Wrapped in an exceedingly tight-knit ribbon of stone walls, Ragusa perches dramatically on cliffs over the turquoise sea. The Unesco-listed recent city, quaint surroundings and beautiful outline build Ragusa an ideal taste-tester for European country, whereas its compact size makes it a perfect destination for a calming mini-break.
While designing your excellent long weekend in Ragusa, resist the temptation to pack an excessive amount of into the itinerary, as drawn-out coffees, high noon glasses of wine, beachside daydreams associate degreed endless sunset gazes stay an integral a part of a real Ragusa expertise.
Friday
Morning
In addition to world-renowned design and world high status for its role as King’s Landing in Game of Thrones, Ragusa additionally features a name for cruise-ship crowds. incoming early warrants you an improved probability of marvelling at the gleaming stone streets while not having to elbow your method around them.
Take in the splendour of Stradun, the most street, then lose yourself within the grid of slim stone alleyways. Don’t avoid the steps – they start to the town’s most picturesque, residential areas. bear in mind to seem altogether directions: up, to ascertain masterfully crafted balconies and vibrant strings of drying laundry; straight on, for ornate church facades and eclectic look windows; and down, for unemotional cats and pigeons. Game of Thrones fans area unit sure to stand still in their tracks every time a cinematography location nonchalantly seems around a corner, like Littlefinger’s whorehouse at the anthropology repository, or the Walk of Shame stairs at a lower place the Jesuit church.
Afternoon and evening
As the city gets busier, obtain a prosciutto and cheese sandwich in home-brewed bread from the long Buffet Škola, then build your thanks to the cable car. once a four-minute-ride, you will hit the highest of Srđ hill, wherever you will lose many degrees in temperature however win a stunner of a read. Stretch your legs and absorb the complete city from a bird’s-eye perspective, before sinking down for low at Panorama.
Spend the afternoon quiet, ideally at one among the beaches jactitation views of the recent city, like Sveti Jakov or Banje. Nearing sunset, workout associate degree appetence with the foremost beautiful walk of all, on the Ragusa town walls. As you admire swifts’ flights through the sky in search of dinner, plot your own feast at building Kopun. Their speciality, highlighted within the name, is capon (castrated rooster) ready to a 16th-century instruction, with dried fruits and bitter marmalade – as distinctive because the day you only had. Nightcap the evening with one among the eighty labels of Croatian wine at the spirited D’vino bar.
Saturday
Morning
Saturdays area unit notoriously busy within the recent city, thus bestride one among the boats from the recent city harbour to the charming coast city of Cavtat. Take the steps by St Nicholas’ Church and explore the town’s asleep streets, often splashed with bright vine flowers poke their heads over stone walls. See what the within of an area home sounds like at Bukovac House, while marvelling at the design of 1 of Croatia’s most famous painters. Then continue on Prijeko Street for a swim at one among the beachy beaches gracing the shores of Rat ground.
Afternoon
Refreshed, come back to the town’s coast promenade for fantastically ready Mediterranean dishes at Bugenvila building. Head back to Ragusa on bus range ten and land within the main coach station in Gruž. relish associate degree beer at the Ragusa brewage Company, before travel back to the last century with a lesson on Croatia’s communist history at the Red History Museum.
Evening
Finish the day with an enormous night out on the city. relish a food platter and mackerel baked in paper at Forty-Four, then get fancy with stylish cocktails at BAR by Azur. remove dinner diversion the night away at Revelin, set within the walls of a 16th-century fort.
Sunday
Morning
When in Ragusa, do because the locals do and take it simple on Sunday. within the morning, snatch one among the front row seats at Gradska kavana and, sipping your low slowly, admire the knotty facade of the Sponza Palace whereas hordes of clad locals build their thanks to Sunday mass at the Cathedral. Swap breakfast for a conventional native course, torta od skorupa, a cake of cream and almonds once ready solely by nuns on special occasions. attempt to forget the persistent hourly chimes of the close tower and easily savour the instant, a sentiment domestically referred to as fjaka.
Afternoon
After coffee, grab a fast bite at Barba, maybe prawns or associate degree octopus burger, and head to the recent city harbour to require the ferry to the close island of Lokrum. despite however packed the boat may well be, Lokrum isn’t huddled, as between its pine-shaded beaches, biological science gardens and musing olive groves, there’s a quiet spot for all. the sole place to expect queues is within the Benedictine cloister, wherever Game of Thrones fans line up to require a free pic sitting in an exceedingly reproduction of the Iron Throne. Hike to the brow Emperor defensive structure for wonderful views of the recent city, circle the island on a string of scenic ways, or swim within the lake referred to as the Dead Sea: Lokrum can restore your energies despite what you select to try and do.
Evening
Back within the recent city, get your evening going with a drink at Bard cheekbone Buža, before dressing up for a spectacular sensualist night at Dubrovnik’s Michelin-starred building, 360°.
Getting there
Dubrovnik International flying field may be a 30-minute drive from the city. Ferries from Split and also the islands arrive to Gruž Harbour. Gruž additionally homes the town’s main coach station.
