Dubrovnik Old Town

When your bucket list is “everywhere & everything” there are very few places that get a special mention, but the Old Town of Dubrovnik is one destination that made the cut long ago! Obviously our first stop in Croatia had to be this beautiful and historic city.

Set against a backdrop of rugged limestone mountains and jutting out into the Adriatic Sea, Dubrovnik Old Town is one of the world’s best preserved medieval cities. Huge stone walls, built between the 11th and 17th centuries, protect the former city-state that once rivalled Venice as a trading port.

The remarkable preservation of Dubrovnik’s centre is the result of meticulous reconstruction after the earthquake of 1667, of which only two buildings survived. The city was also heavily attacked during the civil war of the early 1990s, and many renovations have returned Dubrovnik Old Town to its former glory.

Touring the city walls was a magical experience, especially given the lack of crowds at the moment. (Eat your heart out, GoT fans! 2019 was a record year for tourists, creating issues with over-tourism.)

The 2km circuit of the ramparts rambles around the historic centre, incorporating five forts, 16 towers, and 1,080 stairs. The children took to the tour with gusto and conquered the 2.5 hour walk by themselves. At three years old, Frankie led the charge with unmatched enthusiasm!

Dubrovnik is beguiling. Around every corner is a view more stunning than the last. A sea of neatly overlapping red and orange roof tiles sits over Baroque churches & palaces, Renaissance fountains & facades, and marble-paved squares & cobbled streets. It’s easy to see why she’s been named the Pearl of the Adriatic.