Old Town (Dubrovnik) Travel Guide - Free

Explore Old Town in Dubrovnik with Evendo's free guide. Find the best shops, historic streets, restaurants, and gems on web or mobile.

Download on the App Store Get it on Google Play
Old Town
Old Town photo 2
Old Town photo 3
All photos

Old Town Dubrovnik combines medieval walls, Stradun, historic palaces, Adriatic views, museums, seafood dining and lively culture in Croatia.

Within the City Walls

Old Town Dubrovnik occupies a compact, fortified peninsula on the Adriatic, enclosed by massive stone walls and entered through the Pile and Ploče gates. Its main artery, the polished limestone Stradun, runs between the two gates, while steep lanes climb towards houses, churches and small squares on either side. The district is formally known as the historic centre of Dubrovnik, but its atmosphere is more layered than a preserved monument: residents still live above shops, church bells mark the day, and laundry hangs between narrow streets.
Read more about Old Town

Republican Grandeur

The architectural character reflects the former Republic of Ragusa, whose merchants and diplomats built a sophisticated maritime state around the old harbour. The Rector's Palace, Sponza Palace, the Cathedral and the Franciscan and Dominican monasteries give the central streets their ceremonial presence, while the Old Port, Maritime Museum and nearby fortifications reveal the city's seafaring past. Prijeko, Gundulić Square and the lanes around the Jesuit Stairs offer a more intimate view of the town's stonework and daily rhythm.

Life Along the Adriatic

During the day, visitors move between museums, churches, courtyards, viewpoints and the city walls; later, restaurants and wine bars animate Stradun, Prijeko and the lanes leading towards the sea. The Old Town can become crowded in the main summer season, yet quieter hours reveal details easily missed in the rush: carved doorways, worn steps, shaded cloisters and views across the tiled roofs. Dubrovnik's historic centre is at once a cultural landmark, a working neighbourhood and a gateway to the rocky coast.

Best attractions in Old Town

Dubrovnik's Old Town concentrates an exceptional range of sights within its walls. Stradun provides the principal route between Pile and Ploče gates, linking Onofrio's Fountain, the Franciscan Monastery, Luža Square, the Clock Tower and the Orlando Column. The Rector's Palace combines civic history with refined interior spaces, while Sponza Palace and the Cathedral anchor the eastern end of the central district. The Franciscan cloister, Dominican Monastery and Jesuit Stairs offer quieter architectural encounters, and the Maritime Museum introduces the city's long relationship with the Adriatic. Visitors can also explore War Photo Limited, whose exhibitions examine the realities of modern conflict, and walk beside the Old Port for views of the harbour and fortifications. The city walls are the defining outdoor attraction, revealing the tiled roofs, sea-facing bastions and dense medieval street plan from above.

Show more attractions

Best landmarks in Old Town

The Old Town's landmarks express the former Republic of Ragusa's political, religious and maritime importance. Sponza Palace, with its arcaded courtyard, served commercial and administrative purposes, while the Rector's Palace was the seat of the republic's elected rector and is now one of the city's principal historic interiors. The Cathedral and the Church of St Blaise mark the civic and devotional centre around Luža Square, where the Orlando Column and Clock Tower create a memorable urban ensemble. Onofrio's Fountain records the medieval water-supply system, and the Franciscan Monastery preserves a celebrated cloister and historic pharmacy tradition. The walls, towers and gates are not merely scenic structures: they define the Old Town's boundary, document centuries of defence and commerce, and explain the compact pattern of streets, homes and public buildings within.

Show more landmarks

Explore Old Town on the map

A handpicked selection of must-see spots in Old Town, mapped for you.

Best restaurants in Old Town

Dining in the Old Town ranges from seafood and Dalmatian cooking to pizzerias, cafés, wine bars and contemporary menus adapted to an international audience. The lanes around Prijeko have the district's most concentrated restaurant presence, while tables also extend along Stradun, Gundulić Square and streets leading towards the Old Port. Menus commonly draw on the Adriatic through fish, shellfish, olive oil and seasonal vegetables, alongside regional specialities such as pašticada and black risotto, though availability varies by establishment and season. Gundulić Square is associated with small-scale market shopping in the morning, while bakeries and cafés provide simpler options away from formal meals. The historic setting affects the experience: terraces occupy narrow lanes and small squares, deliveries use restricted routes, and busy periods can make advance planning useful without assuming that every venue operates year-round.

