Dubrovnik

in front of the Bell Tower

A slender stone flag staff of the legendary knight. Also known as Orlando's Column. Ever since its foundation in 1950, the Dubrovnik Summer Festival is opened by raising a flag carrying the city's motto Libertus on Orlando's staff.

after the Ploče entrance to the city

On top of the tower are the famous 'Zelenci' (The Green Ones), bronze statues which strike the gigantic bell every hour. They have been replaced with copies and the originals are in the atrium of the Sponza Palace.

In the western (Pile) entrance of the old town, The fountain stairs are nowadays a favourite meeting place for local youth and where both the tourists and pigeons take rest and refresh themselves with cool water.

West of the Bell Tower· Cheap

Gothic Renaissance palace, one of the few buildings that has maintained its form from before the catastrophic 1667 earthquake. Hosts historic archives. Memorial room of defenders.

Pred dvorom 1· Moderate

The former palace of the Major Council houses a museum dedicated to the city's history.

Old town

A convenient starting place for a stroll through the Old Town.

The easiest way to come to the cable car is from the Old Town of Dubrovnik. On the northern side of the town there is Buža Street which leads you towards the exit from the city walls. From there you need to keep climbing towards the fireman station. Once you are at the fireman station, you need to cross the street on your right hand side and keep going straight. After few moments you will see cable car station on your right hand side.· Pricey

The original cable car was bombed during the conflicts and closed in 1991. It reopened to the public for the first time on 10 July 2010. The view of the Old City will rival that found on any postcard.

Ploce, just outside of the east entrance to the Old town

Old quarantine hospital serves as a cultural centre for concerts, exhibitions, workshops, theater, film, night clubs and literature. The concert hall/bar is a very cozy place with a decent sound system.

Music and theatre festival held since 1949 from 10 July to 25 August. Famous nationwide for its exquisite selection of drama, plays and concert of chamber music with more than 2,000 artists from 30 countries during 47 days of festival.

Za Karmenom 1

Swim in the Adriatic Sea below the old wall. In the harbour of the old town, go all around (right) along the wall, beyond the aquarium and there is a pier and some rocks where you can cool down on a hot summer day.

See listing for Cafe Buža in the Drinks section.

Andrije Hebranga 60· Cheap

Large portions. Really good pizza with fresh ingredients. Only pizza is served before 17:00, for pasta or other dishes come later. 2Good pizza, friendly staff but service can be slow.

Boškovićeva ul. 5

Great sea street food, big portions, nice and friendly staff. Even it is full inside, you can order for take away, sit on the steps in front of the restaurant and eat, while looking at the streets of Kings Landing.

Hvarska ul. 48

Decent and hearty pizza. Service is excellent and very sincere. Situated underneath the cable car system boarding point just near the walls of the old town.

Antuninska ul. 1

Quaint, quick dinner! Delicious prosciutto, cheese, and salad. Excellent sandwiches. Freshly produced and the bread is a reminiscent of focaccia.

Vukovarska ul. 34

Great food if you want to have a real taste of fresh fish & local food. A hang-out for the locals.

Ul. Žrtava s Dakse 18

Typical roadside pizzeria. Correct quality. Nice place, close to the beach.

in Lapad, 200 m walk to the beach; take Bus #6 from Pile or the bus station to Lapad post office· Moderate

A small cozy guesthouse in Lapad, 300 m from the Lapad beach and another 200 from the pine forest. Funky, clean, character rooms with a large shared terrace and BBQ. Free Internet with Wi-Fi.

in Gruz above the main city port. Go to the Barcelys Hotel and then after hotel 20 m turn on uphill street on left. A few steps above you will find the guest house· Pricey

Free WiFi, a garden and a shared terrace looking out to Gruž Bay. Bright rooms with wooden floors, some have a private balcony. Stone barbecue on the terrace.

Catch bus #7 from the main bus station (every hour) directly or take bus #1 to the Old Town Pile station and change to bus 6 (6 and 7, direction: 'Babin Kuk')· Expensive

A large site with one large amenity block in the middle, so if you are on the edge there is a reasonable walk to the toilets. 400 m walk to two beaches. Most of the pitches are dirt or gravel so not great on lightweight groundsheets.

Mostarska 2d

Home turned into a backpackers hot spot. Family run with location on Lapad, popular after its beaches and green parks, and a 10-min ride from old town and crowds. No booking fee for booking through their website.

20 min walk from the Old Town· Moderate

82 beds. The atmosphere leaves something to be desired, but it's usually filled with interesting people up for a chat on the balcony.

Kovacka 4

A great hostel in the heart of the old town. Small and pokey, as all options in the old town are, but this only adds to the atmosphere. Guests gather in the tiny common area each evening with Ana distributing free locally-made grapa to…