Vacation Time: Dubrovnik

The Pearl of the Adriatic

DUBROVNIK’S POSTCARD PRETTY OLD TOWN is UNESCO-listed and packed with beautifully preserved baroque buildings, museums and galleries. Start your trip by walking the medieval city walls – a 2km circuit. From high up on the battlements, you can soak up stunning views of the old town’s terracotta rooftops and the glimmering Adriatic beyond.

MUSEUM-HOPPING IS A MUST! There’s the Cultural History Museum, housed in a 14th century palace, where you can see how the aristocracy used to live; the Red History Museum, which focuses on life in Croatia under Tito (1945- 1991); and the Maritime Museum, which reveals Dubrovnik’s extraordinary wealth and naval power in the 16th century. CROATIAN CUISINE COMBINES MEDITERRANEAN and Central European flavours – think olive oil, fresh herbs and spices. Must-try dishes include peka (slow-cooked meat and vegetables), štrukli (cheese pastry) crni rižot (black risotto with cuttlefish ink) and skorupa, a cake layered with cream and almonds. Dubrovnik is famous for its fresh-caught fish and seafood. FILMING LOCATIONS FOR A GAME OF THRONES crop up everywhere, and you can sign up for a dedicated guided tour. Dubrovnik’s castles, palaces and formidable fortifications play a big part in the show, so fans will experience déjà vu at numerous sites, including Fort Lawrence, Gradac Park and the Jesuit Staircase. AT THE GATES OF THE FRANCISCAN MONASTERY in the heart of the old town, the Franciscan Pharmacy is one of Europe’s first, founded in 1317. Those in the know head here not for the brand-name medications but for jars of Mala Braca 1317 AD, a natural hydrating face cream, based on rose, lavender and rosemary, that’s made by the monks according to a secret, centuries-old recipe. JUMP ON A FERRY TO BEACH ŠUNJ at Lopud, a lively destination with soft sand underfoot rather than the usual (for Croatia) pebbles. Low-key bars and restaurants line the beach, where you can settle in for some superb seafood. The shallow, crystal-clear waters are perfect for snorkelling or, if you’re after an adrenaline rush, you can hop on a jet-ski. MIGHTY MOUNT SRĐ provides amazing views of Dubrovnik, and you can ride the cable car to the top. There are plenty of bars and restaurants with viewing decks: the perfect sspot to watch the sun dip behind the ocean at the end of day. If you’re feeling fit, you can hike back down via a winding 2-kilometre path that’s lined by the 14 Stations of the Cross.