Show more restaurants

Best bars in Old Town

Evenings in the Old Town are centred more on wine bars, cafés, hotel terraces and late dinners than on a large nightclub scene. Stradun and the lanes around Prijeko fill with conversation after sunset, while bars near the walls and the Old Port offer a closer connection to the Adriatic. Seasonal venues associated with the rocks beyond the southern walls, often known collectively as Buža, are valued for sea views and informal drinks, though access and opening arrangements can vary. Cultural performances, concerts and festival events may bring music to churches, squares and historic courtyards, particularly during Dubrovnik's summer programme, but schedules are not constant. Residential doorways remain close to nightlife streets, so visitors should keep noise under control when leaving terraces and bars, and use care on the steep, polished lanes at night.

Show more bars

Best nightclubs in Old Town

Evenings in the Old Town are centred more on wine bars, cafés, hotel terraces and late dinners than on a large nightclub scene. Stradun and the lanes around Prijeko fill with conversation after sunset, while bars near the walls and the Old Port offer a closer connection to the Adriatic. Seasonal venues associated with the rocks beyond the southern walls, often known collectively as Buža, are valued for sea views and informal drinks, though access and opening arrangements can vary. Cultural performances, concerts and festival events may bring music to churches, squares and historic courtyards, particularly during Dubrovnik's summer programme, but schedules are not constant. Residential doorways remain close to nightlife streets, so visitors should keep noise under control when leaving terraces and bars, and use care on the steep, polished lanes at night.

Show more nightclubs

Best shops in Old Town

Shopping in the Old Town is concentrated along Stradun and the adjoining lanes, with a mixture of souvenir shops, jewellers, galleries, pharmacies, fashion outlets and small stores selling Croatian food products. Visitors looking for local associations can browse olive oil, wines, cosmetics made with regional botanicals, lavender goods and handmade crafts, while art galleries reflect Dubrovnik's long relationship with painting, photography and its historic setting. Gundulić Square has a morning market tradition, although the range of produce and stalls changes with the season. The narrow streets also contain bookshops and shops offering reproductions or decorative objects inspired by the city's maritime and architectural heritage. Retail here is shaped by the protected historic fabric: premises are small, deliveries are constrained, and the same lanes shift from market or shopping use to restaurant and residential life as the day progresses.

Show more shops

Old Town essentials

Getting There
The Old Town is reached through the Pile Gate on the western side or the Ploče Gate near the eastern harbour. Dubrovnik's local buses stop near the gates rather than inside the pedestrianised historic centre, and visitors arriving from the main bus station, Gruž port or other parts of the city generally need to walk the final stretch. Airport buses and taxis also set passengers down outside the walls. Cruise passengers arriving at the port of Gruž should allow for the separate journey to the Old Town rather than treating the port as a city-centre arrival point.
Getting Around
The Old Town is best explored on foot: Stradun is level, but side streets quickly become steep flights of limestone steps, particularly towards the northern wall. Cars do not circulate through the historic centre, and wheeled luggage can be awkward on the paving and stairs. The city walls form a substantial walking route with exposed sections and steps, while the Old Port provides an easier east-side orientation. Visitors with reduced mobility should plan routes carefully, since historic entrances, narrow lanes and changes in level can limit step-free access.
Safety
The Old Town is generally straightforward to explore, but its polished limestone paving becomes slippery when wet and the steep lanes demand care, especially after dark. Keep belongings secure in crowded areas around the gates, Stradun and busy viewpoints, and take particular care with phones and bags near steps or harbour edges. Summer heat can be intense on the walls, where shade is limited. At night, watch for uneven surfaces, terrace furniture and occasional service vehicles in streets that otherwise feel pedestrian-only.
Emergency Situations
In Croatia, call 112 for the unified emergency service, or 192 for police, 193 for fire and 194 for ambulance assistance. Give the operator the Old Town's entrance, street name, nearby square, gate or landmark, since the dense historic layout can make an exact address difficult to identify. The nearest emergency medical facilities are outside the walled centre, so visitors should not expect a hospital within the Old Town itself. Hotels, accommodation hosts, restaurants and museum staff can help direct visitors to local medical care when the situation is not immediately life-threatening.
Do's and Don'ts
Dress respectfully when entering churches and monasteries, and follow any photography restrictions or service-related instructions. Keep voices low around residential doorways and avoid blocking narrow lanes while taking photographs. In restaurants and shops, queue patiently and ask before photographing staff, residents or private interiors. Do not climb walls, monuments or roofs, and keep clear of restricted edges near the harbour and fortifications. Croatia uses the euro, and tipping is discretionary rather than compulsory; rounding up or leaving a modest amount for good service is customary.
Local Tips
Use Stradun as a central reference point, but spend time on the parallel lanes, Gundulić Square and the Prijeko area to see the Old Town beyond its main procession route. The city walls are most exposed in the middle of the day, so an earlier or later visit is usually more comfortable, subject to current access arrangements. The Old Port is useful for understanding Dubrovnik's maritime setting, while the Ploče side leads towards the eastern harbour and sea views. Carry a reusable bottle and plan pauses, as the historic centre's stairs make spontaneous long walks more tiring than its compact map suggests.
Eve, your Evendo local guide

