here is a short list of things to consider when planning to visit Dubrovnik:
- Go early in the morning to escape the heat (up to 36 during the day, feels like 42) and the crowds of tourists (there are also many cruise ships coming during the day)
- You can park here or here since the Old Town is not accessible by car or by bike (some other small parking places are available on Google)
- Witness the sunrise in the port
- Get lost on the small streets
- Plan your activities listed above (and many others) based on the time you have available
- Book a Game of Throne tours if you are a fan of the series
- Have lunch on one of the restaurants from Stradun Street (Main Street of the Old Town)
