Main attractions
The particularity and uniqueness of Dubrovnik is its permanent live connection to its rich past and its cultural heritage, while it keeps vibranity in pace with contemporary life, echoing its spiritual identity and its presence in the European cultural environment.

The most recognizable feature which difines the history of Dubrovnik and gives it its characteristic are its intact city walls which run uninterrupted for 1940 meters encircling the city. This complex structure, one of the most beautiful and strongest fort systems in the Europe is the main attraction to the city's visitors.
Five fortresses, St. Lawrence and Revelin togather with another three incorporated in the city walls, Minceta Tower, Fort Bokar and St. John's Fortress give to its visitors unforgettable view of the city. Weddings are held in the small St. Lawrence's chaple or on Mineeta Tower. Performances and concerts are organized on Fort Revelin and St. John's fortress during the Summer Festival.

The State Archives in the Sponza palace, which contains the documents from 12th century on attracts those who would like to know more about the political and economical realation between Dubrovnik Republic and other European countries in the past. Franciscan monastery with the museum that contains the Old Pharmacy's inventary dates back to 1317 and it is a curiosity to its visitors. Domenican monastery with the collection of Dubrovnik School of Art 15th and 16th century, Treasure of the Cathedrale with the reliques and Rector's Palace are an attractions also.

The best views - city from above - Panorama
Mount Srđ offers a most beautiful panorama of Dubrovnik, the sparkling white jewel set into the sweep of the blue depths of the Adriatic Sea. Srđ rises like a shield above Dubrovnik, and the uniquely spectacular view from Fort Imperial or from the white stone cross that epitomizes Dubrovnik's deep faith, more than makes up for the tedious upward climb along a serpentine trail. On Srđ, you can experience the city from a bird's eye view, and from nearby Žarkovica, you feel the urge to reach out and grasp the city walls, domes, forts and bell-towers. You will discover Dubrovnik's hidden beauty by treading the hundred year-old walls. Seaward, the pristine beauty of the sea lapping at its walls will enthrall you. The roofs of houses and palaces, the breadth of Stradun, the labyrinth of streets, the hidden chapels, the windows that allow you a glimpse at domestic life, all will strengthen your desire to return to Dubrovnik once more.

Beaches
The city of Dubrovnik and its beaches on the Riviera as regards bathing, have high quality of the sea according to the EU criteria.

Hotel beaches
Higher category hotels in Dubrovnik, like Excelsior, Grand Villa Argentina, Villa Dubrovnik have their own beaches which are exclusively used by the hotel guests.
Most of the other hotels that are located at the Lapad bay have private beaches which are partly open to the public, Neputn, Adriatic, Vis, Splendid, Libertas and Bellevue.
The Babin Kuk complex has 5 hotels, all of them with their own beach except the Minčeta hotel. It also includes shopping center, few cafe bars, restaurants, tennis courts, children playgrounds, swimming pools, beautiful walking areas. Copacabana is the largest beach in this complex, partly open to the public. It is a long pebble beach with a restaurant and cafe bar, fruit and icecream stands, possibility of renting sport equipment, canoes, pedaling.. The beach has the changing cabins and showers.

Island of Lokrum is located in front of the Old city, the best choice to spend a whole day enjoying the sun and the see. The island is a Natural resort protected by the Croatian Academy of Art and Science.
On the island there is a Botanic garden with tropical and subtropical plants. On the highest peak there is a Fort Royal built in a shape of five pointed star by French army in 1806; it gives a magnificient view of Dubrovnik, Cavtat and the island itself.
Walking through pathways you can easily reach the old Benedictine monastery preserved and partly restored into the Maximilian of Habsburg palace in 19th century; now serves as a restaurant and café bar.
On the island there is a small lake linked with the open sea, called Mrtvo more - Dead Sea, very suitable for children and non swimmers to bathe in.
From the Old city harbour regular boats run during Spring and Automn every hour and during the summer time every half and hour to the island. It is a pleasant ten minutes sail to Lokrum, an armis strech away from the city, this favorite excursion spot is also set far back in the middle ages.

Public beaches
BANJE beach extremely well located pebble beach with a beautiful wiev to the Old town. It has it's own reception, restaurant, cafe bar, deck chair and sun umbrellas rentals.
LAPAD beach is located in Lapad bay, very close to the Lapad walking Zone and in the near vicinity of 4 hotels, many restaurants, cafe bars, tennis courts, children playgrounds. On the beach itself there is a restaurant and two café bars. The beach is equipped with showers and changing cabins, sun umbrellas and deck chairs. This is one of the sandy beaches where you can spend a day enjoying natural tree shade.
St. JAKOV beach is located at the eastern part of the Old city, very popular among local people. It's pebble beach with a possibility of renting sun umbrellas and deck chairs. There is also restaurant and cafe bar.

