Dubrovnik · onenicetrip

The reason we’re here

10 July – 25 August 2027

Dubrovnik Summer Festival

Old Town, Dubrovnik

Music, theatre and dance in the open-air venues of the old town for 47 days. It opens on 10 July with the raising of the Libertas flag in front of St Blaise’s Church and a reading of Gundulić’s Hymn to Liberty, in recent years at 21:00.

Every year, 10 July to 25 August. Source ↗

The plan(slowly)

Five days: stone, sea and the opening night of the festival.

Where we sleep

4 nights

Base near the Old Town

Old Town, Dubrovnik

Day 1 · Thu 8 Jul
Through the Pile Gate
We walk in through the Pile Gate and down the Stradun at the end of the afternoon, when the stone turns gold. No plan beyond the square at the far end.
- Pile Gate and the Stradun1 h
  The Pile Gate opens onto the Stradun, the limestone main street of the old town. At its start stands Onofrio’s Fountain, a 15th-century public fountain.
  What to see
  - The Pile Gate and its drawbridge
  - Onofrio’s Fountain
  - The Stradun in the evening light
  Time
  An hour, without hurry.
  Tip
  The polished stone is slippery, especially after dark, so wear shoes with grip.
  To eat
  Gelato from the lanes off the Stradun, eaten walking.
- Sponza Palace and Luža Square45 min
  At the far end of the Stradun, Luža Square is the old town’s meeting place. The Sponza Palace, a customs house built in the 1500s, mixes Gothic and Renaissance windows around a carved atrium.
  What to see
  - The carved atrium of the Sponza Palace
  - Orlando’s Column in the square
  - The City Bell Tower
  Time
  Forty-five minutes, or an evening on the steps.
  Tip
  The palace holds the state archives, so check at the entrance which parts are open to visitors.
  To eat
  Black risotto, made with cuttlefish ink, is the Dalmatian classic.
Day 2 · Fri 9 Jul
Above the roofs
The walls at first light, before the heat and the queues, then the fortress on its rock just outside the Pile Gate.
- The city walls2 h
  The walls wrap almost two kilometres around the old town, and walking along their top is the best way to see its red roofs and the Adriatic.
  What to see
  - The red roofs from above
  - The towers and bastions on the way
  - The Adriatic beyond the Old Port
  Time
  About two hours, with stops.
  Tip
  Go as soon as the gate opens: by midday in July the stone is hot, there is little shade and the walk is crowded. Check hours and tickets on the official walls site.
  To eat
  A proper breakfast before the climb: bread, local cheese and fruit.
- Lovrijenac Fortress1 h
  A fortress on a cliff about thirty-seven metres above the sea, just outside the Pile Gate, built to guard the republic’s western approach. Its walls are thick on the land side and thin on the city side.
  What to see
  - The terrace over the sea
  - The view back to the walls
  - The thick landward wall
  Time
  About an hour.
  Tip
  Ask at the walls ticket office whether Lovrijenac is covered by the same ticket, since this has varied by season.
  To eat
  Fresh figs from a market stall, if the season allows.
Day 3 · Sat 10 Jul
The night the festival opens
A quiet morning on Mount Srđ, then the evening in front of St Blaise’s, where the Libertas flag goes up and the Summer Festival begins at 21:00.
- Mount Srđ2 h
  The hill above the old town, reached by cable car. At the top stands the Imperial Fort, built under Napoleon’s rule, which now holds a museum on the war of 1991–95.
  What to see
  - The old town from above
  - The Imperial Fort
  - The Elaphiti Islands on a clear day
  Time
  Two hours, including the museum.
  Tip
  The cable car can stop in strong wind, so check the weather and the timetable on its official site before going up.
  To eat
  Dubrovnik rozata, a caramel custard flan, back in the old town.
- St Blaise’s Church and the opening ceremonyAn evening
  The baroque church of Dubrovnik’s patron saint stands on Luža Square. On the evening of 10 July the Libertas flag is raised in front of it, to open the Summer Festival.
  What to see
  - The raising of the Libertas flag
  - The reading of the Hymn to Liberty
  - The square full of people
  Time
  An evening, with the ceremony at 21:00 in recent years.
  Tip
  Arrive well before 21:00 to find a place in the square. The programme changes each year, so check the festival’s official site for 2027.
  To eat
  Šporki makaruli, a Dubrovnik pasta with slow-cooked beef, for dinner beforehand.
Day 4 · Sun 11 Jul
An island for the day
A short boat from the Old Port to Lokrum, with its gardens, peacocks and rocks to swim from. We come back with the last light.
- The Old Port30 min
  The small harbour on the eastern side of the old town, from where the boats to Lokrum leave. It was the republic’s trading port for centuries.
  What to see
  - The harbour mouth
  - The fishing and tour boats
  - The arsenal arches beside the port
  Time
  Half an hour before the boat.
  Tip
  Boats for Lokrum leave from here and the first crossings are the least crowded in July, so be at the quay early. Check the timetable on the day.
  To eat
  Coffee and a sweet pastry on the quay before the crossing.
- Lokrum IslandDay trip
  A small wooded island a short boat ride from the old town, with a former Benedictine monastery, a botanical garden and a saltwater lake called the Dead Sea. Peacocks wander free.
  What to see
  - The monastery and its cloister
  - The botanical garden
  - The Dead Sea salt lake
  Time
  A full day, at an easy pace.
  Tip
  Most of the shore is rock, not sand, so bring shoes for the water. The last boat back leaves in the evening, so check the time on the quay.
  To eat
  A picnic of local cheese, olives and fruit under the pines.
Day 5 · Mon 12 Jul
The republic’s heart
One last morning with the old republic: its rector’s palace and its cathedral, before the road home.
- Rector’s Palace1 h 30
  The seat of the rector, who governed the Republic of Ragusa for a one-month term, and now home to the Cultural History Museum. Its arcade is a mix of Gothic and Renaissance.
  What to see
  - The arcaded atrium
  - The rector’s rooms and the museum
  - The carved capitals of the columns
  Time
  About an hour and a half.
  Tip
  In summer the palace is open daily, but the hours can change, so check them on the Dubrovnik Museums site before you go.
  To eat
  Ston oysters, from the bay north of Dubrovnik, are the local speciality.
- Dubrovnik Cathedral45 min
  A baroque cathedral dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin, built after the great earthquake of 1667. Its treasury holds relics of St Blaise.
  What to see
  - The baroque façade and dome
  - The cathedral treasury
  - The altar paintings
  Time
  About forty-five minutes.
  Tip
  It is a working church, so keep your shoulders covered and avoid visiting during services.
  To eat
  A last gelato on the way back to the Pile Gate.