From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
HelloBok[Bohk]
GoodbyeDoviđenja[Doh-vee-jen-ya]
YesDa[Dah]
NoNe[Neh]
Please/You're welcomeMolim[Moh-leem]
Thank youHvala[Hvah-lah]
Excuse me/SorryOprosti[Oh-pros-tee]
How are you?Kako si?[Kah-koh see]
Fine. And you?Dobro. A ti?[Doh-bro. Ah tee]
Do you speak English?Govorite li engleski?[Goh-voh-ree-teh lee ehng-lehs-kee]
I don't understandNe razumijem[Neh rah-zoo-mee-yem]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseMogu li vidjeti jelovnik, molim?[Moh-goo lee vee-dyeh-tee yeh-lohv-neek, moh-leem]
I don't eat meatNe jedem meso[Neh yeh-dem meh-so]
Cheers!Živjeli![Zhee-vee-lee]
I would like to pay, pleaseŽelim platiti, molim[Zheh-leem plah-tee-tee, moh-leem]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!Pomoć![Poh-mohch]
Go away!Idi dalje![Ee-dee dah-l-yeh]
Call the Police!Pozovite policiju![Poh-zoh-vee-teh poh-lee-tsee-yoo]
Call a doctor!Pozovite doktora![Poh-zoh-vee-teh d-o-ktoh-rah]
I'm lostIzgubljen sam[Eez-goob-lyen sahm]
I'm illBolesan sam[Boh-leh-sahn sahm]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...Želim kupiti...[Zheh-leem koo-pee-tee]
I'm just lookingSamo gledam[Sah-moh gleh-dahm]
How much is it?Koliko košta?[Koh-lee-koh koh-shta]
That's too expensiveTo je prekupo[Toh yeh preh-koo-poh]
Can you lower the price?Možete li spustiti cijenu?[Moh-zheh-teh lee spoos-tee-tee tsee-yeh-noo]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?Koliko je sati?[Koh-lee-koh yeh sah-tee]
It's one o'clockJedan je sat[Yeh-dahn yeh saht]
Half past (10)Pola (deset)[Poh-lah (deh-set)]
MorningJutro[Yoo-troh]
AfternoonPopodne[Poh-pohd-neh]
EveningVečer[Veh-chehr]
YesterdayJučer[Yoo-chehr]
TodayDanas[Dah-nahs]
TomorrowSutra[Soo-trah]
1Jedan[Yeh-dahn]
2Dva[Dvah]
3Tri[Tree]
4Četiri[Cheh-tee-ree]
5Pet[Peh-t]
6Šest[Shehst]
7Sedam[Seh-dahm]
8Osam[Oh-sahm]
9Devet[Deh-vet]
10Deset[Deh-set]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?Gdje je...[Gdyeh yeh]
What's the address?Koja je adresa?[Koh-yah yeh ah-dreh-sah]
Can you show me (on the map)?Možete li mi pokazati (na karti)?[Moh-zheh-teh lee mee poh-kah-zah-tee (nah kahr-tee)]
When's the next (bus)?Kada je sljedeći (autobus)?[Kah-dah yeh sleh-deh-chee (ow-toh-boos)]
A ticket (to ....)Jedna karta (za ....)[Yeh-dnah kar-tah (zah)]