Entertainment
The City of Dubrovnik, the only city in the world that uses a capital "C", is not easy to know, but it is unusually very easy to love. People seeking the harmony found in the beauty and tranquility of the surroundings always come back. In our modern times of stress, haste and the race for usually unattainable goals, the time spent in Dubrovnik means becoming an active participant in a life that hovers between the past and the present.
Strolling through the past, one can delight in the wonderful moments of the present. Discover the vast gastronomic delights to be found in the restraurants, pubs and taverns of Dubrovnik. Savor a cafe on the Stradun, the main street, relax to a concert in one of our churches, or discover the hidden squares and streets. Dubrovnik is a city of culture, a city-theatre, and an endless source of inspiration for painters.
For over half a centruy in July and August, Dubrovnik's palaces, churches and squares are transformed into unique stages for music, theatre and folklore performances.
For younger generation there are always discotheques where you can enjoy and dance till early morning, or you can enjoy live music in small squares full of cafe bars in the Old town.
You can enjoy live music on the square in front of Trubadour bar. We also suggest to visit Sesame restaurant located outside the City walls, with it´s unique interior and live music. Also La Boheme bar set in an old castel where you can enjoy in a cozy atmosphere in it´s beautiful garden having a cocktail.
During the winter time you can absorb the unique beauty of stone, and discover covert corners. Luxuriate in the winter sun on Stradun, tour the museums and galleries, savor the spirit of tradition through Christmas carols, and drink to the New Year on one of the most beautiful streets in the world. Escort the banners and pay tribute to Saint Blaise, our patron saint, and be counted as one in love with the city.

Gastronomy
Dubrovnik is a place of gastronomic delight open air living, Mediterranean style, is a complemented by rich and varied gastronomic offer. The natural flavour of the sea and of the many Mediterranean delicacies is the same today as it has been over the centuries. Recipies from a past in which time went by more slowly.


Shopping
Several shopping centres to be found in GružHarbour and Lapad Pensinsula. Souvenir and gift shops are mostly located in the old city.

Elafiti islands
KOLOČEP, also known as KALAMOTA
The picturesque Adriatic island, close at hand to Dubrovnik, occupies an area of 2.35 square kilometres. There are two settlements, in the two largest coves of the island: Gornje Čelo and Donje Čelo. From the east and west it is overgrown with thick pine forests that drop right down to the edge of the sea. The clear blue sea abounds in fish and shellfish. Until a few centuries ago, the inhabitants of Koločep were the most renowned coral divers of the Mediterranean, though today only a few go down for the coral, out of pure love. A sign of the antiquity of habitation here, going back to ancient times, can be found in the many monuments, among which a special place is taken by the remains of sarcophagi, stone sculputres, chapels and churches.

The 15th century is considered to be the golden age of the island of Koločep, a time when the greatest number of summer palaces were built by the Dubrovnik artistocracy. Many renaissance masterpieces, myths, stories and countless legends were born within the shade of the scented plants and trees found in these rural settings.
Already the first encounter with the island of Koločep cannot leave you unmoved. You will be intoxicated with the still calm, the scent of the Mediterranean plants and the intensity of the colours of the Adriatic. When you have been here once, you will always want to come back again.

LOPUD
The island in the middle, as it has been called since time out of mind, is located between the two largest elafit Islands, Koločep and Šipan. In the nortwest there is a settlement with the same name, and in the southeast a unique sunny cove called Šunj.

A stroll across the whole island from Lopud to this miraculously lovely beach with its reddish sand and always calm sea, the colours of which shimmer from golden yellow to dark blue, will make your break here quite unforgettable. And you can find gorgeous sandy beaches in the willage itself, where slender palms will provide a shelter from the heat of the meridional sun, together with the great fragrant magnolia trees and the lush pines of the island's gardens and parks.
The well-preserved medieval architecture with its many summer residences puts Lopud among the best examples of landscaping of the entire Dubrovnik area. But it is not only nature that has been kindly disposed towards Lopud, it has also been much loved by mankind.
For thousands of years, large and small masterpieces have been created, beauties described in stone, on canvas and on paper. The island is everywhere scattered with fortresses, little churches and monasteries rich in works of art. Do not miss out on a gentle evening stroll to Benepin rat, a retreat from the hubbub of the quotidian, or the pleasure of seeing the scarlet sun meld with the sea on the horizon.

ŠIPAN
Called Golden Island since time out of mind, this is the biggest and most populated of the Elafit Islands. The mild clime, the ideal position and fertile dolomite polje, located between two limestone ridges, are still a challenge for every visitor. The whole island is overgrown with Mediterranean maquis, but it is also rich in vineyards and olive groves. As well as the two major settlements, Suđurađ in the southeast and Šipanska Luka in the southwest, there are smaller hamlets scattered over the whole of the island, in the coves, on the hilly slopes and in the vales.

On the landward side of the island there are many shelters, natural anchorages. On the seaward side, however, the sea, constantly lapping against the stone shore, has carved out rocks and cliffs of the most diverse forms. In this little space, of an improbably great cultural tradition, there are an enormous number of monuments, over thirthy churches, several monasteries, and some three score Gothic and Renaissance summer residences of the well-to-do.
The islanders are famed for their hospitality, and will be happy to take you out into the fields or on their boats fishing, regale you with organically grown food and the gold from their fertile vineyards.

On Šipan, quite unlike anywhere else, you can wander for hours along the beaten paths, but you can also find one for yourself alone, used by just the occasional wild creature, perhaps. There are few such untouched places left in the world today.

Links:
http://www.dubrovnik.hr
http://www.dubrovnik-festival.hr/
http://www.dubrovnikportal.com/
http://web.tzdubrovnik.hr/
http://www.nicos.de

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