History of Old Town

From Refuge to Ragusa

The settlement that became Dubrovnik developed on the rocky shoreline after the decline of the late-antique city of Epidaurum, identified with present-day Cavtat. Medieval tradition associates the earliest refuge with the island-like rock of Laus, while a Slavic settlement grew on the mainland opposite it; the two areas were eventually joined and fortified. The name Ragusa was used in Latin and western European sources, whereas Dubrovnik derives from the Slavic word dubrava, meaning an oak grove. By the early Middle Ages, the town had become a strategically placed maritime settlement with an increasingly organised urban core.

The Republic of Ragusa

Dubrovnik's Old Town took its essential form under the Republic of Ragusa, the independent maritime state that governed the city from the Middle Ages until 1808. Stone walls, gates, churches, monasteries, warehouses and civic palaces expressed both defensive needs and commercial confidence. The Stradun was laid out as the principal east-west street after the channel separating the medieval settlements was filled, while the harbour connected the republic to Adriatic and Mediterranean trade. Diplomacy, seafaring and regulated commerce shaped the compact urban culture that remains legible in the Rector's Palace, Sponza Palace and the old port.

Earthquake and Reconstruction

The earthquake of 6 April 1667 devastated much of Dubrovnik and killed large numbers of residents, including prominent members of the ruling and cultural elite. Fires and destruction damaged palaces, churches and homes across the walled city, prompting a long rebuilding programme rather than a wholesale abandonment of the settlement. Many of the streets and buildings visible today reflect post-earthquake Baroque reconstruction, while surviving medieval and Renaissance elements were incorporated into the renewed town. The catastrophe also altered Dubrovnik's political and economic strength at a time when the republic faced growing competition in Adriatic trade.

From Austrian Rule to Modern Croatia

Napoleon's forces ended the Republic of Ragusa in 1808, and after the Napoleonic period Dubrovnik became part of the Habsburg lands. The walled centre lost its role as the capital of an independent state, but its churches, palaces, harbour and fortifications continued to define local identity. In the twentieth century, tourism and heritage conservation increasingly shaped the Old Town's economy. During the Croatian War of Independence, the historic centre was shelled in 1991 and 1992; damaged roofs and buildings were subsequently repaired through coordinated conservation, leaving the walled city both a historic place and a reminder of the vulnerability of cultural heritage.

Old Town in Photos

Browse through our photo collection highlighting the charm and character of the destination.

0 / 0

Neighbourhoods near Old Town

The closest neighbourhoods to Old Town, if you have time for more than one stop.

Explore more

Dubrovnik
More of the region

Explore more of Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik blends a UNESCO-listed medieval Old Town, Adriatic views, island-hopping, seafood cuisine and centuries of Croatian maritime history.

Explore Dubrovnik
The Evendo app on two phones

Your all-in-one travel companion app

Explore expert travel guides, compare and book tours, experiences, hotels, and more, all from the palm of your hand. Download now for seamless trip planning wherever your wanderlust takes you.

  • Travel guides to regions, countries, cities, landmarks and attractions worldwide
  • Photos, local tips, maps, opening hours and contact details for every place
  • Easy booking for hotels, tours, tickets and experiences
Download on the App Store Get it on Google Play
More about the Evendo app

Evendo is a 100% free travel guide app: plan a trip, find what is worth seeing and book it, all in one place.

  • Restaurants, bars, nightclubs and shops picked for every destination
  • A "Near me" view of the attractions and amenities around you
  • History and travel essentials for each country and city

From world regions down to a single landmark, every guide brings together the places to see, where to eat and drink, and where to stay, with descriptions, photos and maps to help you plan.

No in-app purchases and no hidden costs. Download Evendo and take your guides with you wherever you travel.

Get the latest from Evendo

Hand-picked travel deals, new destination guides and trip ideas, straight to your inbox.